While helpful for short-term projects, grants aren't dependable in the longer term, so additional fundraising may be necessary. The core group should encourage all members to participate in leading the group, organizing events, or acting as farm hosts or discussion facilitators. In this way, members gain a sense of belonging and the skills necessary for continuing the network, should key leaders step down. Give everyone a chance to speak. Most networks have members who are natural talkers and those who are more quiet.
Some networks ask one member to be the discussion facilitator at each meeting.
Their role is to make sure each person contributes to the discussion. Learning to facilitate discussions is a solid empowerment skill for everyone who values collaborating with others. Keep the network informal and flexible. Most successful networks have an informal, flexible atmosphere that feels spontaneous, creative, and stimulating to its participants. Experienced networkers observe that organizations that are open to change are most likely to survive in the long run.