Greetings! Opening a Topic to discuss the topics. Then we can open a
topic on each topic.
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[Methodology to create topics and to update progress frequently]
[Sue's Thoughts] I think this is how the conference could go:
everybody meet and whiteboard the Areas of Interest, then group off
into each "Parallel Track" and discuss topics within their area of
interest. Let's scrum it and keep reporting back as a huge group every
two hours to scrum (ten minute limit - keep your Running Shoes on)
what has been discussed and what will be discussed in each Track. Also
end some Tracks into a post-conference group and start more Tracks.
That way people can "switch Tracks" every two hours if desired to
inject new energy into each. All participants can know the Track
Topics started/stopped/elongated and sign up at the end of the day for
the post-conference groups gathering for the following months.

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I agree with Ben that these discussions can easily launch
special-interest followup groups that meet locally and regularly in
the following months. Have to look up his LAWSST(?) term after I post
this..

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[Open Space Basics 101] Here is the blurb from the author of Open
Space, Michael Herman. It's dated 1998, so I'm not sure if it's been
used recently.

"In Open Space meetings, events and organizations, participants create
and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a
central theme of strategic importance, such as: What is the strategy,
group, organization or community that all stakeholders can support and
work together to create?" - Michael Herman, 1998.
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