Creative Knowledge Economy
Champaign Transformation Project
FUTURES INSTITUTE ADVISORY TEAM
Framework Development Session
June 18, 2003
Attendees:
Steve Brandeberry
Rick Cole
Tiffany Eckhardt
Dave Faulkner
Tom Fauquet
Mary Lee Gecowets
Kim Wilson
Concept:
Futures Institute @ Urbana University, a subscription seminar series with every-other-month sessions with Rick Smyre. Futures context reading assignments for preparation, guest speakers/panelists to facilitate discussion.
What did you hear at the Advanced Leadership Seminar that you feel should be addressed in depth through an FI?
- Challenge traditional thinking
- Community is "slow to get in the boat and change direction"
- Community education on future is needed
- Promote learning as a lifestyle
- Critical thinking is needed - learning to ask the right questions and not fear asking
- Cause a change toward more cooperation/collaboration vs. competition/selfish gain
- Overcome fear of the information age
How should we structure a Futures Institute?
- Open structure - enjoyable, mind expanding, free flowing, comfortable so to encourage a core change
- Develop a library list and get books on reserve (already being done @ Champaign County Library based on Rick Smyre's suggested list)
- Simultaneously develop seminar series, public forums, and connection with Chamber's Leadership Champaign
- Located at UU campus or possibly other sites to accommodate topic, numbers, etc.
- Sep, Nov, Jan, Mar, May target months to coincide with Smyre visits
- First session (Sep) would be an open/public forum to "prime the pump" (similar to Advanced Leadership Seminar in a condensed form) and market FI.
- Series of newspaper articles to lead into/market this public forum.
- Curriculum to include sessions (Nov, Jan, Mar, May) on (not necessarily in order):
- General/Rural Trends and New Ideas
- Creative Knowledge Economy
- Transformational Learning
- Community Transformation
- Set aside some time at the end of each session for practical application discussion - punch list of emergent activities.
- Look for experts in these areas to help Smyre present and facilitate discussion, i.e. David Ponitz, Sinclair Community College, Transformational Learning.
- Morning sessions, 7:30-10a?, with continental breakfast
- Attendees would commit for all sessions.
- $35-$50 per session, $140-$200 per attendee? Dave will calculate what rate will be necessary to cover expected costs and decision will be made based on that analysis.
- Main recruiting effort for attendees would be countywide, but opening up regionally would be considered if seats are empty.
- Will definitely consider regional/national/international e-connections.
