At the March 2007 "unconference," Linda Whitehead convened a session on the topic:

How can we be leaders in convening conversations centred around What Kind of World Do You Want?

She told us that friends inviting friends to their homes to view "An Inconvenient Truth" and then discuss the DVD had generated much energy and desire. Then Stephanie Linder told us about how the Dean campaign grew from "house parties." An idea emerged from this session:

To create the world you want, you could invite over a few friends for a conversation spurred by the ideas in the book. You could choose to keep the conversation close to the book (and what was exciting about it). You could go farther and use the time to talk about personal aspirations on behalf of community and beyond. One could lead to the other.

Many of you had a passion for this idea. So did Pam and I. We wanted to support your energy, so we created this how-to framework, based on the ideas at the unconference and since.

Step 1: Inviting people

Who to invite?

Friends. People you enjoy. Treat this as a social time, with the book as a reason to get together. Six or eight people may be a good size for conversation.

Who’s the host?

You might be the host. Or you could invite a friend to host the gathering while you facilitate the conversation.

When to meet?

Sunday afternoon? A weeknight? I’m reminded that once, in Jacksonville, community leaders were invited to a breakfast (!) to discuss "Positive Image, Positive Action" (a foundational academic article about appreciative inquiry) and there was a great turn out that quickly became energized.

How to invite?

If you prefer written invitations, here’s a sample as a starting point. Or pick up the phone.

Dear Sara and Stanley, I enjoy your company so much, I’d like to invite you to my home with a few other friends for an unusual conversation. I’ve just returned from a gathering of people who’ve read the book What Kind of World Do You Want? I think you’ll like it and I want to give you a pre-publication copy–in honor of who you are and what you’ve done for the community. It’s a very quick read so we’re going to get together at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 8, or April 15, depending on your schedule. I’d like to set the date in a day or two, so please let me know which date works best for you. Once you’ve had a chance to get into the book, you can confirm that you want to join the conversation.

Giving books For the first few gatherings hosted by those who attended the March gathering at Ferncliff, we would be glad to ship a book to each person you invite. It would be our gift to you, just as it will be your gift to the recipient. If you’d prefer, we can ship a few books to you now, again with our compliments. Just let us know.

Step 2: Starting the conversation

Here are a few questions you might use to start the conversation (keeping in mind how important the first question is in framing the experience):

• Why did you come here today?
• What in the book fortified or reinforced something in you — perhaps encouraging you to believe that you can indeed influence the world?
• How might the book support you as you invest yourself in the future, or in the common good?

Questions about what people want to do might be best deferred to a later time, so you can focus on appreciating what folks have done, rather than leave them feeling that you want them to do something more.

Step 3: Following up

Here are several ideas about how to follow up with people who attended. Of course, it all depends on what people have energy for …

• If there’s lots of energy, something big could be done in your community.
• You could recommend folks for the next workshop or unconference (we’re cooking something up for May, details to come soon).
• If people want to, they could meet monthly to talk about different parts of the book.
• If someone is particularly enthusiastic, you might suggest they could host their own event. Perhaps you’d offer to be available to facilitate.
• You might ask people who they might give the book to, if we made another two or three copies available as a gift.
• You could suggest people visit the web site and share their thoughts with the larger community.

Your thoughts?

Please add comments below, so all can benefit from your thinking and experiences.