FIC Art of Community Event

About this Page
This is the current "home page" for the team planning this large community event. It is a wiki page and can be changed by anybody... so while ideal for collaboration, it is not authoritative and cannot necessarily be relied upon for accurate information.

The definitive Event Postings will be on the FIC Events Calendar and the FIC Art of Community page. We may also create a Art of Community Website, but that is yet to be determined. This wiki space may be moved to a different location, but a link to that space will be provided here.

Note: much of the thinking here currently comes primarily from Craig Ragland, Event Coordinator. At present, Jan 20, 2006, it has not been blessed or agreed upon by the Core Leadership Team, which is still in the formative stages. Craig's expectation is that we will all come together soon as a functional team and will mold the wiki content to reflect our common consensus, rather than Craig's vision.

Event Basics

 * Name: FIC presents Art of Community NW; Building Sustainable Community (Working Title)
 * Date: Friday, Sep 8 through Sunday, Sep 10
 * Location: NW (Seattle-area?) venue TBD
 * Costs: We don't know yet (more info)
 * Event Pages - all wiki pages tagged as pertaining to event
 * Sponsors: 1 (NICA)
 * Money Raised for event: $5,000
 * Attendance Goal: 500-100
 * Leadership - Core Team: 5 (4 in NW, 1 out of area), Extended Team: 3 (there are others who've indicated interest and willingness to help, but are not clearly committed)

Goals

 * Create strong sense of community for duration of the event
 * Craig: At this point, there's not much clarity on how important this goal is for the event attendees.
 * Increase NW public awareness of:
 * NW Intentional Communities
 * How to grow community where you are
 * Increase size and numbers of documented NW communities
 * FIC Community Listing Drive
 * NW Community Resource Directory
 * Increase effectiveness of:
 * NW communitarians who are building community in many different forms
 * FIC at marshalling resources from NW communities
 * FIC at engaging with Community Where You Are organizations
 * Generate income for FIC

Topics (High Level)

 * Intentional communities in the NW
 * Growing community in existing groups
 * Growing sustainability in the NW

Leadership
This event is using an Eight Shields Organization Model to organize roles and responsibilities. See Core Leadership Team for current status of leadership team.

Sponsorship
Craig's original thinking was that the event would have three tiers of sponsorship:
 * 1) FIC will be the primary, presenting organization. It will be the sole beneficiary of any overall event profits and the FIC Events Committee will have ultimate authority in the event of disputes which cannot be resolved by the Event's Core Leadership Team.
 * 2) Other Community Networks can elect to become Co-Sponsors. This will require significant contributions. The NICA Board is willing to risk up to $5,000 to be a co-sponsor. Other groups in the NW are similarly expected to step up to help the event succeed.
 * 3) Intentional Communities and other Community-focused organizations can become Event Supporters. This will require contributions in excess of individual participation.

Expenses
Unless otherwise specifically arranged, which is expected as the event planning comes together, the event budget will not provide payment for labor or any out-of-pocket costs. All expenses will be born by individual contributors or other supporting organizations.

As the event business plan comes together, it is expected that expenses will be shifted to the event's budget. Until then, any expenses you bear should be considered a contribution to the event’s success.

Event Schedule
The event will start on Friday, Sept. 8, 2006 and run through Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006. Specifics have yet to be defined. The overall project schedule lives here. We also have information on the Twin Oaks Community Conference Schedule.