As starter sisters, you will want to sit down together and make a list of all the possible women you would like to be in your circle, noting whether or not they live within the vicinity of your meeting location. At this point include more women then you can actually foresee in your circle, keeping in mind that some will fit in better than others and should be organized toward the top of your list. Remember that women at uniquely differnt stages of life add unique perspectives and insights that will bring diversity into your circle..
Starting from the top of your list call a few or all of the women and invite them to be a part of your sister i circle. During this time you will want to communicate a brief summary of the sister i community, the reasons you feel it is needed in your community and the value of their participation. A formal invitation with a personal note could follow, but not neecessary. In the case that you do not feel comfortable calling each mother on your list, simply send an invitation.
If you are open to unfamiliar faces then post a seasonal flyer (pdf link found on the home page). Print the flyers and place them at places around your community where like minded women may frequent. Schools, libraries, YWCA, YMCA, and neighborhood coffee shops are good places to start. You may even have access to school directories or mailboxes, which could target your search.
Registering your circle through the sister i website will make it easier for interested women to find you. This is also an opportunity for you to call mothers to your circle.
sister i is in the process of developing the sister i circle search. This is a place for sister i circles to display information about themselves to draw new members and to help women form new sister i circles within their communities.
Getting a commitment
Ideally you will want at least four women to accept your invitation, with the understanding that some women might need to drop out before or shortly after your sister i circle gets started (due to the many unexpected conflicts women face). It's no guarantee, but by asking each mother for a small donation towards materials and outings ($5 —$10) to be paid before the actual season begins, she may feel a stronger commitment. As a circle you can decide where you would like that money spent (i.e. materials, restaurant, snacks, social gathering, or even as a donation to a worthy organization). The lead sister(s) would then be responsible for handling the donations. Any money left over after the season closes would either be divided equally between members or it would float over into the next season.
a. a joint effort — sharing responsibilities
b. the sister i website — understanding the sister i program
c. a place to meet — exploring your community
d. invitations — gathering like minds
next: e. informing members — teaching the sister i program
f. the first meeting — getting to know one another
