Expanding Local Contacts

8. Expanding Local Contacts

Quite often the number of students of Life Science who reside in a particular city is too small for gatherings to warrant the necessary expense of publishing and distributing flyer notices or the hours of thought and planning required to host and conduct a public meeting outside of the home.

If confronted by such a situation, it is often possible to enlarge one’s horizons by including other health-oriented groups in your plans; such groups as vegetarians, vegans, members of a nearby health club and similar groups.

It is often interesting to learn just how many “hidden” vegetarians there are who do not belong to any well-known organization or club. At any rate, one should invite all interested parties to a general meeting for the purpose of hearing a talk on some subject of interest to all who might care to attend.

Various reasons for calling such a group together can also be put forth as, for example, to form a study club on vegetarianism in general; for the purpose of finding out whether or not there are sufficient numbers so inclined who might care to meet on a regular basis for potluck purposes or for dining at a public facility. One can think up various reasons for health-oriented groups to get together for purposes of socializing with like-minded individuals.

Sometimes these joint meetings can be in the form of a day-long seminar with a number of speakers being featured at two sessions, perhaps two speakers in the morning hours and a single speaker in the afternoon followed by general socializing.

Or if your choice is to make the meeting simple, present a single speaker on a topic of interest, topics such as the following:

1. How to keep your energy level high.
2. How to choose and use foods that burn clean.
3. How to keep fit in today’s crazy world! And so on.

In other words, choose a topic of general interest, one hat will attract and intrigue.

It is possible at such meetings to allow a certain amount of time for individuals to relate personal experiences, these being given, of course, on a volunteer basis. Questions may also be permitted if agreeable to these volunteers.

It is often fun to allow time after the lecture or seminar for socializing1 on a more intimate basis, both by groups and, by individuals.

Occasionally, at meetings of this kind, it may be interesting to divide up into circle mini-groups following the lecture presentation for the purpose of discussion of the topic of the day by those within each assigned circle. All such discussions should be preceded by round-the-circle introductions so that all may become better acquainted.

These meetings may become so popular that they can be repeated at frequent intervals. On subsequent meetings, circles should be regrouped so that, in time, everyone will become acquainted with those who choose to become regular participants. The same procedure of becoming better acquainted with each other as detailed earlier in this lesson, that off having individuals volunteer information about themselves, can be followed equally well here.

These circle meetings can prove to be the most interesting and informative way of socializing of all that we have presented. We have seen long-lasting friendships result from these casual meetings. They can prove both creative and supportive. Above all, they offer an opportunity for individuals to participate on an equal footing in groups, small enough to be nonthreatening, even to the most timid.