The Colonial Beach Cottage Owners Association (a.k.a. CBCOA) has recently joined Grouvia to help manage their network’s business. At their quarterly board meeting last week, Grouvia was introduced as the new online tool the CBCOA will use to help streamline their event planning and communications needs.  The addition was met with much enthusiasm by the board members.

Glenda Chiarello, the CBCOA’s treasurer and owner of Marina Sunset Cottage, is optimistic about Grouvia’s future.  “I think Grouvia is an excellent tool for group management, and the CBCOA will see a lot of benefit from using it.  It seems to have many features that will help automate some of the time-consuming tasks we are doing manually now.  Since we’re all volunteers, anything that can save us time is very valuable.”

One unexpected benefit is the ability for the association to collect payments online via Grouvia.  The CBCOA publishes a cottage directory every year, the cost of which is partially subsidized by local businesses who pay a fee to be included in the booklet.  The directory is distributed through the local chamber and at many shops and restaurants in the town, as well as through other tourism channels throughout Virginia.

Grouvia’s event management feature was used to create a deadline event for advertising commitments.  Advertisers can use the online reservation feature to commit to their ad and pay for it online.  The Grouvia reservation initiates an automated notification to the board members who are responsible for handling the brochure design and printing.

Lisa Pecunia, Grouvia’s designer and company founder is especially excited about the addition of CBCOA as a member of the growing Grouvia family.  “They have found a unique use for Grouvia which we hadn’t thought of.  People are very resourceful, and the CBCOA’s creativity in finding a way to make this work for them is very powerful.  Grouvia was built with a very flexible interface, and this new use is an indicator that Grouvia will be useful in all sorts of ways that are yet to be discovered.”

Since Grouvia is a relative newcomer on the scene, the company hopes the word will spread among other vacation rental communities in tourist towns across the country.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts?  Subscribe to the RSS feed of The Grouvia Groove.

You can become a member of Grouvia and create your own group in 5 minutes or less.  Join the beta site at http://www.grouvia.com.

We set about compiling a list, which quickly grew to an astonishing length.  Here are 50 of them…

4-H / scouts / outdoor kids orgs
Acting / drama clubs / actors guilds
Alumni and reunion groups
Amateur science clubs
Arts and music clubs
ATV & RV clubs
Book clubs
Business networking groups
Canoers & kayakers
Card game players
Celebrity fan clubs
Chambers of commerce
Churches and synagogues
Civic clubs
Coin, antique, stamp collectors
Community service groups
Community Centers
Cooking and baking clubs
Dog enthusiasts
Drawing and writing groups
Fraternities and sororities
Flying, gliding, hang-gliding groups
Gamblers
Garden clubs
Ham radio enthusiasts
Handball / tennis / racquetball players
Hiking, climbing, trail running
Historical societies
Hobby and crafts clubs
Horse riders
Hunting and fishing enthusiasts
Investment clubs
Play groups
Model cars / trains / airplanes
Moms clubs
Motorcycle riders
Neighborhood associations / HOAs
Photography clubs
Political action groups
PTAs
Running, walking, cycling groups
Sewing and needlework groups
Singing / glee clubs
Skating, skateboarding
Snow sports enthusiasts
Social clubs
Student / school clubs
Support groups
Travel clubs
Water sports enthusiasts

Can you think of any others?

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts?  Subscribe to the RSS feed of The Grouvia Groove.

You can become a member of Grouvia and create your own group in 5 minutes or less.  Join the beta site at http://www.grouvia.com.

The Commitment

There is a big commitment that comes with creating a blog.  Carefully consider the time you will have available to post to your blog every day, or every week.  Don’t believe you can dash this off every morning in the 10 minutes it takes to eat your cereal.  Most blogs are abandoned after a few months because of lack of time, boredom, or unrealistic expectations.  An abandoned blog can do your group more harm than good, so consider the commitment carefully.

There is hope for the blogger with more passion than time.  Get guest bloggers or ghost bloggers to write some of the posts.  People you know may not have time to keep up with a blog of their own, but the may still be willing to post for you on occasion, as a guest blogger.  Just be sure to give them credit, and a link back to their own site.  A ghost blogger, on the other hand, is a person you pay to write relevant articles, and then you put your name on the article and post it.

