Comments re: question of regional vs. national:

• I think that when folks can come together and meet ppl. outside of their region it provides them w/ an opp. to see what others are doing around the country. It also strengthens their personal networks and resource bank.
• While I like regional conferences because they are accessible to some students who would not be able to get to the national conference, I still believe that there is an excitement about a national conference that is hard to duplicate on a smaller scale -- just being with a thousand students from across the US and beyond had been a powerful motivator for students at [x campus].
• I think there is real energy and momentum from gathering people nationally. They start to build their own national networks, which is awesome! It is also easier as a national organization to commit to one conference that allows us to work with other partner organizations and then work regionally as we need to.
• I think there is something unique and extraordinary about students from across the country meeting, sharing ideas, and experiencing that they are part of something larger. I've been to regional conferences for higher ed that were fabulous and definitely gained insight from those, but the national gathering I experienced at COOL/ Idealist was so much more and students told me they felt the same way...
• Even though it's harder, I think a national conference is the 'gap' that COOL/Idealist has traditionally filled. There is really no other opportunity for campus folks to get together cross-movement and nationally (and internationally!)... especially at quite a reasonable cost. HOWEVER, I think we need to think quite carefully about how to capitalize on this unique role while still working within our capacity.
• I would really like to organize a national conference that capitalizes on and harnesses the small bits of momentum generated by state/regional conferences across the country. If this group of people could organize a national conference that very intentionally built on the great energy created in pieces/silos all over the U.S., the energy at the national level could be twice what we've ever seen before!


Comments re: question of format for planning committee

• If we are talking about a national conference, there needs to be two or so key individuals leading the charge with approximately 5-10 additional individuals nationwide. Each of the 5-10 individuals would take a leading role of organizing a specific area, engaging a student leadership team, and participating in regular conference calls/communication. The organizing team would need to meet early on in the process to set clear goals and objectives for the short-term and long-term sustainability of this effort...
• I personally feel there needs to be one key point person and then several organizers who divvy up responsibilities and perhaps oversee their own group of people (such as students). For instance, someone should be in charge of venue - negotiating with a college, reserving rooms on campus, working with catering. Someone should be in charge of workshops (if that model is chosen) - including identifying and supporting the people that review them. Someone should be in charge of other events (keynote, etc.). I suspect that Idealist had a model we could borrow based on the student leadership teams at the schools?
• I really like the 'wheel' model of large group organization. You have 1-2 people in the "hub" whose main job is to coordinate/facilitate communication between a group of "subcommittees" who have specific defined responsibilities. The subcommittees can organize themselves how they like (consensus, hierarchy, etc) - they just have to designate a point person the facilitators keep in touch with. I think this helps maintain communication and meet deadlines across a large geographical area. This could work for a regional or multiple national gatherings.
• I think that co-coordinators who serve as "conductors" of the group and who are responsible to a planning committee might be the best way to go. One person isn't responsible for everything, and there's accountability built in. The more transparency, the better! Of course, members of a planning committee can each take on a part of the planning process and serve as a point of contact according to their skills and interests.


