gather · guide

Making room for somebody else

A short guide for a thoughtful invitation.

Start with the purpose, not a demand for participation. Say who will be present, whether anything is recorded, and what would happen to anything shared. A person should not have to arrive to discover these conditions.

Offer more than one way to take part. Someone may prefer to listen, type, speak, use assistance, or leave. Do not turn that choice into a judgment about their interest or capability.

Close the practical work without requiring a closing ceremony. Agreements that were actually made can be named and followed through. Gratitude, reassurance, and a promise to return are not the admission price.

Edition 2026-10-09.1