Why start an Impact Zone?
Everyday in our country 3,300 babies die from abortion. Our generation, our children are dying. We live in a society that tells us: “Do whatever you want.” But we know that there is truth and that the truth is all babies in the womb have a right to life. We are the next generation and it is time for us to step up to plate. We can make a difference. Each act we do for the unborn, whether that is by praying or telling our friends and classmates of the truth about abortion, is making a difference. We can help to change hearts and minds – one person at a time, one baby at a time. We have the power of youth. We have the energy to go out and change our current culture of death into a culture of life. We as young people are ready and willing to go out and stand up for life. We have the courage to stand up in the battle for life. This is what Impact73.org is all about. This is why starting an Impact Zone is so important. You can do so much. Choose to be a voice for the unborn. Choose to stand up against the lies our world is telling about abortion. Choose to defend and protect life. Choose life!
An example of a LIFEBOARD
What is our goal?
Our goal is first and foremost to protect and defend all human life, especially the right to life of the unborn. Our goal is to change hearts and minds that all may see and understand the truth about abortion.
How to Start
Starting your very own Impact73 Chapter is simple and easy. Follow these steps to begin your own pro-life group!
- Recruit Members. It is important to have a good core group that will help you to lead the Impact Zone. Ask some of your friends and classmates to join. We recommend a core group of five to ten people that will help to get you started. Be creative when you recruit members; Post fliers at school or at your church, use Facebook, Twitter or Myspace to invite friends to meetings, whatever it takes to build that solid core.
- Hold your First Meeting. At your first meeting, establish your goals and examine Impact 73.org’s Mission Statement and Impact Zone bylaws. Find out the requirements for becoming an official group at your school or church.
- Appoint Officers. You should appoint your first leaders. You and the others who are helping to start the group should be the leaders. In the future, you can choose to elect leaders. Every Impact Zone should have a President, Vice President and Secretary.
- Find a pastor, youth minister or teacher to sponsor your group and support your group.
- Plan your first activity. Decide what activity your group would like to do first. We suggest carrying out one of our Impact Projects by posting a LIFEBOARD or giving a LIFEtalk to your church, school or friends. You will get all the information and talking points you need to do an Impact Project from our website or by calling Impact73.org at 734.426.4740. Other activities include volunteering at a local crisis pregnancy center, observing the day of silence, or praying outside of a local abortion mill. Make sure to get all the necessary permissions. If you need help or have questions, contact us!
Several youth taking participating in a LIFEtalk
Running Your Impact Zone
You have started your Impact Zone! Congratulations!!! Now it is time to think about how to keep your group active. Follow these steps for tips to keep your Impact Zone running.
- Educate yourself and your group: It is important for you and your organization to know the basic facts about abortion and the basic answers to common pro-abortion arguments. Educate yourself and your group. Review Impact73.org’s Pro-Life Apologetics to learn how to respond to pro-abortion talking points.
- Make a list of local resource centers: It is a good idea for your group to make a list of crisis pregnancy help centers in your area. Know what type of services they offer, such as free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, baby supplies, etc. If you ever have someone approach your group in need of help, you will know where to direct them.
- Recruit more members: Once you have started your group and know the direction your group wants to take, recruit more members. You can do this by inviting friends, classmates, and others you know who support life. Your group design flyers or pamphlets explaining what your group does. Performing LIFEtalks and fundraising are also ways to help recruit members. Be creative and let your whole group get involved and come up with ideas. Advertise your group on bulletin boards or popular places. Create a Google group or a Facebook page for your group and place stories or editorials in school newspapers. Collect email addresses and keep your members informed of upcoming events. Spread the word!
- Become an Official Group: If you are starting your group at your school or church or at an organizational group, learn the steps involved in making your Impact Zone an official group.
- Manage your group: Set a schedule for when your Impact Zone will meet, e.g. every third Wednesday of the month. Hold a separate meeting for the officers of the group. Before your meeting, make sure you have an agenda – list what you want to discuss, upcoming events, ideas for future events. Allow everyone in your group time to suggest their own ideas and thoughts. Once your group is up and running, you may choose to elect officers once a year.
How to Run Meetings
Follow these steps to learn how to effectively run meetings for your Impact Zone. Meetings should be run to plan events. Always make sure everyone is involved.
- Hold Regular Meeting: Schedule a regular time and place to meet. Remind all your members about the meeting at least two days before the meeting is to take place. Utilizing tools like Facebook can help your Impact Zone stay informed and organized. Make sure your meetings are engaging as well as informative. Use ice breakers before every meeting and make sure everyone gets introduced and feels welcome.
- Create an agenda for each meeting: Write an agenda that includes, in order, everything you want to discuss. Begin with introductions. Announce any upcoming events. Discuss how past events went and how they could be improved in the future. Then discuss upcoming events, with updates on its progress. If there are not any upcoming events, discuss ideas and begin planning. Invite new members to help out with planning or communication.
- Miscellaneous: Take attendance at each meeting. We recommend using a sign-in sheet that asks for name, phone number and e-mail address. By keeping track of your attendees in this fashion you can communicate with them easily. Assign tasks to members if you do not have enough volunteers but try to match tasks to skills and talents. If you need volunteers to help at a local crisis pregnancy center, assign someone the task of signing up volunteers. Have the secretary take minutes during the meeting and email them out to everyone soon after the meeting. Always announce when the next meeting will take place.
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