Ideas and passions - The Art of Hosting2024-03-29T10:35:47Zhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/forum/categories/ideas-and-passions/listForCategory?categoryId=4134568%3ACategory%3A509&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGiving instructions for explaining methodologiestag:artofhosting.ning.com,2013-01-02:4134568:Topic:706202013-01-02T21:25:09.239ZRia Baeckhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Here is a post I wrote a while ago on 7 practice for giving instructions. …</div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Here is a post I wrote a while ago on 7 practice for giving instructions. </div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"><a href="http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?p=3128">http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?p=3128</a></span></div>
<div><font face=".HelveticaNeueUI"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"> </span></font></div>
<div><font face=".HelveticaNeueUI"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">That is a very sensitive time in a process and giving instructions is very important. May that post be of use. <br/></span></font><br/><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-- </span><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CHRIS CORRIGAN</div>
</div> Breaths of Design and Chaordic Stepping Stonestag:artofhosting.ning.com,2012-08-30:4134568:Topic:615802012-08-30T20:47:56.257ZAmanda Fentonhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/AmandaFenton
<p>When I first learned the (then) 5 Breaths of Design and the Chaordic Stepping Stones my wondering was on how to work with the two together. They felt complementary, overlapping in some ways, and yet also different.</p>
<p>Over the past two years I've played around with a mind map that combines the two - that helps me hold both. I like the mind map format as I have the journey all on one page in a stuctured but not completely linear format. I haven't included all of the wonderful questions…</p>
<p>When I first learned the (then) 5 Breaths of Design and the Chaordic Stepping Stones my wondering was on how to work with the two together. They felt complementary, overlapping in some ways, and yet also different.</p>
<p>Over the past two years I've played around with a mind map that combines the two - that helps me hold both. I like the mind map format as I have the journey all on one page in a stuctured but not completely linear format. I haven't included all of the wonderful questions shared in recent versions of the Chaordic Stepping Stones or Breaths of Design; but a good handful that work well for me in my work. And it is always iterating... I'll come across a new good question and add it... or a new breath or two gets added and in it goes as well. I don't have the newest eight breath reflected yet.</p>
<p>So on the topic of breaths, I'm taking a big one and sharing my map here with the community. My intention is not to dull the power of these two design helpers in their stand-alone forms, but to have a handy tool for me - one who likes maps! And gratitude to all those before me who have created and grown the Breaths of Design and Chaordic Stepping Stones.</p>
<p></p> Adding a fourth round to Pro Action Café?tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2012-08-01:4134568:Topic:573882012-08-01T15:00:17.837ZRia Baeckhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p><em>From Marianne Knuth, summer 2012, shared on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/423063111041451/permalink/498549303492831/" target="_blank">the Art of Hosting Facebook Group</a>:</em></p>
<p>We had two pro-action cafes last week as we completed the three month youth programme here at Kufunda. We added a round - so four rounds instead of three, with the new round coming in as a second round asking the question: What possibilities do you see? So having deepened the quest, we go into…</p>
<p><em>From Marianne Knuth, summer 2012, shared on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/423063111041451/permalink/498549303492831/" target="_blank">the Art of Hosting Facebook Group</a>:</em></p>
<p>We had two pro-action cafes last week as we completed the three month youth programme here at Kufunda. We added a round - so four rounds instead of three, with the new round coming in as a second round asking the question: What possibilities do you see? So having deepened the quest, we go into possibilities - open imagination and brainstorming. Then the third round returns to What is Missing, from the perspective of this group really being about helping the caller strengthen what has emerged. The fourth is as it has always been. It was lovely and I can warmly recommend it to those who have more time. I would love to hear how others find it if you try it.</p> How to explain Art of Hosting training to those who don't know the training?tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2012-05-17:4134568:Topic:557832012-05-17T10:25:18.223ZYurie Makiharahttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/YurieMakihara
<p></p>
<p> Thank you very much for understanding for my sending this to you a few times in other ways.</p>
<p>-------------------------------------------</p>
<p><span>Hi, beautiful Art of Hosting people</span></p>
<div>How are you?</div>
<div>Hope you are doing well wherever you are (^ ^).</div>
<div>My name is Yurie Makihara, originally from Japan and currently belong to Scandinavian Art of Hosting community in Sweden. I met this training at Art of Hosting training in Karlskrona…</div>
<p></p>
<p> Thank you very much for understanding for my sending this to you a few times in other ways.</p>
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<p><span>Hi, beautiful Art of Hosting people</span></p>
<div>How are you?</div>
<div>Hope you are doing well wherever you are (^ ^).</div>
