I have been homeschooling for nearly 20 years. Seventeen years ago,
two friends and I decided to start a new homeschool support group. We
had been part of a small group that didn't quite fit the needs of our
families at the time. We wanted to be part of a group that would be a
source of encouragement for homeschool moms, provide activities for our
children, and provide a source for friendships for both!
We
had 20 moms at our very first meeting, and the idea became a reality.
Today this support group is made of just over 300 families, and is one
of the strongest and most active groups in our area. Here are a few
things that I think have been instrumental to its success.
Structure :
It would have been easy at the beginning, when it was just the 3 of us,
to think that we didn't need any formal structure to the group. Why
have By-laws and a leadership council for a small support group? But we
were given good advice and so set up a structure for our group from
the beginning which allowed us to distribute responsibilities, utilize
the gifts and talents of our members, and grow without overburdening any
one person. Our group has a 7-member Leadership board consisting of a
president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, membership coordinator,
calendar/event coordinator, and hospitality coordinator. There are also
"non-board leaders" who take on important roles in the support group
such as librarian, yearbook editor, Iowa testing coordinator, webmaster,
sports program director, etc. When our group passed 200 families a
couple of years ago, we added Advisors to help the Calendar/Events
coordinator, and those Advisors helped in specific areas - Academic
Activities, Social Activities, Family Activities, Field Trips, Teen
Activities, Parent Support. Their job is to help find activity
coordinators, secure a facility if needed, offer advice in planning and
carrying out the group activities, and also communicate monthly with the
Leadership Board. Structure is just one of the things that has led to
longevity and growth for our support group.
August Parent Meeting
Focus on Encouragement and Relationships: Why
do people join support groups? While field trips, park days, and
spelling bees are all fun, encouragement is the most fundamental need
that homeschool parents have. And although encouragement can be found in
a book or magazine or website or blog, the best kind of encouragement
comes from real people with whom we have real relationships - i.e. from
friends! Relationships are the glue that holds a support group
together. With people all around us telling us we are crazy and probably
ruining our kids, we NEED the moral support of others who have chosen
the same path for their families. When we have those days when we reach
the end of our rope and declare the the kids are getting on that school
bus TOMORROW, we need someone to call who can not only sympathize
(because we've all been there), but can also offer guidance and
suggestions to get us through the crisis, help us see the forest for the
trees, and remind us of the reasons we are homeschooling in the first
place. Is your support group a place of support and encouragement? Are
there leaders or experienced homeschoolers available to answer
questions or talk with a member who is struggling? Are there regular
meetings or gatherings where moms can talk, ask questions, share
struggles, and celebrate victories? Some of the ways our support group
offers encouragement is through monthly parent meetings, mentor groups,
Facebook page, Yahoogroups email loop, Dads' breakfasts, informal
rendezvous in the parking lot or at McDonalds after the monthly meeting,
parent workshops, and park days. The format of our monthly meetings
varies, and while sometimes we have a speaker or panel talking about a
topic, other times we spend some or all of the time broken up into small
circles with a leader/seasoned homeschooler in each circle to help
facilitate discussions. In addition to encouragement, members are able
to share experiences and glean from the wisdom of the older homeschool
moms.
New Homeschool Moms Brunch
Building up New Leaders: An integral
part of support group leadership is identifying and building up new
leaders. Our Board positions are 2-year terms, with 3 or 4 Board
members being replaced every year. One benefit of this is that it is
easier to ask someone to serve for 2 years, than to ask them to serve
indefinitely! We also have numerous other leadership positions, which a
person may hold for longer or shorter. Keeping an eye out for active
members who show a committment to homeschooling and a willingness to
serve others is the beginning of building up new leaders. First we ask
these people to take on small jobs, and then larger ones with more
responsibility, helping them along as needed. We also look for those
members with particular talents or abilities, such as accounting or
graphic design or website design, and encourage them to contribute that
talent to the group. Leaders set the tone and promote unity in your
group by focusing on what you all have in common, rather than on your
differences. They should be expected to set an example of wisdom,
mercy, and humility. All leaders are invited to a monthly leaders
meeting, where support group business is discussed and relationships
with the other leaders are built. A day long "leaders retreat" is
scheduled each June, for the purpose of making plans for the upcoming
year but also for training new leaders and discussing the support
group's mission, vision, and bylaws.
Vison:
Why do we homeschool? Why do we have a support group? What does our
support group do? What does it not do? These are some of the questions
that go into defining the vision of your support group. Are you a
co-op that provides academic enrichment classes? Are you a play group?
Are you focused on teens? On parent support and field trips? Leaders
should know the group's vision, mission, and purpose, and use those
things to evaluate the direction of the group from time to time. Print
it and hand it out to your members. Put it on your website. Add it to
the bottom of your emails.
Share the vision with your members often.
OUR VISION STATEMENT (why):
We
believe God has given parents the authority and responsibility to
direct the education of their children. Education includes the whole
child - not only the mind, but also the heart, soul, and body. True
education begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT (what):
We are an association of homeschooling families and our purpose is to provide support and encouragement to one another
in our homeschooling endeavor; to provide opportunities for our children
to participate in large and small group activities for academic,
social, and character-building purposes; to share information about
local, state, and national happenings of interest to homeschool
families.
