HOW TO START A TEAM DSF SUPPORT GROUP

How to start a team dsf support group

Starting a Team DSF Support group and educational program

Connecting with others who have Essential Tremors may help put your own experiences living with ET in perspective, and provide you with the support and encouragement necessary to move beyond your diagnosis. You can share questions, experiences, and practical tips via message boards or create private group organized around specific topics.
Join Team DSF as a Support Group

Each member will be able to join Team DSF
Team DSF is the global fundraising program for The Diann Shaddox Foundation to raise funds for DSF programs. Team DSF members worldwide have been turning their passions into opportunities to raise funds and awareness for Essential Tremor.
No membership fee, but donations are appreciated.

Proceeds donated by Team DSF members goes to our DSF programs such as DSF Medical Research to help find a cure for Essential Tremor.

Team DSF will help with information packet for each member. Promote your Support Group on DSF website & DSF social media.

Here are a few ideas to start a Team DSF Support Group

Understand your motivation for starting a support group.

Use your experience and your understanding of Essential Tremors to offer that support mutually, ensuring that everyone in your group will have the support that they need for their problems.

Determine the scope of your group.

Outlines the objectives of the group and the goals that need to be met to achieve a satisfactory result. Knowing the ideal scope of your group will help you when it comes time to open your group to others.
Ask kids if they want to join, and give them treats or something else nice to make them want to come.

Consider how often your group should meet.

Are the issues pressing enough to warrant monthly meetings or quarterly?
Will participants need time to implement strategies and plan for future meetings?
Is there a support system in place in case of emergencies during the time between meetings?

Determine your group's format.

The most common support group formats worth considering:

Curriculum-based - in which readings are "assigned" and discussions center around a given reading's issues.
Topic-based - in which topics are introduced and discussion centers on that meetings topic.
Open forum - in which there is no pre-determined structure, and discussion topics vary as members bring them up.

Find a suitable meeting place and time.

Try to obtain free meeting space at a local church, library, community center, hospital, or social service agency. Chairs should be arranged in a circle and avoid a lecture set-up.
Look for a room capacity slightly higher than your anticipated crowd size. Too big of a meeting space will feel cavernous and empty; too small will feel cramped and uncomfortable.

Reach out to like-minded people.

Find a few others who share your interest in starting a group by circulating a flyer or letter that specifically cites how to contact you if one is interested in "joining with others to help start" such a group. You may also want to ask people you know to refer you to others who might be interested.
Use social media to get the word out.
Make flyers/information where/when your meeting will be held and post them at places you feel are appropriate such as a local community website, library, community center, clinic/doctor office & church bulletins.

Run meetings efficiently.

After deciding on the format and frequency of your group, you'll need to focus on how best to run each meeting. Your group may benefit from having some kind of structure/schedule, but it's important to be fluid and open to the needs of your members.
Make your group's objectives clear. If there is a schedule, stick to it.
Ask Clergy, physicians, therapists from your area to join a meeting to discuss ET
Be punctual, and ask that your members are also punctual.

Draft a mission statement or a statement of purpose.

This should be done with the help and input of your core group of co-founders, so that everyone feels that they are a part of the process and can provide insight on what they hope to get out of the meetings. The mission statement should provide a structural framework for the group's values, purpose, and goals, and what will be done to meet those goals.
Your mission statement should be brief and to the point. Aim for 2-3 sentences at most.
Do not make any promises of success or achievement in your mission statement. Promising results may deter members from returning if they do not achieve those results in a forecasted time-period.

Choose a name for your group

You will be a part of Team DSF for Essential Tremor but you may name the group an additional name.

Share a few options at your first meeting for additional feedback and ideas from members before deciding.
The naming process should be a fun aspect of creating a support group, and should allow everyone to have equal input.

Share responsibilities and delegate work in the group. You do not have to do this alone.

Decide who will be the primary contact person/people for the group. Consider additional roles members can play in making the group work.
Decide which tasks you're willing to trust to others in the group. Appoint those tasks with an understanding that each role will include great responsibilities.
Be clear in giving instructions and laying out the terms of each role.
Give credit to everyone who contributes. Let them know that their efforts are appreciated.
Set up a private account within your group to allow the members to deposit an amount of their choice to help with refreshments, t-shirts, & flyers. Keep a record of each member's account. Donations to Team DSF will be appreciated.

Publicize and run your first public meeting.

Leave ample time for your core group members to describe their interest and work, while allowing others the opportunity to share their view of what they would like to see the support group do.
Identify common needs the group can address.
Serve refreshments and get your friends to help.
Determine whether you should enact a confidentiality policy to keep information shared at your meetings from leaving the group. This may put members at ease and make those who feel reluctant to share their experiences more comfortable going forward.

Make plans for the next meeting.

Allow everyone to socialize informally after the meeting to reinforce the sense of community and mutual support. You should also pass around a mailing/contact sheet either before or after each meeting to keep contact information up to date.
Privacy is important. Add a space for people to uncheck if they want their information private.
Don't allow an upset or angry person to disrupt or dominate the group discussion. The leader or facilitator could arrange in advance to have an assistant help diffuse these situations as they arise. He or she could quietly ask the disruptive person to come with them into the next room, or outside, so they can calm down and continue discussing the issue in private.

CONTACT DSF

CONTACT DSF