THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMANIST MOVEMENT

If in our group we have a quarterly project dedicated to have a big expansion, if we begin to grow it’s very difficult for us to follow all participants if they decide to be part of the Movement after attending the weekly meetings. We have the same “problem” if we decide to divide our meeting in different meetings during the week to be able to follow all people.
The first problem we have is to have a direct contact with all participants. The contact is important for our Movement, and if people decide to leave the group, we lose this person. This person could be interested in our Movement  but he/she doesn’t know at his/her best our proposals. If this person feel himself/herself lonely lost the interest.
We have another kind of difficulty too. A person can participate to the weekly meeting but he/she hasn’t  the necessary information or may have problems to understand very well the info. Materials and information have to reach all participants.
When new people become part of a group, it’s necessary to speak to them, so to be part of the group will be more simple. If one person decides to do something, an activity and find difficulties and resistance to start, it’s important to encourage this person. This approach is a “personal treatment” necessary for all members of the group. We can’t divert our attention from the “personal treatment” because it’s not possible to abandon people in a new habitat. It’s simple to find other examples and  for this reason it’s important to have new functions. These functions make easier the development.

During the expansion of a group there are three different functions:
-	The regenerator:  takes care to form new groups. Of course if in a group will arrive new participants it’s difficult  that all the new members participate in only one weekly meeting. Some people can decide  to form new groups, their own group. But it’s necessary to remember that a new groups formed is an important part of the original group and both are part of the same line of work. This function is called structural function.

-      The administrative function ensure that materials and information circulate and reach all participants (production and distribution). The administrative function is in contact with all members and is “the memory of the group”. This function is called administrative sector.

-       The support function is the third function and complete the other two functions. The support is in contact with the regenerator and the administrative sector to simplify the activities of the group. The support function is in contact  personally with the members of a group and assists members to develop the group or if they have some problems in this work. The support is an optimistic person. This function is called the support function.

Here you’ll find a scheme

   The regenerator				          The Orienter

						Administrative					  Support
						Function					  Function

        		      
         Members							        

      Initial Group					
	
A Council of Group Delegates

A group can decide when it’s necessary to individuate these different functions. But it’s necessary  that the regenerator from the beginning take present this necessity and he/she defines the different functions. It has not influence in the quality of the activities but it’s important to have a group well composed with sectors from the beginning.
It’s not requested or necessary to have a specific experience or to have a preparation to do one of these functions but it’s necessary the will to do it. The practice help to have experience.

When a group has a supporter and administrative function and define the Orienters and the Group Delegates become a structure.