Talk MS Group Leader

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Position Summary:

Talk MS groups at the MS Society bring people, who share a common life experience (living with MS), together for support, education, and mutual aid. They share a belief that positive personal change can happen through individual effort with the support of others. Leaders of chapter-affiliated self-help groups are valuable volunteers for the National MS Society and perform an integral role in facilitating this process. Each self-help group functions best as a result of a collaborative partnership between the group and the chapter.

Self-help group leaders and co-leaders, with the assistance and participation of group members, manage the organizational and logistical aspects of group facilitation, by negotiating and dividing tasks among co-leaders and members.

Responsibilities: These duties are shared with co-leader(s)

• Serve as liaison to the chapter
• Ensure that the group meets in accessible, appropriate meeting space
• Develop meeting times and schedules with group members
• Ensure that meetings are publicized
• Together with group members, plan and implement meeting agenda including inviting guest speakers, using disclaimer appropriately, planning special programs, organizing activities, procuring videos, tapes, hand-out materials, etc.
• Ensure that follow-up meetings are provided as needed (i.e., thank you notes).
• Together with group members, open and facilitate group discussion, encourage participation, monitor discussion
• Ensure that new members are welcomed
• Arrange or have another group member arrange for refreshments (if the group chooses to have refreshments)
• Develop and implement a plan to ensure communication with group members between meetings as necessary
• Ensure that the group complies with the NMSS Self-Help Group Standards

Requirements:

• Ability to organize individuals, groups, and meeting
• Ability to empathize
• Effective verbal communication skills
• A desire to help others in a similar situation
• Willingness to collaborate with the NMSS