How to:

Lead a Survivors Forum

Local Teams

1. Form an organizing committee
2. Identify a local teaching hospital that is willing to provide at low or no cost a large room to host a forum.
3. Working with Anne, set a date and reserve the space.
4. Identify costs and resources for the events (local family host the author?, local company provides pizza and drinks for the dinner?)
5. Organize local outreach (press, swag, marketing, etc.)
6. Identify what you want your Survivors Forum to include:

Sample Survivor Forum Agenda

Friday daytime – a Continuing Education/Volunteer training
A course for doctors and nurses and/or training in the Butterfly Brigade, a volunteer program to train recovered survivors to support patients and their families in crisis.

Friday evening – Author meet and greet
Book reading, wine and cheese reception with doctors, main volunteers and corporate sponsors to say thank you.

Saturday daytime – Survivors Forum
Breakfast/check-in
Survivors’ panel – sharing their stories
Small group discussions
Lunch – Keynote with Anne
Experts panel – sharing resources and advances (include grief and trauma, research, midwifery, counseling.)
What next?
Time for self-care – massages, cosmetologists to do blow-outs, manicurists, facials, walks, etc.
Dinner – local restaurant (corporate sponsored, tickets, or no-host.)

Sunday daytime
Coffee, fruit, and donuts
Ecumenical memorial service
Family picnic