Objectives:

• To introduce the idea of “serial reciprocity” to the participants in a fun way
• To practice the art of “passing it along”
  

Activity Theme:

The facilitator sets the theme by reading the poem “Smile.” This poem can be found at http://www.storybin.com/positive107.shtml.

DISCUSSION
The facilitator asks the group to point out the many instances of “passing it on” found throughout the story (even the puppy.) This act of “passing on good works, deeds, is called “serial reciprocity.” Write the definition of serial reciprocity on flip chart paper, or blackboard and post for the group to see.

SERIAL RECIPROCITY: Philanthropic acts that encourage more philanthropic acts

The facilitator should ask the group to reflect on a time in their life when they practiced serial reciprocity.

• How did it make them feel?
• How did it make the person feel who received it?.
  

Activity:

The facilitator explains that the group is going to do an exercise in creativity — one that is often used in drama classes. They will be asked to begin a story which illustrates the practice of passing on good deeds. Ask participants to use examples based on the previous discus¬sion of serial reciprocity and how it made them feel as they describe good acts in their part of the story. Remind them of the previously used poem as an example of what they are being asked to do.

The facilitator has the group form a circle and starts or selects one person to begin the story. The beginning storyline might be, “Once upon a time, a young person participated in a community service project which cleaned up a vacant lot. One of the neighbors was so pleased with the work that she — ”, and the next person will add a line, such as “wanted to make someone’s day brighter. She helped a young person with reading in a school tutoring program. The young man was so glad to be able to read better that — ” and the next person might add, “he went with his church which visited seniors in the nursing home. An elderly gentleman was so glad to have the young visitors that he — ” and the next person might add, that he volunteered to teach swing dancing to the kids in the church group. The young people had so much fun swing dancing that they wanted to make a contribution to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.” And so on.

This continues around the circle until it comes back to the storyteller who began the storyline. The job will be to put an ending on the story such as from the story which began with one project, several others developed, thus practicing serial reciprocity - or passing it on.

The facilitator can ask the group, “What other stories do you know which illustrate this act of philanthropy?”

NOTE TO THE FACILITATOR:
When doing this activity, you might want to adapt it to the organization or to one of the philanthropists you have discovered. For instance, you might begin, “One day a young man went to the library to research a community service project (library was a Carnegie library).” Or “ One day the Key Club was planning their new service project, when one of the members suggested an idea that needed some funding, and another student mentioned the availability of Youth As Resources funds.”

Application:

The facilitator asks the participants to take some time for quiet reflection and write down two things they can do for others this week which are a response to the good things that have happened to them in their life. Reflective background music might be playing during this time. If it seems appropriate, the facilitator might have them share what they plan to do with another of the participants, or even with the entire group. Judging from the group, it might be more important to have them journal their thoughts and keep them confidential.

Variation: