Workgroup Notes: Expanding Into Areas Without Existing Teams

We had great input from about 8 people, especially from Australia and Texas, where facilitators have offered introductory presentations from 30 min. to 2 hours to basically anyone who will listen. Both offer to speakto organizations and schools at many different kinds of functions, from breakfasts, luncheons, meetings, evening talks and board meetings. When at all possible they use one or two video clips, especially Eco-spots and Paul Hawken's Bioneers talk. When A/V is not possible, the words are spoken by the facilitator. As anywhere, finding the key person in any organization who is passionate like us is central to building a relationship with that organization.

In Texas Ingrid and Liza have had great success offering a unique and highly visible booth at the Renewable Energy Conference...obtaining hundreds of names of those interested in the Symposium and TPA. They follow up quickly with a thanks for interest, setting up a Symposium and inviting the newly interested to becme volunteers. Drawing new volunteers into effective teams is an ongoing challenge. In Australia they have developed a system of mentoring newcomers of all kinds, which hasproven to be a great means of support and development of interest in the Symposium.

When we are trying to expand into adjoining areas where a team has not been built, offering the symposium again and again to enroll new facilitators in that area seems to be the best means to both build a facilitator body, interest in ATD. Partnering with like-minded organizations and encouraging them to sponsor, host, provide lunch for and support the production of the Symposium inas many ways as possible is highly recommended.

We also discussed expanding into distant area without ATD presence, such as the MidWestern United States. It was suggested that we poll local friends and contacts for connections where we'd like to initiate the Symposium. For instance our families, local community and organizations may have contacts, chapters, friends, family, in, say, Cleveland, who can initiate introductions and possibly a venue/sponsor in Cleveland, as well as lodging. As with expanding closer to home, the key seems to be staying with the effort in a comprehensive way...continuing to explore new avenues and contacts, introductory exposure. Liza, in Texas, has also begun approaching like-minded organizations wherever she is traveling. Asalways, it's advisable to have read an article,etc., and know something about that organization and its recent activities and focus before walking in! She has actually enrolled new facilitators right off the bat this way.

In conjuntion with his interest in developing internet support for ATD, Dave Ergo also would like to see the creation of an onlinefile of facilitators by geographical location, an onlinefile of facilitators who arewilling to travel and where, and an online file of those willing to provide lodging and where.