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To visit Christine's first
book web site, "Dreams to Grow On", click
here. To visit Christine's second book web site, "Do-Over",
click here.
:Would you like to read The Right Under Club? Want
to write a review? Christine would love to hear from you. Click
here to send an
email to her. |
 
Want to
form a Right Under Club of your own? Here's some ideas and suggestions
from the author, Christine Hurley Deriso.
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Start Your
Own Right-Under Club!
The girls in The Right-Under
Club
formed their group around the
common bond of complicated families. But the only common bond necessary
for a Right-Under Club is mutual respect and compassion. After all,
everybody has problems, whether those problems stem from families, school,
friends, etc. So start your own Right-Under Club. A tree house, T-shirts
and problem stick are optional, but here are a few guidelines to make sure
your Right-Under Club gets off on the right foot:
Membership:
Don’t be snobby about deciding
who can join, but make sure that every member is committed to contributing
to a supportive atmosphere and that the problems discussed stay inside the
clubhouse. No gossiping! Once a few core members are part of the group,
let the club vote on new members.
Size:
Keep the group small enough to stay focused on your purpose: helping each
other with your problems. Groups larger than ten or so will have a
tendency to veer off course. And although a group as small as two can
technically qualify as a club, the point is to benefit from various
perspectives and opinions. Aim for about four to eight members.
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Location:
Not every kid is lucky enough
to have a roomy, comfy tree house in the back yard, but you don’t really
need one. All you need is a quiet, private place, like your bedroom,
basement or backyard deck. Other options include the shade of a nearby oak
tree, or maybe a designated spot in a park. Just make sure your parents
know where you are and that you can count on a half-hour or so of
uninterrupted meeting time.
Meetings:
Pick a convenient meeting time
and schedule thirty to sixty minutes for weekly meetings. A Saturday
morning or Sunday afternoon might work well, especially during the school
year.
 Topics:
Follow the Right-Unders’ lead in letting members take turns sharing a
problem, with the other members, then writing down anonymous solutions.
Discuss the solutions one at a time. What are their advantages? What are
their drawbacks? Are they practical, doable, reasonable and safe? Do the
solutions help solve a problem without impinging on others’ rights or
feelings? Would your parents approve? Use these guidelines to help
determine which solution is best. Challenge the Right-Under with the
problem to follow your advice, then to report back at a future meeting and
discuss whether the solution helped solve a problem. Then … on to the next
problem!
Format:
If you can’t decide on the order in which members share their problems, go
alphabetically by last name. But be flexible. Problems might arise that
need immediate attention. And above all: Be supportive. No teasing,
gossiping, snickering, judging or snubbing. Helping people solve their
problems is a big responsibility. Take it seriously, and make sure your
club offers a safe haven where people can share their fears, worries and
concerns without
repercussions.
Adult Intervention:
If a problem is serious enough to require adult help, discuss that as a
group. Try to reach an agreement about whether to seek outside help, but
if you sense that a problem is too big for a member to handle
individually, trust your instinct and tell your mom or another trusted
adult. It’s important to respect other people’s privacy, but even more
important to get help if an emergency arises. Discuss this ground rule at
the first meeting so no one can be accused of ratting a member out. Your
goal is to help each other. Right-Unders are smart and mature enough to
know when a grown-up perspective is vital.
Feedback:
I’d love to know how your Right-Under Club turns out. Click
here
to send me an e-mail. And don’t forget the Right-Under motto:
We R There 4 U! |
