WHAT IS A SUCCESS GROUP?
Success Groups are informal gatherings of NAPO-NE members who come together either according to (1) a specific geographic area OR (2) A special interest or subject. Non-members wishing to attend a success group meeting may do so twice before becoming a member of NAPO-NE.

These groups can meet in person, by conference call, or potentially through other web-based meeting formats.  

The Success Groups, while encouraged and promoted by NAPO-NE, function independently, in order to maintain informality. Thus, the groups may decide how formal or informal they would like their meetings to be:

• Will you discuss a specific topic at each meeting?

• Focus around a particular book, piece of software, or other resource?

• Will you have regularly scheduled meetings or just come together to chat and set the next meeting time at each meeting?

List of Current Success Groups

WHAT IS A SUCCESS GROUP CONTACT?
A Contact will be a member of NAPO-NE who is interested in spearheading a Success Group and acting as the liaison between NAPO-NE and the members of their group.  Members or visitors wishing to attend Success Groups will be referred to Contacts in order to find out more information about the group and its meetings. Please note that non-members may only attend two meetings before joining NAPO-NE.

WHAT IS A SUCCESS GROUP FACILITATOR?
A Facilitator is the leader of the discussion for a specific meeting or a host of the meeting. This position may rotate as the group desires. The Facilitator will assume responsibility for coordinating their meeting(s) and for working with the members of the group to determine how the Group will function.

The Contact and the Facilitator may be the same person or different people, and may change as needed. If the Contact changes, however, NAPO-NE should be advised via the completion of a new Contact Form Application.

As you plan your meeting, please remember that NAPO/NAPO-NE MEMBERS may NOT serve alcohol at Success Group meetings. If you’d like to have a drink with your chat, then plan to meet at a restaurant that serves alcohol or hire a licensed outside caterer.

I’m ready! How do we start?
Begin by completing the Success Groups Contact Form and returning it as directed. You will be listed on the NAPO-NE website. Begin talking to other members in your area or who might be interested in a similar subject. Set up your first meeting, during which time you can act as the Facilitator, until someone else takes over. Remember: Facilitators can change from meeting to meeting, so a Facilitator only needs to commit to facilitate one meeting at a time.

Where do we hold the meeting?
Where would you like to hold it? Over the phone via conference call? At a restaurant, library or school? It’s up to you and your Group.

Need a Conference Call Number? Go to your favorite search engine on line and search on “free bridge line” or “free conference call line” and follow the directions.

What topics can we discuss?
Again, it’s up to you and your Group (don’t you love this?)

• If your group meets face-to-face as a neighborhood group, then perhaps you want to talk about client issues, business development subjects/ideas, anything you want!!! You can plan a topic or just come together and see what happens. Your group decides.
   

• If you want to create a conference call/web-based special interest group, then the possible subjects are virtually endless. Here are some topics which occurred to us during the inception of this Program, just to give you ideas – but use your imagination, and brainstorm with your Group:

  • "Green" organizing

  • Special Needs organizing

  • Sympathy organizing (after a death)

  • Technology organizing

  • Corporate organizing

  • Organizing resources

Do we need to keep formal records of our meetings?
We ask that you record the number of people attending each meeting (NAPO, NAPO-NE and non-members) - everything else is your choice. 

CAN ALCOHOL BE SERVED AT meetings?
As you plan your meeting, please remember that NAPO/NAPO-NE MEMBERS may NOT serve alcohol at Success Group meetings. If you’d like to have a drink with your chat, then plan to meet at a restaurant that serves alcohol or hire a licensed outside caterer.

Want to start a Success Group today? CLICK HERE to start filling out an application. To join a Success Group, please contact Laine Dougherty for facilitator information.

List of Current Success Groups