Green Support Groups Tips

Giving Green

Sometimes you don't have the time to get personally involved in the activities of a green support group. Many people feel better giving financial support in these cases, and environmentally aware groups always need extra monetary support. There are thousands of groups, from Greenpeace to the local Animal Shelter, all trying to make a difference in the environment in one way or another. The real question is—how well do you know your local green support group?

If you would like your money to be used for the greatest good, making an informed donation is essential. Many groups allow you to request financial statements which detail how monies donated are used, and to what ends. Any volunteer or non-profit organization should have a policy of fiscal responsibility and “transparency.”

Any group that is unwilling to tell you exactly how your donation will be used is suspect; never donate money to a group that won't tell you how its funds are being spent. Reputable non-profits and volunteer organizations have strict rules governing the handling of donations. Don't give money to any group that won't help you understand why you should give to them and not the organization down the street.

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Getting Involved--Green Support Groups Part 2

Once you have found a green support group you want to join, the next step is figuring out what your strengths are. What can you contribute to the group? You may only be interested in the actual environmental work itself, but in time you may discover opportunities in fundraising, public relations, publicity campaigns and recruiting new members. Do you have good organizational skills? Excellent people skills? You could find yourself involved in a much different way than you originally thought, based on your abilities. It's important to realize you could have a larger impact on the organization than just a face in the crowd on a recycling run or beach cleanup day. It's also good for the green support group organizers to know if that's what you'd rather be doing. Any non-profit group needs all the expertise it can find; yours might be just what your local environmental group needs. Talk with your local organizers to learn what their current needs are-you may be just what they are looking for.

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College Activism

Your local colleges and universities are often excellent places to find green friendly activities and green support groups. You might even consider taking a class or two on environmental issues to further your understanding of the bigger environmental picture. Many colleges offer a course on environmental biology that can offer much information. Do you know what permit trading is? How your local water supplies and air quality could be affected by permit trading? This is one of the basics of any environmental biology course, and the answers may startle you! Any environmentally aware course you take is sure to have some kind of lab or extra credit assignment involving an ecological concern, so the investment of time isn't limited to classroom work only. Check out your local college for a wealth of environmental resources.

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Getting Involved--Green Support Groups Part 1

There are literally thousands of ways to get involved in green living or environmentally aware groups. Some of them are incredibly organized and well funded, while others are informal get-togethers of concerned people. If you're looking for a place to start, it's a good idea to know what you have the time and energy to commit to before looking. Parents may find it easier to get involved in activities based at or near their children's school. Your local PTA, believe it or not, may be the perfect place to suggest, or get involved in, environmental projects. A chain of healthy-living grocery stores such as Whole Foods often sponsors green friendly seminars and activities at the store.

You can do plenty of networking at one of their activities. This chain also rewards customers for bringing back plastic shopping bags! If you would rather get involved in a larger organization, try a Google search for groups in your area. Once you find a group you think might be worth joining, do a little homework to learn about the local issues and how your group has contributed or helped out. When researching lesser-known groups in your area, try digging up newspaper articles on the group to see how they work within the community. Sometimes a smaller group might be just what you need, but know something about them before you join. There are plenty of excellent green support groups; as with anything else you should beware of scams and con artists. A legitimate organization shouldn't be too hard to dig up facts on!

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