<div>My name is Yurie Makihara, originally from Japan and currently belong to Scandinavian Art of Hosting community in Sweden. I met this training at Art of Hosting training in Karlskrona 2010. </div>
<div>I'd like to share a link to talk about 'what is the art of hosting?'</div>
<div>Any feedback would be most welcome, because that's what I want to learn deeper and to invite more people to this training.</div>
<div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682G5v5SVfY&feature=channel&list=UL" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=682G5v5SVfY&feature=channel&list=UL</a></div>
<div>.</div>
<div>As some of you might know, answering this questions has been a big challenge to me since I participated in this training 2 years ago. I wanted those who don't know this training to know how amazing it is, but I found that I had to say 'ocne you come, you will know it'. So please come!" which didn't work very well.</div>
<div>Thank you very much for all of your help, inspiring me, dropping in one my open sessions and advising English. </div>
<div>I'd be very happy if this could be a stepping-stone to develop better ideas to do that.</div>
<div>So please five me feedback!</div>
<div>Hope to see you guys soon somewhere and practice together.</div>
<div>Have a wonderful day</div>
<div>Sincerely</div>
<div>Yuri @Karlskrona, Sweden.</div> Storytelling and the art of hosting conversations that mattertag:artofhosting.ning.com,2012-02-12:4134568:Topic:513602012-02-12T01:27:16.189ZMary Alice Arthurhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/MaryAliceArthur
<p><strong>This is a call to all of you out there who are interested in storytelling, narrative practice and other related forms that add depth, richness and sensemaking to our work as hosts.</strong> </p>
<p>This year I'm putting out my intention to really step forward into this work and to call others to contribute to this field of practice. I'd like to hear whether others would like to join me in a series of calls and perhaps meetings where we can focus on the combined power of…</p>
<p><strong>This is a call to all of you out there who are interested in storytelling, narrative practice and other related forms that add depth, richness and sensemaking to our work as hosts.</strong> </p>
<p>This year I'm putting out my intention to really step forward into this work and to call others to contribute to this field of practice. I'd like to hear whether others would like to join me in a series of calls and perhaps meetings where we can focus on the combined power of storytelling, conversation and art as an enhancement to the Art of Hosting practice.</p>
<p><em>Please share your stories -- as well as your thoughts and ideas -- so we can grow this field!</em></p> Language of resonancetag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-12-27:4134568:Topic:478042011-12-27T13:00:14.721ZRia Baeckhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p><em>Tenneson kicked this conversation of by referring to a blog post he just had written:</em></p>
<div><p>A few <a href="http://web.me.com/tennesonwoolf/Tenneson_Woolf/Blog/Entries/2011/10/31_Language_of_Resonance.html">reflections inspired by Simone and my experience at Bowen AoH last week</a> on resonance.</p>
<div><p> </p>
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<div><p>To the center.</p>
</div>
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<div><p>With appreciation</p>
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<div><p>Tenneson</p>
<p>---------------------</p>
<p><em>From Utah to…</em></p>
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<p><em>Tenneson kicked this conversation of by referring to a blog post he just had written:</em></p>
<div><p>A few <a href="http://web.me.com/tennesonwoolf/Tenneson_Woolf/Blog/Entries/2011/10/31_Language_of_Resonance.html">reflections inspired by Simone and my experience at Bowen AoH last week</a> on resonance.</p>
<div><p> </p>
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<div><p>To the center.</p>
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<div><p>With appreciation</p>
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<div><p>Tenneson</p>
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<p><em>From Utah to Australia:</em></p>
<p>Hi Tenneson,</p>
<p>Your post reminds me of the work of Rupert Sheldrake around morphogenesis and morphic resonance.</p>
<p>What is the energetic force that allows an acorn to become an oak? And what is the energetic force that allows a group of people to become a community? How can we identify and harness that energy?</p>
<p>What morphic resonance is reinforcing old ways, creating resistance to new thinking? Even more importantly: what morphic resonance can we harness to bring people in conflict together? I remember a conversation I had with Professor Sheldrake in which he talked of some fundamental human archetypes that can be used to unite people and that too many times different "tribes" are forced together. The example he used was the merger of Kraft and Cadbury - topical at the time. The American fast moving consumer goods corporation swallowing up a family based confectionary company was probably doomed, he suggested, unless they could come up with a new whole that the morphic resonance of both could resonate with - a "Kraftbury".</p>
<p>What a lot we have to learn from biology!</p>
<p>Many thanks</p>
<p>Stephen</p>
<p>--------------------</p>
<p>Well spoken to stir the imagination -- thanks Stephen.</p>
<div>There is a really important inquiry here. I always feel it in my bones, this looking for what is underneath.</div>
<div>I feel it as the new-storying (or restorying or remembering) of this time. What remarkable openings become possible with the shift in story in this always-manifesting pattern...?</div>
<div>Quite a thing to be human.</div>
