Keep in mind that:

Step 2: Choose & apply the appropriate methodology to collect information.

Step 3: Identify specific community needs.

      Step 4: Plan activities that meet specific community needs.

Step 5: Serve your community & assess your impact. 

As any good investigator, you will need to… Look Learn Listen 

• Informants 
• Zones of activities 
• Locations where people gather 

Mapping can also help Lions identify regular and unusual events with the community and how that changes on a seasonal basis.

• Places to look: local government, community centers, universities, public libraries.

• Pros: – Get information that clubs would not otherwise have the resources to collect – Get a ‘snap-shot’ of what is currently happening in the area – Usually inexpensive and easily accessible – Representative of a larger area (e.g., entire community/region)

 • Cons: – Have to trust the source for accuracy – Need to be careful about others interpretation or bias of the results – Info may be produced with a specific audience

• Pros: – Can be done during other Lions activities – Many options (structured/unstructured) – Allow members to build relationships & access to new informants

• Cons: – Requires some preparation – Members need to be comfortable asking questions – Can be biased (interviewer & information

• People to involve: community stakeholders, youth, parents, project participants, local experts, other Lions.

• Pros: – Able to obtain information on individual and shared experiences – Allows members to build relationships & identify new informants

• Cons: – Requires some preparation/training on how to lead a group discussion – Members need to be comfortable asking questions & keep the discussion focused 

·         Semi-structured Forma - Interview should also be conversational, with questions flowing from previous responses when possible.

·         Seek Understanding and Interpretation - is important to use active listening skills to reflect upon what the speaker is saying. The interviewer should try to interpret what is being said and should seek clarity and understanding throughout the interview.

·         Recording Responses - the responses are typically audio-recorded and complemented with written notes (i.e., field notes) by the interviewer.

·         Flexible and responsive - human interactions are complex and people’s responses to questions are rarely predictable, so good interviewers can think on their feet, respond to challenges, and make sure that the core purpose is being served.

·         Patient - allows the respondent to speak freely and open up at a pace that is personally comfortable.

·         Observant - good interviewers are observant, picking up subtle cues such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.

·         Good listener - is one who listens actively, using strategies such as:

-       Attending fully to what the speaker is saying by focusing wholly on what is being said. 

-       Paraphrasing what the speaker is saying to confirm to the speaker that the listener is actually listening and that the message conveyed is the message received.

-       Paraphrasing also has the added benefit of forcing a speaker to focus wholly on the conversation, thus limiting distractions. 

- Reflecting back to the speaker the emotions inherent in the message. By paying attention to tone and emotional content, the interviewer can gain a greater understanding of the messages being delivered.

-       What your community wants to accomplish?

-       What needs to be done? by whom?

-       How it will be done? and by when? 

-       What resources (i.e. money, people) are needed to be successful?

-       Who will be most affected?

·         Mission - the coalition’s principles and purpose, determines the focus and sets the direction

·         Goals - what is expected to be achieved in the long run.

·         Objectives - the process steps to meet the goals and how the coalition plans to achieve them Activities the work of the community coalition that drives and supports the objectives and goals

·         Outcomes - the desired effect on the community, what the measure of success would be