Global Melt/Facilitator ToDo

Event Facilitator/Organizer To-Do-List

A check-list for organizing events in "the Open":

1.) STFW

google Event check-list and pick a suitable one for your event. (e.g. http://www.thegreatevent.com/content/ap.asp?id=4)

2.) Check sites of previous events

Are you first in the world planning such an event? If yes: return to point one. Otherwise: look up respective online documention of similar or related or previous events.

3.) Ask the collaboration question

Is it necessary/helpful to do the event on your own or would the event benefit from collaboration with other (local) partners? Partner’s may facilitate your facilitation in the following way:

• a) Funding partners (e.g. corporate sponsors
• b) Infrastructure partners (e.g. location, hostels)
• c) Media partner (e.g. (local) newspapes, blogging networks, etc.)
• d) Program partners (e.g. local initiatives, GLAM, universities, NGOs, labs, etc.)
• e) Mobilizaton partners that help promote events among their constitutents (potentially all of the above)
• f) individual partners (e.g. bloggers, activists) >> check out the human resource directory
• g) other partners

4.) Think about the participant's point of view:

• a) create different spaces/formats, i.e. mix open with structured sessions, talks with discussions, free and working time,
• b) facilitate serendipity by setting the stage also aside the formal event program (e.g. breakfast at the venue, not in the hostel)
• c) breaks are important and useful in their non-goal-orientedness
• d) redundancy is useful when it helps to find information (e.g. put the program online, on paper, send via mail and pin it on blackboards at the site)
• e) experiment with short but interactive formats, especially in the beginning and the end of a day (e.g. quick introductory rounds; lightning talks at the end)
• f) provide coffee and, if possible, Club Mate

5.) Also plan the social gatherings and circumstances

• a) find out about social events in the city during the event
• b) leave space for unorganized and spontaneous social activities
• c) but don't underestimate the importance of organized and planned social activities as an offer to participants

6) Documentation is critical before, during and after the event

• a) if possible, apply for funding for documentation staffers
• b) choose one central tool for documentation and stick to it
• c) start with documentation continuously during the event
• d) make sure you have the contact details of your participants to distribute links to documentation following-up the event
• e) extensive documentation (e.g. minutes, video or audio-documentation) is helpful but you also need shorter documentation formats (e.g. one paragraph summaries of sessions, bullet point lists, biblographies, contact details, links, etc.)

7.) Evaluate your event

• a) Ask participants for (oral or written) feedback at the venue (last day, end of workshop, etc.)
• b) Make an internal feedback meeting among organizers and partners
• c) Offer the possibility for participant feedback online (e.g. public wishlist and/or Online feedback forms)
• d) Do a follow-up evaluation when some time has passed (e.g. Sparkelz)