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(I changed the subject to reflect the direction of this developing
thread)<br>
<br>
If we're planning to have a group as large (or larger) than the last
meeting I'd like to suggest that we break into smaller groups for the
first half of the meeting (size would depend upon the number of people
in attendance), assign a 'secretary' for each group responsible for
simply listing the concerns along with possible solutions discussed
within each group and then that person or another chosen from each
group would present the findings to the larger group for the last half
of the meeting. <br>
<br>
I'm concerned that by having another larger 'open' discussion we may
miss out on valuable input from some people not comfortable with
speaking in larger crowds while also not having enough time to come to
some active/productive conclusions and next steps. Once we collect all
the various issues/thoughts we may find that it would be beneficial to
create some 'interest groups' within the larger group to funnel the
energy and resources around particular goals while taking advantage of
people's individual strengths and interests.<br>
<br>
Kurt<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Ed Sedarbaum wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid004101c77eab$e6036cc0$6500a8c0@home8017e31a31"
type="cite">
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Hi, Kurt, Jane, and everyone else.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">This might be a good moment for me
to post a reply I sent to a forum member who asked whether there was an
agenda for the April 30 "live and in-person" discussion. I will be
facilitating that discussion (which will give Jane a chance to be a
more full-fledged participant while I pay attention to "process"), and
I answered as follows:</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div>No official agenda has been written up yet, although I imagine
the Open<br>
Studios committee will want to give us an update. <br>
<br>
Jane and I were hoping for an easygoing environment without too rigid an<br>
agenda, so that the conversation could wend its own way toward some
goals.<br>
<br>
We did think that we'd start out by articulating a hope that by the end
of <br>
the evening we would have come up with at least one activity or project
(or<br>
more, of whatever kind) that willing people could get together around.
That<br>
could be anything from working on a presence in the Fall Foliage Parade
or <br>
the annual Downtown Celebration, to some kind of group research, to a<br>
political initiative, to an exploration of possible public artwork --<br>
whatever turns the people on. But as facilitator, I am hoping to leave<br>
enough breathing room for multiple conversational directions to emerge
for<br>
the group to choose among.<br>
<br>
If there's an agenda item you have on your mind, feel free to send it
along.<br>
It probably won't be the only suggestion that will come our way, and as
<br>
facilitator I can make sure that all potential areas of discussion are
made<br>
known as the group settles on a direction for the evening.<br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote dir="ltr"
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px;">
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ;">-----
Original Message ----- </div>
<div
style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ;"><b>From:</b>
<a title="kurt@kolokgallery.com" href="mailto:kurt@kolokgallery.com">Kurt
Kolok</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ;"><b>To:</b>
<a title="jane.video@gmail.com" href="mailto:jane.video@gmail.com">Jane
Hudson</a> </div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ;"><b>Cc:</b>
<a title="forum@berkshirevisualarts.org"
href="mailto:forum@berkshirevisualarts.org">forum@berkshirevisualarts.org</a>
</div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ;"><b>Sent:</b>
Saturday, April 14, 2007 10:17 AM</div>
<div
style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ;"><b>Subject:</b>
Re: [Forum] Re: NA City Council Meetings</div>
<div><br>
</div>
I agree that face-to-face meetings are critical for putting ideas into
action. I'd personally like to see this online forum used for fleshing
out the issues more so that the 'live' meetings are as productive as
possible.<br>
<br>
Kurt<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Jane Hudson wrote:
<blockquote cite="midC41D1BD3-2D7D-4A31-B63A-88E648A18864@gmail.com"
type="cite">Kurt et al...I'm hopeful that the meeting on the 30th will
give folks an opportunity to make physical contact and commitments for
just such initiatives. I think the list is great for follow up
planning, but from past experience with web-based groups, in-the-flesh
promises seem to keep.
<div>Best,</div>
<div>Jane<br>
<div>
<div>On Apr 13, 2007, at 8:51 PM, Kurt Kolok wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<blockquote type="cite">I believe this forum is a great
opportunity for us to utilize the energy and enthusiasm we all bring to
the community. I'd like to suggest that we use this mail list to
concentrate on the issues we feel need to be addressed and productive
ways in which we can improve the quality of life here, rather than, as
some may see it, an unproductive platform for simply venting
frustrations. Brian makes a very good point that cleared sidewalks are
key to the daily life of many people in N. Adams, and making N. Adams a
more walkable city will only encourage businesses and neighborhoods to
thrive. Maybe we could gauge interest from those on this list for
identifying a liaison from the forum to create dialogue with the
Mayor's office in order to communicate some of the needs being raised
through these online discussions. Thoughts?<br>
<br>
Kurt<br>
<br>
<br>
Brian Jewett wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid13DA097F-5E10-47A8-8791-AD2202F391E5@BrianJewett.com"
type="cite">That's nice to know. At last months Drinking Liberally
gathering, Leanne & I gave Gail Ann, the council president, an ear
full on how the mayor struts his stuff on clearing the streets and then
totally ignores most of the sidewalks much to the peril of anyone who
chooses to walk. We also pointed out that many here have no other
options. I'm pleased to hear it may have done some good.
<div><br>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="word-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: ; text-transform: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">
<div>Brian Jewett</div>
</span></div>
<div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</div>
<br>
</div>
<pre wrap=""><hr size="4" width="90%">_______________________________________________
Forum mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum">http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kurt Kolok
Owner/Director
Kolok Gallery
121 Union Street, 1e
North Adams, MA 01247
+1 413 664 7381
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kurt@kolokgallery.com">kurt@kolokgallery.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.kolokgallery.com">www.kolokgallery.com</a>
</pre>
<div style="margin: 0px;">_______________________________________________</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Forum mailing list</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a
href="mailto:Forum@berkshirevisualarts.org">Forum@berkshirevisualarts.org</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a
href="http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum">http://lists.berkshirevisualarts.org/mailman/listinfo/forum</a></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"
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<div><a href="http://officialjeffandjane.com">http://officialjeffandjane.com</a></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</span></div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kurt Kolok
Owner/Director
Kolok Gallery
121 Union Street, 1e
North Adams, MA 01247
+1 413 664 7381
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kurt@kolokgallery.com">kurt@kolokgallery.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.kolokgallery.com">www.kolokgallery.com</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kurt Kolok
Owner/Director
Kolok Gallery
121 Union Street, 1e
North Adams, MA 01247
+1 413 664 7381
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kurt@kolokgallery.com">kurt@kolokgallery.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.kolokgallery.com">www.kolokgallery.com</a>
</pre>
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