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announcement
Simplicity Matters Earth Institute
Please find the list of circles forming this month at our monthly announcement page.
Our monthly announcement lists scheduled introductory meetings of circles forming all over MD and DC, as well as people seeking to start their own circles.
Matchmaker neighborhoods
In some neighborhoods -- those that have circles going all the time -- we keep databases of people interested in joining a circle, and "make matches" by notifying these people of when an introductory meeting is about to happen in their area.
When you request to be added to these matchmaker lists, please provide your:
- first and last name
- e-mail address
- phone number
- neighborhood(s) that would work for you.
- Subject line of email (to ensure that your message passes our spam filters): "Please add me to your matchmaker list"
We're currently keeping lists covering the following neighborhoods:
- Baltimore / Columbia / Greenbelt / Takoma Park / Silver Spring / Rockville / Bethesda / Germantown / NW-DC. To be notified of circles starting in these neighborhoods, contact Lore (SimplicityGrpsMD@aol.com) with the information listed above
- Frederick / Hagerstown. To be notified of circles starting in these neighborhoods, contact Lena (Lena@simplicity-matters.org) with the information listed above
- WV: Shepherdstown / Charles Town. To be notified of circles starting in these neighborhoods, contact Lena (Lena@simplicity-matters.org) with the information listed above
Remember to include Lore's and or Lena's addresses in your address book to circumvent spam filters... or you may never hear from them.
Individual matchmaker lists
If your neighborhood isn't listed you can contact Lore and request to be added to her "matchmaker" list. Please include the information requested above. She will then give your name to those who start circles in your area.
If you want to start a circle in your neighborhood, contact Lena at circles@simplicity-matters.org or call 301-432-8721. Please provide your:
- first and last name
- e-mail address
- phone number
- neighborhood(s) you'd like to hold the circle (Maryland, DC, WV)
- what kind(s) or circle interests you
- best time to reach you by phone
- Subject line of email (to ensure that your message passes our spam filters): "I wish to start a circle."
Our volunteers can help you better define what you want, help you produce a blurb and a flier, and recommend ways in which you can attract people to attend an introductory meeting (which we will either conduct, or help you conduct). We will also help you advertise your circle.
When a minimum of 8 people commit to participating, we may assign a mentor to your circle to share the best practices we've identified, and to support your group in whatever ways we can.
It sounds complicated, but is easier than you think!
We've helped start more than 150 circles in Maryland and DC since we began our operation in 2002. All of us are volunteers, because we believe in the power of deep conversations to improve the quality of our lives... and to change the world for the better.
If you're interested in being in a circle you are likely to meet one or more of our sixteen hard-working mentors, Debbie Pakaluk, Diane Jones, Gina Cawley, Jeff Blankman, Kelly Diamond, Laura Gubisch, Linda Davis, Marat Moore, Michael Hartman, Peggy Perry, Phyllida Patterson, Rebecca Ruggles, Rich Louis, Robin Hessey, Ruth Alice White, and Susanne Wiggins, or our three "pollinators," Marney Bruce, Lore Rosenthal, and Lena Rotenberg.
Loaner Book Program
Did you recently finish a discussion circle? Do you have a discussion guide that you really don't want to keep? SMEI collects "lightly used" discussion guides to loan out to circle participants who do not want to purchase one. If you have a NWEI discussion guide you would like to contribute to our "Loaner Book Program," please contact Marney at marney@simplicity-matters.org or 301-652-0492. We cannot offer you a tax deduction, but this might be a good opportunity to declutter your bookshelf and give others an opportunity to experience a discussion circle.
Page last updated on 01-Jul-2008 by Lena