[Ailist] Looking for Some Summit Design Feedback

[Nancy Stetson]

>Hi Bill,

In the dream phase, you might want to do some sort of right-brain activity before moving into left-brain words and provocative propositions. It usually loosens people up to become more creative and innovative. What I typically do is ask folks to create a visual metaphor for the theme(s) they most want to create more of: skits, dances, drawings, pantomime. I usually also provide a table filled with some "fun" materials that will inspire them: pipe cleaners, crepe paper, balloons, etc.

While they're having fun creating the visual metaphor, lots of ideas get tossed around. Each group then does a "show and tell" for the large group. [When there are lots of small groups and limited time, have each table group show one other table group, then vice versa.] There's usually lots of laughter and positive energy created in this phase, which makes it much easier for people to agree on the words in the next phase.  I usually ask them to let the visual metaphor they just created "morph" into a word image or provocative proposition.

Nancy

>Hello all,
>
> 
>
>I'm engaged in an AI process with a professional association here in B.C. Its members
>are all volunteers in that they are not paid by the association to do its work. Our
>topic, generally, is to invigorate the Association and its membership. I'd appreciate
>feedback from anyone on the design of the Summit that is tentatively drawn up. I'm a
>little concerned about the limited time I have to work with *and* I'm confident that
>we will ultimately get what we need because AI is, of course, a fluid philosophy, not
>a static model!  :-)
>
> 
>
>Because the group is so geographically dispersed, we've decided to run six regional
>sessions that will last 2.5 to 3 hours each. During that time, we will conduct paired
>interviews (a representative group previously designed the Interview Guide), do some
>mapping of the positive core, dream about the future, and create means and ways for
>the data from each regional session to be included at the broader Summit (to be held
>in late June). While the time constraints are not what we'd like them to be, we
>believe that the regional sessions are "doable" and that the data they produce will
>be very useful. More importantly, it will give members a means of participating and
>feeling included even if they can't make it to the June summit.
>
> 
>
>In June, we will have a two hour block on a Friday evening and all day the following
>Saturday to work with. At the moment we are planning to use the Friday evening as a
>combination social gathering and introduction to the regional data. Our thought is to
>set up the room as a "gallery" where all of the regional "data" will be on display.
>This display will include excerpts from interviews, film clips taken at the regional
>sessions, the dream materials from the regional sessions, etc. Summit participants
>will be invited to circulate throughout the "gallery" (we have a setting that will
>fit the ambience we are trying to create), view the exhibits, and ask clarifying
>questions of the exhibit "curators" (ie. members who were present at the regional
>session). We will end the Friday evening with paired interviews focusing on what
>participants appreciated the most about the various displays, what themes they saw
>emerging and . . .  perhaps there are some other things we ought to be looking at?
>
> 
>
>On the Saturday, we're less sure of how the agenda should look. Here's how we see it
>at the moment. We begin by creating tables of 6 to review the data that was collected
>the previous evening - find themes and singular moments of excellence. The next stage
>would be the creation of dreams and then the development of provocative propositions
>and self-organizing action teams to implement the plans devised by Summit
>participants.
>
> 
>
>When I re-read this post, it seems on track and yet, I can't shake a feeling that
>we're missing something. I'm not sure why that is. If anyone has any thoughts or
>ideas that you could share with me, I'd appreciate hearing about them!
>
> 
>
>Thanks for taking the time to read this post.
>
> 
>
>Regards,
>
>Bill Scott BSW, MBA
>
> 
>
>WJS Consulting Inc
>
>Vancouver, B.C., Canada
>
>wjs.consulting at shaw.ca
>
> 
>
>Engaging human potential
>
> 
>
>_______________________________________________
>The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:
>http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist


-- 
"The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but seeing with new eyes." Proust
"We do not see the world as it is. We see the world as we are." The Talmud

Nancy E. Stetson, Ed.D.
Specializing in Appreciative Coaching, Consulting, Facilitating,
Keynoting, Teaching, Training, Writing and Appreciative Inquiry
Rohnert Park, CA and Kirkland, WA
707.878.9340 (cell)
Fax numbers in both locations available upon request

Nancy is co-author of "Appreciative Inquiry in the Community College: Early Stories of Success" ($19)
http://www.league.org/store/catalog.htm?VCS=01db3f4bd85824ca839b2951118953d1&Iit=13&Ict=2