EX-JW MEETUP GROUPS

lilipad

I AM STARTING A NEW EX-JW MEETUP GROUP IN SOMERSWORTH NH AND I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO HAVE A FUN INFORMATIVE EVENT? I AM A LITTLE NERVIOUS. I WANT IT TO BE A SUCCESS.SO I WILL WELCOME ANY INPUT ANYONE HAS TO GIVE.

Lady Lee

Pssst Lily Turn off the caps - it looks like you are yelling

I tried to start a group in Winnipeg - met Twitch that way and I think Nosferatu also.

When I met Twitch I took some info on cults in general and most likely some WT specific info. He recently started posting here so he might add what he found most useful.

If you take a variety of things there might be at least someone that will be helped by it.

I made the sign they had on the Meetup website and made sure the place was easy to find and let people know the sign would help them recognize me

At one point we met up with a group of ex-JWs. They all knew each other (related to each other or came from the same cong) Nos might remember that

Dismembered

Greetings lilypad,

Somersworth NH! Cool. Are you from, or did you go to the Dover Congregation? If so pm (private message) me. Welcome to JWD! Dismembered

Jim_TX

I've been to one of those before...

I would recommend that you just have an informal 'meeting' - no pressure - just get to know each other.

I don't think that having flyers or pamphlets is necessary... you aren't trying to 'preach' to anyone.

At the meeting, just start by introduce yourself, and give a little background on who you are... and were... then allow the others to introduce themselves - and tell whatever they want to.

Try to stay away from 'bashing' either the WTBTS or others. It's a 'negative' approach, and may tend to push folks away.

I would recommend for a meeting place - if you don't have one already - somewhere that you can get a nice cup of coffee, or iced tea, and refills - like a restaurant. Then relax and have fun.

Regards,

Jim TX

Swan

Welcome Lilipad!

Twitch

(((lilypad)))

Welcome

Good for you in taking the initiative to start a group. Meetup was my first "exposure" to other xjws in person (the first one years ago doesn't count) and connecting in a way I never imagined until then. Though I've become somewhat reclusive since changing my life, the connection is still there, whether it be in person or via the web.

Anyways, you've received some good advice already. At the risk of being redundant, here are my thoughts.

Choose a comfortable enviroment. Whether it is publicly popular or not is up to you and your comfort level in meeting or risking being seen (assume that some may have something to lose by being seen associating with apostates)
Bring a sign or something to identify the group; it may feel weird to advertise your apostasy but you'll get used to it ;-)
Make it positive and open to all opinions. Everyone should listen and respect others. Lead by example.
Bring literature if you wish but don't push it. Meetup was the first time I laid eyes on Crisis of Conscience and I chose to pick it up. One thing that got to me though was that Lee had a page she handed out that had Robert Lifton's definitions of organized mind control that listed what to watch out for. There were also a number of websites listed if I chose to follow up with it. And I sure did!! LOL
Be open to talk about anything, not necessarily WTS stuff. View it as a niche club for friends of a common background.
Be patient. It may take time to get the ball rolling.
Realize that some may come and go. Don't take it personally. You never know what effect you may have on someone.
Be proud of what you are doing and why, not only for yourself but for the peoples who are not unlike yourself.

I guess that's all i have for now.

Good luck

Seeker4

I'm in Vermont. Welcome!
S4