From ICommons wiki

[edit] Networking and enabling connections:

Problem: Probably the biggest problem that we currently face is that Sapporo is difficult to get to and very expensive, which means we'll have to find some creative ways of solving this problem. If the iSummit is about developing a sense of the commons as a global movement, and building connections between people working in the Creative Commons, open education, A2K etc movements, to connect and build new projects together. How can we illustrate global solidarity on this issue? How can we get people to get together to talk about these issues.

Solutions: A virtual iSummit like Pangea Day where people in different cities hold a small event to discuss issues on the agenda/contribute to the checklist/etc? What do you think?

Problem: Creating connections between summit veterans and newbies is difficult, and in the past has only happened halfway through the summit, which is too late. Social spaces and less formal programme events might help to make these connections happen faster.

Solution: A big community space where people can speak to each other and where people are inclined to speak to each other.

To do - James (with Lanon) is updating ‘common sessions’ about how activities in the Boilerroom sessions, the Central Market Chaos space (was Free Culture House) and final sessions can be designed to ensure that people make connections between one another.

To do - Kerryn is sending the Floorplan of the central space to the organising team for comment

To do - We need more ideas of what all participants can do/bring in the central space to enliven it (Zunelle had an idea about a wall where we’d put brochures etc; Anna is doing a ‘Road to the Summit’ series of posters).

To do - What else?

Solution: The largest space should not be committed to keynotes, but to social networking.

To do – Do we have enough space for the ‘chaos in the center’?

Lobby: Social space in the lobby, cafe, couches, lounge, show-case banners, people can sign up to things that then happen in separate rooms

To do – Make sure this is all happening, that there is a place for the notice boards, for sign-up sheets, that we can move couches and tables and chairs etc into the Central space

Solution: Assuming that people break into their own tribes in the mornings, we could have a break in the middle where everyone comes together, people get rejuvenated, get fired up about the afternoon, report back from the mornings, do elevator pitches for the afternoon sessions.

To do – Hmm. Does it matter that we don’t have this any more? Should we still have this? Or is there another way to ensure people are fired up about the afternoon sessions e.g. posters about the upcoming sessions/ loudspeaker announcements about the pm sessions at lunch etc etc.

Solution: Participant list before the summit that has more than just names and location, people could start connecting with each other before the summit

To do – This is actually quite important. How can we make sure it happens? Can we manually publish peoples’ names from pentabarf?

Solution: One person "lives" in the central space and helps organise logistics (book rooms, organise equipment, provide direction). Important that not everything is fixed in advanced.

To do – Make sure someone has this job

Solution: We need to focus on the transformation of how culture is created, shared. This means also going beyond what we think about when we speak about "free culture". Include free as freedom of expression / democracy in the framework.

To do – H to include this in the opening

Solution: Scholarship focus on Asia

To do – We are helping 14 people from Asia in some way. We need to find out from SC who they are supporting from Asia (they were going to help get people from sister cities to the event).

[edit] Facilitators:

When we communicate that there are these mediators it's important that we explain why they were chosen - and explain clearly what their role is, why we need them, and make sure everyone understands that. This is a question that goes further, not just this topic - we need to make sure that everything / all decisions that we are taking here need to be communicated clearly. [This point found agreement]

To do – hmmm, I think we’ve failed on this last point L but probably due to necessity more than anything else. Perhaps we should rather have gotten people to suggest facilitators for each track and then paid for those people to come and learn how to facilitate. Or at least to have started the facilitation group earlier on. We absolutely need, now, to communicate to the group who the mediators are, why they were chosen, what their role is, why we need them. I will draft and send to the facilitators list. Then, we need to make sure we let the ‘mediators’ know when we make decisions about stuff so that they’re included.

Solution: Draw up facilitation guidelines and terms of reference for the team

To do – James, can you do this and develop a pack from the references including: http://facilitation.aspirationtech.org/index.php/Facilitation:Facilitator_Guidelines on the wiki?

[edit] Documentation:

Solution: Can make a broadcast room

To do – AnnaB, do we need this?

Solution: Create a phrase book wiki to deal with some of the language issues

To do – Bekka, is this feasible?

Solution: Tomi suggested that we look at Chaos Computer Club Congress since they seem to have had a very good process. We are planning to look at what they did and see what we can learn from it

To do – Someone (e.g. Danni) needs to interview them and find out how they do documentation ASAP.

(http://wiki.icommons.org/index.php/ISummit_2008/Planning_Workshop/Documentation)