Facilitators Needs - Monthly CoP call for Nov 2013 - December 2014

[Kristin Johnstad]

I am going to see if we can look ahead and get commitments to facilitate. If not, we may want to revisit the volunteer nature of the role.

November 2013: TBD

Not able to do so:

Kristin

Ken

Carol

Janne

Debbie

Laura

December 2014: TBD

Not able to do so:

Kristin

Ken

January 2014: Kristin and partner?

February 2014:

March 2014

April 2014:

May 2014:

June 2014:

July 2014:

August 2014:

September 2014

October 2014:

November 2014:

December 2014:

[Abby Yanow]

hi all,
 
I'm wondering if we can sustain the once/month call, or if we might consider spreading them out, for example, once every two months?   Do we have enough content and free time for a call every month?  I'd be happy to meet every other month :)  You?
 
cheers,
Abby
 
 


Abby Yanow

Leadership Coaching --Organizational Development – Facilitation

www.skillfulfacilitation.com

Blog:  http://ayanow.wordpress.com

Phone: 617-625-0211

 

 

---

 

[Deborah McLaren]

Is the call cancelled? I'm looking for a call in number to join. I'm trying to use Meeting ID 132-957-161 but no one is on the call.

Deborah

[Ken Vance-Borland]

Hi all -- It's getting to be that time of the month again, and so I'll soon be setting up an AnyMeeting session for Wed, Feb 26, 9:30-11am Pacific time, and posting the details to this list.

I'm happy to handle the technical end, and in the network spirit of 'never working alone' I'd like a partner to handle the agenda. Please raise your hand!

On another topic, in the past we have discussed inviting others besides we who did the practicum to participate. I was recently interviewed by someone who's interested in being a network weaving consultant, and at the end I suggested she write up a paragraph for me to pass along to all of you for your consideration in the event that we do decide to open this up to others. Here it is:

"Ken asked me to write a few sentences about my experience with and interest in network weaving.  A little about my experience: in nearly every setting I've been in since I started college (2004), I've found myself doing the work of a network weaver.  From building coalitions on my campus, to eventually researching and organizing sustainable development NGOs in Costa Rica, I've spent the past decade mapping and strengthening networks.  I've found it the most impactful way to approach what I see as issues in the world, which are commonly called environmental justice (EJ) issues.  A lot of EJ work is inherently intersectional, and networks can often provide meaningful support that transcends issue-based collaborations.  I'm working on a blog (arilikeairy.org/blog)  that revolves around network thinking, collaborations between non-profits, and technology tools that support both of those.  I'd love to find more support for starting a network weaving consultancy, as it's my passion and the way I interact with the world."

 

Ken Vance-Borland, Executive Director
The Conservation Planning Institute
"To protect and restore biological diversity through innovative conservation planning
that is focused on effective implementation"
Tel:(541)231-7949 Email: ke...@consplan.net Skype: ken.vance.borland
http://www.conservationplanninginstitute.org/
CPI is an IUCN member organization http://www.iucn.org/

---

From: Kristin Johnstad <kri...@kristinjohnstad.com>
To: network-weav...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 4:52 AM
Subject: Facilitators Needs - Monthly CoP call for Nov 2013 - December 2014

[Judy Soule]

Ken - 

Thanks for getting this going.  In the spirit of networking, I'm not raising my hand for this, since we already work together regularly. But, I'm looking forward to attending. Maybe it will inspire someone to help with the agenda if we nominate some topics.  I'd like to hear about... 

Approaches that are working/ new successes

Challenges/Hurdles encountered 

Needs that our group might help meet for one another

Maybe discuss inviting in new people?  

Judy

[Kristin Johnstad]

Greetings all.

I can not be on the call tomorrow. I have other commitments that overlap. I thought we were going to check on this date and time for regular meetings. And I thought Deborah McLaren volunteered to facilitate but just checked the notes but didn't see that reflected..... see how the I thoughts can get me into trouble.

I did see I fell short in getting Judy some questions to follow up with to the whole group. Maybe it is because i am not sure of the questions or if I am the only one noodling on them.  

 I am fuzzy on our reason for being. The original practicum was to get info on being a network consultant and launching or strengthening our network consulting practices. 

