The Second International
Mary Parker Follett Conversation
on Creative Democracy
October 21-24, 2004
Boise State University Boise, Idaho
Sponsored by the Mary Parker Follett Foundation
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THEMES
Most individuals feel powerless to affect the world around them, yet
it is their daily decisions and acts that ultimately drive local,
national and global policy. What can be done about this paradox in a
world of complexity and conflict?
You are cordially invited to participate in a unique and significant
gathering that will focus on one of the most critical questions of our
time: how can we fulfill the promise of democracy as a creative
experience, one that releases both personal and social potential, from
the local to the global level?
Named after the Progressive Era visionary in the field of democratic
thought and practice, this conference will bring together people from
all disciplines whose approach to human relations, community building,
public affairs and management are based on integrated diversity and
continuous creativity among stakeholders. The team-based conversation
format will provide an enriching participatory experience that will
produce new knowledge, new goals, initiatives and impetus.
WHO SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS CONFERENCE
a.. civic leaders
b.. community development specialists
c.. social activists with grassroots, integrative philosophies
d.. conflict management and dispute resolution practitioners
e.. scholars in political science, sociology, public administration and management
f.. progressive managers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors
g.. systems thinkers
h.. organizational consultants
CONVERSATION FORMAT
Unlike workshop-based conferences or those focused on the presentation
of papers, the Follett Conversation would use a team-based,
disciplined conversation format. The format works as follows:
1.. Individuals or groups propose themes to pursue. These are
circulated to the body of people who've expressed interest in
attending, and teams begin to self-organize.
2.. Teams of participants interested in exploring topics together
begin their dialogue several months prior to the conference, via
e-mail. Papers may be exchanged during this preparatory phase.
3.. At the conference event itself, participants engage in dialogue
for several days and present their findings, ideas, or initiatives in
a plenary session at the close of the conference. Presentations can be
formal or technical, but creative and artistic presentations are
encouraged as well.
4.. Teams may continue through to the next year, with original or
new participants, or they conclude their work.
5.. Several months after the conference, final team and individual
papers will be published online in Follett Conversation Proceedings.
Selected papers may also be published in a cooperating journal or
journals.
This approach - modeled after the experience of the Asilomar and
Fuschl Conversations on Social Systems Design - is a desirable
alternative to the conventional conference format because it supports
integrated diversity, produces much more mutual learning and new
knowledge, and builds long-lasting networks. It also represents a
recognition that the most interesting part of typical conferences has
been the conversations that occur in doorways, in hallways, and over
coffee and meals between presentations.
THEMES OF INQUIRY
a.. The integrating theme of the Conversation is creative democracy.
Conversation teams can self-organize around any concern or issue of
common interest, in any context, within this theme. Themes must,
however, be non-partisan and non-commercial.
a.. Teams must design their inquiry around a "triggering question"
that is intended to lead them to new knowledge, new understanding, new
ideas or initiatives in their chosen area of shared concern.
b.. In order to build a common ground upon which to work, teams may
wish to choose a set of shared readings, and they may exchange "input
papers" prior to the conference event.
Inquiry themes might involve, but are not limited to, any of the
following:
a.. Organizational Culture
b.. Neighborhood Life
c.. Leadership
d.. Diversity
e.. Education
f.. Social Systems Design
g.. Technology
h.. Peace as an Active Principle
i.. Globalization and Democratization
j.. Dialogue Practices
Themes for 2002, the year of the first Follett Conversation, included:
a.. Designing a Community Learning System for Learning Democracy
b.. Post-Hierarchical Leadership
c.. Understanding Community Learning
See the 2002 Proceedings for more details on these teams.
To provide you with some sense of earlier themes, the following are
the titles of teams that were proposed and/or organized in 2002 and
2003 (note that the 2003 event was canceled):
a.. Community-Based Non-Profits as the Vehicles for
Follettian/Pragmatic Democracy
b.. Designing a Community Learning System for Creative Democracy
c.. Visualising Post-Hierarchical Leadership
d.. The Perpetuation of Creativity for Creative Democracy
e.. Creative Democracy through Virtual Interaction?
f.. Fostering Democratic Leadership in Emerging and Challenged
Democracies
g.. Understanding Community Learning
h.. Addressing Power Dynamics and Inequities in Democratic Dialogue
i.. Metropolitan Democracy through Neighborhood Organization
j.. Developing a Community-Wide Curriculum for Civil Awareness and
Reciprocity
k.. Empowering Citizens through the Social Planetarium
l.. Envisioning an Iraqi Model of Democracy
m.. No Future Left Behind: Promoting the Participatory Redesign of
Public Education
n.. US National Interests and their Impact on Democracy in Pakistan
o.. Globalization and its Role in Reshaping Individual's Perception
of Life
SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES
April 15: Theme Proposals deadline. Theme proposals must include a
description of the concept, an initial Triggering Question, and an
idea of what the originator would like to see regarding preparatory
work by participants. Teams can consist of as few as two people, or as
many as desired. Those who propose teams do not need to bring their
own team. They do need to be willing to help organize those who are
attracted to their team idea. The proposer must specify how long the
team will remain open to new participants. They also need to be
prepared to attend the Follett Conversation itself.