<div>Kathy Jourdain and I taught some of this on the weekend in the field that was the Art of Collaborative Leadership in New Brunswick. In referencing underlaying theory bases for collaboration, invited all to think of their part time job (at least part time) as exploring and telling the new story.</div>
<div>With continued hunger and appreciation.</div>
<div>Tenneson</div>
</div> At the intersection of power and participationtag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-09-29:4134568:Topic:392182011-09-29T22:03:32.106ZChris Corriganhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/ChrisCorrigan
<div class="post-headline"><h1><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Leaving New York today. It has been an incredible four days here working with my good friends Kelly McGowan and Tuesday Ryan-Hart and Lex Schroeder, Aniestla Rugama, Alissa Schwartz, and Aswad Foster. We were running a workshop called the Art of Social Justice in which we were investigating the intersection of participatory process and social justice work. Over three days we explored a framework that Tuesday has…</span></h1>
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<div class="post-headline"><h1><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Leaving New York today. It has been an incredible four days here working with my good friends Kelly McGowan and Tuesday Ryan-Hart and Lex Schroeder, Aniestla Rugama, Alissa Schwartz, and Aswad Foster. We were running a workshop called the Art of Social Justice in which we were investigating the intersection of participatory process and social justice work. Over three days we explored a framework that Tuesday has developed and investigated with Kelly for the past year. The framework includes and transcends the gifts and drawbacks of traditional social justice frameworks and of what we know about participatory process.</span></h1>
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<div class="post-bodycopy clearfix"><p>Tuesday is writing a lot more about this, but the essence of the framework is that neither social justice analysis nor participatory process are enough on their own to move us into the new forms of leadership that are needed in a world where social inequity and power are becoming increasingly complex, and where traditional forms of organizing are no longer reflective of the interconnected nature of global society..</p>
<p>A gift of traditional social justice analysis is the way it understands personal and collective power and privilege. This analysis concerns itself with transformation of both the personal and the social power dynamics in society, but it often contains within it an invisible current of control that runs deep in the architecture of social change process. It posits a social separation between those of us who are working for change in or allied with the struggle of oppressed peoples, and people in the system that are thought to be – traditionally – the enemy. Or it sets up a struggle between the system that perpetuates oppression and the people who are oppressed by it. In this world, in this time, that analysis is out of date. We are all connected to the entire system. As I showed in my last post, you can even discover how many slaves you employ. Even if you are heavily marginalized within the mainstream, you are connected to the system itself. As the sign said at Occupy Wall Street, “you are us.”</p>
<p>Those of us who are facilitators of participatory process often make grand claims about the power of processes like Open Space Technology and World Cafe to even out power differences. In a circle everyone is said to be equal and leadership can come from every chair. While participatory process does provide a useful methodology for decolonizing how we meet, it has several risks associated with it. For one thing, if we fail to take into consideration the context in which we are working, power can show up in participatory process in a dangerously invisible way. Some participants may be able to operate much more resourcefully because of their power or privilege by, for example, becoming the scribes for small groups and speaking for the group. Those who cannot write may not feel comfortable posting a session in Open Space, meaning that there is no way that their voices can be heard or their contributions incorporated. Furthermore, participatory processes, like all facilitation processes, heavily depend on the role of the facilitator. If the facilitators (and the process designers for that matter) are not aware of the currents of power and privilege within the context in which they are working, they run the risk of designing structures that keep marginalized people marginalized. If they come to the hosting role without awareness of and good practice around their own power and privilege, the social architecture that emerges can be very exclusionary.</p>
<p>Both of these fields of analysis have something to offer to one another and both have their own drawbacks, In Tuesday’s framework, she identifies a middle path, which she named co-revealation. It is going to take me a while to unpack this concept, but I can at least begin to see how it works. In the space of power-aware participatory leadership, the gift of relationship is active. As we move together through process, the emphasis on relationship is key and in working together relationship becomes more revealed. In the process, we treat each other with more and more grace and compassion, coming to see that as we are all interconnected both to each other and the systems in which we are working to change, we recognize that personal and social transformation is also both inevitable and required. In Saskatoon last week, one of our participants in the Art of Hosting was carrying the question “how do we collaborate with dictators?” as a way of trying to discern the limits of participation. In several conversations over these last two weeks I have come to ask that question of myself, and reframing it as “how do I collaborate with myself when I am being a dictator?”. With that inquiry active, we may find that dictatorship behaviors are present everywhere, and we may also allow ourselves and others the grace to be imperfect in our lives and behaviors. This doesn’t excuse violence or oppression, but rather it gives us serious skin in the game in trying to address oppressive systems. If we are not a part of the problem we cannot be a part of the solution. And in being a part of the problem we need to treat each other with some kindness and latitude, qualities that are born in relationship, even relationship with people with whom we have fundamental differences.</p>
