MINDFREEDOM ACTION CONFERENCE

April 29, 30, May 1, 2005

Work Sessions and Report Outs

 

Work Session I (Saturday from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.):

 

§         Introduction of participants and icebreaker.

§         Brainstorm hot issues, issues that participants care about.

§         Prioritize issues.

§         Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the people in the room and the organizations they represent.

§         Identify the opportunities for action that are available and some of the threats that need to be dealt with.

§         Write this down on easel paper.

 

First Report Out (Saturday at 3:45 p.m.):

 

Each track takes a place in a large room in front of its easel paper. A blank sheet or sheets is available for participants to write comments on. Participants mill around the room looking at the sheets of each of the tracks and writing comments and conversing with Track participants.

 

Work Session II (Sunday from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.)

 

§         Brainstorm list of possible actions.

§         Evaluate possible actions and prioritize.

 

An example of criteria to use in evaluating would be: Effectiveness; Feasibility; Risk

 

§         For the top two or three actions, identify:

 

§         Resources needed to carry out the action.

§         Resources that are needed but not available (need to be obtained)

§         A strategy for obtaining the resources needed.

§         Risks – worst case scenarios and what needs to be done to avoid them.

§         Opportunity – best case scenarios and what needs to be done to realize them.

 

Second Report Out (Sunday at 11:45)

 

Each track gives a very brief (5-minute) report on how it is doing in terms of energy level, progress, problems and challenges.

 

 

 

Work Session III (Sunday from 1:45 – 3:15 p.m.)

 

Each track finalizes and develops detailed plan for actions, including:

§         Description of action

§         Target of the action

§         Timeline of action steps

§         Assignment of responsibility for follow-through

 

Each track writes up its action descriptions for inclusion in the Report of the Conference.

 

Third Report Out (Sunday at 4:00 p.m.)

 

The Report of the Conference is handed out.

Closing ceremony consisting of a go-round in which each participant shares (on a voluntary basis) where he or she is at the moment and what he or she is taking away from the conference and planning to do as a follow-up.