Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Send attendees a thank-you note or e-mail, a copy of the participant list, meeting notes, and any next steps
decided on in the first meeting. Invite everyone on the interest list to the next meeting and encourage
them to invite others as well.
Solicit feedback in your thank-you and reply to all questions or comments that arise after the meeting.
The Agenda
There's no quicker way to lose interest with a group of people than by wasting their valuable time. An
agenda is a vital tool to keep a meeting moving along on time and on task. It covers the items the meet-
ing needs to accomplish and address. The following is an agenda template that I've developed over the
years, which you can utilize as a road map. It can work for any of your meetings, though you may not
need to include all the items for each meeting.
FEEL THE LOVE
Agenda for the First Community Meeting
The first meeting accomplishes a lot of important things. You start to establish group norms with which parti-
cipants can be comfortable; you present a meeting format that can become familiar and easy to replicate for
other group leaders; and, most importantly, your organization and efficiency set a tone for a productive group
environment.
WELCOME
Introduce yourself and any teammates or special guests who are leading or attending the meeting, and thank
people for coming.
OVERVIEW
Briefly state the purpose of this meeting, that it is related to a community garden project. Report any relevant
information, such as a specific property that has been identified, or support from local officials. Share any
other pertinent issues that arose prior to this first meeting.