<p>It may feel as if this stuff is a little old hat, but I experienced it differently in practice. During our gathering in New York a group of three participants brought a proposal into the third day check in circle that required a complete think of our agenda, in doing so they were both proposing a new idea but also challenging the power structure of the system. The design team had been designing the days as we went and hosting the process, but here the participants were inviting us to practice what we preached about awareness of power. The group could have chosen to create a drama around the situation, but our field of relationship was very strong. And so they issued the challenge as an invitation We immediately went into a circle process first to seek everyone else’s thoughts on the proposal and second to gain clarity around how to make it work. It was clear in our group that the idea being proposed – that we all go down to Occupy Wall Street and learn what we can there – was both an excellent idea, and also not one that everyone wanted to do. In the circle, I expressed my faith in the resourcefulness of the group and the design team to offer and hold multiple options so that the decision did not have to be an either/or choice. Towards the end of the first round of circle a proposal began to emerge that made some sense, and seemed workable. Kelly and I, as host and guardian of the circle, invited a round for additional clarity followed by one more round of any refinements to the proposal. Then we thumb-voted on it, took care of two small questions and went forward with a great new design for the day.</p>
<p>What emerged was a process whereby the morning would be spent in proaction café which offers people a chance to work on projects. The group that wanted to go down to Wall Street decided to use that time to prepare a learning journey for themselves while others worked on other projects. The afternoon was devoted to nuts and bolts learning in our space while about nine people went off to the occupation. We reconvened at 300 and had two short fishbowls to report on what each group had learned. That harvest was recorded both in video and on flip charts so tat it could be made available to the wider community.</p>
<p>Among the many lessons of the day was the fact that Tuesday’s ideas take us beyond the realm of analysis and into a practice of this middle space. In fact the middle space of co-revelation can only live in practice, it has no power in analysis or in the kinds of theoretical debates that rage without relationship. In those domains the middle space disappears.</p>
<p>It is hard to capture exactly the effect this week has had on my practice, but it deeply continues the theme of “seeing more clearly” that has been the greatest gift of my journey in and around the Art of Hosting community of practice for the past seven years. In our workshops and learning events, we seek less to train people in methodologies and more to situate participatory process in its wider context. Doing so gives the methodologies power and effectiveness and activates the deeper gifts of invitation, collaboration, participation and transformation. And although the word feels raw and new and vague, I think I can finally describe what we do as assisting groups to enter into the space of co-revelation. That was Tuesday’s gift to the group, and that was the group’s significant gift to ourselves.</p>
<p>And as if to confirm it, I sensed this new space active in Liberty Park on the two nights we went down there. The young people who are organizing Occupy Wall Street are doing so in a way that gives profound insight into this concept, but that is the subject of another post.</p>
</div> Practices to deepen 'Host your self'tag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-09-20:4134568:Topic:372702011-09-20T08:58:52.600ZRia Baeckhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p>As our own practice of hosting deepens and develops, we see that other practices inform and deepen our work. I open this space for all of us to mention the practices that we use to deepen the hosting of ourselves. As complexity and chaos become more present in our lives, we will need these practices to stay grounded and centered, and able to sense what is next and right to do.</p>
<p>When you add a practice here, it would be good to include a link to a good resource online, where people can…</p>
<p>As our own practice of hosting deepens and develops, we see that other practices inform and deepen our work. I open this space for all of us to mention the practices that we use to deepen the hosting of ourselves. As complexity and chaos become more present in our lives, we will need these practices to stay grounded and centered, and able to sense what is next and right to do.</p>
<p>When you add a practice here, it would be good to include a link to a good resource online, where people can read more about it. Knowing of course, that the power of practice lies in the practice; not in the reading!</p>