Comments re: question of conference format

• Panels that include theory and practice (one shouldn't have to choice btwn one or the other). An opp. to connect w/ folks outside of seriousness of the conference. Some kind of opening night event. Some kind of resource come-and-go room – kind of like speed dating, but someone (who's been screened) can just talk one-on-one w/ folks about their specific challenges (idea taken from Craigslist Foundation). More job development stuff (ppl. want to change the world and don't realize they can and still make a living). Intentional breaking of groups from home schools.
• In the past, the Idealist/COOL conference has served as an opportunity for [x organization] to recruit students to become involved in our work and campaigns and foster the growth of concerned global citizens. It’s been a chance to educate and engage young people in social justice work. A format that continues to provide these opportunities for recruitment and interaction with numerous students via plenaries, student, and staff led workshops, tabling, forums, and special events such as the Oxfam Hunger Banquet would be most attractive to [x organization]. Over the years, we’ve appreciated and would like to continue to see the opportunity for student leadership opportunities, i.e. student led workshops, student advisory board, etc.
• I am convinced that students (and people in general) need better organizing skills. I don't mean one specific area like "how to write an effective op-ed" but really concrete skills training in how to organize. I would love to have a conference broadly provide those skills and then have optional workshops on detailed skills and issue-based. I also would love to help facilitate conversations. At [x organization's] most recent conference we had meals where people ate based on various categories like region and denomination. By the end of the conference people felt like they really had an opportunity to meet and speak to lots more different people because of this set up. (It also helps the introverts.)
• 1. An open conference structure where participants and information can move freely to exchange experience, ideas and collaborate for change. [x organization] is interested in employing a participant-driven facilitation structure, which will give youth the freedom to develop and plan civic action projects in a creative, engaging environment. 2. the use of online tools for pre-event, live-event and post-event engagement and support. 3. considerations for making this a "green" event 4. a culturally-based party, where participants can continue to develop and strengthen relationships and have some fun!!! This could be a unique celebration of the community, hard work, diversity and passion that infuses the conference.
• I miss the workshop model, I think that is essential and I like that it had so many student-led workshops. I certainly don't think we need as MANY as there were before but I'd definitely like to see this model offered again. I also really like the opportunities fair and the interest group meetings. Given that it is a big election year, I'd like to see some good get-out-the-vote resources too, maybe a workshop "thread" or "theme" in that area.
• It would be great to have an overarching theme that ties together the regional conferences. It'd be fun to arrange an internet video feed from each of the conferences. And, maybe we could do some additional programming with the common theme (e.g., shared conference proceedings, issue discussion with issue brief provided ahead of time and maybe solutions/discussion notes shared afterward, etc.).
• 1) I would like to see the workshops include two tracks that are skill-based, two that are issue-based, and two that are discussion-based. This would allow a lot of different needs (and expectations) to be met, as well as attracting diverse presenters, attendees, and offering enough of everything to constitute a "solid" format. 2) I would like the constituency/audience to be clearly identified and then focused on. If we're going to focus on students, then I don't think we should put a lot of time and energy into content for staff, non-profits, etc.. (Unless, of course, we identify our audience as such.) 3) I would like to see Leadership Team roles for all components of the time period, thus giving equal importance to the educational content, the social activities, the materials/impact, etc. I had a great experience at the Nashville Idealist conference in this regard.
• I think a KEY thing in terms of a national conference is to capitalize on its status as a networking opportunity. That's what a national gathering can offer that a regional gathering can't. I thought Idealist's conference model this year was strong in terms of building relationships among a group. In my group, at least, it stimulated a lot of thought about campus movements and how to build them i haven't seen at other conferences. But i think it had two downfalls: 1) the groups were random, so they didn't capitalize on existing interests or affinities or skills and the networks that could have grown out of grouping people together. Times when people were grouped accordingly (eg the Chicago Meet-up affinity group) were the most effective in stimulating specific, achievable ACTION! 2) this kind of networking requires a significant amount of follow-up that idealist, honestly, over-promised and has so far under-delivered after the last conference. I think the second biggest question in terms of capacity (after enough money and a big enough space) is if we are able to provide the after-conference support that - i think - is essential. So, i imagine something like - - 1 and maybe 2 workshop sessions: i _don't_ think this is where a national gathering adds the most value. I know the group shapes the conversation, etc, but i think that we can agree that a workshop presented on one topic at a couple of locations would be at least mostly similar! :). BUT i think workshops are an important part of the heritage of the conference, and also a way of 'cross-pollinating' ideas throughout the country that may be strong in one region but weaker/less developed in another. - The 'centerpiece' of the conference - at least 2 and hopefully 3 consecutive sessions - would involve bringing together people from around the country with a single interest or who are working on a particular issue. We could think about how to structure these sessions - but key goals would be sharing ideas and strategies nationally and 'vertically' (from veterans to newbies) and leading to nationwide actions/goals/movements! If these national conversations built on earlier regional gatherings (eg YouthNoise), so much the better. - A final session could involve cross-group conversations, panels, some kind of uber-plenary (something else i think the Idealist conference has lacked), etc. Incidentally, is it possible for someone to summarize how the conference has evolved over the years? I know a little about the first conferences, but it would be interesting and important to do a "know where you came from" mini-study for ourselves. Which reminds me... in the group i facilitated this year there was a BURNING need to feel connected/learn about student movements historically - both nationally and on campuses. This is an area of skill building we could possibly focus on too.
• I love the idea of integrating all kinds of online organizing and social networking tools into the planning of this conference from the beginning. Create a Facebook group and a conference wiki, encourage folks to talk beforehand, find ways for attendees to continue interacting afterward, measure the impact of the conference by doing interviews beforehand, collect the goals of the attendees beforehand and install a way to follow up afterward, etc.