Theme proposals should be sent to Matthew Shapiro, Conversation
Coordinator, at mshapiro@follettfoundation.org or by mail to the Mary
Parker Follett Foundation, P.O. Box 573, Boise, ID 83701.
May 1: Conversation Themes Bulletin sent out to all persons interested
in attending the Conversation.
June: Teams formed and distance-based inquiry begins.
July 1: Non-refundable Conference Fee deposit due ($50).
August 1: Conference Fee balance due ($175). Checks should be made out
to The Mary Parker Follett Foundation - Conversation
September: Final Conversation Bulletin sent out.
October 21-24: Conference event.
December, 2004: Team and individual (optional) output papers due for
Proceedings
January, 2005: Individual papers due for journal review (optional).
January, 2005: Proceedings published.
Note: While it is preferred that participants find a team that they
are most interested in and join that team well in advance of the
conference event, participants are not required to commit to a team.
Some teams may also remain open to newcomers up until the start of the
Conversation itself.
CONFERENCE FEE
The Conference Fee is $225. This fee is based on the cost of
conference facilities at Boise State University and includes the
following meals plus beverage service:
a.. dinner on Thursday the 21st;
b.. breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday the 22nd ;
c.. breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday the 23rd;
d.. breakfast and lunch on Sunday the 24th.
Note: Conference Fee does not include lodging or transportation.
Contribution to the Mary Parker Follett Foundation
This is a suggested and optional contribution to help support the
important charitable and educational efforts of the Foundation.
Contributions will also help pay for conference-related expenses such
as printing and mailing. Contributions are tax-deductible to the
extent provided for by law. The Foundation is recognized as an exempt
organization under IRS section 501(c)3.
Suggested Minimum Contribution:
General: $50
Students/Low-Income: $35
LODGING
We have in the past made special arrangements with two hotels within a
convenient distance of the conference location. Arrangements have not
yet been finalized, and we will update you on this in the near future.
The Courtyard Marriott (800-321-2211) is within approximately one-half
mile (walking distance) of Boise State University. The Courtyard
offers an airport courtesy van.
As another option, the University Inn (800-345-7170) is an older
80-room motel which is adjacent to the campus of Boise State
University. The Inn also offers an airport courtesy van.
Other hotels and motels are available at a further distance from the
conference facility. Contact us for more information on these options.
LOCATION
The Follett Conversation 2004 will be located on the campus of Boise
State University, in Boise, Idaho. A city of 190,000, Idaho's state
capital is a vibrant city of diverse neighborhoods, and it has been
undergoing rapid growth due to its quality of life and economic
resilience. Boise is a jumping off point to Idaho's abundant
recreational destinations - its mountains, rivers, and deserts. This
"City of Trees" along the scenic Boise River is also home to several
major national firms, including Albertsons, Inc., Micron Technology,
and The Washington Group (formerly Morrison-Knudsen). Hewlett-Packard
also has a major presence here. Boise State University is a leading
regional institution, with a growing student body of more than 18,000
students.
Direct flights and connections to Boise are available from the
following cities:
Chicago
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Dallas-Ft. Worth
Denver
Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Jose
Phoenix
Las Vegas
Billings
Salt Lake City
Portland
Spokane
Seattle
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Mary Parker Follett Foundation was founded in 1995 as the Idaho
Systems Institute. Its early focus was participatory, community-based
social systems design, with projects directed toward educational
change. The Foundation (then Institute) was also instrumental in
seeing Follett's seminal work The New State reissued by Penn State
Press in 1998. The organization was re-named in 2001 as the Mary
Parker Follett Foundation to honor Follett more directly, and has been
organized with a global scope and the following mission:
To help foster the development of core competencies for the 21st
Century that will engender a democratic and just society, create
healthy and authentic communities, and build the capacity for all
people to actively participate in the evolution of their selves, their
lives and their world.
Four program areas are:
a.. Learning Democracy
b.. Participatory Design of Social Systems
c.. Dialogue as Community Reflection
d.. Evolutionary Inquiry
CONTACT
For further information about the Follett Conversation, please contact
Matthew A. Shapiro, Foundation President and Conversation Coordinator,
at mshapiro@follettfoundation.org or (208) 343-3042.
Written material and conference fees may be sent to the Foundation at
the following address:
The Mary Parker Follett Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 573
Boise, Idaho 83701
We look forward to seeing you.
--"Matthew Shapiro" <mshapiro@follettfoundation.org>
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