Starting a Group

Thank you for your interest in starting an ASAA A.W.A.K.E. Group. This page is designed to help you through the decision process and the steps that we require you to take if and when you decide to get your group started. If you haven’t already read it, read All About A.W.A.K.E.

A.W.A.K.E. IS A NETWORK

Since 1990, the ASAA A.W.A.K.E. Network has helped enhance the lives of people with sleep apnea. The ASAA provides its A.W.A.K.E. Network coordinators with resources to ensure that groups can be built effectively. These resources include:

  • an e-newsletter specifically for A.W.A.K.E. coordinators.
  • access to our idea-producing quarterly Lunch & Learn webinar.
  • a subscription to Wake-up Call, the ASAA newsletter.
  • phone support from our national office as needed.
  • a 50 percent discount on ASAA resources such as our DVD and literature.
  • your group’s listing in our searchable A.W.A.K.E. database online.
  • referrals of our members and callers who live in your area.

We also highlight the A.W.A.K.E. Network in Wake-up Call.

One of the most important tools we give A.W.A.K.E. coordinators is the A.W.A.K.E. Organizational Guidelines. This comprehensive book provides a step-by-step approach to successful planning, including:

  • organizing tips. 
  • descriptions of successful groups.
  • sample forms such as evaluations and fliers.
  • how to lead an effective support segment 
  • an explanation of fund-raising and legal issues.
  • and more.

You can order the A.W.A.K.E. Organizational Guidelines for $75 at any time. 

As you consider whether to start a group, ask the following questions:

Is there a need?

Search our A.W.A.K.E. database or contact the ASAA for a list of A.W.A.K.E. groups already active in your area. Speak with the coordinators of these groups. Are they struggling to find members or are they meeting frequently with good attendance? When possible, it is best to combine forces with a nearby group.

If you have determined a need for a new group, consider whether your community will support one: can you find coordinators and sponsors?

Identify Coordinator(s)

Identify more than one person who will take responsibility for the group’s success. By splitting the work from the beginning, your group will gain more active volunteers in the future because “ownership” of the group will be seen as something shared. 

If you are a health professional starting a group, we strongly recommend you find at least one person with sleep apnea to share leadership. Patient leadership will help ensure that the group’s structure and educational content addresses patients’ needs. People with sleep apnea also tend to make good leaders for the support segment. If you are a patient starting a group, finding a sponsor or health professional to help is recommended but not required.

Identify Possible Sponsors

Your group is not required to be sponsored by sleep professionals or organizations, but we do strongly recommend that each group find at least one sponsor to assist you in your efforts. Likely sponsors include sleep centers, doctors and dentists, and home health care companies in your area. Sponsors can be very helpful in arranging speakers, distributing meeting announcements, and providing refreshments. 

Identify a Contact Person

The contact person may be the coordinator or an individual at the sponsoring sleep lab or home care company. The contact person should be willing to receive calls from the ASAA and interested individuals in your community. We also need your e-mail address so we can send you our A.W.A.K.E. e-newsletter and other support.

Name Your Group

It’s best have a geographical indicator in the name. Some good examples are “Elk Grove Village A.W.A.K.E.” or “A.W.A.K.E. in Western Pennsylvania.” You may want to coordinate with nearby A.W.A.K.E. groups to avoid marketing yourself to an area that overlaps with another group’s.

I'm Ready to Launch

If you decide you would like to start a new A.W.A.K.E. group, please complete the following steps:

  1. Pay $150 in A.W.A.K.E. membership dues for the year and fill out the A.W.A.K.E. membership form. When you pay your first year’s dues, we will send you one copy of the A.W.A.K.E. Organizational Guidelines to get you started. If you recently ordered the guidelines for $75, then you can pay only $75 for your first year’s dues.
  2. After reading the A.W.A.K.E. Organizational Guidelines, review and sign the Statement of Understanding and return it to us along with the completed About My A.W.A.K.E. Group form. 
  3. We will then send you a copy of our logo for your group’s use, and grant you permission to use the A.W.A.K.E. name.
  4. Make sure you copy our office on any mass mailings for your A.W.A.K.E. group, such as an initial letter to potential group participants.
  5. Refer to the guidelines throughout the year as you make arrangements.
  6. After each meeting, make sure at least one participant or coordinator completes our Meeting Summary form, and send us a copy. This ongoing feedback about your group is very important because it helps us learn about your group’s activities and use your experiences to help all the groups in the network.
  7. Please contact us any time with any questions or concerns. 

There’s more information on our Coordinators’ Area and FAQ page.  Take a look at it as well.

Thank you again for your interest in volunteering your time and skills with the A.W.A.K.E. Network. Together we can get closer to the day when all people with sleep apnea are diagnosed and treated successfully.