Meeting Report from Sunday

Hey everyone... our third meeting was a small one, especially compared to the great turnout last time. Maybe it was the weather, or people had already made other plans. In any event, we talked about the strengths of the group as well as the areas that we wanted to develop.

We all expressed a desire to see "something come out of the group" -- there's so much potential that remains to be tapped. Specifically, trainings and workshops were proposed as one concrete activity that we could initiate to better use the skills of the individuals who make up the Chicago Idealist network. There was also a desire to forge links between the city and the suburbs, broadening the reach of our network and bringing in more resources.

The Google Group seems like the best way to have a discussion about these ideas. There's a new topic called "what's your agenda?" for everyone to share their vision for the group.

And mark your calendars for the 4th meeting!
May 20th, 2pm, at Loyola.

Meeting on Sunday!

A few reminders:

Chicago Idealist Net Monthly Meeting this Sunday, April 29, 2pm

WHERE: Loyola University - Water Tower Campus
25 E. Pearson - Rubloff Reception Room
Chicago, IL 60611

Socializing, networking, nonprofit news/issues, developing the identity and goals of this budding group, & whatever else you might want it to be.

Prelim meeting goals:
- Taking a look at Idealist.org's free resources- a tech training of
sorts (pending projector setup and who can make it)
- Organizing to represent at the Sudan Freedom Walk and US Social
Forum
- Planning some social events/speakers
- New projects - share your ideas/needs!

Also check out http://groups.google.com/group/chicagoidealistnetwork for discussion and events posting (on our google calendar). It's really the best way to share info, but I'm afraid a lot of people don't have email delivery set yet to 'digest' or 'daily', so they're just not getting the news. In case you want it, check out your email delivery settings! If not, this email is just a friendly reminder...

Also, we've set up a facebook group called 'chicago idealist network' (about 66 strong so far..). If you're on Facebook.com, check it out.

Interested in helping to facilitate this meeting or direct any specific projects, post it on the google group!

US Social Forum June 27-July 1st in Atlanta, GA!

Chicago already has 10 organizations signed up to go and is looking to
spread the word throughout the midwest. If individuals on this list
were interested in going, I believe we could send you under a group
rate. The next price cutoff is March 1st, so let's talk about it
soon. There's also a few busses being organized by the Midwest
mobilization team, based here in Chicago, so individuals and groups
may be a part of that as well.

USSF is also accepting proposals for workshop presentations, if any
groups would like to present.

Visit http://groups.google.com/group/chicagoidealistnetwork to get involved in these conversations.

Google Groups started

Chicago Idealist Network has started a Google Group!

groups.google.com/group/chicagoidealistnetwork

If you were at earlier start-up meetings and I have your email address, I'll be sending you an 'invite' for the group in the next few days.

The group was created as a way to more effectively create dialogue within this growing network of people, so we can better connect, get input and share resources.

The Google Group will also allow for link sharing, file uploading, and events posting. It's in first stages and is quite ugly and empty, but go ahead and sign up and we'll get started!

dave

Conference opening ceremony and concert open to all

Check out details for this weekend's conference opening ceremony and concert:

http://www.idealist.org/en/event/98078-132

'The opening ceremony, beginning at 7:00p.m., will feature keynote addresses by Ami Dar, the founder and executive director of Idealist.org, and Stephanie Nyombayire, a Rwandan student who represents the Genocide Intervention Network. Chicago-based DJ Man-o-Wax of the Hip Hop Congress and a crew of local breakdancers will also perform at the ceremony.

At 9:00 p.m., we kick off the conference with a celebratory concert featuring spoken word artist Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai (of Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry) and the Afro-Diasporic Groovalicious Funkadociousness of Soulfège. Bring your dancing shoes! "

The Hip Hop Congress is an excellent agency: http://hiphopcongress.com

The ceremony and concert should be a good time and are open to all Chicagoans, free of charge I believe. Check it out if you're in the area!

Round 2 Meetings UPDATE

We'll be having a start-up meeting March 24th, 4-6pm, at Depaul University Loop Campus if you'd like to come out, share ideas and meet some interesting folks. Since the meeting is in the same time as place as the Idealist Campus Conference, I believe some Idealist staff will be around to meet and chat as well.