Marketing

The success of your blog can depend on where you post it and how you market it.  If you have a drawing group for example, you might try to solicit comments about your group’s work, and encourage technique discussions.  In this case consider posting links to your blog on art-related sites.  You will have to get permission of course, but your fellow artists’ web sites or an art school’s discussion board are both great places to “plug” your blog.

Hosting

There are several free blog sites available for you to start your blog.  We won’t get into the long list of them here, but to start out you’re better off using a hosted blog site like blogger.com or wordpress.com.  Both of these have pros and cons but both are very easy to use.  If you do a search on “blogger vs. wordpress” you can find several discussions about which one is better for what purposes.  It can be a pain to move your blog after it’s established, so do some research before you decide which one to go with, because you’ll want to stick with it as long as possible.

But What Do I Say?

So… what do you want to say on your blog?  Here are some ideas to get you started.

• After every get-together your group holds, post something about the event.  Talk about what it was about, and what people got out of it.  Include pictures, and quotes from attendees.  What made it interesting or successful?
• Talk about the latest trends in the field your group is related to.  For instance, if you have a group that focuses on skateboarding, talk about new board technology, regional or national association events, or famous people who have won competitions.
• Talk about other bloggers in your field.  Link to their blogs, and recap what they are talking about.
• Review gadgets.  People who are passionate about a topic love hearing what others have to say about the latest “stuff.” Athletes love technical clothing and golfers love any little thing that might improve their game.  Readers want to hear about the newest books, cooks love pans and knives, audiophiles love iPods!  New stuff comes out all the time, so this is an endless topic for discussion.
• Start a discussion about a controversial topic.  Tell people what your perspective is and ask them to tell theirs.
• Talk about absolutely anything that might add value to peoples’ lives.  Don’t talk about what you ate for breakfast or how your dog’s last vet checkup went.  These things are not interesting to anybody but you.  If you’re not sure, just ask yourself, “if somebody was telling me about this, would I care?”

One last top… engage your readers.  Invite them to your group’s events, and be welcoming and receptive of their comments.  Tell them you appreciate their readership.  Try to get them to talk not just to you, but to each other!  You are building a community with your group, and your blog is an important part of that.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts?  Subscribe to the RSS feed of The Grouvia Groove.

You can become a member of Grouvia and create your own group in 5 minutes or less.  Join the beta site at http://www.grouvia.com.

Every club has their own favorite way of doing things, but many people feel that having the meeting in someone’s home is the most comfortable.  My own book club rotates the location to a different member’s home every month, which gives everyone a chance to be the host.

However, not everyone likes being the host.  For some of us, the idea of it may even keep us from being a part of the book club altogether.

If this sounds like you, please keep reading.  Being the host is not as scary as it sounds.  Here are some ways to keep you from shaking in your house-slippers when the dreaded day draws near…

1.  Cleanup. Let’s say you’re not the neatest person in the world.  The solution to this is for you to just clean up the main room you’ll be sitting in, plus the kitchen and the bathroom.  The rest of the house can stay messy.  If you’re afraid someone will ask for a tour, you can politely refuse and tell them you didn’t have time to clean the rest of the house.

2.  Seating. Generally the living room will be the most comfortable.  If it’s nice out you can hold the meeting outside in a porch or on a patio — just make sure it’s shaded.  As long as there’s a comfortable place for everyone to sit and a few small tables to put food and drinks on, pretty much any place works.

3. Food. No need to spend all day in the kitchen.  Generally everyone is expected to bring something, so the host should be responsible for one main dish, and the beverages (see next bullet).  The Internet is full of recipes for easy and delicious dishes.  Hummus and pita with fresh vegetables is always a hit in my club! And it takes only minutes to prepare.

4.  Drinks. If your group prefers a beverage that you don’t normally drink there is no need to go overboard.  If the group drinks coffee for example, you don’t need to spend $30 on a pound of gourmet beans and a brand new grinder.  Just go to your local indie coffee shop and buy only as much as you need, and have them grind it for you.  Be creative, ask around.  (On the other hand, don’t skimp either.)

That’s it!  A clean, comfortable place for the group to sit, some nice healthy snacks, and something to drink.  The rest of the club meeting will pretty much take care of itself.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts?  Subscribe to the RSS feed of The Grouvia Groove.