<p> </p> Passion for regular Pro Action Café'stag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-09-17:4134568:Topic:374242011-09-17T18:55:40.584ZRia Baeckhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p><em>Sept.'11 I received an email from Natasha Dalmia - who I never met or I never heard of before - with 'a basket of flowers that says Thank You'. This is what she wrote:</em></p>
<p>Dear Ria, Rainer, <br></br> <br></br> Hi, this is my first mail to you ever - It is a pleasure to write to you both - Greetings from Singapore.<br></br> <br></br> I got your mail ids from Andries, who revisited the roots of Pro Action Cafe with us as more of our hosts and guests are connecting with this practice and…</p>
<p><em>Sept.'11 I received an email from Natasha Dalmia - who I never met or I never heard of before - with 'a basket of flowers that says Thank You'. This is what she wrote:</em></p>
<p>Dear Ria, Rainer, <br/> <br/> Hi, this is my first mail to you ever - It is a pleasure to write to you both - Greetings from Singapore.<br/> <br/> I got your mail ids from Andries, who revisited the roots of Pro Action Cafe with us as more of our hosts and guests are connecting with this practice and space.<br/> <br/> Thanks to all of you, and Andries, who introduced it to us, we embarked on this journey of <br/> Pro Action Cafe in Singapore since 2009, and it has been an amazing one. <br/> <br/> Wish to share with you the harvest, something that I got inspired and found courage to do <br/> when I recently attended Art of Hosting in Budapest and Thailand, 2011.<br/> <a href="http://olifesparks.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/pro-action-cafe-singapore/">http://olifesparks.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/pro-action-cafe-singapore/</a><br/> <br/> We are much grateful to you both for sharing this practice as humbly appreciated under 'The Pearls from far far away'.<br/> <br/> Do feel free to advise us should anything emerge for you when you read the harvest. and also should you visit Singapore anytime. <br/> <br/> Warmly,</p>
<div>Natasha Dalmia</div>
<div>The blogpost is really, really great! It is a full harvest of a group of people, mostly AEISEC (ex-)members, who have been doing monthly Pro Action Cafés for 2 years.</div>
<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/48576752529/" target="_blank">They have a Facebook page.</a></div>
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<div>Since Rainer and I started the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/48576752529/" target="_blank">Pro Action Café in Brussels</a> many years ago, the Brussels one is also still running, more or less every month. After both of us left the regular hosting, three young ladies took over: Katrin Duerkoop, Naomi Takagi and Nora Ganescu.</div>
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<div>Looking around on the net, it turns out that Pro Action Café is even on twitter! @ProActionCafe</div>
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<div>Some months ago, Jenny Werbelof, living in Melbourne called me on Skype to hear from me how she could go about starting a regular Pro Action Café in Melbourne. She connected later with Katrin in Brussels to share the experiences so far. Now it turns out they have already <a href="http://www.proactioncafe.com.au/" target="_blank">a website</a> and a great logo! I noticed that both the Brussels and Melbourne café's are happening in the local Hubs!</div>
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<div>Some weeks ago I met three people from a town nearby, Leuven, and they want to start another Pro Action Café. Soooo curious how it will unfold! In the meantime there has been one in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/378840725472769/" target="_blank">Gent - TransitieCafé</a> too!</div>
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<div>Is there a Pro Action Café in Finland??? Yes! At the Hub in Helsinki. Here is their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/316711145027629" target="_blank">Facebook page.</a></div>
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<div>If you know of other Pro Action Café's that meet regularly, please make a comment below, and include a link if you have one.</div>
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<div>There is another conversation thread on Pro Action Café <a href="http://artofhosting.ning.com/forum/topics/pro-action-cafe-in-regions" target="_self">here</a>.</div> The importance of the Circle Practicetag:artofhosting.ning.com,2011-09-16:4134568:Topic:372252011-09-16T09:00:28.634ZRia Baeckhttp://artofhosting.ning.com/profile/RiaBaeck
<p>One of the first documents that I read when I joined the Art of Hosting emaillist was <a href="http://artofhosting.ning.com/page/history-and-governance-of-art" target="_self">a report</a> made from the first Stewards Gathering, held in 2005 at The Shire, Nova Scotia, Canada. And I remember there was one paragraph that touched me deeply, which said that <em>the circle is the mother of all other social technologies.</em> I initiated an ongoing circle years before, and am in circles still (…</p>
<p>One of the first documents that I read when I joined the Art of Hosting emaillist was <a href="http://artofhosting.ning.com/page/history-and-governance-of-art" target="_self">a report</a> made from the first Stewards Gathering, held in 2005 at The Shire, Nova Scotia, Canada. And I remember there was one paragraph that touched me deeply, which said that <em>the circle is the mother of all other social technologies.</em> I initiated an ongoing circle years before, and am in circles still (<a href="http://womenmovingtheedge.ning.com/" target="_blank">Women Moving the Edge</a>). It gave me learnings so deep and wide!</p>
<p>Recently, Sept.'11, I organised a Circle Intensive with Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea from <a href="http://www.peerspirit.com/" target="_blank">PeerSpirit</a>, which gave rise to some email exchanges on the emaillist that I found worthwhile to copy here.</p>