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A. Emphasize use of the Welcoming Words at all chapter meetings.
B. As a standard opening practice for all of the NSA local chapters, after the welcoming words are said go around and ask everyone’s expectations as to why they are there – so that everyone’s expectations can be known up front. It could be phrased “what brings you here tonight”. Also at the end of the meeting, ask the group whether the meeting met their expectations, in order to give chapter leaders immediate feedback for growth.
C. In regard to age levels at chapter meetings: Local chapter meetings should be aimed at adults and emotionally mature high school students, though no one would be turned away for a specific meeting.
D. Toward the discussion of therapies at local chapter meetings: Local chapters should let all members speak their mind, with given time limits for everyone. Chapter leaders should then add that the NSA is ‘vendor neutral’ on therapy – we do not support any particular therapy, nor do we not support any particular therapy, AND the statement: what works for some may not work for all.
E. Toward working with a disruptive person at the chapter meeting: 1. Remind the person privately of the welcoming words. If the problem persists, local chapter leaders have the discretion to ask that person to leave the group.
F. Set basic ‘ground rules’ for chapter meetings:
1. No unkind words or body language directed at anyone
2. One person talking at a time
3. Equal opportunities to speak (recognizing that there may be a need for a particular person to talk more in order to work through a pressing issue).
4. The right not to be pressured and to be able to say no or disagree.
5. Respect for a persons ideas and beliefs
G. Toward chapter members having different issues or agendas they want to push (i.e. practicing speech vs. emotional support): Try to keep the meetings together and not split off into different groups – to run multiple topics for the whole group. When the chapter members present are large enough (more than 12): The first half of the meeting can include the entire large group (short intros and introducing a general discussion topic suggestion), but the second half of the meeting could be split into ‘breakout sessions’ around two (or more) concurrent topics with the whole group reconvening and getting an update from each breakout group at the end of the meeting. Local chapters should let the discussion be of relevant issues to the group; but that during the discussion, different speech techniques could be openly practiced.
H. When chapter leaders and chapter members disagree on meeting focus: primary emphasis of the NSA local chapter meetings should be peer support of PWS and opportunities for PWS to practice speaking. What form peer support and practice takes should be based on the majority opinion of the group. Chapter leaders should be promoting these two main focus areas and work towards creating a neutral environment for any therapy, practice, device, etc, to be discussed.
I. Toward non-stuttering people attending a local chapter support meeting: As spelled out in the welcoming words, all who are interested in stuttering are welcome to attend local chapter meetings. It is important to include non-stutterers as full participants in the meeting rather than as observers. It is equally important to emphasize to the non-stuttering community present, that the meeting, of course, is primarily a support group for those who stutter - they are present to support, listen and provide input to those who stutter. They should not knowingly or unknowingly dominate the meeting. It is the responsibility of the chapter leader to try to provide balance and to give everyone an equal opportunity to speak.
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