You can become a member of Grouvia and create your own group in 5 minutes or less.  Join the beta site at http://www.grouvia.com.

It was written in 2005 (I hope she doesn’t mind that we changed the dates to post it) and contains a timeless bit of advice to help folks write a poignant, if not wholly memorable, New Year’s toast.  And it also contains a lesson for all of us, even if we aren’t giving a toast this year.

What the advice boils down to is simply this: Be Appreciative.

Here are the things Joanna points out that we should all remember to appreciate, as we move from the old year to the new:

• Lessons learned
• Fortunate or memorable events
• Our friends and family
• What we have that others don’t
• A hopeful future

Hear hear, Joanna.  Thank you for reminding us.

We should appreciate these things all year long — especially right after a hectic holiday season, as we gear up to Spring and face all the possibilities for good times ahead.

So let’s try to pause for a few minutes and think about the past year, and wonder about the year ahead.  Let’s ask ourselves: What will we do this year to make a difference in someone else’s life?  To have a positive influence?  To lift someone’s spirits or help them get through a tough time?

How will I try to improve myself?  What next step can I take to get that promotion or start that small business I always wanted?  Will I try to lose weight or quit smoking?  Do I want to just get a little less aggravated at the too-long red light or supermarket check-out line?

Whatever it is, it’s unique to each of us … a special gift we can each give to ourself.

A toast to us… Happy New Year!

I recommend you read the full post yourself, but here are some interesting points that might surprise you.

1. Being a part of a group helps define a person’s identity.  Human nature drives us to be part of something useful and worthy and we place more value on a group we belong to than on one we don’t.  This is seen clearly in sports teams, but it’s true of every type of group.
2. Group rules are usually followed very carefully by all members.  Once we have identified with our group, it is natural for us to conform to it’s rules.  Maybe we even fear being ostracized, or shunned.  Whatever the reason, studies show that it’s unusual for group rules, even unwritten or unspoken ones, to be broken.
3. All group members have a role.  In some cases this is by formal arrangement, but many times it occurs naturally.  Beyond just having one person emerge as leader, others will also fall into certain patterns of behavior after a period of time.
4. Being part of a group can help us improve as individuals.  For example, athletes who train in groups find that they improve their performance to a significantly higher level than when they train alone.  This is especially true if the athlete’s performance is not merely tied to the team’s overall performance, but has its own recognition and merit.
5. People in groups are much more competitive than when alone.  Studies have shown that an individual will behave in a competitive manner almost 50% more often when the people present are in groups.  The study indicates this is because the individual believes that the other group(s) can’t be trusted, and not so much because of the “safety in numbers” factor.

One thing seems clear: groups are powerful and can change our behavior as individuals.  We may not even be aware of this when it happens, because it can happen so naturally.

The next time you are in a group situation, observe the people in the group and you’ll probably notice some of these behaviors at work.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts?  Subscribe to the RSS feed of The Grouvia Groove.

You can become a member of Grouvia and create your own group in 5 minutes or less.  Join the beta site at http://www.grouvia.com.

Action Groups are one of the best ways to get involved in your community and your government.  Action Groups can make amazing things happen.  They are like the small businesses of the Non-Profit world.

There are several different kinds of action groups.  Here are a few:

• Political Action Groups
• Community Action Groups
• Consumer Action Groups
• Education Action Groups
• Social Action Groups
• Environmental Action Groups

Wikipedia says action groups are “a group of people joined temporarily to accomplish some task or take part in some organized collective action.”  They are generally formed because a couple of people were talking about an issue, and somebody said “We oughtta do someting about this!”

All it takes to start one of these groups is an idea and some passion.  Give it a good dose of leadership and coordination, and soon enough it turns into a cause.  Action groups have even been known to make such big changes happen that it evolved into a “social movement.”  The point… action groups can be amazing organizations, created by ordinary people.

In many cases the action group is only together long enough to accomplish a specific goal and then it disbands.  Some examples of these short term goals are…

• Clean up a neighborhood.
• Elect a candidate into office.
• Raise money for a sick child’s medical bills.
• Plan an eco-adventure trip for a large group.
• Encourage a local politician to draft a new policy.
• Establish a non-profit organization.

People who join these groups do so because they care deeply about the cause and desire change strongly enough to do something about it.  They do not get paid for their participation, but they do get the satisfaction of being part of a cause for change.  As humans, we find this far more rewarding than money.

