A warm welcome to all30 April 2010
First impressions usually last. Hackney and Tower Hamlets Friends of the Earth want to make their first impression a good one.
So they've put together a welcome pack for new members who join the group.
Group member Leanne Bird is the driving force behind the project and she told us all about it.
Where did the idea come from?
I used to be a member of Manchester Friends of the Earth. We had something similar then so I decided to build on that.
Did the rest of the group help?
The others agreed with the idea and were happy for me to put it together. I did most of the work but got approval and suggestions from them.
How many packs have you given out?
We started using them in March 2010 and so far we've given out around seven.
Most people said the packs are really useful - especially those who have no idea about Friends of the Earth and what we do.
And you included a questionnaire?
Like Camden Friends of the Earth we thought a questionnaire was a good way of finding why people join the group in the first place.
It also helps us find out what they're interested in and what skills they have. I've had some feedback which I'm using to gauge members' interests.
That way we can hopefully keep people actively involved in the group.
I used the members pack we had in the Manchester group as a template. I then made changes to suit Hackney and Tower Hamlets Friends of the Earth.
Leanne Bird
What's in the pack?
There's a welcome letter which explains what happens at group meetings.
We include some general information on Friends of the Earth and also more detail on our group itself.
We mention the history and key campaign successes of Friends of the Earth. And we talk about all the local work we've done.
Then there's the questionnaire and a "10 things you can do to save the planet" leaflet.
Is that it?
Not quite. We also have a section explaining how the group campaigns. It looks at our methods and tactics that have been successful over the years.
Then there's the next steps part. The pack has details of our website and email list.
It also has links to places like MAD so people can see easy things they can do to reduce their environmental impact at home.
And our happiness charter, of course.
What's a happiness charter?
It's the group's own unique charter which we include at the end of the pack.
It helps us as a group by reminding us to celebrate our successes and that the group is a stress-free zone.
Find out more
Find your nearest Friends of the Earth group see how you can get involved at a local level.
© Hackney Friends of the Earth
