Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy advice about parent advocacy groups?

Does anyone have experience with organizing/re-starting a parent advocacy group? I've been trying to get the half dozen people I've met with gifted kids together but we're having trouble with follow-through: lots of initial enthusiasm, especially when one of our kids is struggling, but less interest/time for a longer term effort. What works?

I do, although mine is not a terrific success story (not for lack of effort). I began a quest to organize parents of gifted kids in my elementary school and then learned of another nascent group at another elementary school in our district. We joined. All 5-10 of us. We were able to have one meeting to bring in Joan Smutney to speak and were encouraged on the turnout (about 25 people). We started a Yahoo group and have about 22 members, but we have lost steam. When solicited our members don't really have interest in getting together to discuss topics. Most really just want to know about opportunities for their children, or where to find info on gifted topics online. I feel lately like all I do is send links and emails. There is little interaction amongst group members and no interest really in game nights etc. The nearest local school district has a huge gifted parents group but we are just existing in cyberspace.

I think the core of our issue is we don't have anything to rally around. There is no big problem (like funding cuts) or a big request from the gifted teachers. So parents aren't interested in just getting together to share experiences.