The ninety-nine girlfriends 2021 cycle of collective learning and grantmaking is getting started! COVID makes our past approach to recruiting new members impossible – so, we’re pivoting in ways that we hope will lead to helping a diverse group of women join in!
We’re organizing 10, one hour virtual “World Cafés” between mid February and late April. They’ll be small, intimate gatherings designed to give interested women a taste of what we do together and time to share personal values and experiences about social change and community. Here’s a glimpse of the proposed agenda/structure/goals – still a work in progress.
We have a team on the ready to manage the technology, lead the agenda, answer questions, and facilitate small group discussions. We’re looking for members to co-host these one hour World Café’s.
As a co-host your role is to:
Identify a diverse group of women in your circle of friends, community and network who might be interested in joining
Send them an invitation to attend a virtual World Café (we have sample language for this invitation and a link to RSVP)
Welcome guests at the World Café – 1 minute (guests will include your invitees and other women who have expressed interest)
If comfortable, facilitate one of the small-group break-out sessions where we will share our values and talk about how we create community
Contact guests after the event to help them join ninety-nine girlfriends
Will you step up? If you are able to be a co-host, please let us know by Feb. 14. Contact Grayson and we’ll follow up with you to work out details – we can schedule the World Café at your convenience.
If you’re not able to co-host, but still want to help recruit new members for 2021 here are some other ways you can help:
Share your enthusiasm and links to the World Cafés on your social media
Be a facilitator at a World Café – training will be provided
Forward the World Café recruitment email to friends and colleagues (once we get it out to you)
We’re excited about trying out this approach. Last year we had 505 members participate in our collective action. With your help, we can again assemble a diverse and committed membership.
Do you think you’ve already tapped all your friends? Think about women you know who may be different than you and might add new perspectives then invite them to learn more at a World Café. Follow up in a way that lets them know they are truly welcome to join with us in our collective learning and grantmaking.
– Grayson Dempsey and Kaye Gardner O’Kearny, Membership Committee Co-Chairs