Come. Talk. Learn.

Field Organizers: What messages and tactics worked? What didn't?
Bloggers: How did your relationship with traditional media shift?
Fundraisers: Did the makeup of donors (big/sm/online/off) evolve?
Techies: What lessons does the hard data offer?

Step inside...

Catalyzed by...

Inspired by...

BarCamp is the inspiration for RootsCamp. If you are from the BarCamp/Geek world, consider spearheading a RootsCamp in your area.

Logistics

For more information about the Bloomington, Indiana Roots Camp, return to the main page.

About a Session

There are five sessions planned for the Bloomington RootsCamp. Each one offers a suggested focus for conversation — Campaigns, Legislations, Activism on Day One; Local politics and What's Next? on Day Two — but anyone can suggest any topic to discuss at any time. If you want to have a conversation with other participants about Activism but can't make the Friday night session, come to any of the other sessions (or all of the other sessions!) and write your idea on the big board.

Each session begins with a brief welcome to the open conferencing format. Participants will be given about 15 minutes to write their discussion topic ideas on the Big Board for others to review. At RootsCamp, we vote with our feet and contribute with our comments. Go the the conversations that interest you. After 45 minutes of talking, we reconvene as a large group and take turns sharing the summary of each conversation. There are two such discussions for every session.

Any artifacts (sketches, notes, photos, etc) that we collect from previous sessions will be placed up on the walls as the RootsCamp unfolds. A wiki and a blog will be available for participants to use to share their experiences, as well as summaries of the conversations. These are the things that allow RootsCamp to live on after November 18 ... and prepare the way for a follow-up camp in the future.

The Rules of RootsCamp

1st Rule:

You do talk about RootsCamp.

2nd Rule:

You do blog about RootsCamp.

3rd Rule:

No pre-scheduled presentations.

4th Rule:

Learners are experts, and experts are learners.

5th Rule:

To present a topic, write it in an open discussion slot.

6th Rule:

Have as many discussions as the room allows.

7th Rule:

Discussions go on as long as they last.

8th Rule:

Show support with your comments.

9th Rule:

Show disinterest with your feet.

10th Rule:

No tourists.

Camp Schedule

Friday, November 17

SESSION 1: Campaigns - 9a-Noon / Monroe County Public Library (Kirkwood) / 1B-1C

8:30a - Pre-event mixer (come early and talk to people)
9:00a - Introduction to Open Conferencing
9:15a - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #1
9:30a - DISCUSSION #1
10:15a - Community Reports from Discussion #1
10:30a - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #2
10:45a - DISCUSSION #2
11:30a - Community Reports from Discussion #2
11:45a - Session Closing

LUNCH (one hour, on your own)

SESSION 2: Legislation - 1p-4p / Monroe County Public Library (Kirkwood) / 1B-1C

1:00p - Welcome
1:15p - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #3
1:30p - DISCUSSION #3
2:15p - Community Reports from Discussion #3
2:30p - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #4
2:45p - DISCUSSION #4
3:30p - Community Reports from Discussion #4
3:45p - Session Closing

DINNER(three hours, on your own)

SESSION 3: Activism - 7p-10p / School of Informatics (10th & Woodlawn)

6:30p - Pre-session mixer (come early and talk to people)
7:00p - Welcome
7:15p - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #5
7:30p - DISCUSSION #5
8:15p - Community Reports from Discussion #5
8:30p - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #6
8:45p - DISCUSSION #6
9:30p - Community Reports from Discussion #6
9:45p - Session Closing

Saturday, November 18

SESSION 4: Local Politics - 9a-Noon / Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana (Daniels)

8:30a - Pre-event mixer (come early and talk to people)
9:00a - Welcome
9:15a - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #7
9:30a - DISCUSSION #7
10:15a - Community Reports from Discussion #7
10:30a - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #8
10:45a - DISCUSSION #8
11:30a - Community Reports from Discussion #8
11:45a - Conference Closing

SESSION 5: What's Next? - 1p-4p / Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana (Daniels)

1:00p - Welcome
1:15p - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #9
1:30p - DISCUSSION #9
2:15p - Community Reports from Discussion #9
2:30p - Topic Sign-up for Discussion #10
2:45p - DISCUSSION #10
3:30p - Community Reports from Discussion #10
3:45p - Session Closing

Brainstorming History

Regarding the Date ...

There are a number of potential conflicts that should be explored for the proposed dates of November 17-18:

Purdue vs. Indiana Football - The IU Football schedule shows this annual rivalry taking place Saturday, November 18. At the moment, no time has been announced. A best-case scenario would allow for a morning-midday session without any conflict with gameday activities (which takes place up the pike at Purdue - this is not a home game).
Neighborhood Associations - At the moment, there is nothing on the calendar for either date.

Regarding the Format ...

These kinds of gatherings tend to neglect an important aspect of reflection. When done poorly, participants are not given sufficient time in between discussions to report back to the larger group what they took from the small group conversations. They also don't have enough time to promote their ideas for the next group.

What I propose is a format (above) for a four-session, eight-discussion, two-day event. The overreaching domain will be "Politics" with each of the four sessions having a suggested topic on which to focus. Participants should be encouraged to suggest any topic at any time and let the communal feet validate a discussion idea.