START 
Menu
Section 2.E: Suggested Agendas
In this Section:
- Session 1: Introduction
- Session 2: Getting Started
- Session 3: Another World is Possible — A Few Positive Examples
- Sessions 4–15: Understanding Problems and Identifying Solutions
- Session 16: Exercises AND/OR Planning a Change Activity
- Sessions 17–22: Strategies for Positive Change
- Session 23: Exercises AND/OR Planning a Change Activity
- Session 24: Next Steps
Below are suggested agendas for each of the eight kinds of sessions. Each agenda item is preceded by the time (in minutes) we suggest be devoted to it. The individual agenda items and exercises are described in more detail in the next three sections (2.F, 2.G, and 2.H). Remember, these are only suggestions. Please use your own judgment about what is most appropriate for your START group.
Session 1: Introduction
The standard 24-week START course begins with two introductory sessions. The experience of previous groups has been that this time at the beginning builds a foundation for a smoothly functioning process throughout the course. The purposes of these two sessions include:
- Getting to know the other members of the group
- Building group trust
- Deciding on the mechanics of the START course such as the meeting time, place, etc.
- Deciding on the basic structure of the START course — topics and order
- Sharing expectations for the START group and hopes for what might come out of it
- Exploring personal values
- Beginning to think about the society we live in, how it affects us, and how we would like to see it changed
Because of the many important things to cover in the first two sessions, we suggest making these sessions slightly longer (3 hours) than the rest of the sessions (2 1/2 hours).
Time
Item
10
Presentation / Decision — Agenda Review, sign up for special roles (facilitator, etc.) for this session
10
15
Discussion / Decision — Business and Logistics (assignment for next time: read the START study guide)
10
Decision — sign up for special roles for the next session
35
Exercise — from the Personal Reflection set of exercises (see Section 2.H)
5
Decision — plan next meeting
10
3 hrs
Session 2: Getting Started
Time
Item
25
Discussion / Decision — Business and Logistics (choose roles and reading sets for next time; also, choose the topics and order for your START course)
50
Exercise — from the Personal Reflection set of exercises
10
50
Exercise — from the Understanding Change set
5
Decision — plan next meeting
10
3 hrs
Session 3: Another World is Possible — A Few Positive Examples
Time
Item
60
Presentations and Discussion — reports on readings + discussion of readings and discussion questions (5 reports x 5-minute report + 5-minute discussion following each report + 10-minute discussion at end)
10
40
Exercise — from the Visions of a Good Society set
5
Decision — plan next meeting
10
2 hrs 30 minutes
Sessions 4–15: Understanding Problems and Identifying Solutions
Time
Item
60
Presentations and Discussion — reports on readings + discussion of readings and discussion questions (5 x 5+5 minutes each + 10-minute discussion at end)
10
35
Exercise — from the Connecting Problems to Social Change Solutions set OR the Visions of a Good Society set
5
Decision — plan next meeting
5
Brainstorm — questions about the next topic
10
2 hrs 30 minutes
Session 16: Exercises AND/OR Planning a Change Activity
We suggest the last session in this segment be devoted to exercises and/or planning a change activity (or if your group has moved along in a leisurely fashion, to catching up on readings).
You should choose exercises based on the needs and desires of the group (see Section 2.H for suggested exercises). You may, for example, want to undertake a longer and more extensive version of one of the exercises in the Connecting Problems to Social Change Solutions set. Or, now that you have explored many of the problems of the world, you might want to try another exercise from the Visions of a Good Society set. If group morale needs boosting, you might want to choose an exercise from the Empowerment set. Or, if your group is eager to explore change strategies, you might choose an exercise from the Strategy Analysis set.
By planning and carrying out a simple change activity, you may immediately be able to use some of the ideas your group has just learned in this segment of the course and stimulate questions about strategy that can be explored in the next segment.
Time
Item
50
Exercise — from the Connecting Problems to Social Change Solutions set OR the Visions of a Good Society set OR the Empowerment set OR the Strategy Analysis set
10
5
Decision — plan next meeting
5
Brainstorm — questions about the next topic
10
2 hrs 30 minutes
Sessions 17–22: Strategies for Positive Change
Time
Item
60
Presentations and Discussion — reports on readings + discussion of readings and discussion questions (5 x 5+5 minutes each + 10-minute discussion at end)
10
35
Exercise — from the Empowerment set OR the Strategy Analysis set
5
Decision — plan next meeting
5
Brainstorm — questions about the next topic
10
2 hrs 30 minutes
Session 23: Exercises AND/OR Planning a Change Activity
We suggest Session 23 be devoted to exercises and/or planning a change activity.
Time
Item
50
Exercise — from the Empowerment set OR the Strategy Analysis set
10
50
Exercise — from the Empowerment set OR the Strategy Analysis set
5
Decision — plan next meeting
10
2 hrs 30 minutes
Session 24: Next Steps
Time
Item
40
Exercise — from the Next Steps set
20
Presentations — reports on Proposals for Action (3 x 5 minutes each)
10
45
General Discussion — what to do next
5
Decision — plan next meeting (if there will be one)
10
2 hrs 30 minutes