3 ideas to make the AIM a better meeting.
In 2006 I presented a report to the EEC that included a suggestion to host the AIM in a "square" format, where everybody arrives and leaves on the same day. The biggest focus was to reduce cost but after some detailed calculations it turned out that a square AIM wasn't any cheaper. The idea was then dropped even before being presented to the board.
These days Laura/GBR and others are yet again working on ideas to improve the Annual International Meeting, but as usual I can't keep my mouth shut and present a few ideas on the side that I've been having lately, while involved in the planning process of our AIM in Berlin starting next week.
Give the host the chance of creating thematic sessions
In order to give the rotational scheme a better purpose, I think more room should be reserved for the hosting NA: I'm not talking about traditional dances or tourist trips, but presentations by local NGOs, success stories by the host NA or any regional projects in the area of peace education. The host NA could give the AIM a theme, and arrange sessions that fit in. These sessions could be conducted in an open fashion, i.e. anybody interested could participate. Both the openness and a theme would have the nice side effect of making it more attractive for sponsors.
Present the Circle of Nations as in TED
Some people have suggested getting rid of the circle of nations altogether, but it has a long tradition, and some NAs even feel disrespected, when they don't get the chance of presenting their success stories and challenges of the previous year. Here's an idea, that Joao gave me, after he attended the TEDX conference in Lisbon: Why not present the circle of nations in a TED-like format? It will take forever, you may say - but maybe it's worth it? Let's offer NAs either a 4-minute or 8-minute timeframe to present whatever they think was worthwhile in the past year. To save time in the agenda, people could be divided into split sessions, or the Circle of Nations could be saved for the evenings, and take place over the course of 4 days. The goal would be to challenge the NAs for the most entertaining, inspiring and interesting presentation - if this doesn't happen by itself, prizes could be awarded.
Less board is more AIM.
Limit the pure board sessions to the minimum and increase the number of split sessions wherever possible. Create committee time slots throughout the AIM, that also serve as sessions where ad-hoc working groups could meet. All this would lead to more collaboration and communication between all participants, whether they are trustees, committee members or observers.
All three suggestions represent a different understanding of AIM itself: It moves the focus from the decision making process that takes place in the board meeting, to an inclusive, open, inspiring meeting that focuses on the exchange of ideas. CISV devils was so popular, because it resembled the process of creativity and discussion that usually takes place over a few beers late at night during AIMs. Why not make this the overall purpose of the meeting? Having it in a square format, where all participants attend for the same days, no matter what role they fulfill would then be a logical consequence.
In 2006 I presented a report to the EEC that included a suggestion to host the AIM in a "square" format, where everybody arrives and leaves on the same day. The biggest focus was to reduce cost but after some detailed calculations it turned out that a square AIM wasn't any cheaper. The idea was then dropped even before being presented to the board.
These days Laura/GBR and others are yet again working on ideas to improve the Annual International Meeting, but as usual I can't keep my mouth shut and present a few ideas on the side that I've been having lately, while involved in the planning process of our AIM in Berlin starting next week.
Give the host the chance of creating thematic sessions
In order to give the rotational scheme a better purpose, I think more room should be reserved for the hosting NA: I'm not talking about traditional dances or tourist trips, but presentations by local NGOs, success stories by the host NA or any regional projects in the area of peace education. The host NA could give the AIM a theme, and arrange sessions that fit in. These sessions could be conducted in an open fashion, i.e. anybody interested could participate. Both the openness and a theme would have the nice side effect of making it more attractive for sponsors.
Present the Circle of Nations as in TED
Some people have suggested getting rid of the circle of nations altogether, but it has a long tradition, and some NAs even feel disrespected, when they don't get the chance of presenting their success stories and challenges of the previous year. Here's an idea, that Joao gave me, after he attended the TEDX conference in Lisbon: Why not present the circle of nations in a TED-like format? It will take forever, you may say - but maybe it's worth it? Let's offer NAs either a 4-minute or 8-minute timeframe to present whatever they think was worthwhile in the past year. To save time in the agenda, people could be divided into split sessions, or the Circle of Nations could be saved for the evenings, and take place over the course of 4 days. The goal would be to challenge the NAs for the most entertaining, inspiring and interesting presentation - if this doesn't happen by itself, prizes could be awarded.
Less board is more AIM.
Limit the pure board sessions to the minimum and increase the number of split sessions wherever possible. Create committee time slots throughout the AIM, that also serve as sessions where ad-hoc working groups could meet. All this would lead to more collaboration and communication between all participants, whether they are trustees, committee members or observers.
All three suggestions represent a different understanding of AIM itself: It moves the focus from the decision making process that takes place in the board meeting, to an inclusive, open, inspiring meeting that focuses on the exchange of ideas. CISV devils was so popular, because it resembled the process of creativity and discussion that usually takes place over a few beers late at night during AIMs. Why not make this the overall purpose of the meeting? Having it in a square format, where all participants attend for the same days, no matter what role they fulfill would then be a logical consequence.
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