Networking and social glue

1) Transition Drinks

2) Transition Potluck

1) Transition Drinks

Every last Thursday of the month, 19:00 onwards. The Olde Trout Tavern, Transition Drinks, Transition Chat – a chance to meet for an informal chat about Southend in Transition, green organizations and projects in Southend-on-Sea.

The idea behind the Transition Drinks is to create a space for local people to come together in an informal setting and chat about local groups and projects working on sustainability in Southend-on-Sea.

We got what we wanted! At each meet up there is an interesting mix of people representing different groups and themselves:)

At the first meeting we had a member of the public, Friends of the Earth, Transition Westcliff, Milton Community Partnership, local horticulture teacher starting organic seminars and Emerge – a local art group working within the community to increase awareness of the environment. You never know who will come so feel free to get pleasantly surprised.

Venue

I felt The Olde Trouts was a good choice of venue as it is central, recognizable to local people, clean, the volume of music just right to have a conversation and offers a selection of regional and local ales.

The Drinks

We chat about all sorts of matters – some of it informative like what the groups are doing and planning to do in the future, some of it  informal with laughs and getting to know each other and some results in beneficial networking like which hall to use for meetings, where to print posters and how to go about other activities connected to organizing and activism.

Information and Inspiration

There is a folder for the Transition Drinks where we keep posters and leaflets of local projects, groups and events so people can have a browse and learn about the bustling grassroots scene in Southend on Sea and take a leaflet away if they are interested. A simple browsing of this folder is inspiring in itself and gives a sense of hope for the future seeing so many people working on issues important to our locality.

See you there

These drinks are open to members of the public and people already involved in initiatives so I’m looking forward to seeing you.

individuals – this is just the right place for you if you want to learn about local groups and chat about issues important to you in an informal setting.

groups – come and network with other groups, make valuable links and enjoy the feeling that you’re not alone in your activism. Bring or send leaflets to me so I can add them to the Transition Drinks folder.

2) Transition Potluck

Just another excuse to get together in good company. Thinking of folks who can’t attend evening meet ups and for whom the pub is not their cup of tea:) we discussed having monthly get togethers over a shared meal to socialise and have fun together.

Please bring nibbles, dishes and drinks, made or bought, simple or sophisticated. Or just bring yourself that day if you didn’t have time to get cooking or aren’t yet sure of the skills of the buddying chef within you to share in the chatter.

Venue – at Growing Together every second Saturday of the month, doors open at 12:00, food served at 12:30. Volunteers to help with setting up tables welcome from 11:00.

£2 donations welcome to cover costs and contribute to the work of Trust Links the charity offering us the venue.

In the future we could also tie the potluck in with a film screening, workshops or family and children events as for example run by Emerge Southend. Come along and share your ideas.