[Ailist] AI in New Zealand

[Amanda Trosten-Bloom]

Mary Alice:

Trusting it's not too late to make meaningful suggestions, I offer  
the following - based on experiences I've had with long-term, large- 
scale, community-based initiatives:
- TRAIN a cadre of people in AI, so that you have strong thinking  
partners - preferably within the "system" you're trying to affect.   
(Who would these people be, if the entire country is your intended  
client????)
- Read Birth of a Global Community: The Story of the United Religions  
Initiative (Mahe and Gibbs) - http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/ 
research/bibPublishedDetail.cfm?coid=2399.  This describes the years- 
long process that the URI, in consultation with Diana Whitney, David  
Cooperrider and others, used to bring together people of all ages,  
many nationalities, and many different positions to create a shared  
vision of the future.  This is particularly a propos, because the URI  
began with a youth conference in the mid-'90's.
- Continue to think in terms of years, rather than single events.  In  
other words, if this took hold in all the ways you've imagined, what  
would be the LONG-TERM approach?  How would each gathering feed into  
the next?  From this perspective, you can be clearer about who else  
needs to be involved at every stage.  (Example: when we worked with  
the City of Longmont, CO, one "wave" of inquiry naturally fed into  
the next.  Each wave engaged people who were part of the NEXT  
wave . . . people who subsequently served as "catalysts" who could  
engage new people in the process.)
- When you're working long-term, you need to expect transitions in  
participation - but also in leadership.  Very few people can stay on  
the mat for years.  So begin imagining logical transition points, and  
ask people to commit for a PHASE of the process.  Use rituals of  
passage to pass knowledge and experience from one group of leaders to  
the next.
- Organize a strong, consistent communications team, whose primary  
job is sharing stories, broadcasting successes, and keeping people  
aware of an pumped up about the work that is taking place.
- At every stage of the process, go through ALL FOUR D'S (or whatever  
you call them . . .), even if only for 1/2 hour.  The cycle works,  
and if you segregate people's experience of the phases into different  
events, you will inevitably lose someone (or more than one someone).

Good luck.  May all your dreams for this initiative come true.

Warmly,

Amanda Trosten-Bloom
Principal
Corporation for Positive Change
303-279-2240
amanda at positivechange.org
www.positivechange.org

Co-Author of The Power of Appreciative Inquiry




On Jun 12, 2007, at 4:00 PM, ailist-request at lists.business.utah.edu  
wrote:

> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Mary-Alice Arthur miracleworker at buzz.net.nz
> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:31:16 +1200
> To: miracleworker at compuserve.com
> Subject: My dream project -- can you help?
>
>
>
> Hello all and greetings from the beautiful South Pacific!
>
> Just recently I've been given the opening for my dream project -- an
> appreciative inquiry about the future of New Zealand.
>
> This is a project I've been thinking about for some time -- I've  
> long wanted
> to offer people here an opportunity to turn away from deficit  
> thinking and
> focus on what we want to create.  This country is small enough that  
> it has a
> great possibility to do something together and rich enough in  
> diversity to
> create some new ways of being.
>
> The kick off to this project will be tied to Youth Week in August -- a
> series of three events (youth - youth/approx.2000 people, youth -  
> biz and
> youth - government).  I want to use this opportunity to form a  
> collaborative
> inquiry within these three sectors that can spill over to the rest  
> of the
> country next year.
>
> Of course, in typical NZ style I've got the job, but I also have to  
> find
> sponsors and cover costs as well!
>
> What ideas, support, techno-savvy suggestions do you have -- all input
> gratefully received (and if you want to come and help, I've got a bed
> free!).
>
> Blessings all, on your work and your insights!
>
> Mary Alice
>
> * Facilitator for Inspired Change
> * ConferenceWeaver
> * Storyteller & Mythmaker
> * Possibility Enabler
>
> -- 
> Mary-Alice Arthur
> SOAR
> PO Box 10-868
> Wellington
> New Zealand
> mob:  +64-21-687-627
> email:  mary-alice at getsoaring.com