Rotarian Virtual Peace Gathering: Bridges for Peace 2017
April 21st – April 23rd, 2017
REGISTER HERE!
Who: This gathering is meant for individuals (such as Rotarian leaders/chairs; Rotary Peace Fellows; government/civil society representatives; UN representatives / NGOs/ other service clubs, etc.) who are serious about guiding Rotary to peace and would like to help define a goal and vision for the Peace Area of Focus.
When: April 21st – 23rd, 2017
Where: A virtual experience available online around the world
How: Open Space Technology will be utilized for the gathering format and will be facilitated by Richard Schultz. Click here to learn more about Open Space Technology. Because we are using Open Space Technology, participants can choose to attend whatever sessions they desire, and as many sessions as they desire. In other words, a participant is not required to attend everything.
Why: To expand on the Bridges for Peace 2016 purpose as stated above, test what came out of Winnipeg (Read the Final Report: Bridges for Peace 2016), hear from more participants and learn from each other. The ultimate goal is to develop a high level action plan for Rotary peacebuilding to be submitted at the RI Convention in Atlanta in June 2017. We wish to provide easy access for Rotarians and others from time-zones around the world to join in the movement and continue the conversation and co-creation. In converging topics from the 2016 conference, three of the areas that attendees were passionate about was the opportunity to take a greater role in (1) ‘peace education’, (2) ‘peace leadership and facilitation’, and (3) ‘mitigating nuclear threats’. If participants wish to advance and deepen conversations in these and other areas, a virtual Open Space format and theme would accommodate this.
Registration fee: The virtual conference registration fees are designed to cover conference costs as follows: CDN$80.00 per participant; early bird registration to April 1, 2017 CDN$60.00. Sponsorship is available reducing the cost for students and underemployed by sending a request to the Rotarian Action Group For Peace email to [email protected]
Training opportunity: We have heard the voiced desire to involve Rotary Peace Fellows as much as possible. We need help facilitating the Breakout Sessions, to ensure consistency and provide a high level of support to participants convening the Breakouts, and recording the results. So we have worked in an opportunity for 10+/- Peace Fellows to get some training in Process Facilitation, at no cost to them, for their help and participation in our virtual conference. If you are interested, please see the Call For Expressions of Interest here.
Topics proposed for Breakout Sessions: Participants who will be proposing topics for the Breakout Sessions are invited to submit a background paper on their suggested topic, so that it is available for those Participants who would like to do some pre-reading before the Conference. Read the current proposed topics here.
Register Here!
Abridged Agenda:
Friday, April 21st, 2017 2.5 hours (times shown are Mountain Daylight Time, North America – check for local times)
6 pm welcome and introduction
6:30-8:00 pm conference commences with participant introductions, participant hopes & fears for the conference, Open Space format and logistics explained
7:15 pm Break
8:00 pm – 8:30 pm closing circle and passing of the talking object around the circle
Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 (times shown are Mountain Daylight Time, North America – check for local times)
Session 1 (3.5 hours):
9:00 am “Morning” (in North America) Reporting by Participants
9:20 am Building the conference agenda
10:00 am Break
10:15 am – 12:15 pm Break Outs (2 sessions) to take place
12:15 am – 12:30 am Closing circle
Session 2 (3.25 hours):
5:00 pm “Morning” (in Asia) Reporting by Participants and introduction of new topics to the conference agenda
5:30 pm – 7:45 pm Break Outs (2 sessions) to take place
6:30 pm Break
7:45 pm “Evening” Reporting by Participants
8:15 pm Closing circle and Wrap up the day.
Sunday April 23rd, 2017 (times shown are Mountain Daylight Time, North America – check for local times)
Session 1 (3.25 hours):
9:00 am “Morning” (in North America) Reporting by Participants and introduction of any new topics to the conference agenda
9:30 am – 11:45 am Break Outs (2 sessions) to take place
10:30 am Break
11:45 am – 12:15 pm Closing circle
Session 2 (4 hours):
5:00 pm “Morning” (in Asia) Reporting by Participants and introduction of new topics to the conference agenda
5:30 pm – 8:15 pm Break Outs (2 sessions) to take place
6:45 pm Break
8:15 pm – 9:00 pm “Evening” Reporting by Participants, Process for Convergence and Action Planning, and Wrap up the day.
NEW! Watch and share our updated “Peace Is…Rotary” Video now!
See an overview of the gathering below: