Now we have a group - what's next?

[Robin Starr]

Hi all you midwesterners! I'm delighted to have a starting place. Thanks, Jerry! I wonder what the next logical step is?

What do you think about a meeting, or at least a virtual meeting, where we can share our experience. By experience I mean not only our expertise and our backgrounds, but also our results from approaching potential customers. What has worked and what hasn't?

Perhaps more fundamentally, what do you want to get out of this group?

My most recent "reads" were The Tipping Point and Blink. In my mind, we aren't to the tipping point in Ohio yet. What do you find? How can we help each other?

In my day job I've found networking to be the most valuable. It is the most valuable thing I do. It means I become a connector for others, and whether I do the work or someone else does, I still get asked. That helps us all. To refer someone, I have to know what they do, and trust them (and like them). How do we enhance this relationship?

Any ideas or comments?

[Ed Reggi]

I am all for planning a Midwest gathering.

I have a lot of experience organizing conferences and would be more than happy to assist anyone. I think an Applied Improv Heartland meet-up would be rewarding in 2009. St. Louis is very central to many Midwestern folks, or we can even think Branson Missouri too.

But I am open to ideas. I love Louisville, Cincy, Indy, and KC.

[Missy Whitis]

I'm with Alan! ;)

Should you want to come to Cincy, I have several spaces that we could use for things.

[Alan Montague]

We Party!!
http://appliedimprov.ning.com/events/chicago-ain-night-out

[Jerry Kail]

Hi, Ralph - delighted that you found the site (and the Midwest Group), and welcome aboard! I'm a transplanted Hoosier myself and lived in Indy for many years - will be interested to hear more about your experiences with organizations in the Indy area and the prospects for using improv in the local training & development scene.

[Ralph Passman]

Found this site and this midwest group and just had to join up! I also love the idea of a 6-month get-together in Indy...since I live here! As far as improvisation, I am an old timer. As far as using it in organizations, I am a newby. I hope to learn, share and network. Great to meet you all!

[Jerry Kail]

Omigosh, sorry for being so absent from this Group! I guess I'm still not used to checking in all the nooks and crannies of the new AIN site (plus, I'm not sure the "Latest Activity" box reflects posts to Groups).

I've got several half-formed thoughts about the Midwest AIN right now - Robin, I think the questions you posed (our experience, backgrounds, and what we want to get out of this group) are right on - just need to organize a real or virtual forum. And, yes, Mike, I love the idea of a 6-month get-together in Indy (personally, that would be a homecoming for me). Let me let the thoughts steep for a bit and I'll be back with some input (sooner than later).

[Mike Weaver]

What I'd like from this group is time to meet six months from now. Since we're in the Midwest, we could possibly have a day long meeting to collaborate say in Indianapolis?

Mike