Participants and their reasons for coming

Alain Volz - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

Because I heard many positive things about this event, because it will support my work as synnervator, because I hope te learn new facilitating/hosting techniques and develop my hosting skills more in depth, because some of my friends and colleagues are going as well and I see an opportunity to bring in our business case, MDG5 and Macha, Zambia.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How do you host a complex meshwork in a public private partnership?
How do you host a meshwork from an international perspective with respect for local differences in cultures and values?
What are state of the art hosting techniques from a holistic perspective and how can I develop these more in depth?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

How to implement this more into CHE-NL and the MDG5 project we are involved in?
How this program fits in a curriculum of a CHE certified synnervator?
How to implement the lessons learned during the course in our work as synnervators?

 

Andries De Vos - Brussels, Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I am passionate about hosting spaces or groups to let co-creation emerge. I believe one and one makes 3 (1+1 = 3), if we meet the pre-condition to find smarter ways of being together and understanding the true meaning of the linking word “and”.
Since I first heard about Art of Hosting, around 2006, I knew I owed it to myself to join it. I am glad I can make time for it now and experience it myself.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

I have not made an exhaustive list of questions, but from top of mind I seek to answer the following:
How to set up an environment or process that is more inclusive to the participants and their unique contribution?
How to be less judgmental when having conversations?
How to suspend my assumptions more successfully to listen more actively for meaning and structure?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I would like to set up a series of (A.I) interviews and conversations about the future of our organisation and its positive core, during the period of March-April.

In my personal life, I am interested in integrating the practice of hosting meaningful conversations to enrich my relationships and contribution to the society. I would like explore more about exciting methodologies for individual and organisational transformation, with the long-term aim of setting up my own company around community development and change management.

This AoH seminar will no doubt initiate the first in many series of actions towards that goal.

 

Anne-Marie Voorhoeve, Vreeland-The Netherlands

 

Carl Neumann, Heidelberg - Germany

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I’ve been passionate about group dialogue and collective intelligence for quite a while now, and after recently speaking with Judy Wallace I’m very inspired to learn more about your skills in this area.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How to establish a group dialogue that incorporates and integrates all aspects of humanity. Most group processes I’m aware of largely address only one aspect (most often the intellect). At AoH I would like to explore ways to include other aspects, such as the heart and the body, and thereby to empower the development of the group and the individual towards more wholeness.

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I’m currently in a period of transition. After being a scientist for 15 years I have decided to end my career in science this summer. I’m exploring a number of different possibilities, and have not decided on a specific direction yet. One of the more concrete projects I’m involved in is aimed at starting a dialogue between scientists, theologians, and philosophers about the role of Beauty in science and religion, and its potential for bridging the two. But this is still a very academic project, and as I mentioned above I would like to move away from a purely intellectual dimension, to work also with the deeper levels of heart and soul, as well as the very practical dimension of physical embodiment of knowledge and wisdom.

 

David Reis, Charlottenlund - Denmark

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

With the increased speed of change taking place now, I am seeing the need for contexts where integrative change can be explored—creative responses to changing social and personal contexts. I see the need to help develop a deeper sense of stability and optimism based on experience. I also would like to become a part of the art of hosting community. I have heard good things about the workshop and the community itself. I have been exposed to many of the formats introduced in the training, however, I suspect that there is more to it than that. So I want to see what the rest is, to hone the skills I do have and add new tools as they emerge.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

None right now.

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I am providing a context of integrative change (we know that there are two types of change: disintegrative and integrative. The media tends to focus on the disintegrative aspect. There is a real need to focus on integrative change.) Part of this would be conversations, workshops, etc. My wife and I have a business called “LivingConsciously” through which we see clients and do workshops. We want to continue to develop our service through this vehicle and to collaborate with others doing similar things.

 

Dennis Kerkhoven, Haaften - The Netherlands

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I really like to learn more about AoH

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter

How to host a grounded playground between chaos and order?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Strategic conversations in healthware, governance, MDG5 Meshworks, Banking sector.

 

Dieter Comos, Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I'm part of the Hub Brussels hosting team and I want to learn how to be a good host in a professional environment.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

I don't have much experience so far in hosting and moderating conversations but I'm eager to learn this skill.

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

My next project will be with the Hub hosting team.

 

Dirk Stockmans, Niederanven - Luxembourg

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I have organised some events together with Helen, Toke and Monica, and I would like to learn to do this myself in my working environment (and perhaps beyond).

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

What is important to keep in mind, and in what ways do I have to grow to do this?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Improving cooperation within the European Commission and between the European Institutions.