You can find details about the meeting and register here:

http://www.idealist.org/en/event/97889-63

I've added driving directions to the location over to the right on the blog's 'categories' section.

We're expecting a full room, so if you have friends or co-workers that may be interested, have them sign up soon.

Some of you have already registered and posted a little note about why you're interested in the meeting. Unless you object, I'm going to send those blurbs out to the group right beforehand, just so people can get an idea of who'll be there and who they might want to connect with.

We're also still looking for someone to present a poster about our growing Chicago Network at the Conference. Details are below- feel free to get involved with this at the conference and meet other Idealists from around the country!

Volunteers Needed - Chicago Idealist Campus Conference

Hey Everyone,

Idealist is looking for a few people to create and present a poster for the Campus Conference coming up March 23-25. They'd like us to talk about our Start-Up meeting and, in general, talk to Chicagoans about getting involved with our group. I've included the description from Idealist.org below,as well as the link if you have additional questions.

Please email me (ktlorenz(at)gmail.com) by Friday 3/16 if you're interested in taking on this project!

Thanks!
Katie

http://www.idealist.org/en/ioc/conference/2007/play/poster.html
Poster Session Guidelines
The Idealist Campus Conference includes several opportunities for participants to share their work and ideas with one another. One of the most exciting opportunities is the poster session that will take place on the morning of Friday, March 23, 2007. Selected presenters will showcase their projects, programs, and innovative ideas to connect their peers and other campus community members to the issues they care about most.

We suggest that poster presentations include the following components:

Purpose & Background: Place your work in context
Goals: Clearly define the stated aims and objectives of your work
Process: Describe the steps involved in preparing for and carrying out your work
Findings: Give a brief synopsis of the results of your work (or anticipated results, if your work is still in progress)
Next Steps: List some of the next steps for the project (changes, improvements, expansions, etc.)

It might also be helpful to keep these suggestions in mind:

Remember that pictures, tables, and figures are amenable to poster displays
If you can, use color in your visuals
Make sure your lettering is neatly done and is large enough to be read from a distance, i.e., do not simply pin up a set of typed pages
Indicate the title of your poster in large letters (1" high or 72 point); the smallest text on your poster should still be large, around 3/8" high (24 point)
Provide handouts that those browsing the displays can take with them
Don't overwhelm the viewer with excessive amounts of information; rather, construct a poster display that enhances conversation
Be ready to pin up and take down your poster at specified times
Be sure to bring thumbtacks with you

Poster displays:

Posters will be displayed in the concourse of the DePaul Center at DePaul University on Friday morning during conference registration, immediately proceeding the first Co-Op Group session. Poster display tables will be assembled and set up in the designated area and the name of each presenter, along with the title of their poster, will already be attached to a pre-assigned table. Each poster presenter will be responsible for setting up her/his own display at the designated table and for removing it before the start of the all-conference welcome on Friday afternoon. No liability can be assumed for loss of or damage to material. The tables will be six feet long, and there will be no electricity provided.

Round 2 of meetings!

Hi everyone!

There will be a start-up meeting March 24, 4-6pm at Depaul University's Loop Campus.

Chicago is a hotbed of compassionate citizens, groundbreaking social service work and community resources. Thanks to Idealist.org, otherwise unconnected individuals can come together to discuss our next step within this growing network, and meet some interesting people in the process.

Some of you were at earlier Chicago start-ups. For this meeting we'll be on Depaul's campus in the midst of the Idealist.org Campus Conference. I hear we may have some special guests from the conference stop in on our meeting!

NOTE: The meeting will NOT be March 18 as it says on our Idealist.org posting, but will take place March 24, 4-6pm. Please disregard any automated emails that remind you about the March 18 date! (the website wouldn't let us post for March 24, but it's all been cleared through Idealist.org for March 24, which IS when we're having it!)

This meeting is for:

Anyone interested in imagining a better world and a better Chicago.

Anyone interested in meeting interesting people and throwing around ideas.

Anyone looking to get the word out on projects they'd like to push.

Anyone involved w/ nonprofit organizations or considering volunteer work/careers with them.

(to register for the meeting, go here: http://www.idealist.org/en/event/97889-63)