Starting New Groups

We would love to work with you on bringing What's Your Tree to your region of the world!  Please read the process and if you have the entrepreneurial spirit and passion to start a region, we would love to talk with you more.

Process for Launching a New Region
as of Fall, 2009

There are two types of regions within the What's Your Tree program:  1) A locally-sponsored region where individuals in the region initiate the program and commit to and generate leadership and funding for the success of the region; and 2) an Engage Network-sponsored region where the Engage Network determines for strategic reasons that it wants to launch in a particular region and provides the start up funding for the region.  The process below is for a locally-sponsored region.

Step 1:  An organization or individual contacts us to express their interest in launching a region.

Step 2:  Feasibility research is conducted within the potential new region to confirm that the region has the human and financial support it needs to launch a successful program. In our experience, a successful launch requires 5-10 core team members in the region and approximately $10,000 for the first year of program and operations which includes a stipend for the regional leader.  The Engage Network may also provide a matching grant of up to $5,000 to new regions to support locally-sponsored regions in their first year.  

Step 3:  A launch team is assembled. The launch team is made up of 5-10 people in a region who function as their own small group. Together, the team supports one another, supports and nurtures new group leaders, identifies times, locations, funding and outreach plan for the first groups in the region and serves as local “champions” for the program.  Read a short description of a launch team.

Step 4:  The launch team meets regularly starting 3-6 months prior to the program launch to immerse themselves in the program and create a launch plan.

Step 5:  Training.  National What's Your Tree team conducts a day long training for new group leaders prior to the start of the first groups.  New group leaders receive coaching, mentoring and support from the national group leader body.

Step 6:  Groups begin within 2 weeks of each other so that they run on a similar timeframe.

Step 7:  Launch team continues to meet regularly throughout the launch period and supports the successful completion of the “101” curriculum within the first groups; and supports groups in moving forward/maturing.

Starting a new region is a fun, challenging and co-creative process and our intention is for all members of the team to grow and learn from one another as we grow the network together.

If this process excites you and you are ready to bring What's Your Tree to your region, please email us at info (at) whatsyourtree.org.  

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