 

Els Still, Perwez - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I am looking for new and exciting ways and technics to get my way through life! How to hande groups and myself of course!

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

Waow, what's the principle? How can I use it in my life and activities? I would love to find new way of having group work meeting.

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Media! And what effect it has on us and why, my space in the world, how could I make a difference??.... what do I like and where am I going, and why?

 

Erik Mathijs, Heverlee - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

To sharpen the bow and to take part and contribute to an emerging community of practitioners.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How can we dance the chaordic path, as individuals both also as a community?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Conversations aimed at co-creating the "grand narrative" that our times need to make the transition to a sustainable society and ways to spread that narrative.

 

Eugene Boeldak, De Meern - The Netherlands

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

In March 2007 I hosted two Conversation Café’s which rekindled the old fire in me to assist others in collaborative thinking and working. Since then I have hosted (facilitated) four sessions (2 World Café, 1 debate, 1 group dialogue). I plan to become a certified facilitator later this year. As a member of the online community of The World café and Art of Hosting I’ve learned (through experiences of others) to see the many diverse uses of the art of hosting and of stimulating constructive dialogues in the present world. I would like to be trained in hosting, so that I can craft better questions and host better conversations, pass on my enthusiasm about the AoH to others through the power of example instead of the power of the word. At present I work as a management consultant in (project) risk and change management. From mid 2007 onwards I started using hosting more in my consulting work.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

1. How to develop questions that touch the hearts and minds?
2. How to use the AoH to bring organizational change about?
3. How to use the AoH to help people really be happy in their working environment?

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Conversation on the role of human beings in risk management in a time in which the focus is on technical control (software tools).

 

Filip Monbaliu, Brussels - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

Because I heard speaking about it by Simone, and I sensed that this could be helpful in my job as a (team)coach.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

I have no concrete questions at the moment. I only have a vague image about what I think it is. I think it has to do with the capacity of absorbing tensions and creating energy by presencing in groups and teams.

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I would like to launch a cooperative for allochtone people in the sector of basic medical care. Secondly I will be engaged in difficult strategic and crisis management discussions of a farmers-consumers cooperative.

 

Gabrielle Hubler, Brussels - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I read the invitation that I received through the Hub newsletter, then moved on to reading about the art of hosting on your website: I am really interested about learning more about this theme. It is a really new and fresh perspective for me and I find great excitement (and relief) in knowing it is possible to approach the topic of group interaction and facilitation from a brand new angle, linking the macro and the individual level. I am also really interested in meeting other individuals who do facilitation work and have the ambition to grow and improve their approach and to place “meaning” at the center of their professional and personal development.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

Am very curious about practice and implementation of this approach.
Am very intrigued with the “artistic edge” of the hosting techniques.

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I hope to be part of the hosting team of the Hub Brussels.
I am also going through a quite drastic career shift starting free-lance activities as a writer/ editor…I read your essentials: I definitely need to grow my relationship with chaos (and order as a a matter of fact). Beautiful vision you got there;

Graham Boyd, St.Jans-Molenbeek, Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I have some experience facilitating creative sessions in P&G. Now that I’m branching out on my own I’d like to learn more about creating spaces to enable teams and individuals to be more creative and effective.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How to bring this to life on a day to day basis. Learn how it can complement what I already know about leading, enabling and facilitating in both creative R&D work and large scale project delivery.

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I will be hosting conversations about renewable energy, communities of practice, and energy development in Africa.

 

Hajo Dönges, Germany

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

My colleague Kevin Groen, who attend one of your seminars, created my excitement about this methodology. He uses it during some conferences we organized during the last year and so I could see the effects by myself.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

Am I able to ask the right questions?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

We are going to have an important conference happening in April. I'm planning to use this methodology to host a session to initiate conversations about the future development of our organization.

 

Judith Heezen, Eliksem - Belgium

 

Katrin Dürkoop, Brussels - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

Being part of the Pro Action Café hosting team here in Brussels I would like to learn more about how to host an event and bring out the best in people. I would like to improve my hosting skills by learning about different tools available and how to use them in order to lead a group and produce intelligent conversations and solutions.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How to ask good questions, how to get to that core, essence of things, how to bring out the best in people, how to achieve group coherence? How to combine the skills of 'public speaking', 'being myself' , 'being a good leader' and at the same time achieving 'learning' 'solutions', 'wiser intelligence'?

