Seeking facilitation exposure in Twin Cities

[John Smart]

Hi there.

I'm excited to find this group. I have a few questions...

Maybe it's my news reader, but I haven't seen an FAQ for this group. Does
one exist?

Also, I'm trying to find a group of facilitators that meet regularly in
the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota. I called the IAF and even
though they appear to be based less than 20 minutes away, they don't have
local meetings. I'm planning to join the IAF to supplement my learning,
and I'm going to (crosses fingers) pitch my going to the conference to my
employer, but I'm much more interested in locating a local group of
people that have structured meetings more often than a once-a-year
conference. Can anyone help me on this?

Failing that, I'd like to get feedback about starting one... possibly a
study group that meets monthly regarding events or books about leadership
and facilitation, led by a different member each meeting. Does anyone
belong to a similar group that can give me pointers on how to start and
run such a group?

Oh... and one last question... As part of my proposal that my employer
send me to this conference, I'd like to offer and pilot a formal process
in bringing this information back to the rest of the department. Be it a
form to fill out, a discussion database**, or a half day seminar within
the office, does anyone use a formal business process for taking
information learned at conventions and bringing it back to your company?

John Smart

** The issues of designing a discussion database and getting my
department to use it are negligible. I'm a Lotus Notes consultant in a
team of Notes consultants, so the business of collaboration and automated
workflows via email and discussion databases is what we do.