Q: If I Join the T.L.C. teleconference meetings, do I need to purchase the Leader's Guide?

A: Yes. The Leader’s Guide is your “curriculum” for the T.L.C. meetings. The Leader’s Guide is packed with practically every bit of information you need to get your group started, and keep your group healthy. It also contains a few copy-ready forms to use in preparation for your group. We recommend that each leader read through the Leaders Guide when you first receive it, to acquaint you with the study. Because our brains simply do not retain all that they have read, reach for it often, to find answers to situations and questions as they arise.

Q: If I read the Leader's Guide, why the meetings?

A: Two reasons: personal contact and mentoring. The phone meetings provide these assets that a book simply can’t. While the meetings aren’t a requirement, they are extremely helpful, especially for people that are new to the experience of overseeing a group. Avenue has developed this format of training leaders as a more beneficial and practical means than an expensive one time “weekend intensive”. Attendees may walk away from an intensive feeling pumped up, but as the process of running a group moves forward, the need for someone to talk to is vital. Much of the energy of intensives is born from the sense of community with others that are on the same path. “Going it alone” can be isolating. These meetings provide that same energy, and you get to recharge twice a month! We keep the leaders informed, refreshed, connected, accountable, and give clear direction when the answers seem hard to find.

A: To be connected with the conference call, you simply call the toll free phone number you have been provided, and a voice prompt will ask you to dial in a meeting code, which also has been provided to you. Once you have done that, you will be connected to the conference call. The call is a bit like having everybody in your house picking up an extension to listen in and talk to a loved one together. The Coach will be directing the conversation, so that people will not be talking over each other.

A: Each meeting is 50 minutes. There are two segments of each meeting. The first part of the meeting is Q. and A. time. Prior to each meeting you can email your Coach to ask questions, and they will be answered for you during the Q and A. portion of the meeting. The second segment of each meeting will focus on a specific topic which the Coach has selected, emphasizing an aspect of starting, running or growing your group.

A: The full course for the women’s group is 6 months, and the full course for the men’s group is 18 months. Having continuity in leadership is essential. Once you have your group running, you may be able to identify other people within the group to act as a co-facilitator, and to carry out other roles, as explained in your Leader’s Guide. There are usually a few group members that become passionate about the healing resource of Avenue, and are excited about being able to give back what was offered to them. New leadership is born from that heart to serve. As you create a place for these members to lead, you might choose to either take a break at the conclusion of a course, or serve in another capacity within Avenue.

A: We don’t publish your private contact information. That information is only for us to contact you about leadership information. We offer several suggestions in the Leader’s Guide for you to decide on contact information in your Directory listing.

A: You have complete control on the final decision to invite an inquiring individual to attend your group. The AVENUE Chapter Directory does not publish the address of the group location. We provide the city and state, plus a phone number or email, your choice. In that way, an inquiry must contact you as a first step, so that no one will just show up at a meeting. Your Leader’s Guide gives you direction on how to determine if your group is an appropriate fit for the inquirer.

A: It is difficult to determine how many inquiries will come from a specific location. However, you have control over dealing with more inquiries than you can provide space for. If you have maxed out your group capacity, (we give you guidelines for reasonable size groups in the Leaders Guide) you can make a status change on your Chapter listing, to indicate that you are not able to take any new inquiries until further notice.