[Ailist] (AI LIST) Creating the Future We Want for the Bitter Root Valley

[Allen or Mary Jensen]

Dear Chris,

I've been out of the loop for awhile (thankfully not "looped" though) and am
catching up on communications.

I hope you have had responses to your inquiry of July.

I had a thought while reading your message concerning the logistics of the
October event.  I recalled an Ai team I participated on at Benedictine
University in Lisle IL led by Jim Ludema for the administration, faculty,
and representatives of the student body.

What worked was having a team of people who had gone through an Ai process
before to act as small group facilitative assistants.   That format worked
well for another Ai initiative I participated in as well.

That may be unwieldy for a group of 300-400, though.  Even divided into
groups of 10 would require 40 facilitative assistants.  In the case of
Benedictine, the facilitative assistants were doctoral students in OD.  What
student resources are available at local universities that might fit the
bill?

Keep us posted.  The attachment was easy to read and understand.

Keep up the great work, Chris!

Best regards,

Mary J
Chicago
-----Original Message-----
From: CTLoveANR@aol.com <CTLoveANR@aol.com>
To: ailist@mail.business.utah.edu <ailist@mail.business.utah.edu>
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 2:19 PM
Subject: [Ailist] (AI LIST) Creating the Future We Want for the Bitter Root
Valley


>Dear friends:
>    I have a unique opportunity in October to conduct an appreciative
>conversation about the future with members of a string of small communities
>that populate Montana's Bitter Root Valley.  The valley roughly corresponds
>to the boundaries of Ravalli County, which is now the fastest growing
county
>in the state. We are facing the changes that an influx of new residents
>brings to a beautiful rural location with a ranching and agricultural
>heritage.  The coming Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration promises
>spike the level of visitors to the Valley from 2003 to 2006, with the
>possible outcome of increasing population growth even further.
>    Our goal is to create a positive conversation among people representing
>diverse perspectives (business, youth, ranching and agriculture, tribal,
>recreation and tourism, real estate and development, media, finance, local
>government, natural resources, civic groups, seniors, arts, history,
>education, church and others) from each of the communities in the valley.
>Toward this end we are directly inviting "community influencers" we have
>identified as representing these varied perspectives in each community, and
>we will publicize the free event in local media to encourage everyone else
>who wishes to attend to join us.
>    We expect to have 300 to 400 attendees, and we have a six-hour window
of
>opportunity on a Saturday in October to conduct our conversation.  "We" is
a
>group of private citizen volunteers who have the personal time and energy
and
>the support of a few local organizations to carry us through the October
>event.  We do not at this time have resources to plan beyond this one
>session, although we believe that resources and support will emerge during
>the event itself.  Our overall goal, given these realities, is to bring
>people together in a fun and stimulating way that generates conversation
>about our common values as a community and fresh thinking about how we want
>these values to inform our collective future.  We as organizers are all
>committed to the notion that creating this positive conversation is in
itself
>a worthy goal, and we will "trust the process" and participants to generate
>whatever future efforts the day may yield.
>    I've outlined a very tentative basic agenda (6 hours total) as follows
at
>this point.
>
>        1.  (Discovery)Paired AI interviews and debrief.
>        2.  (Discovery) Small groups share stories, identify values
>        3.  (Discovery) Create "value clusters"
>        4.  (Dream/Design) Regroup in small groups around chosen values to
1)
>            create performance that illustrates "what could be" if values
>were alive in           the future  and 2) describe in words specific
>"realities" that would          characterize the valley in the future if
the
>chosen values are alive and             well.
>        5.  (Dream/Design) Share performances, future realities.
>        6.  (Destiny) Commitments/Close
>
>    I have used this approach very successfully with smaller one-day groups
>but want to be realistic about how it will need to be modified to work for
>300-400 people.  I do have at least 2 other potential facilitators
available.
> I'm sending this message to you to seek ideas from any of you who would
like
>to contribute.  I am especially seeking suggestions related to working
steps
>3 4, and 5 in a group this size in a limited amount of time. I typically
like
>to encourage skits, poetry, art, etc in steps 4 and 5 to share peoples'
>dreams of "what could be," as participants love these activities and become
>deeply involved with one another.   I do not want to truncate these steps
>into a minimal output if I can avoid it, and  I would ideally like to have
>every group have the opportunity to share with the large group. Yet I know
>something has to give with these numbers and time!  Any and all ideas are
>welcome.
>     I would also welcome any other ideas and suggestions anyone has
>regarding a community project of this type.  You have all been a wonderful
>source of rich ideas to me for the past two years, and I would love to hear
>from any of you with your thoughts related to this upcoming project!  THANK
>YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
>
>PS  The proposal we used to draw civic support is attached for anyone who
>wishes to have it.
>
>Sincerely,
>Chris Love
>President
>Chris Love Associates
>Consultants for Positive Change
>616 Willow Creek Rd.
>Corvallis, MT 59828
>Phone:  406-961-0155
>Fax:  406-961-8846
>Email:  ctloveanr@aol.com
>