Section Twelve

The First Meeting: Pre-Meeting Organization

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Introduction

The preparations you make before your chapter's first meeting are as important as what happens during the session. The following is a suggested planning outline which has proven successful for SEDS-USA chapters many times in the past. References wil l sometimes be made to earlier sections, the duplication is for clarity.

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Distributing Responsibilities

Contact a few friends who share your interest in space and hold an informal meeting on chapter start up. Introduce them to SEDS, explain what our goals are and invite them to join you in starting a chapter. Show them the materials you have received from SEDS-USA. They will probably volunteer to help out before you ask, but if they don't do your best to enlist their aid with planning the first meeting. Seek out faculty help for the group. Ask them for input and invite them to attend.

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Meeting Site

You and your group of volunteers should carefully decide on a time for your first meeting. Weekdays or weeknights are often best, some universities have an afternoon set aside for student club events. Be sure to avoid conflicts such as class, recita tion, other club events, sports events, or parties. Decide on someone among you to find and reserve a room for the meeting. A room in the student union or activities center is ideal. Other alternatives include classrooms or auditoriums. Make sure that the location that you choose is in a central location. Information about room reservations can be obtained from your student union or campus scheduling office.

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Advertising

With a room, date and time in hand, now is the time to begin your first SEDS "Ad Campaign". A successful ad campaign will be the difference between having a small or large turnout and will help to make people aware, interested and supportive of the g roup. Put posters that you have created on buildings all over campus. Using posters or banners is of higher quality than a hastily scribbled note tacked on a bulletin board or blackboard. Be sure to include all information needed to convey your message . Get the poster photocopied on high quality paper; brightly colored paper always helps. Be sure to have the posters up at least 3-5 days before the meeting. See Section VII for more details.

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Activities

Plan some exciting activities to get people to come and enthuse those who are there about space and space exploration. See the list in Section VI for ideas.