One of the most well known Action Groups is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  Candy Lightner founded MADD almost thirty years ago, when her daughter was killed by a drunk driver who was out on bail.  MADD is a huge success story in the non-profit sector, and has a long list of major accomplishments.

Some other well-known action groups are Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), and American Association of Retired People (AARP).

Not all action groups get as big as these.  In fact, most action groups are just small groups of local people who want to get something specific done.  For example an action group can be created to clean up your local park or even get a traffic light installed at a nearby dangerous intersection.  Pick up any local newspaper and you’re likely to find one or more examples of groups of people coming together to accomplish some goal.  In fact, check out the Grouvia twitter feed for almost daily examples of the numerous accomplishments of local groups across the country.

Becoming part of an Action Group couldn’t be simpler.  If you know of one that has a cause you care about, simply email the organizer and tell them you want to help.  If you’re really passionate about something and you can’t find a local group about it, start your own Action Group.  It only takes a few people to create a catalyst to make major changes in your environment.  You’ll be amazed at how much you can do, and so glad you took that first step.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts?  Subscribe to the RSS feed of The Grouvia Groove.

You can become a member of Grouvia and create your own group in 5 minutes or less.  Join the beta site at http://www.grouvia.com.

One simple way to assure the success of your event is to keep the size of the group manageable.

In this post, I’m specifically referring to those events where you’re just out to have a good time and meet some people.  A walk in the woods, a trip to the movies, a bike ride to the beach for a picnic, taking the kids to the town pool, or a book club meeting.  Even small business events can fall into this category.

The optimal size of the group will fluctuate based in circumstances, but generally a good number to shoot for is between six and ten.

Four is OK. Twelve is OK. Eight is generally perfect.

Notice how these numbers are all even?  Even numbers are best because it makes it easy for people to naturally form pairs and have conversations.

Some reasons for keeping the group small:

• As the host, you want to have a chance to speak with each person at least once during the time the group is together.
• It is easier to make sure the group is intact with one glance, especially if you are in an unfamiliar place, and are moving around.  Most people can SEE six to eight people, whereas more than that requires an actual physical count.
• A quick scan of the crowd will tell you if everyone seems to be comfortably enjoying themselves.
• Most people feel more comfortable in smaller, more intimate group settings.

There are a few other factors to consider when planning an event for a specific number of people:

Invite more people than you want to attend. When planning a casual event, you will have no-shows and people who cancel at the last minute, so it is a good idea to plan for more people than you expect. If you want eight, plan for at least 14.  After you hold a few events with your group, you will get a feel for how many end up not coming.

If you have collected a payment in advance you will have a lot fewer (if any) no shows.  If the event is free, you will have a lot more.

If your event is outdoors, less than ideal weather will always keep some people away.  I had a hike once where 26 people said they were coming and only six showed up.  The no-shows mostly blamed the weather forecast, which was predicting some showers later that day.  (Incidentally, we didn’t get a drop of rain during the hike.)

Friends count differently than strangers. If your group is mostly comprised of people who know each other well, you can manage a larger group.  Since they know each other, they will mostly take care of themselves.

If your group will be mostly strangers, they will need some time with each other to get comfortable.  As far as they all know, the only thing they have in common is their interest in the activity for which they came to this event.  In this case smaller is better.  Give people a chance to spend time feeling each other out for other commonalities.

Professional events can support a larger group size. If your event is, say, a meet and greet for local businesses, your optimal number can be much higher than that of a personal or recreational-type of event.  Business people are naturally more outgoing in crowds, because they are there to talk about their business, not themselves.

A group size of 20-25 is manageable for this setting.  Once you have done these a few times and feel comfortable, you can try for 30 or more people if your venue can handle it.

Let your experience guide you. These are only guidelines.  If you are just starting out, start small and be conservative.  The first event for your group can be a nail-biter, but each one gets easier.

Don’t be afraid to cancel your event. If you’ve planned a trip to the beach and the weather forecast is calling for thunderstorms, trust me, nobody will show up.  Just cancel it.

You can also cancel it if you aren’t seeing a lot of interest.  If you’ve invited 16 people to a World of Warcraft party and only two say they’re coming, you might end up with a disappointing party.  Save yourself the aggravation, and try again another time with a different kind of event.  It might be that the folks in your group just don’t go for that topic.

