Small groups can communicate in person, by phone or e-mail, or engraved invitation, but a larger pool works best on social media. Several platforms are available, some for pay, with bells and whistles, others  free. All provide controls for membership, allow members to post and respond to messages, links, and images, and include a simple format for scheduling events—banner image, headline, date and time, location (with map), description, guest list, and RSVP.

For now, CR/I recommends Facebook for its ubiquity, and because it’s free, Plans are in the works to switch to email.

Start a Facebook Group

Anyone on Facebook can create a group, invite friends to join, and schedule a read:

1. On your Facebook profile page, click the plus sign (+) in the up right corner of the page. A dropdown menu appears.
2. Click Group. A Preview page appears.
3. Enter the Name of your group, select a privacy option, add the names of Facebook Friends who like to read, and click Create. Your group page arrears.
4. Add a banner photo.
5. Customize your group with Settings, at the bottom of the column.

Privacy Options

• Public groups are visible to all Facebook readers. Anyone can see posts, make comments, and join events; members only post updates, schedule reads, and add new members. An open group is an excellent way to recruit a large pool of potential readers from all walks of life and connect them with one another.
• Private groups consist of no one but you and your circle of friends. Only those allowed to join are privy to its contents.

Admin

By starting the group, you become its Administrator. To share the load, you may designate other members as Administrators. (Click Members; click the gear icon by the member’s name for a drop-down menu; and click Make Admin.)

By default, Facebook allows any member to publish posts, schedule events, and invite new members to join the group. To monitor these privileges, you may subject them to Admin approval. Click *** for a drop-down menu; click Edit Group Settings; and select the appropriate Admin options (“Any member can add members, but an admin must approve them,” “Only admins can post to the group,” and/or “All group posts must be approved by an admin.”

Cold Reads/Online (CR/O)

The proto-typical Public group, Cold Reads/Online is open to any Facebook user anywhere who wonts to read. Any member can schedule events and invite any Facebook friends. Visit the site for details and a calendar of events,

Create a Facebook Event

NOTE: Facebook is constantly changing it’s format for events, but the basic procedure is the same. The instructions below are accurate as of November, 2021.

To schedule a read from a group Home page:

1. Click Events in the menu below the banner.
2. Scroll down to Upcoming Events Click Create Event,
3. Select the type of event (In Person or Online).
4. Type the name of your event, select a date and time, and click Next,
5. If you meeting is in person, enter the location and click Next.
6. Enter a blurb about the occasion, including a link reference to this blog for new readers and, if the event is online, a link to the chat room. If the reader pool is large, stipulate the maximum number of you can accommodate—first come, first served. (The Invitations post addresses blurbs and guest lists.)
7. Upload a banner photo (optional)
8. At the bottom of the page, select (or de-select) “Invite all members of [group name].” If not checked, you must invite each reader individually, by name.
9. Click Create. Your Event page appears.
10. Click Invite for a drop-down list of friends.
11. Select a category (Suggested, All Friends, et.)
12. Click Select All or the circle beside the names you’d like to attend.
13. Click Send Invites.
14. You may also (pending admin approval) share this invitation on your Timeline and with other Facebook friends and groups.