Networking Part Three – Local The local networking you do is probably the most important connection you can have doing grassroots/independent rescue. While you need the support and connections to shelters, vets, other rescues, you will get most of your information and contacts through the grassroots network itself. Those in that network include other independent rescuers, but also friends, family, and the people in your community you will meet as your involvement increases. How do you build your network? Make the effort – YOU are the one looking for help, support, or just plain camaraderie. It is up to you to search out those others. Ways to do this: • Volunteer at a local shelter that has values you share – meet others doing what you believe in. • Look for classes – there are ALWAYS classes going on somewhere! You can meet people here, perhaps learn of other networking possibilities while there. • Put together a class of your own! Sound intimidating? It doesn’t have to be – you can do a class in something simple but fun – for instance, many years ago our core group in the CCC met via a class in how to make a drop trap! From that class, we started an email group to learn about each other, and from there moved on to a long lasting team of friends. • Do a meet and greet of rescuers – put an ad on craigslist saying “I’m doing cat rescue in the XXX county area, and am inviting people to come meet others at the local XXX pizza parlor on Tuesday evening! Let’s get to know each other, find out what each of us is doing, maybe think of ways we can work together! I’m Nancy, email me at the cl address provided and let me know if you think you can come!” Or if you are not comfortable with craigslist (I would only do that in a public place), think of asking the local shelters/rescues if they would host a meet and greet of rescuers. • Do you already know someone doing rescue? Ask if they know others who might like to start a connection by establishing an email group. Email is a “safe” way to connect while you learn about each other, and you can share stories, trade solutions, offer suggestions. The moral support alone can be worth a lot. • Research established TNR groups in your own area – we gave the link to the HSUS map 2 posts ago, use it! Take them one at a time and simply send an email with an “I’m looking for connections to others doing TNR; do you have a group, a class, or people interested in talking to me?” The key is to reach out to others, don’t stand back and wait for them to come to you. Are you standing in line at the grocery store buying 10 cases of cat food? It’s a sure conversation starter, and you’ll be astonished at the number of people you can meet this way who are ALSO feeding the community cats :) Put a poster on bulletin boards “starting a TNR group, are you interested? Join us, or just come to learn!” The ideas are endless, and here’s a few tips for KEEPING your contacts once you make them! • Be positive. For some reason, many who get into rescue become negative. Perhaps because we see so much sadness, it is easy to slide into the negativity. Keep your focus on the fact you are making a difference, see the joy of the lives you save, see the appreciation of your community. Remember – you are working to establish connections – why would someone choose a downer? And it IS a choice – so is joy. • Share – what you know, what you are doing, what you can give in the way of any assistance. • Be creative – think of new ways to interact, perhaps a community project to make everyone feel good about being involved. • COMMUNICATE! Ask each other what you’d like to do! Be open to each other’s ideas, and try new things. • Do NOT try to make others feel they “have-to” do anything. The fastest way to lose interest is being made to feel guilty. Rescue is of the heart – like we’ve said before, it should feed your soul – not starve it. • Don’t expect to create this network overnight – it takes time; time to learn each other, time to trust. Focus on one strong connection at a time, and build from there. The number one, absolute most important advice we can give you in grassroots rescue is to remember this is a give and take system. We are all partners in this rescue world – teammates! That means I help you, you help me, we all help each other. If you see only yourself, only your needs – you will be doing it all alone. And it’s a whole lot more fun together :) Tomorrow – the Global Network.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 07:08:02 +0000
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