So is our continued community of practice to support one another, share resources and learning as network consultants?  It could work and we are pretty darn diverse in terms of applications and at different stages - toe in the water, ankle deep and blending the network approach with other things or fully living and breathing networks only. I am not sure given our diversity that our current openness will be enough to hold us together. Plus there is the potential of new members.  I think that is great and we'll need some agreement on shared work/focus in order to extend invitations. I know of a number of network consultants who I'd love to connect with more regularly but I am not sure how I would describe what I am inviting them to join.

Maybe I am just being a bit fuzzy in my own thinking. That is why I didn't send anything to Judy to as the broader membership.

I am curious in a nostalgic way. What people are up to. I know there is some good news in the network. Mary, for example, got a new full-time job leading a statewide network which is why she couldn't co-facilitate with me last month. News from others? OK I am just going to put a separate post in the google group about that.

I'll also look to see what happened on Wed. The month cycle is just too fast for me given the other things I am tracking. Sending you snowballs and sunshine.

Kristin Johnstad

Strengthening the Capacity of Leaders

Johnstad & Associates LLC

Phone: 612-386-6296 (USA)

Skype: kristinjohnstad11

email:  kri...@johnstadandassociates.com

web:   www.johnstadandassociates.com

[Kristin Johnstad]

I missed the chance to facilitate in January with Mary and actually in 2013 with Ken. I'd LOVE to co-facilitate even though Ken is generously volunteering to be the technology lead.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2013 6:52:34 AM UTC-6, Kristin Johnstad wrote:

I am going to see if we can look ahead and get commitments to facilitate. If not, we may want to revisit the volunteer nature of the role.

November 2013: TBD

Not able to do so:

Kristin

Ken

Carol

Janne

Debbie

Laura

December 2014: TBD

Not able to do so:

Kristin

Ken

January 2014: Kristin and (Mary M was going to do it and she got a full-time job - YIPEE)

February 2014: Deborah McLaren?

March 2014

April 2014:Kristin and ? 

May 2014:

June 2014:

July 2014:

August 2014:

September 2014 Kristin  and ?

[Odin Zackman]

Hi everyone..

Odin here. Weighing in from a very full end of 2013/beginning of 2014. I hope this finds each of you well!

Ken, thank you so much for setting something up for tomorrow and for your ongoing commitment and stewardship to this effort! I would be willing to co-facilitate or facilitate tomorrow, though I have already played this role recently. I'm just interested in being in conversation with you all and have a bit of a proposal to discuss, which follows. I like Judy's agenda and to Ken's query about involving others, I had a bit of a broader idea that I hinted at on a previous call. I was going to reach out to June and Kristin specifically (as the originators/co-facilitators of our network), but thought I'd just throw it out there to you all:

What about turning our monthly call into a national call-in/webinar for network consultants and practitioners?

This would be a wide-open invitation (initially limited to our reaching out to select fellow consultants and network folks) and anyone interested in and involved in network practices could join. This would probably limit conversation and exchange, but might heighten learning, knowledge development, and relationship-building if we facilitated these calls appropriately and used the right on-line technology to allow chatting and engagement...limited though that may be/already is in a virtual forum. We could even resuscitate our use of StartMeeting to create different "break-out groups" on each call. It would require that we had something of a standing agenda and an initial cadre of facilitators ready to commit regularly (as Kristin's request from late last year invited), and that we did a good job of soliciting/proposing compelling topics-case studies-peer assists.

I know this probably feels big and unmanageable, but I'd be willing to work with others (in this network or outside of it) to staff/co-facilitate a much larger "Collaborative Networks Learning Network" which would host these calls, create a database of network consultants-practitioners-efforts around the country (or around the world?), and create a repository for tools and resources around network weaving. (June, your thoughts here--I would want to complement/leverage the NetworkWeaver.com site here, including the blog you've started with a group from this practicum).

I've spoken to our peers Janne and Derrick about this, but have also been exploring the idea with my colleagues Elissa Perry and Ron Milam in LA, Curtis Ogden and Beth Tener in New England, and with Eugene Eric Kim here in the Bay Area--all notable network practitioners. Another possibility I have considered is creating "regional clusters" that meet face-to-face quarterly in places where there is a concentration of network consultants/practitioners--New England, NYC, DC, Twin Cities, Seattle Area, Portland, SF Bay Area, LA, etc.-- to make the connections a bit more real and build relationships face-to-face. (Those of you in areas where there is a lower concentration of folks could always call-in  to a regional meeting as well).

