Community Groups

Community groups are the 'action' partners of the Forum. They take on projects, put on events, take positions on issues and in these and other ways affect our community. Some are long-established local groups while others are ad hoc groups that have come together for a particular project. You can get familiar with what we mean by community groups by looking at the currently active community groups (see links in the column to the left).

Each community group is independent and self-governing. It is not controlled by the Forum and in return it can not speak for or represent the Forum as a whole. You can see more about how community groups relate to the Forum by looking at About FCF.

If you would like to join an existing community group you will find contact information through the links to the left.

If you would like to start a new community group in partnership with FCF :

• Get on the email list if you are not already.
• Familiarize yourself with the overview of the Forum (About FCF) and the guidelines that apply to community groups.
• Float the idea. Talk with friends. Create it as a topic in the Potential Community Groups conference.
• Once you have decided to go for it, you will need to come up with a name and a statement of purpose (like those of existing community groups).
• Designate someone as a person to represent your new group in the Liaison Group.
• Work with the Hearth Group to get your online conference and website section set up and learn how to get the most out of this system.

If you are part of an ongoing community group:

• Community groups are asked to report regularly on their progress to the rest of the Forum at Liaison-Group meetings and through this website.
• Groups are also asked to post their calendar information on this site, keep their website section up-to-date, and moderate their online conference.

The Hearth Group is available to help with every phase of this process. Contact someone you know is in the Hearth Group or e-mail us.