How to hold a Public Meeting in your area

By holding a regular public meeting our Dunnville Baha'i community (LSA of Haldimand) has built up over a decade a regular following of about a dozen people who attend our public meetings. In Hamilton, a much larger community, we built up a similar following of about sixty non-Baha'is turning up within a couple of years. I include the following information about how this is done so that other communities will know how to go about it and all that it takes to do the same thing.

 

In the past, Betty Frost had a monthly column in our local paper, but there was a shakeup in the administration and now only paid journalists have that job. Undeterred, every month she writes a letter to the editor about our upcoming meeting. Here is what she submitted this month.

 

To the Editor,

 

On June 8th the usual monthly program sponsored by the Haldimand Baha’i Community(held in the Garfield Disher Room of Dunnville’s library) will have quite a different approach. Our speaker, Nola Marion of St. Catharines, will not be "addressing" the group on the subject of how we can build healthy communities. In her own words, via email, she said:

 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

 

WHAT DOES 'COMMUNITY' MEAN & HOW DO WE BUILD 'HEALTHY' COMMUNITIES?

 

In conversation we can share ideas, co-create knowledge and nurture relationships. Conversations are based on the idea that no single person has the whole answer to a question but rather that each person's thinking can be enriched by the perspective of others. Come out and join our conversation about 'community' and explore the concept that 'community' is where we discover our strengths and interests, and feel a sense of belonging. In 'community', we have the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of others as we live together and share experiences.

 

Our connection to the globe begins with participation in our local communities. Join us in exploring what a community is and how building healthy communities is an essential component to the betterment of society.

 

We hope that you will respond to her invitation and join us at 8:00 p.m. next Wednesday. The "conversation" will conclude with light refreshments.

 

Betty Frost

 

Haldimand Baha’i Community

 

Every month Betty sends this material to me, and it is then my job to squeeze what she said and make up a poster, which I print out and distribute around town.

 

Here is this month's poster:

 

Bahá’í Principles Series

 

Community

“What does community mean and how can we build better ones? Our connection to the globe begins with our local community. Here we can discover our strengths and interests and find a sense of belonging. Come and join the conversation.”

 

Featured Speaker:  Nola Marion

 

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

 

8 PM

 

Garfield Disher Room,

Dunnville Branch,

Haldimand Public Library