If you’re interested in the slightly broader topic of how many friends a person can have at once, take a look at this interesting post by Seth Godin about Dunbar’s Number.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts? Why not sign-up to receive Grouvia’s e-newsletter? You’ll get the latest news delivered to your inbox and you can participate in the Grouvia development process. It’s free. Sign up at www.grouvia.com.

So how do you make new members feel a part of the group?  The most important thing you can do is to engage them.  If you do nothing else, you must do this.

Let’s say you have a Ladies’ Night Out club and one of your members has a new neighbor she wants to bring her to the next event.  “Great!” you say, the group could use some fresh faces.  At the next event, however, the old group does what they always do:  talk about their jobs, their kids, the new product they tried, the new blog they found.  People prefer things (and people) they’re familiar with, so most people will naturally talk to the familiar faces and ignore strangers.  They are not being rude, they are just being… well… people.

Your job, as the host, is to engage the new person.

Let’s say her name is Kim.  This may be obvious, but Kim needs to be introduced right at the start.  You might even ask her if she wants to tell the group a little about herself.  Make sure you ask her if she’s OK with this prior to the start of the get-together.  She might want to think of a few things to say in advance, or if she’s shy she might even decline.  It also helps to have the person who brought Kim introduce her.

Then during the course of the event, gauge Kim’s level of involvement.  If it seems low, there are a couple of tactics for helping her along.

• At the first opportunity (if you can find a break in the chatter), turn to Kim and loudly say “Kim, what do you think of that? Have you tried XYZ product?” This may take a couple of tries, since Kim is likely to be a little overwhelmed and feeling a little shy.  This may be a little overly dramatic, but you get the drift.
• If you can’t get her to boldly engage with the group, try starting a side-conversation.  As soon as Kim says something that you know might be a common thread with another member of the group, pull the other member in.  “Hey Lucy, Kim says her son Matt is thinking of going to UVA next year – didn’t your daughter look at that school?”  Or “Jill, did you hear that?  Kim loves to cook Indian food.  Kim, Jill went to India last year and loved it.”

What you are doing is simply finding connections for Kim within the group.  It is not hard to do, and Kim will appreciate your efforts, and if she feels comfortable enough may even spread the word about how great your group is.  And she will most likely attend the next night out.

The downside to not doing this is probably obvious. Kim will feel isolated and ignored, and wonder why she even came.  She may even pull away from the friend who brought her.  And she may even tell others about her experience.

So do yourself, and your group, a favor, and go the extra mile to help your new members feel welcome.

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts? Why not sign-up to receive Grouvia’s e-newsletter? You’ll get the latest news delivered to your inbox and you can participate in the Grouvia development process. It’s free. Sign up at www.grouvia.com.

Libraries and community centers also make public announcements and occasionally will even provide space for hobbyists to meet. Stop by and ask questions. The librarian or community center staffperson’s job is to help the public and they are happy to answer your questions.

If you live in or near a city, it is likely you will find a nearby group to join and can easily meet other like-minded individuals who practice their craft regularly.

Most hobbies require some kind of gear and/or supplies. Stop into retail shops that specialize in your hobby and talk to the people who work there. They can generally tell you of local clubs or perhaps have a bulletin board where clubs will post their information or upcoming meetings.

In many cases, your local community college or supply store will offer beginning to intermediate courses that interest you. You will meet others in these courses as well.

As an alternative, you might consider starting a hobby with your family. Crafting with children may help build their sensory motor skills, and even improve their self-esteem. Getting youngsters involved with hobbies helps to increase their imagination and makes use of their creative gifts.

Finally, you might consider looking for hobby clubs and groups online. This is becoming more popular as the Internet allows everyone to share their interest(s) with people all over the world. There are message forums when you can post anything related to your hobby, receive opinions and share tips from other members. The virtual world has made it easier than ever to find others who share your interests.

Enjoying your hobby or craft can give you a sense of accomplishment and connecting with others who share your interests can improve your enjoyment of your hobby.

Lisa

* * *

Do you enjoy reading these posts? Why not sign-up to receive Grouvia’s e-newsletter? You’ll get the latest news delivered to your inbox and you can participate in the Grouvia development process. It’s free.  Sign up at http://grouvia.com.