Now that you’re a member of an anarchist group, it’s time to start thinking about what sort of contribution you can make to it. Don’t allow yourself to sit back and blindly follow what others suggest; respect the experience of other activists but recognise that you have a contribution to make in all aspects of the group and also a unique perspective on its functioning.
Is there a theoretical area the group is weak on? If so, then perhaps you could conduct some research and present your findings to others through internal bulletins or meetings. It’s impossible for everyone to know everything, so it often makes sense for individuals to specialise a little, providing that they also explain what they discover to anyone else who may be interested.
Is there a practical skill (for example, desktop publishing) the group is lacking that you could learn or already know? Can you teach this skills to others?
Is there a struggle you can get involved in that no-one else is currently? Perhaps help is needed in particular struggles the group is already involved in. Perhaps you could get involved in a particular area of struggle in order to be able to confront your own prejudices… or simply in order to find out how things function.
You should start slowly, volunteer for simple stuff first, and as you understand how things work (and how much you can sustain), take more things on.