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Our next Pro Action Café event is planned for 20.02.2008 and there will be many more …

 

Koen Bogers, Antwerpen - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

Curiosity, and the awareness that there is a growing need that the bigger picture to be presented within the company and to keep a clear view on things

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How to get messages across a diverse group of people. Install decisions and make them part of your every day life

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I would like to introduce this concept into our company world wide

 

Lenneke Aalbers, Nijmegen - The Netherlands

 

Lisa Berg, USA - Brussels, Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I have heard about AoH for a year now. I believe it is an important process and community for me to be part of in order to further my own work in the world.
I want to learn more and contribute what I can at the same time.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

How do I find balance between leading and allowing?
How can I become more comfortable with the silence?

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

I will be hosting large and small gatherings intended to bring leaders in the consciousness and peace – building arenas together. My purpose is to host gatherings and create networks where a stronger synergistic field can be built amongst these professionals.

We can share resources, build relationships and co-create when we get to know each other. I bring people together across disciplines, countries, cultures and projects. There is much richness in transpersonal psychology, sacred activism, indigenous cultures, consciousness and related fields. What would happen if we gather these folks together? How might we collectively contribute positively to the world?

Lieven Calewaert, Eliksem - Belgium

 

Lisette Schuitemaker, Amsterdam - The Netherlands

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I feel this is the next step in my development as a spaceholder, to be able to host meetings in a way that the deepest possible contact is made and the highest potential of the gathering is fulfilled for the good of the whole.

 

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

I see that I stop too early – I am practicing and learning to go on, when I think I have said enough, to be more explicit. I am practicing and learning to ask others to go on from what they have said and dig deeper. Also, I’d like to learn more about not to be too polite when asking questions – I guess, that’s my main thing, the politeness (or in Dutch, beleefd zijn waardoor het onbeleefde niet beleefd wordt ….)

 

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Salons (evenings of nurturing the field and information exchange) and retreats (re-connecting in the larger circle with the purpose that informs our next steps) for the Center of Human Emergence. Also I think I can bring this in in my role as Trustee for the Findhorn Foundation where also I sometimes sit silent while I have things to say …

 

Louise Koch, Denmark

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?
Because I for quite a time have known about the art of hosting and now I feel ready to really step in. I joined Pioneers of Change for real in the autumn and participated in the Global Journey in Brazil, which was a very great experience.

I work with user centered innovation and participatory processes and I am looking forward to feeling more confident in my role as a host and being truly familiar with the methods of World Café, OST, AI etc.

I am also very much looking forward to becoming part of the community of hosts.

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?
How can I host conversations that let the participants think, talk and act from their deepest place of wisdom, inspiration and holistic thinking?


What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?
The next important conversation for me will be a start up workshop for the participants in a new project about developing methods for user-centered innovation in the public sector. I will be part of the project team myself (and therefore this might not be a good example?)

Then it will be a start up workshop in the same project but with the participants from the public sector - e.g. people from the municipal administration, parents of children in day care institutions, and the children themselves.

Other important workshops/conversations coming up will be start up of an innovation project on tools and methods for laparoscopic operations. This conversation will involve people from the company producing the tools (the sponsors of the project), doctors from different hospitals, experts in the field. During this project I will be hosting interview and development workshops with lead users in the field in order to share knowledge, identify problems and opportunities, and develop new solutions.

 

Maja Rottbøll, Aarhus - Denmark

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

I’m about to graduate from the Kaospilots (a creative and in many ways spiritual business school). I’m now investigating how my work can be in service of Life, and work on manifesting it in the form of a consultant company working with meaningful conversations in organizations.
And basically: It just felt like the right time to engage with you guys – with no rational explanation

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

• How can I support that people can meet on a basic human level – and really see each other and the potential we have when we’re together? And what do I have to learn and unlearn (inside and outside myself) in order to be in service of this?

My learning journey in 2008: to deeply feel (experience) that the earth supports me
• Step out of the comfort zone (in regards to work life)
• Challenging inner limitations (in regards to the role as owner of a company and the role as a facilitator)

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

Bringing love into the health care system. april-june ‘08
A project for the municipality in Aarhus, supporting them in bringing love and compassion into the healthcare system again through meaningful dialogues and training of their employees to keep them going afterwards.

Life Work Community
An Inquiry of how a Life Work Community of Soulmates could look like. Right now I’m engaging with people around this question in a series of small café conversations

Strong Bright Librarians
Creating a course for the fiery souls of the Main Library in Århus, with the purpose of giving them the opportunity to create meaningful conversations for themselves and the users about the future of the library.

Maria Bloemen, Geel - Belgium

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?

 

Why have you decided to accept this invitation?

What are your most burning questions about your own practice of Hosting conversations that matter?

What are the next strategic or important conversations you are planning to host after this training? Or, what's the new project you intend to initiate?