Mine has five members, and it's a pretty laid-back group. It's less structured and feels a lot like a support group instead of an informational meeting. We follow the structure, but there are very few challenges or games. It's pretty egalitarian, so I feel like they wouldn't mind if I suggested or administered a challenge/game.

It sounds like others have much larger or more structured groups. How many people are in your TOPS group?

Thanks,
Phantastica

We have about 15 regulars and 5 that pop in once or twice a month for weigh ins, but it ranges in size as the year goes by

Hi... We have loyal core group of about 15-20 and a few more that come and go. I live in Ny and we have about 5 people that are "snow birds" and live in Fla in the winter. I think we are a lively active group... I do see that a few of the older ones are not as quick to take roles as officers. We love games and challenges and have something going most of the time.

Our Chapter has 53 members at the present time. Some of them have been there since 1972 when the chapter was organized, but we have a lot of new members too. We have a lot going on all the time. Contests, incentives, etc. We have information booths at health fairs when we can. We attend the rallies, workshops and SRD. I think the more people get involved, the more they enjoy tops. We hold open house every year, this year we had two and both times new people joined. We do have a program at every meeting and often have guest speakers.

Nita

My TOPS group has 42 members, with about 20-25 attending the meeting at any given week. It's pretty structured (sometimes a little too structured for my taste).

We have about 30 members! And yes, we are a "little" more structured than I care for too

At our meetings there is usually 8 of us. I don't really know how many are actually a part of our group since very few stay for the meeting. Our meetings aren't overly structured most of the time since our leader and co-leader really aren't there very much. And a lot of the time when they aren't there it's just kinda dumped on the weight recorders to take over. We do have challenges every month which I enjoy but it doesn't really seem as though the ones who've been there forever take it seriuosly and don't even try. But as long as me and DH keep it up everything is good for us.

I think it's time for new leaders. Because it is a volunteer position, they shouldn't be opposed to appointing new ones. Sounds like the group has a lot of potential! Our group has a "leader" but we all do something different to contribute. Mostly we just take turns bringing in a hand-out to share (there are only 5 of us).

My group has about 30 members and 25 usually show up. It's very unstructured, not at all organized and very chatty with lits of confusion. It's getting frustrating for me . The group meets on the perfect day and time (the only time I have free all week as a matter of fact) and so I am trying to get more involved in helping out. It's only my third week and I am doing a "program" tomorrow and have spoken with the leader and told her that I am interested in being a TOPS volunteer as a Co-Leader or Leader (she siad she wants a break, come March). Does anyone know if there is a rule in place about how long you have to be a member before you become a leader? I hope not, as, by the time it's voting time, I will have been a member only 6 months and I don't know if I can stick with this group as it is currently run!

Our group has 15 active members and 2 inactive. We are trying to get some structure in our group. Structure isn't all bad. We recently changed out meeting from programs every week to 1st week someone does a program on the new Tops book. If the month has 5 weigh ins then the second week someone does a program of thier choice. The third week of the month we have what we call fun night, and we do different things, last month we played bingo. This Thursday night is our fun night for Nov. and we are having a shower for a member who got her kops about a month ago. This is something we started this year. We have a quick meeting and close it. We all brought different low cal foods and we also all bring the Kops a gift, se we have a party. The the last meeting of the month is reward night, charms are given out as well as the honor for months best loser. Then we have an open discussion about what ever we want too. This is working out quite well for our group. Not so many of those boring programs. Belle

I recently moved, so I switched TOPS chapters. My old chapter was AWESOME--the first week of the month, we had a business meeting to discuss anything we wanted to to differently or any ammendments to our bylaws and such. Once a month, we also had an awards night for handing out charms to those who earned them and handing out certificates for perfect attendance for the previous month. On the other nights of the month (and during the second half of the Awards meeting), we did programs. Anyone could do a program, and it could be an official TOPS program or even just a discussion about an article or something you thought was relevant or important.

My new chapter seems less organized, even though it is older (one of the first chapters in the state). There are about 35 people on the roster, I believe, and about 10-15 usually stay for the meetings. Once everyone is done being weighed, we do our pledge and then roll call. Now, how do your groups call roll? In my old one, we just went around the room and said our name and whether we lost or gained. In this new one, though, the weight recorder calls out everyone's name on the roster and they say if they gained or lost or someone says if that person is excused--it takes MUCH longer because we end up going through the names of all the people who aren't even there. Anyway, then the leader says she has a program, but all that really seems to happen is she sits and reads an article out loud to us. There doesn't seem to be much variation in the programs. Our chapter does, however, boast the highest percentage of KOPS in our region (I believe we have 8 KOPS on our roster?). So something must be working, even if it doesn't necessarily work for me.

I believe we have about 26 members but only averaging about 12 to 18 altho it seems to be picking up.But by end of meeting we are down to 8 sometimes. I have been leader for 4 years straight now. They say it is because I do a good job. I say it is because no one else is dumb enough to do it. We do a variety of things also but we do keep some structured too. We have different people do programs and have informal nights too. Our roll call is a little long as everyone has to tell something about themself after they say whether they gained or lost. They didn't like it at first but now they like it. They can tell something past,present, future. Just a short statement. You would be surprised what you learn about each other.
We are a low keyed group and do not do all the singing that some groups do but we are a good group.We have had a lot of tragedy and illnes in our group the past two years and they do come togther in time of need.

My group has about 30-45 and like you Yogini our group is very unorganized, they seem to forget stuff, chat too much, not really know the rules, last 2 weeks we have had to listen to the members discuss the rules for who pays for dinner, they could not agree, you could even tell they were upset with each other, I was not impressed, the week before we just read jokes??? I haven't belonged to this group very long, but when I read what others do I just have to wonder. I joined to learn about weigh loss, I stil have not even received my weight in book, I have been there several months now, I don't want to quit but I just wish they would be more organized, sorry just vening
Lynda

DATE: Nov 21

USERNAME/REAL NAME: Lynda

AGE: 44

BIRTHDAY: Mar 32 1961

MARITAL STATUS: married

SPOUSE’S NAME: Rob

CHILDREN/AGES: Daughter Ember-Lee--18

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: painting, crafts

PETS: 3 dogs

TOP WEIGHT: 201

CURRENT WEIGHT: 194

GOAL WEIGHT: 140

HEIGHT: 5;4

EYE COLOR: hazel

HAIR COLOR: brown

OCCUPATION: supervisor at a drug store

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Canada, Ontrio

How long have you been in TOPS 5 months, only actively for 3

Do you now or have you ever held a position in TOPS? no

What has TOPS done for you? taught me to be accountable

What has this board done for you. accountablility, support, many things

What do you do to keep yourself motivated? read this board

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IN WEIGHT LOSS: staying with it

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL: i really want it, have more knowledge, have lots of support

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? i need lots of support