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January 2009
Dear Facilitators around the world,
Here we find ourselves as Facilitators, as human beings, living in the best of times, the worst of times. David Ulansey’s comment has never been more true: we have the opportunity to live the most meaningful lives ever lived. What an awesome responsibility and opportunity!
Somehow, the timing of Awakening the Dreamer seems totally auspicious. More and more people are clamoring for Symposiums; to date we know of Symposiums being presented in twenty-six different countries; and those are just the ones we know about! In 2008 alone we offered Facilitator trainings in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Ecuador, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom as well as the United States, and in 2009 it is looking as though this international expansion is going to continue.
At the Global Gathering last June a number of Facilitators from a variety of cultures and nations banded together and formed themselves as a team to examine the then-new V-1 (aka “VIV”) Symposium for ways in which it could be even more powerful for a non-US audience.
They recently shared the results of their very thorough, thoughtful, rigorous examination and have offered a whole series of ways in which the Symposium could be made to be less US-centric, and speak more directly to people throughout the “modern” world.
Given our perpetual, unflagging commitment to continue to refine the Symposium, to continually improve it, to have it keep abreast of the changing times, we are taking on creating the next version of the Symposium—V-2.
In addition to having a more worldly reach, we will use the opportunity to update the content in the modules to address some of the most current issues such as global climate change and the relationship between food/water, the economic downturn among others.
The extent to which the Symposium is and continues to be relevant and powerful is a direct function of the hundreds and hundreds of people who have provided their feedback, insights, suggestions and recommendations over the years.
So, now we ask you for your input and suggestions. Given your experience delivering the Symposium how can we improve it? How have you improved it? What’s missing? What have you found a better way to present? What should we never change because it works so well?
If it calls to you to do so, please give us your suggestions. The categories of input are outlined below.
Timeline: by February 14, Valentine’s Day
Preferred Method: Please post your input directly on to the Facilitators Network . (If you are not already a member of the Facilitators Network, you can register via the Awakening the Dreamer website.) Once logged in, join the ‘Revising the Symposium (V-2) ’ Group where you will find directions for posting. Need assistance with registration or more information? Contact Emily at
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Many thanks!
Tracy Apple & Jon Love
P.S.
If using the Facilitator Network is simply too big an electronic stretch for you, you can email your feedback directly to
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, but the more we are able to make use of the Network, the more valuable a tool it becomes for the entire community.
The questions are below.
FACILITATOR FEEDBACK FOR V-2
January 2009
This is the information we are seeking, in particular. You need only address those questions you wish to!
Name: (optional)
Date:
I. THE VIDEO MODULES:
1. In terms of content of the video modules, from your point of view, what’s missing from the current version of the Symposium?
2. Are there any additional topics or areas of focus you think should be included? Do you have specific copy to suggest?
3. Who, specifically, do you think would be great to interview AND do you have any access to them? (For example, you don’t need to mention it would be great to have more women; more Asians, Latinos and/or Al Gore and President elect Obama. Duh! The point is –who specifically would be good, and who can help us procure the interview in the next few months?)
4. Which of the current speakers really work, from you point of view?
5. Is there anyone you would like to see removed from the current lineup of speakers?
6. In terms of actual footage and/or images: have you come across anything that we should consider adding to the Symposium?
II. LIVE FACILITATOR PORTION:
1. Have you added anything or found better ways of phrasing anything in the Live Facilitator portions that you suggest we include in the new V-2?
2. Is there anything currently covered in the videos that you think would be better presented by the Live Facilitator?
3. Please cut and paste here any changes, additions or deletions you have made that you think are improvements. If you would rather offer a revised script for a section, make sure it is in Track Changes mode so the changes are immediately apparent.
III. ACTIVITIES, EXERCISES, GROUP PARTICIPATION AND ORGANIZATION:
1. How have you improved the Interactive Portions (exercises and group experiences) of V-1?
2. What have you added?
3. What have you refined or done differently?
4. Which processes are most effective and which do you tend to leave out?
IV. SECTION VI: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (Arguably the least powerful section of the Symposium)
1. What do you think would work for a powerful ending that leaves participants in Blessed Unrest, in action, in community?
2. What have you tried?
3. What have you thought about trying?
V. TECHNOLOGY:
1. In using the DVD what are any technological challenges you have had to deal with?
2. What, if anything, do you wish could be different about the way the DVD works?
3. Have you used Keynote? How did it work?
4. Are you interested in having the capability to customize your presentations
by being able to add and remove video segments?
5. Have you used the additional resource video material on Disc 2?
VI. OTHER:
1. What have you found out works re: timing? Have you found any effective ways to shorten the Symposium? Lengthen it?
2. Have you had any special suggest in adapting the Symposium to a specific audience? Can you tell us what/how you did it?
3. Approximately how many Symposiums have you facilitated?
4. If you have not led a Symposium recently (say, in the last 4-6 months) may we know why?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
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