7+ Alt Wed

 Hi - This description is designed to help 7+ and Alt Wed to figure out how we might develop Alt Wed during this year.  The bits in green are for discussion - the rest is agreed (but could be clarified, altered, or improved!) 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Alt Wed refers to the meetings we have on Wednesdays in the week between our fortnightly Meetups.  We meet at the same time, between 10am and midday, but with a slightly different format and purpose.  

Format

• In 2022 and 2023 we began meeting on Zoom because of the pandemic and referred to ourselves as Zoom, or the Zoomlot.  
• Twelve of the sessions in 2022 were discussions where we focused on the Flourishing programme organised by the Third Age Foundation.  the meetings were held on Zoom
• During 2023 we continued on Zoom.  Only people who had completed the Flourishing programme joined in.  Because of this we changed the name and the format.
  
• In 2024 we have begun meeting face to face using the title of Alt Wed. So far (this is being written in March) we have mainly met in cafes and decided together on the format and venue during meetings.  If we do not get around to doing that, someone steps up and sorts it out.  
• The notice of meeting goes out in the preceding weekend (or on Monday if we forget).  
• We could choose to meet on Zoom, in cafes, in homes, outdoors or in any other location that suits our purposes.

• Let's think a little more deeply about the format: So far, this format is similar to that of MeetUps - how do we distinguish the two?  Part of the distinction could be in format, and part of it could be in purpose. 

Purpose 

• As for Seven Plus, the aim of Alt Wed is to maintain and support ongoing both ideas and activities. meaningful conversations about threads and topics of current interest and interesting varied activities. 
• Just to clarify - it is helpful to think of 7+ as the network that meets on Wednesday mornings, every Wednesday, either for MeetUps or Alt Wed - and to notice that it is also more than that, it sometimes has Happenings and there are various other things happening in N4W that various members of 7+ take part in.   
  

• Meetups are emerging as places where ... ??? what purpose??? 
•  
• Happenings happen at times other than Wednesday mornings.  Seven Plus or other networks within N4W organises an event. 
•  
  
• Alt Wed sessions are where the interests arising anywhere within Seven Plus can be explored.  This means that ideas that emerge as important can come into focus and can be shared more widely.  The ideas can spark conversations outside the Alt Wed meeting.  
  
• 
  
• Interest networks or groups can arise within N4W - and overlap with the interests of 7+
• 
  

Regarding format for Alt Wed:  

• Lets think about the idea that really meaningful conversations in community spaces (grass roots as opposed to governed spaces) usually happen in twos and threes.  Ideas move through the community randomly, and/or purposefully.  The concept of "meaningful gossip" is helpful here - or "purposeful gossip". 
• Lets think about the idea that, over time, ideas that were novel and interesting get talked about. 
• Let's notice that ideas have a life of their own - we could aim to share and develop ideas over time, as a thread, or purposefully as a topic.  
• Therefore, Alt Wed might choose to get together in ways that do NOT have everyone participating in everything.  Instead, most of a session at a cafe or on a walk might involve only a few people - a dozen people might meet at three or four separate tables - and come together toward the end to identify ongoing questions and possible future actions. 
• Conversation might flow spontaneously in small groups, around whatever comes up - and key ideas might be shared among the group in a way that enables those who are not present to get involved in the conversation.  Such involvement could be through social media (eg the blog), or at MeetUps, or as Happenings, or within special interest groups. 

 

Networking for Well-Being (N4W)

As with all N4W networks, Seven Plus and Alt Wed aims

• to share the responsibilities for developing and maintaining our agreed purposes and formats
  
• to focus on developing a culture that promotes ideas and actions that are of value to collective well-being, now and in the future.