Question:
How would I go about starting a new support group

Where I live the support group mettings are so far away, does anyone have any idea how I would go about starting a group in my area. Like what kind of things would I need and where I could get info. I can't go through my Dr. I don't see him any more. Any ideas??????    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 27, 2001)

October 27, 2001
I started a support group in my area. Really, I did it on a wing and a prayer. I looked up people on this website in my state. If they were within 100 miles of me I sent them an email inviting them to a support group meeting. I held the first meeting in the clubhouse of our apartments though you could use a church, library, etc. I sent out my first email invitation to about 100 people. We had 8 people at the first meeting. When everyone got there I told them it was a "brainstorming" meeting and that we were going to have to help each other figure out exactly what to do at a support group. We mostly talked and got to know each other in the beginning and shared our experiences, etc. As the months passed our group continued to grow and we began to invite surgeons, nutritionists, nurses, post op patients, etc. to speak. Now, 9 months after our first little meeting of 8 people we regularly have anywhere from 65 to 100 in attendance and have guest speakers each month. If you're dedicated, things will just naturally fall into place. I have even made Bariatric Surgery my career and have recently become the Bariatric Surgery Program Coordinator for a large hospital here in Birmingham. Now if that's not proof that miracles can happen, I don't know what is!! I'd say start out with the names of people listed on this site who are in an area within a reasonable distance from you. You can usually get local TV stations to advertise about support groups for free. You don't have to be a professional to start a successful support group, you just have to have the drive and determination to make it happen. Hang in there - I'M PROUD OF YOU!!!
   — ronascott