I just started a group (first meeting was in September). I was worried about having info, handouts etc... too but none needed! It was so awesome to have a group of people all with Celiac exchanging places to shop, favorite foods, breads we like, cookies worth buying, etc... We are meeting again this month at a local pizza place that has a gluten-free pizza and everyone is so excited just to be meeting other Celiacs! Don't worry about scheduling every minute of your meeting, these first couple I'm sure will just be everyone finding out where they eat, what they eat, what foods are worth buying and what not to waste your money on and just venting that the meeting will just fly by. Maybe ask the group what sort of information they may want in the future, do they want speakers, nutritionists, or any other people to maybe speak at a meeting? These are things you can figure out as you go along.
I know for me and my group we are just excited to talk to each other about our struggles and our triumphs. I have been doing an email group for over a year now and about 1/2 now are attending the meetings (some are just too far away to attend). I would just email out recipes or into I received from CDF. I now have a newsletter that I put out each month and I'm working on a website too.
Our local hospital has no clue about Celiac, but that doesn't mean you can't see if you can hold a meeting there! Maybe educate a couple people in the process. Does your library have meeting rooms? How about a restaurant who might offer some gluten-free food.
The first meeting I had was at my house and people brought a gluten-free treat to pass. We had brownies, cookies, chips and dip and banana bread and everyone was so excited to be able to eat everything on the table!! The kids were REALLY excited that they could eat all the cookies and brownies
This was such a fun way for all of us to meet and since it was in my home we didn't have to worry about being too loud or getting kicked out if the meeting ran too long.
For me, I just felt the first meeting we should have a place we all felt secure in the food and no distractions, and a place we all felt safe in talking about Celiac. I know some of the discussion got into who gets what symptoms so to have that discussion in a restaurant would have been highly inappropriate
It is really up to you what you want to do and where you want to have it. I will say that everyone will just be so excited that there is a group and a place to vent that they really won't care if you have handouts or not! All of that can come in time, but for now I think the conversation will certainly be flowing without you having to have it planned out.
Good luck and I think it is awesome that you are doing this!!
Elizabeth Secora
McHenry Celiac Support Group
PS: Maybe your gdad could be your first speaker and get more into the medical aspect of Celiac and what it does to our bodies if we don't remain gluten-free. Many Celiacs go off the diet because they find it too hard.
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