Again, I know this is big, but I wouldn't be interested in this if I didn't think it could have some effects in growing and catalyzing our field. I'd really love some colleagues to help manage this (to honor working collaboratively!) and would love everyone's thoughts on what is workable here. One thing I don't want to do is create a lot of parallel conversation (though that's an interesting network diversity approach as well and might be what's most appropriate), so I thought that we could weave together this group with others having similar conversations around the country building networks for positive change/social benefit.

I've attached my 2014 statement of vision, values, and goals--you'll notice one of which is "seeding a national learning community focused on collaborative networks." I think this has already been seeded by June and Kristin and this group represents a great core which could include others in expanding our learning, growing our practices, and creating the change we want to see in our communities and our world.

I welcome your reflections-reactions-ideas. Perhaps this (and the broader topic of the sustainability of our network and networks generally) could be part of our agenda tomorrow?

Best to all,

Odin

On Monday, February 24, 2014 12:04:49 PM UTC-8, Kristin Johnstad wrote:

Greetings all.

I can not be on the call tomorrow. I have other commitments that overlap. I thought we were going to check on this date and time for regular meetings. And I thought Deborah McLaren volunteered to facilitate but just checked the notes but didn't see that reflected..... see how the I thoughts can get me into trouble.

I did see I fell short in getting Judy some questions to follow up with to the whole group. Maybe it is because i am not sure of the questions or if I am the only one noodling on them.  

 I am fuzzy on our reason for being. The original practicum was to get info on being a network consultant and launching or strengthening our network consulting practices. 

So is our continued community of practice to support one another, share resources and learning as network consultants?  It could work and we are pretty darn diverse in terms of applications and at different stages - toe in the water, ankle deep and blending the network approach with other things or fully living and breathing networks only. I am not sure given our diversity that our current openness will be enough to hold us together. Plus there is the potential of new members.  I think that is great and we'll need some agreement on shared work/focus in order to extend invitations. I know of a number of network consultants who I'd love to connect with more regularly but I am not sure how I would describe what I am inviting them to join.

Maybe I am just being a bit fuzzy in my own thinking. That is why I didn't send anything to Judy to as the broader membership.

I am curious in a nostalgic way. What people are up to. I know there is some good news in the network. Mary, for example, got a new full-time job leading a statewide network which is why she couldn't co-facilitate with me last month. News from others? OK I am just going to put a separate post in the google group about that.

I'll also look to see what happened on Wed. The month cycle is just too fast for me given the other things I am tracking. Sending you snowballs and sunshine.

Kristin Johnstad

Strengthening the Capacity of Leaders

Johnstad & Associates LLC

Phone: 612-386-6296 (USA)

Skype: kristinjohnstad11

email:  kristin@johnstadandassociates.com

web:   www.johnstadandassociates.com

[Kristin Johnstad]

YEE HAA! I am in.

In complexity thinking there is a model "part, whole and greater whole" It basically means that when there is a lack of coherence at one level you go to the level above or below to influence it. So instead of looking that the practicum or CoP at that level you go to the individuals or you pop it bigger. The GREATER WHOLE. YEE HAA! OK i said that already.

Go to the GREATER WHOLE for the GREATER GOOD. Only sorry I can be on the call for the rich discussion about it.

I am definitely in to be part of the facilitation team for the national learning network and have a few folks who would be interested. I do think the frequency will be something to noodle on.

Enjoy tomorrow.

K

Kristin Johnstad

Strengthening the Capacity of Leaders

Johnstad & Associates LLC

Phone: 612-386-6296 (USA)

Skype: kristinjohnstad11

email:  kri...@johnstadandassociates.com

web:   www.johnstadandassociates.com

[Ken Vance-Borland]

Thanks for raising your hand, Odin, in a big way. I really like the potential of what you're proposing. Please organize tomorrow's agenda; one or more ppt slides are welcome, please send by 9am 2/26. I'll set up the AnyMeeting session and send out the details later today.    -ken

---

From: Kristin Johnstad <kri...@johnstadandassociates.com>
To: Odin Zackman <od...@digin.org>
Cc: Network Weavers Practicum <network-weav...@googlegroups.com>; Ken Vance-Borland <ke...@consplan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: Feb CoP session, and expression of interest

[Odin Zackman]

Dear Ken and all--

I look forward to our time together to check in.

