Name Game
Materials Needed: none
Time: 10 minutes
Activity:

1. Have everyone sit so they can see each other.
2. Ask the first person to say their name.
3. Ask the second person to say first person's name and then their own name.
4. Third person repeats sequence.
5. Process continues until everyone has participated
6. Discuss how the group feels.

Opening Conversation
Materials Needed: none
Time: 10 minutes
Activity:

1. Ask each person to turn to the person on their right (or left) and ask them about their breakfast, lunch, car (chose something that isn't work related)
2. Begin the meeting.

Newsletter

Newsletters are a necessary tool for public relations and at times the most difficult task to complete. This activity is quick and involves the entire group. Typing can be completed by a support staff person with desk top publishing skills.

Materials Needed: chart paper and markers
Time: 20 minutes
Activity:

1. In a brief brainstorming session have whole group talk about what their piece of the partnership is doing.
2. Have paper posted around the room with "writers" stationed to record the information being discussed.
3. Every three weeks (or whatever timing is appropriate) determine the focus of the next newsletter with the whole group

Timelines

Materials Needed: 5X8 cards and tape
Time: 20-30 minutes
Activity:

1. Using cards, on the wall have major projects on the left side and months (or weeks) across the top
2. Divide the group in pairs and assign a project card to them.
3. Have the pair write who, what, and when cards for this project.
4. When they are finished have each pair place their cards in the timeline.
5. Have whole group discussion about reality of timeline, ask if there should be changes.
6. Organize the workload with the whole group.

Sticker Dots
Materials Needed: sticker dots, chart paper, and markers
Time: 5 minutes
Activity:

1. Using the list from the activity above or brainstorm a new list of projects.
2. Give everyone 5 sticker dots.
3. Tell them to go to the list and "spend" their dots on what they feel is the most important.
4. Have whole group review the priorities of whole group
5. Adjust any tasks accordingly

Dyad or Triad Brainstorming
Materials Needed: chart paper and marker
Time: 10 minutes
Activity:

1. State the issue that needs to be discussed.
2. Share any information you feel is relevant for decision making.
3. Allow people "think time" (2-3 minutes).
4. Have group form dyads or triads to discuss their individual responses.
5. Have each group do a quick report-back for a whole group discussion.

One, Two, Three
Materials Needed: Paper
Time: 10 minutes
Activity:

1. Have participants form groups of 4-6 people.
2. Tell the groups that you'll be asking them to make some choices by the order of their importance or preference.
3. On pieces of paper have choices written, for example:
   Where would you rather be on a Saturday afternoon?
   At the beach?
   In the woods?
   Window shopping downtown?
4. Discuss the difficulty of making choices.

Meeting Process
Materials Needed: none
Time: 5 minutes
Activity:

1. Choose two or three questions about the meeting and allow a few moments to think about the answers.
   (These are suggestions only.)
   
   • What have we accomplished during our meeting ?
   • What was helpful to you personally today?
   • Where did you (we) struggle in this meeting?
   • How would you tell someone else what really happened in the meeting today?
2. Close the meeting by thanking everyone for their participation

Celebrations

Most important and not done enough is celebrating the way we work hard together sharing and caring with each other. There are traditional celebrations using food and they work well, but we all have words we can use as celebrations with each other. Even little celebrations feed the spirit of the members, thank-yous at the end of meetings, a thank-you column in the newsletter or a poster welcoming everyone on the wall. Celebrations connect people in different ways than discussions and teamwork, they validate the work people do, they feel good, they add zest and excitement to the life of the membership.