The Essential Guide to Doing Transition. The Essential Guide to Doing Transition. | Page 29

• Think of some of the ways that you can support their group

• Think about mutual benefits of being in contact with each other

• Prepare some good open questions that help you to better understand how Transition might be relevant to them and the needs and challenges they are facing

Remember Transition is about collaboration not competition, so if groups already exist in your community who are doing Transition-type activities, then think about how you can support each other by working collaboratively. It is also very important that people don’t feel that you are trying to take over their group. When interacting with people always be thinking about collaboration, ask for their advice on what you want to do, offer them opportunities to get involved and so on.

Example of a first meeting outline

• Honour the past accomplishments & ongoing work of a group before telling them about Transition, and most importantly, ask questions that will help you to better understand their needs and challenges - and how Transition could be relevant to them

• Learn about their mission, goals, programs

• Find out who they reach, or seek to reach, in the community?

• Share information about some of the challenges that Transition is attempting to address such as rising energy costs and the economic impacts on the community

• Ask them how the Transition movement could support their organisation’s work in the community?

• Ask them for support, what would they like to give to support the community’s transition? (e.g. help connect to other groups and leaders, places to meet, copying, events, etc.)

Building long term relationships:

As Transition is about a whole community process then it is very important to maintain your networks, stay in contact with groups and support each other wherever possible. Here are a few ways you can do this:

• When planning events or projects always think about other groups that you could get involved, especially those who include the more marginalised members of your community

• Support an existing project, such as helping a community orchard out during harvesting time

• Promote other groups' events and work at your events

• Invite other groups to your social events

• Consult with groups when planning new projects

Transition needs to have strong networks to be really effective at the necessary levels of scale, so take time to build up those relationships as you never know where they might lead. We are indebted and deeply grateful to Tina Clarke for this activity.

ACTIVITY

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