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Retrospective Facilitators Gathering

Location: Boulder, CO, USA, From May-11-2009 To May-15-2009
Contact Esther Derby
Link to Event

Our goals for the week are to:
  • Grow our retrospective facilitation skills by sharing our experience and knowledge.
  • Share observations of how retrospectives have helped teams and organizations improve their effectiveness.
  • Share puzzles, strategies, activities, and stories.

Agenda:

We will create the agenda for the week on Monday based on what the people who are at the Gathering want to learn and want to share. As you think about the Gathering, consider these questions:

  • What do you hope to learn at the Gathering?
  • What are you willing to offer the group to further their learning?
  • What retrospective exercises can you demonstrate for the group?

You will have a chance to add a session to the schedule based on exactly what you hope to learn or share. This is an informal, low-tech event, so wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to take it easy and enjoy being in the moment.

Timing:

The current plan starts the Gathering at 09:30 Monday and continues through to 12:00 Friday. Please plan to attend from start to finish.

Size:

As in previous years, we are limiting the size of the Gathering to foster high quality interactions. We are working on a first-come-first-served basis. After all the spaces are taken we will begin a waiting list. The size of the Gathering is limited by the size of the venue. The Lodge has 28 rooms, some of which are suitable for sharing.

Costs:

We are not interested in making money (nor losing money) on this event. The registration fee of $400 USD covers meeting space for the conference, snacks, and supplies, plus lunches and two group dinners. Each participant is responsible for his/her own arrangements at the Lodge.

Your fee will also contribute to making it possible for Norm Kerth, author of Project Retrospectives: A Handbook for Team Reviews to attend the gathering. Who is invited? Facilitators, coaches, and others who lead or participate in retrospectives. Organization development practitioners who are interested in using the practice and researchers studying the impact of retrospectives in organizations. In the past, we’ve had a policy of sending the invitation in waves: first to past participants, second wave to people recommended by past participants, and finally to the members of the retrospectives yahoo group. For the past few years, the Gathering has filled before we got to the third wave. This year we are opening the invitation to past participants and the yahoo group at the same time.

Reserving Your Space:

To apply for the Gathering, please send a sentence or two describing your interest and experience with retrospectives to derby@estherderby.com, and we’ll send you details on how to register. In the past, we have filled very quickly so we urge you to register as soon as you can.

Registration deadline is March 6, 2009