WOSONOS 2009 and Then.......

[Lisa Heft]

I was e-chatting with Gail and I agree that the things that seem to  
lend toward success - if you are planning to invite us to your country  
for a future WOSonOS year - in my experience, seem to be

- having a strong and experienced OS community that the Host Team is a  
part of as the WOSonOS itself is not a training but a chance for folks  
who use OS to go deeper
- knowing that most people who register come over land - so planning  
for a number of participants based locally with a few across-the-sea  
folks sprinkled in
- having been to a few WOSonOSs doesn't hurt - to experience some of  
the traditions we love
- having a strong Host Team - as there are many event planning tasks  
and many responsibilities, design decisions and more
- having someone who has 'seed' money for advance payments for site  
rental or catering deposits
- being able to host in a place where access is easy - access of  
transport, physical access for people of different abilities, and so on
- working really hard on other access issues such as helping people  
long in advance with visa request letters, sending out information  
early so people can plan and research their trips, finding food for  
people who have specific needs, seeking translation as needed for  
people of different languages, seeking a range of accommodation prices  
from hotels to hostels to home-stays

And - some things I have observed that really give a sense of your  
country when you invite seem to be

- giving a real sensory feel for your country and culture and the  
essence of it
- being prepared to invite perhaps for a few years in a row just in  
case there are several inviters at the same time
- as Gail says - either having your Host Team at the WOSonOS where you  
invite us all...or having a proxy person do it in your place if you  
cannot attend (I have warm memories of Brian Bainbridge (Australia)  
and me (USA) inviting on behalf of Janet Pinto (India)

...what else can my fellow Host Team and fellow past WOSonOS hosts  
think of to inform our friends, the future Host Teams for future  
WOSonOSs?


See you in Taiwan,
Lisa
Host Team Member, San Francisco WOSonOS 2008



On Sep 11, 2009, at 12:34 AM, Gail West wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> In preparing the the 2009 WOSONOS in Taiwan we're grateful for the  
> wisdom passed down to us from previous hosts and participants in  
> Monterey, Toronto, Chicago, Berlin, Vancouver, Australia, Swenmark,  
> Goa, Nova Scotia, Moscow, Kiev, San Francisco.  Great traditions  
> have developed over these years to make the WOSONOS accessible to as  
> many as want to join in.
>
> Some of the values that have formed:  Moving around the world -  
> Europe, North America, Asia, South, Eastern Europe, Some place  
> different from last year, etc.  Having an OS Institute or strong  
> core group of practitioners, thriving OS community.  Being  
> accessible (as much as possible - driving is good, being on an  
> island more difficult!).  Having at least 1 year in advance so  
> participants can plan ahead and the host team can manage it.  Last  
> year it was suggested that having 2 years in advance is preferable  
> to enable individual's planning ahead.  The "askers" have then make  
> their thoughtgul and enticing presentations/invitations at the  
> closing of the the WOSONOS to give a sense for their country, the OS  
> community there, why them? and then a consensus is arrived at by  
> those gathered, and the talking stick from Vancouver 2001 is passed  
> on.
>
> Last year in San Francisco, Berlin extended their invitation for  
> 2010 and we are expecting their representatives to be in Taiwan to  
> share that.  And so then - who is thinking about inviting for 2011?   
> We hope you will join us in Taiwan in October ;-) .  However, if you  
> are not able to be here appoint a proxy who will be here.  Please  
> let us know your intentions and aspirations so we can factor this  
> into our time together!
>
> We welcome and look forward to the conversation.............
>
> Gail
> for the 2009 Host Team
>
>


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