5 Ways For Groups To Survive The Holidays

We are headed into the toughest season all year for small groups to stay active. Fall and winter bring a myriad of parties, vacations and holidays. It is really tempting to not fight against the business and just cancel group until the new year. But by the time January rolls around, the group has lost any kind of momentum that they had and have to start over, or completely disband because of lack of interest.

Instead of giving into the craziness, groups can work with it and have a lot of fun at the same time. Here are 5 things that groups can do over the next 2 months to maximize the opportunities:

1. Use an October group meeting to have a pumpkin carving contest.
Our group did this for the first time last year and it was a huge hit. The winning pumpkin was a dead-on rendition of Hisenburg from Breaking Bad.

2. Plan a pre-Thanksgiving alternative feast.
Everyone loves to eat, and what could be better than a Mexican themed Thanksgiving meal?

3. Serve together at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving morning.
There a tons of opportunities to serve on Thanksgiving day. You can be done by mid-morning and ready for your family celebration by 1:00.

4. Plan an early, December group Christmas party.
Most parties don’t get started until mid-December, so get your “dirty Santa” game on the books quick!

5. Get your first meeting back in January on the calendar now.
Instead of trying to put something together in the stupor that is the New Year, go ahead and pick the date so that everyone can be ready for it after the festivities have gone away.