# Before You Start

## **Before you start**

Before you can begin building a sustainable FL Community, there are a few key items you need to review and ensure you have. This will help put you on the right track while creating a FL Community that will be sustainable, relevant and impactful within the local community. Use the checklist below to ensure you have everything you need to take action while starting a new FL Community.\


**Form the Autonomous Community Core Team**

While starting a FL Community, you need a group of committed FL members or young active citizens who can be guided by the Vision, Mission and Goal of Future Leaders. Since creating a Community can take time, ensure your Core Team is committed, enthusiastic and motivated to see this effort through completion.\


**Have Knowledge of FL**

The Core Team should collectively have the correct knowledge of FL, its mission, vision, values and more. Since FL is a nonprofit and volunteer based Community, fulfilling the mission is the main purpose of all glocal activities. However, the core team should have specific knowledge of how the Community at all levels achieves the FL Mission.\


**Understand the Strategy**

If you have never started a FL Community, then before you do, be sure to read through this guide and familiarize yourself with the FL Strategy. Having an understanding of the strategy will better prepare you on how to engage a community and create a FL Community.\


**Create a Timeline for Work**

In the guide, there is a recommended time for how long each step should take. Based on that information, your own resources, schedule and team, create a timeline to keep yourselves on track and accountable for the actions to be taken. Consider utilizing the FL Strategy Implementation Plan Template to help you plan and keep track of actions, deadlines and more.\


**Determine Costs and Budget**

Starting a new FL Community requires resources. As you create your timeline for work, consider if there are any costs associated with the actions to be taken. Be sure to include the work associated with acquiring sponsors and support to help cover the costs of starting a new Community.\
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**Distribute Responsibilities**

As your core team reviews the steps required to start a FL Community while also creating a timeline for those actions, determine who will be responsible for what. Try and match the skills and knowledge needed to the core team member who has those understandings.\


**Be Prepared with Materials**

There are a number of resources that have been created by FL to help you introduce the FL Community to communities in which we do not exist. From informative presentations, to brochures to videos and more, FL has developed a number of marketing and communication materials to support you. Discover these resources on the FL Library before you begin so you are prepared when entering the community to engage local citizens.\


**Know the Rules**

Prior to starting a FL Community, it is important to thoroughly understand your National bylaws and policies relating to the creation and affiliation of new FL Communities. Investigate the expectations of Future Leaders Global Internationally. Various countries and regional governments also have specific laws and regulations that must be adhered to when it comes to incorporating or recognizing an NGO.\


**Ensure Follow-Up Engagement**

Your work does not end with the establishment of a new FL Community. There is continuous follow-up, engagement and support that will need to be provided to ensure the continued existence of the new Community. Before starting a FL Community, ensure that your core team, past FL members, nearby existing Local Communities and the international team  will be prepared to support the new Community when needed.\
