What Is The Glue Project?

It’s about the stuff that binds communities together.

It’s a resource for those who run or are members of any kind of community to make their organizations stronger.

Why do this?

For decades communities, groups, clubs, unions and associations of all kinds have been in decline.

And we’ve felt it. Data shows that we’re craving more connection with our neighbors and family. And that we’re frustrated we don’t have enough time to pursue our hobbies, passions or causes with other people.

Things are changing.

Facebook and Twitter have given us a taster of what it’s like to connect with others. We’re finding those that share our passions on networks like Ning. We’re sharing stuff on sites like Flickr. We’re buying stuff from people we get to know on Etsy.
Tens of thousands of local groups are cropping up Meetup.

Some are even using these tools to retool their societies.

People are starting and joining all kinds of communities for all kinds of needs from making new friends to fighting for freedom

We’re rediscovering the power of community. What has been neglected for too many decades, or not gotten to because of relocation, work, family and the sheer busyness of modern life, is making a comeback.

But we don’t necessarily know how to do this well.

Our grandparents’ generation joined clubs and associations as a matter of course. They knew how important they were. They knew how to run them, how to be high-functioning members and how to get things done.

Those skills have been lost. In the 1950s, 5% of American adults were presidents of some club or association or other form of community. Now you’d be hard pushed to find 5% who are simply members of anything.

The purpose of this site is to be a go-to place for insight on how to run successful communities of all kinds.

Whether it’s a wine club, a social movement, a union or a sorority, the idea is that here you’ll find the practical advice and the principles to create thriving communities.

These insights will be sourced in part from my own interviews and research, but also from people like you…people who are trying to run effective communities.

You could have just started an online network. Or you’ve been running a local PTA for years. You could be a world-renowned expert on how communities work, or the leader of a large business.

Whoever you are, and whatever the purpose of your group, this place is designed to help you do it better, and for you to share your knowledge of what works with others.

If you click on the 'Community' tab at the top of the page, it will take you to The Glue Project Community site. It's hosted on Ning, which means you'll have to go through its simple registration process.

The Glue Project will work if leaders improve their skills by exchanging advice, ideas and queries with their peers. The Community site is the place to do it.

You can form a group about a specialty, such as activist groups, 501c's, Support Groups, Groups for socializing, whatever. There may be particular issues that face particular community types.

Or you could start a forum, or post on the blog about a particular need. Like how to recruit. Whether to go from non-profit to for-profit. How to manage difficult members. What technology platform to use.

Frankly, I'm not sure how the Community site will be used. I just hope that whatever form it takes, leaders of communities or networks will find it useful in helping their organizations become more successful.

In brief:

I spent ten years, on and off, interviewing members of cults and cult-like communities to determine why people become committed to organizations and what techniques are used. It resulted in a book called The Culting of Brands.

That led to my joining Meetup Inc as Chief Community Officer and Partner.

Most recently I've been working as a partner at Purpose, a consultancy that helps organizations start and run 21st Century Movements.

If you want to know more about why I'm doing The Glue Project and how I've got to this point...