I've put together a very simple PPT deck to guide our conversation, attached...as usual, I'm excited to see what comes up during our conversation and to catching up with folks who are able to make it!

Best,

Odin

On Tuesday, February 25, 2014 10:25:13 AM UTC-8, kenvb wrote:

Thanks for raising your hand, Odin, in a big way. I really like the potential of what you're proposing. Please organize tomorrow's agenda; one or more ppt slides are welcome, please send by 9am 2/26. I'll set up the AnyMeeting session and send out the details later today.    -ken

---

From: Kristin Johnstad <kri...@johnstadandassociates.com>
To: Odin Zackman <od...@digin.org>
Cc: Network Weavers Practicum <network-weav...@googlegroups.com>; Ken Vance-Borland <ke...@consplan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: Feb CoP session, and expression of interest

YEE HAA! I am in.

In complexity thinking there is a model "part, whole and greater whole" It basically means that when there is a lack of coherence at one level you go to the level above or below to influence it. So instead of looking that the practicum or CoP at that level you go to the individuals or you pop it bigger. The GREATER WHOLE. YEE HAA! OK i said that already.

Go to the GREATER WHOLE for the GREATER GOOD. Only sorry I can be on the call for the rich discussion about it.

I am definitely in to be part of the facilitation team for the national learning network and have a few folks who would be interested. I do think the frequency will be something to noodle on.

Enjoy tomorrow.

K

Kristin Johnstad

Strengthening the Capacity of Leaders

Johnstad & Associates LLC

Phone: 612-386-6296 (USA)

Skype: kristinjohnstad11

email:  kristin@johnstadandassociates.com

web:   www.johnstadandassociates.com

[Mary T. Migliorelli]

Thank you for sending this PPT, and sharing plans for the future. Although I can't attend today's conversation, I'll continue to participate in months when our nonprofit network does not have training scheduled. (I'm working full-time as the Professional Development Manager at www.utahnonprofits.org , which is Utah's statewide nonprofit network of executive directors, board members, and corporate partners who support nonprofit leadership development. I expect to be working with key board members during the coming year to encourage them to move beyond traditional networking and introduce a network weaving approach.)
 
As the CoP continues, if there are plans for Ken and others to teach a Network Mapping survey design and software course, please count me in and let me know the tuition/related costs. I'm also glad to help financially support a subscription to an expanded online meeting platform---just let me know.

 I'll continue to stay in touch on Google and FB, and do appreciate the great resources June and others have posted there for us to share with our networks.
 
Many Thanks,
 
Mary T. Migliorelli

---

Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 21:26:40 -0800
From: od...@digin.org
To: network-weav...@googlegroups.com
CC: ju...@networkweaving.com; ke...@consplan.net
Subject: Re: Wed 2/26, 9:30-11am PST: Feb CoP session

[Derrick Rhayn]

Can't make the call today as I am working on a tight federal grant deadline. So appreciate the PPT and plan. Excited to participate moving forward.

Many blessings,

Derrick 

[Ken Vance-Borland]

Mary -- Thanks for your strong expression of support for this work, and congratulations on the job you landed.

I do plan to offer network mapping training, and it is likely to be summer before that happens. Stay tuned; you'll find out about it here, I'm sure.

-ken

---

From: Mary T. Migliorelli <mtmigl...@hotmail.com>
To: Odin Zackman <od...@digin.org>; "network-weav...@googlegroups.com" <network-weav...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: June Holley <ju...@networkweaving.com>; Ken Vance-Borland <ke...@consplan.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:13 AM
Subject: RE: Wed 2/26, 9:30-11am PST: Feb CoP session

Thank you for sending this PPT, and sharing plans for the future. Although I can't attend today's conversation, I'll continue to participate in months when our nonprofit network does not have training scheduled. (I'm working full-time as the Professional Development Manager at www.utahnonprofits.org , which is Utah's statewide nonprofit network of executive directors, board members, and corporate partners who support nonprofit leadership development. I expect to be working with key board members during the coming year to encourage them to move beyond traditional networking and introduce a network weaving approach.)
 
