What Do You Do Once You Have a Relationship?

After a few events, you should have a good relationship with the other groups in your area, including the student groups. With your combined numbers, you have lots of opportunities available.

We've sorted some suggestions into four categories: Civic Participation, Community Service, Activism and Socializing.

Civic Participation

Let students know how important it is to have a voice in local, state and national government.

• Lead by example: share stories the things your group has done to make a difference: letters to the editor, letters to politicians, town hall meetings, visits to politicians.
• Ask them to help: while you're doing any of the above, ask the students to come along or write their own letter. The added diversity will add weight to almost any activism effort.
• Get them involved: encourage involvement in national or international organizations (see this section).

Community Service

Encourage students to engage in community service. This type of work can solidify bonds among student members as well as between students and local off-campus participants. It is also fulfilling work that can aid with recruitment and improve the image of both your groups and the movement.

There are all types of service projects you can do. You can come up with your own or get involved with something that is already going on.

How to Come Up With a Service Project:

• What is your organization's mission? What types of activities can you do to strengthen that mission?
• Determine if there is a need in your community that is not being met.
• What do you have money for? Can you do something that costs nothing?
• Survey your members during meetings to see what they would be interested in doing.
• What have other groups successfully done in the past?
• Is your membership aware of any projects going on in the community?
• Put it up to vote so that representatives from both groups are involved in the decision-making process.

Hints

• Make sure that you choose something that everyone is interested in doing so you can be assured that people will show up, not just sign up.
• Make sure both groups have equal say and have a vocal representative
• Keep in mind time constraints for student participants. Make sure the service project is not during finals or breaks.
• Offer students rides
• The SSA always encourages our affiliates to take on controversial issues, however, when you're participating in an outreach project it is sometimes best to pick something neutral that almost everyone can support. Remember you are trying to establish relationships with the community. Therefore you are trying to appeal to the greatest number of people. If you choose something controversial, you may turn people off and the message will get lost.
• Always remember that you do not have to come up with something on your own. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in your community that already exist. There are organizations you could get involved with, projects you can do, or volunteer opportunities to take advantage of.

Activism

This movement stretches beyond college campuses, crossing state boundaries and international borders. Therefore, student political participation can affect your community, the country, and the entire world. The SSA wants you to realize that our mission goes beyond college campuses. What can you do to make a difference?

Encourage Students to Get Involved By:

• Organizing protests and encouraging them to learn their protest rights
• Organizing events on campus that advertise their organization's mission or address a current issue that your groups find important
• Educating Themselves
• Are there any local issues that involve separation of church and state? What can both groups do to influence the decisions made? What can you do to challenge current issues that threaten this right?
• Voting and encouraging others to vote
• Jointly host a voter registration drive
• Get volunteers to chalk, table, or flyer to advertise the upcoming elections.
• Host a debate between campus candidates or even local candidates.
• Host a debate between professors that addresses a hot political topic.
• Getting involved in local politics.
• Supporting candidates by volunteering or working for their campaigns.
• Volunteering their time at your party's headquarters

Socializing

One of the huge benefits to collaborating with college students is the opportunity to bring younger members into the freethought movement. Don't overlook the power of simple social activities to acclimatize these newcomers to the adult freethought movement. Throwing parties, hosting dinners, and celebrating holidays will help students become comfortable in your group, which will help make their transition from student to non-student easier and encourage them to stay active in freethought after graduation.

Some ideas for socializing:

• Celebrate HumanLight, the solstice, Festivus, Darwin Day, or other seasonal holidays
• Hold a monthly brunch/dinner event
• Cooperatively plan social activities, such as pub nights, game nights, sporting events or 'field trips'
• Be creative and take advantage of your groups' interests and your region. You might gather to watch the university's Big Game, organize a skiing trip in a mountainous area, or gather readers together into a book club. Ask for suggestions from both groups!