They are also good for evaluating key events and activities so you can learn from successes and failures.

Set regular meeting times in advance so that people always know when the group is meeting and can plan to participate. For the same reason, it's important to establish a regular meeting place.

Establish the following roles for your meetings:

• Facilitator to keep people focused on the agenda and ensure everyone has their say.
• Time keeper to make sure the agenda items keep to their allocated time.
• Minutes keeper to take notes on meeting decisions and distribute them after the meeting. Minutes should be emailed to all attendees and to those who missed the meeting to keep them updated.

Meeting agenda

Write up your agenda on butcher's paper or similar and stick it on the wall. Give everyone a chance to add items to the agenda before the meeting starts. Each meeting should start with updates so all members are "on the same page". Remember not to talk over people in meetings. Maintaining group harmony is probably the first and most important victory for any campaign.