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In a message dated 8/5/04 7:00:09 PM, clee-engel@bastyr.edu writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE"></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2"> A part of that experience which was very striking to me was how many people who didn't know each other (yet) looked each other in the eyes & greeted each other by name right from the first evening, even when, for example, just crossing paths in the hallways, and how people referenced one another by name when responding to comments during the sessions.<BR>
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Phil, Christy, and all<BR>
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I've had similar experiences, both at the Practice of Peace conference and at many Creative Problem Solving Institutes. For CPSI, the nametags were always large, and written and decorated by the participants. Most people wore them the whole week, and eventually they were in pockets that hung around the neck, a handy place to stash room keys and meal cards. I loved the experience of being called by name when I passed someone. And after many years of teaching, it was very helpful to see a name tag on someone who was formerly in my group--I might recognize the face but not always remember the name.<BR>
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For Open Space conferences with clients, I am most often working with a group of less than a hundred, from the same organization. Generally they know each other, and there is no need for nametags. If the meeting brings together individuals or groups that do not know each other, nametags is one item to discuss with the planning team. They make the decision, I don't. I just advocate for first names, no job titles, and large writing. I also recommend casual clothes, so there is no visible separation between those who normally wear business clothes to work and those whose jobs require them to dress more casually.<BR>
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I worked once at a conference for a large Mexican corporation. In our pre-conference planning with the Mexican training department, I asked if they typically had people introduce themselves to the group. They said that was taken care of in the reception which preceded the meeting--people would be introduced to each other individually and informally by members of the training department, in such a way that each person would know something interesting or admirable about each other.<BR>
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Joelle </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2"></FONT></HTML>
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