Events for Purpose and Impact
Events keep the momentum of your group project going. How much depends on how you plan and promote your events and leverage afterwards. Here are some tips.
When you think about where you want your project to be next year, or the one after, events can be a bit like the stepping stones that get you there. Like this:
or maybe like step getting you a bit higher or bigger each time, like this
These are both traditional ways of planning, and it’s quite common for people to plan a year in advance. It works in fairly predictable and stable environments.
Our projects don’t fit this linear model.
On one hand, something unforeseen could sweep us so off-course that the project dies.
On the other, this regular plan could mean that we can’t take up any opportunities that emerge along the way.
The nature of our projects means that we have to keep adapting our plan along the way. To an outside observer who is used to traditional project management, it might look chaotic.
It is our flexibility and commitment to learning, combined with our shared purpose, that give our projects the strength and resilience needed for innovative collaborative projects.
Our projects look more like this to us…
All those steps are still the same horizontal distance apart. To an onlooker, it will just look like we’ve been coasting along having our regular events.
This is what want to keep as we plan our events:
The idea of progress with everything we do aimed at taking us closer in some way to the outcomes we want
Recognisable markers that we can show as achievements along the way
Tangible ways that people can join us and participate
Some Public Event Ideas
The events you hold will depend what stage your project is at, your resources, and the short and long-term outcomes you want. Here are some examples for verge garden groups to get you started and what they achieve. If you work with other groups, or on different types of projects, please share your ideas and experiences in the comments.
Verge Visits
All you need is your first verge garden for people to come and look at. The gardener can explain what they’ve done and why
People can see the plants growing in place
It costs nothing but a bit of time
If nobody turns up, you’ve lost nothing and maybe got some weeding done
When you have enough verges, this could become a walking trail
Casual Coffees
Can be a way of trying to get people talking in a relaxed social environment
Can be good for outreach into different communities and building relationships
Some people will attend these but not a formal meeting
Verge Working Bees
Takes more organising and usually requires insurance
Gives people without verges a way of participating
Can be a very positive group building exercise
Nursery Visits
Can be casual similar to coffees
Reinforces the idea that you buy your native plants from the community nursery, not the big commercial nurseries
Can help build relationship with the nursery
Some community nurseries will offer a venue if you are promoting planting their native plants.
Workshops and Information Sessions
Can help you find the core group of people for your project
Can be useful for training on council policy, types of plants, etc
Require preparation and suitable venues
Stalls at Events
Reach a wider public to promote your group
Market stalls v Stalls at targeted events have different costs and impact
With this variety of events, you can pick the one that best fits your needs as you make your way along your project journey.
Your group planning meetings where you plan these events are very different. These should be regular and not open to the public.
We’ll talk more about those meetings elsewhere.
But there are a few things that you need to do when you decide as a group (or yourself if you’re just starting out alone) what events to do.
