| Google Groups is a great way for you to connect | | | | with the members that will be joining, you can add |
| with family, clubs, teams, organizations, and | | | | them without inviting them. If this is the case, click |
| businesses. Since most people have Internet service | | | | "Add members directly" and type their email |
| and an email address, they should be able to | | | | addresses in the box below and check the email |
| participate. Here's how to get started: | | | | subscription options below. Each email will begin |
| 1. Decide on a name for your group. You can make it | | | | receiving messages and notifications from the group |
| something simple and easy to remember, or try to | | | | right away. This will save the members the step of |
| be creative and fun to catch people's attention. | | | | accepting your invitation before they can start |
| 2. Go to google.com/groups and click the "Create a | | | | getting messages. This feature should not be used |
| group..." button on the right side. You will see a form | | | | unless you are certain that the members already |
| to fill out basic information about your group. | | | | want to be a part of your group. |
| 3. The first section is for the name of your group. | | | | Now your Group is ready to begin! Here are some |
| When you type your group name, the group email | | | | additional options you will have to use and customize |
| and website address is automatically filled in matching | | | | your group: |
| the group name exactly. For example: Belleview 4-H | | | | *Start a discussion-all you need is a title and topic and |
| Club would be belleview-4-h-club at and the web | | | | you can get started getting the group underway. |
| address would be groups.google.com/group | | | | You or a group member can start one or multiple |
| belleview-4-h-club. You can leave the email and web | | | | discussions at a time of about issues and topics that |
| address the way it is, or edit them from the email | | | | interest you as a group. They can be serious, funny, |
| address box. | | | | interesting, an appeal or mandate, a brainstorming |
| 4. Next, specify whether your group may contain | | | | session, etc. |
| adult content, and whether you want your group to | | | | *Add or Invite members-as your circle of friends or |
| be public or private. There are more details on this | | | | club grows, more people can be a part of the group. |
| page to clarify what these options mean. | | | | You may want to invite parents, sponsors, and other |
| 5. Click "Create my group" at the bottom. | | | | interested parties to your group. |
| 6. You will be redirect to a page where you need to | | | | * Create pages-this group is a website, and websites |
| type random characters so they know you are | | | | have pages. You can have an info page, fun page, or |
| human (robots can be created to set up accounts, | | | | have a mission statement or rules page, etc. |
| but can't read these letters and numbers). Type the | | | | *Upload files-if there are minutes, fliers, photos, etc. |
| characters, then click "Create my group" again. | | | | that would contribute to your group, you can upload |
| 7. Now you can type the email addresses of all the | | | | them for everyone in the group to view. |
| people you would like to add to your group. You can | | | | *Customize the group settings-you want your group |
| write a personalized message telling your friends | | | | to be unique, and your pages to have their own look |
| family/colleagues what the group is about, etc. | | | | and feel that will suit the interests of the group. Here |
| Google will automatically send out email invitations to | | | | you can make advanced changes to who has access |
| your potential group members when you click "Invite | | | | to what, the appearance of the site (colors, layout, |
| Members", or, you can click "Skip this step" to do this | | | | and theme), set up categories, and many other |
| later. NOTE: If you have already discussed this group | | | | changes. |