As the CoP continues, if there are plans for Ken and others to teach a Network Mapping survey design and software course, please count me in and let me know the tuition/related costs. I'm also glad to help financially support a subscription to an expanded online meeting platform---just let me know.

 I'll continue to stay in touch on Google and FB, and do appreciate the great resources June and others have posted there for us to share with our networks.
 
Many Thanks,
 
Mary T. Migliorelli

---

Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 21:26:40 -0800
From: od...@digin.org
To: network-weav...@googlegroups.com
CC: ju...@networkweaving.com; ke...@consplan.net
Subject: Re: Wed 2/26, 9:30-11am PST: Feb CoP session

Dear Ken and all--

I look forward to our time together to check in.

I've put together a very simple PPT deck to guide our conversation, attached...as usual, I'm excited to see what comes up during our conversation and to catching up with folks who are able to make it!

Best,

Odin

On Tuesday, February 25, 2014 10:25:13 AM UTC-8, kenvb wrote:

Thanks for raising your hand, Odin, in a big way. I really like the potential of what you're proposing. Please organize tomorrow's agenda; one or more ppt slides are welcome, please send by 9am 2/26. I'll set up the AnyMeeting session and send out the details later today.    -ken

From: Kristin Johnstad <kri...@ johnstadandassociates.com>
To: Odin Zackman <od...@digin.org>

Cc: Network Weavers Practicum <network-weav...@ googlegroups.com>; Ken Vance-Borland <ke...@consplan.net>

Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: Feb CoP session, and expression of interest

YEE HAA! I am in.

In complexity thinking there is a model "part, whole and greater whole" It basically means that when there is a lack of coherence at one level you go to the level above or below to influence it. So instead of looking that the practicum or CoP at that level you go to the individuals or you pop it bigger. The GREATER WHOLE. YEE HAA! OK i said that already.

Go to the GREATER WHOLE for the GREATER GOOD. Only sorry I can be on the call for the rich discussion about it.

I am definitely in to be part of the facilitation team for the national learning network and have a few folks who would be interested. I do think the frequency will be something to noodle on.

Enjoy tomorrow.

K

Kristin Johnstad

Strengthening the Capacity of Leaders

Johnstad & Associates LLC

Phone: 612-386-6296 (USA)

Skype: kristinjohnstad11

email:  kristin@ johnstadandassociates.com

web:   www.johnstadandassociates. com

On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 11:15 AM, Odin Zackman <od...@digin.org> wrote:

Hi everyone..

Odin here. Weighing in from a very full end of 2013/beginning of 2014. I hope this finds each of you well!

Ken, thank you so much for setting something up for tomorrow and for your ongoing commitment and stewardship to this effort! I would be willing to co-facilitate or facilitate tomorrow, though I have already played this role recently. I'm just interested in being in conversation with you all and have a bit of a proposal to discuss, which follows. I like Judy's agenda and to Ken's query about involving others, I had a bit of a broader idea that I hinted at on a previous call. I was going to reach out to June and Kristin specifically (as the originators/co-facilitators of our network), but thought I'd just throw it out there to you all:

What about turning our monthly call into a national call-in/webinar for network consultants and practitioners?

This would be a wide-open invitation (initially limited to our reaching out to select fellow consultants and network folks) and anyone interested in and involved in network practices could join. This would probably limit conversation and exchange, but might heighten learning, knowledge development, and relationship-building if we facilitated these calls appropriately and used the right on-line technology to allow chatting and engagement...limited though that may be/already is in a virtual forum. We could even resuscitate our use of StartMeeting to create different "break-out groups" on each call. It would require that we had something of a standing agenda and an initial cadre of facilitators ready to commit regularly (as Kristin's request from late last year invited), and that we did a good job of soliciting/proposing compelling topics-case studies-peer assists.

I know this probably feels big and unmanageable, but I'd be willing to work with others (in this network or outside of it) to staff/co-facilitate a much larger "Collaborative Networks Learning Network" which would host these calls, create a database of network consultants-practitioners- efforts around the country (or around the world?), and create a repository for tools and resources around network weaving. (June, your thoughts here--I would want to complement/leverage the NetworkWeaver.com site here, including the blog you've started with a group from this practicum).