How is the Listeners’ Club set up?

Everything on this web site is what the local Club in Quito, Ecuador has done, but we want to encourage you to go with your own creative ideas. If you discover things that work well we’d love it if you would be willing to share them with us.

First, find a location that is easy to find and has parking. It’s a natural fit to have it in a local church. That way your Listeners are used to going there and are not threatened when you invite them to church services.

If the Spotlight program is broadcast over the radio in your area you can ask the station to announce your email address at the end of the program indicating that Listeners can request the texts via email from you. It’s best to send the weekly texts (pull them from the Spotlight’s web site) before Monday so that your listeners will have them for each of the programs aired during the week. From the requests you receive, start a list of listeners in your area to invite to the Club. Other than an email invitation to the people on our email list, we do NOT advertise over radio or in newspapers. We have found that word of mouth will cause a Club to grow. If the program is not broadcast in your area, simply download the programs from the Internet. In this case you will want to announce the Listeners’ Club either with flyers in strategic locations, by word of mouth, or both.

An ideal Listeners’ Club team includes a radio station, a local church and some English speakers. A few days before each Club night, either recruit or remind your regular English speaking volunteers of the date and time. It is nice to have a core group of committed volunteers, however, your volunteers do not need to make a full-time commitment. They can commit anywhere from once a month to once a week. Before the night of the Club (preferably a day or two in advance), the coordinator selects a program to be played, downloads it to CD and prints copies of the script, conversation starters, handouts and prepares any activities.

Downloading broadcasts to CD is not essential but offers more flexibility and security. For example, it allows the Club coordinator to ensure the script and audio match, and makes it possible to start the audio during the Club when needed instead of being tied to the broadcast schedule. If you chose to download programs from the Spotlight web site instead of HCJB Global’s web site, you will need to prepare conversation starters for that program.

Club Coordinator divides listeners into small groups

After listening to the program divide your listeners and English speaking volunteers into small conversation groups.

You can chose to keep your Club very simple or add from our Programs and Activities page (i.e. texts, conversation starters, activities, information sheets, sign-in slips, door prizes, coffee time etc.).