Comments re: question of excitement and reservation

• Excitement: continuing to provide a space for training that is intentional and strategic; there is no other type of conference that brings together all the leaders from across the "sector/movement" -- FUN! Reservations: how to get folks to take a chance on this new adventure, $$$, bringing together a team (if most of the team is composed of volunteers then motivating them)
• For [x organization] it’s most exciting to know that this type of a conference provides a place for students to come together – share ideas, passion, create networks, challenge and learn from one another, see/explore diversity, etc. and return to their work more energized. It’s most challenging to know what a big task organizing this conference for 1000+ students is. It seems there are many players that are interested in creating a new way for this conference to move forward. That, in and of itself, presents additional challenges regarding communication, conflicting priorities, accountability, branding, etc. [X organization] is very much in support of this conference moving forward, but is unable to contribute staff resources to the planning and logistical responsibilities.
• I love the idea of lots of organizations working together for a conference. I love the idea of helping put new shape to a great concept that has worked in years past. I love thinking about being part of building strong leaders for social justice. Reservations - working with lots of organizations can be a pain in the a** and sometimes more work than it is worth.
• The same reason going to Church or my local book reading club excites me. It is an opportunity to forge community. The things these conferences discuss have huge stakes in the continuation of our society. Our victories are irregular and sometimes far apart. The community helps people see that they are not alone. It gives inspiration to keep doing what we do.
• The opportunity to connect students from across the country who bring many viewpoints and experiences of national service and community change to the table is most exciting to me. I see great value in the opportunity for students to plan, lead, and teach at this conference. It empowers student voice and keeps a long-standing movement at work. The COOL Conference in the format we all talk about needs a rebirth. With the transition to Idealist and now discussion around continuing the movement, we need to be very intentional about building a conference that preserves the past, teaches lessons learned, and engages the future generation. What excites me most is the opportunity to create a conference that will tap into the brightest minds and hearts with the intention to inspire information-sharing and cross-campus collaboration and connection. Providing an online and offline space where young people can connect to promote civic engagement and action is important and life-changing for everyone involved!!! We are already organizing many similar events...so the more the merrier!!!
• This has been such a life-changing and empowering experience for our students, and I want to make it available to them. I went to a conference (not this one, a national undergraduate research conference) when I was a student and it was incredibly empowering. Reservations - event planning is not my forte. It's a miracle that everyone showed up at the right place for my own wedding, this is how bad I am at this. But hopefully I can help in other ways. :)
• What excites me is that I don't see anyone or any organization helping young people set a national agenda for themselves or giving them broad-based skills to affect change. Many organizations have a political bent, or focus a lot on non-profit work, or work with too limited a group of students. So, you want to get young people together? Get them talking with each other? Utilize their skills and send them home with more? Count me in. I only have reservations about the sustainability of this effort. I would suggest forming a 501(c)3 to make this easier in future years, but are "we" signing on to be part of a new organization? Are "we" committing to pulling this off every year? If so, how do we move forward in a healthy, sustainable way, so that we don't get burnt out or drop the ball, so to speak, after 1-3 years?
• Well, I think it's most important because there are so many campaigns and ideas at different campuses, and it's critical that students (and staff) know what is going on elsewhere if for no other reason than to not merely duplicate work and waste resources. It's more effective for people to work together and delegate responsibilities than to try to do the same thing over and over again. When there is a need for duplication such as campus chapters, I think it's important that students have examples of what an excellent campaign, say for divestment from Darfur, looks like so they are not starting from scratch and making the same mistakes someone else made. Also, as I mentioned, I think a national conference helps students see that they are part of something larger, which in turn, I hope, encourages them to see nonprofit and social justice work as a career opportunity and not just a passing college fad.
• It's time for the next national student movement! My main reservation is finding the balance between holding a conference/s that does add value, while not biting off more than we can chew.
• I've seen this conference generate amazing buzz among some of the most passionate and plugged-in students across the country. The problem was always how to mold that buzz into a real "movement" that was palpable to everyone in attendance. I'm excited about organizing this conference independent of the mission/vision of any one organization -- the world is open to us, and I'm excited to dream big with some really smart and passionate folks from across the country!!