How to Host a House Meeting

What do you feel about the Climate Crisis?
And what does it mean to you to be part of Extinction Rebellion? Then, there’s how do your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues feel, too? Sometimes, it can be hard to have a conversation about all this because the science is shouting we’re heading for extinction and it can feel like the world doesn’t want to hear the truth.

How a climate conversation can bring people together.
The planet is running out of time, so by hosting a house meeting, you’re doing your rebel-best to grow the movement, especially as we countdown to Rebellion. Coronavirus has had huge impacts - from global to individual, and as rebels and Local Groups, and we acknowledge going to Rebellion is a personal choice, and we respect each other’s decisions. If you aren’t able to attend a rebellion on the street, rebel by hosting these meetings and help spread the truth.

Where?
It’s really up to you - it could be on a video platform which is accessible, or a social gathering for a small number in an open space, or even at work - host as many meetings as you can.

When?
Try multiple time variations - your friends, family and contacts are probably free at different times. And by hosting, many more people will engage with the climate crisis more deeply.

How?
How you invite people is important - don’t round robin everyone. Make it personal - preferably with a call, emails and messages are easy to ignore! Perhaps tailor your groups - pockets of friends, family groupings, and people connected by faith, background, or interests; people are probably more likely to come if they know someone else, so let them know who’s invited/coming to encourage attendance. If someone declines, ask why - there’ll be valuable learning here.

Be ambitious!
For this rebellion, aim to invite everyone you know to one, with probably no more than 6-7 per meeting to give everyone time to contribute meaningfully.

What happens in a House Meeting?
Start with introductions - not everyone may know each other, and everyone shares why they have come.
Then, choose the following method you’re most comfortable with (this takes around 15 minutes):

  1. Give a short talk - cover why you joined XR, your tipping point, the science that keeps you awake at night and the facts you wish you could forget… what you think about peaceful mass civil disobedience… the government response to the ecological emergency… why we must build back better. Be vulnerable with your fears, express your love and rage… And remember, you don’t have to learn a talk off by heart - you can have crib notes to help! Also, you can offer to share some facts links with your guests, so they can do follow-up research too, after the House Meeting.
  2. Or you can show a short film of a 15 minute talk (you can receive this link if needed, from LG coordinator)

What happens next?
After this 15 minutes or so of you chatting, it’s your guests turn to talk and share how what they’ve heard has made them feel (this part takes around 30 minutes).

Next steps for engagement, or not?
Of course, it’ll be great if any of your guests want to now join XR, but not everyone will, so acknowledge that and thank everyone for sharing their thoughts and feelings. Your goal is to make everyone feel comfortable, and also give a range of options for involvement:

For guests keen to join our next Rebellion Offer a follow up space where they can chat in more depth with you, and direct them to your Local Group meetings or actions. Connect them to NVDA and Know Your Rights trainings in your area - this is vital.
Please buddy any guests who join the movement, it will help them feel supported and stay engaged.

How to wrap up the House Meeting

Well-being suggestion to host:
Giving this personal talk, sharing the science and hosting the discussion can be draining, especially if you host more than one. Many of your Local Group rebels will hopefully also be hosting them, so please check in with each regularly to support each other.


Revision #5
Created 20 August 2020 08:01:18 by Lou
Updated 27 November 2022 11:10:36 by Alison Miller