4-25+Steering+Committee+Notes

//What stuck in people’s minds from the April 5-6 Convening?//
 * Failure as compost (see [])
 * Communication messaging
 * “Networks” as a noun vs. a verb
 * Social media for catalyzing networks & how to assess whether you’re actually executing on that
 * Peer learning
 * Supporting networks that are at different stages of their lifecycle
 * How to change behaviors to actually work with a network mindset

//Who is the Funder's Guide for? Who's the audience?//
 * Program officers who need to sell the idea of networks within their organization
 * Communications officers and their bosses
 * Potential grantees who are seeking funding for and thinking about networks
 * Funders who are new to networks
 * Funders who are already working with networks but aren’t aware of new network thinking and tools
 * Boards of grantmaking organizations
 * Practitioners who work through networks on the ground
 * Infrastructure groups or consultants to grantmakers, especially those help funders think strategically

//What would this audience need to know?//
 * Recognition that they and others are working with networks now, so it doesn’t sound foreign
 * Assurance that these concepts, which are derived from practice/experience, are practical
 * There’s potential for greater impact
 * There's a COP they can call on for advise
 * A handful (5-6) of succinct, easily memorized lessons that stick, with helpful visuals
 * Way to assess whether they’re in a situation that lends itself to a network approach (e.g., questions at the beginning of the guide to assess “network readiness”)
 * This is not a reference manual: it’s meant to inspire, give a few clear takeaways, and refer them to helpful resources
 * Suggestions on “how to get started” (e.g., who to speak to, tangible next steps)
 * Each network is as unique as each funder, and as a result, working with networks requires flexibility
 * References to useful resources, e.g., through QR codes that link to a URL

//What NOT to include? What to link to vs. highlight?//
 * The Funder’s Guide should highlight principles but not operationalize them. It’s not a “How To” manual—it should pretend to offer a clear formula for working with networks
 * Emphasize exploring as much as appropriate for each funder
 * Leave out the piece about staffing networks. It’s too foundation-dependent
 * Include stories
 * Keep details about what constitutes a healthy network and some approaches to maintain that health
 * Keep the governance piece

//Which tools to keep?//
 * Don't go to deep with SNA
 * Global networks are really hard to grasp
 * Put GANs and SNA in a box labeled Geeky Stuff
 * Why do we have to remove some? These are resources that people can use if they want. Keep a longer less in-depth resource list and provide links

//What stories need to be shared? What are the criteria for choosing what they are?//
 * Mix of success and failures
 * Significant impact on people's lives
 * Combination of community-level networks and networks of organizations
 * Network work of different scales, depth, breadth, and cost!
 * Foundations of different sizes
 * Cases that have been written about extensively—and not at all
 * Diversity of network work, e.g., youth, education, arts, and health

//Immediate Next Steps//
 * Monday, May 16: Diana and Jessica will share a draft of the Funder's Guide with the COP
 * Monday, May 23 at 11AM PT: Conference call with the COP, to get feedback about the Funder's Guide
 * Friday, May 20 through Tuesday, May 24: One-on-one conversations with those who cannot make it to the May 23 meeting but would still like to share their feedback with us. Please email Jessica (jessica_gheiler@monitor.com) for scheduling.
 * Wednesday, June 15 at 11AM PT: NNF "Virtual Party"! At this meeting
 * Discuss ways to represent / grow the NNF at the October convening, e.g., as NNF ambassadors throughout the 2-day convening and at the Networks 101 breakfast
 * Post Flikr photo that represents our learning / takeaway

//What’s Next for the COP//
 * COP member-led webinars, e.g., Kate Wing is trying to organize a webinar about Hewlett’s failed projects
 * Have an NNF-specific event around the October convening
 * Breakfast table
 * Help out at the Networks 101 session at breakfast
 * NNF COP T-shirt
 * NNF COP members as ambassadors for new folks
 * Dinner on 10/16 or 10/17—OPEN to others
 * Pipe cleaner pin for NNF COP
 * Every NNF member should bring a new person to the convening!

//Words of wisdom for the writing process//
 * Scaffold and link between paper and bytes
 * When in doubt, cut!
 * I have absolute faith in you and the people in the COP
 * Wisdom is too daunting!
 * Have fun with it
 * Breathe
 * Create design personas of people who would read. Put yourself in their shoes
 * Enjoy!
 * include cartoons
 * Just do it!