What happens at a Support Group Meeting? - IBS Self Help and Support Group Forums

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Support Group Meetups

An IBS Support Group Meetup is an informal or formal gathering to help people:

- Find others in their area who share their interests
- Learn, teach, and share things
- Make friends and have fun
- Rise up, stand up, unite, and make a difference
- Be a part of something bigger; both locally and globally

Many of us go about our daily lives not knowing what is going on in our area or the people who live around us. Meetups dispel that isolation by bringing people together online and, more importantly, in the real world. That real world interaction/connection strengthens communities.

When a Meetup is cohesive, compelling, and effective, it ceases to be a collection of members and becomes a whole until itself. That entity, that Meetup, enriches the community in which it exists.

The facilitator of a Meetup is not a professional such as a psychologist, social worker, or a physician but a person who also suffers from IBS. Meetup's are based on the idea that talking about our problems improves our health and quality of life.

Use Meetup©, or post a note below, to locate or start a Meetup in your area.

© 2002 – 2008 Meetup Inc.

What happens at a Support Group Meeting?

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Jeffrey Roberts View Member Profile	Jan 30 2002, 12:23 AM Post #1
Member #1 Founder Posts: 5,208 Joined: 15-April 87 From: Toronto, Canada	Typical Outline of Support Group Meetings Meetings start at the time specified sharp Welcome and Introduction of Speaker Guest speaker (30-45 minute presentation, with questions encouraged during the presentation) Questions for the Guest Speaker, and answers Announcements A chance for everyone to briefly introduce themselves to the group (first name, have you been diagnosed with IBS, brief comment on how you're doing or a current concern) Family members and friends are welcome and should also introduce themselves break for networking (speak with individuals or break into small groups) The format of the meetings is structured but informal. You'll have lots of opportunities for questions and dialogue, both in the whole group setting as well as in smaller groups or person-to-person. Remember, to give everyone a chance to ask questions, it may not be possible for each person to ask all of the questions they have because of time constraints. The personal introductions before the break allow participants to identify others with similar experiences or concerns for the networking time.

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