Editorial

WELCOME to the third edition of 'Zed template, a magazine for facilitators".

Again, this edition is more global and broad in scope yet maintains the journey into the creative which characterises the "zed template", a term first coined by Beck & Cowan (2004) to talk about the think tank of enlightened organisations or groups where there is freedom to scan a large horizon for developing trends.  It is hoped that "zed template" will become ever more broad and global in scope with each edition as it continues to evolve in a generative way.

This e-zine edition will focus on articles and highlights of the recent Adelaide Australasian Facilitators Network/International Association of Facilitators Conference and will also feature:

* responses by the facilitation community to the national apology to the stolen generations of indigenous peoples in Australia
* book and article previews and reviews
* facilitation toolbox
* interesting and informative web-links in the world of facilitation
* updates on future AFN, IAF and other conferences relevant to facilitators regionally and globally.

So, I invite you to enjoy this third edition of "Zed template, a magazine for facilitators" and:

* hear from a diversity of facilitators,
* be refreshed by a highly creative environment
* experience reflective time in the dromenon, where there are no dead ends,only shifts in direction to and from the centre.

Joan Firkins, February, 2008

Warm thanks to my teenage son James for enabling this state-of-the-art production.

"Zed template, a magazine for facilitators" is a free service provided by "Facilitation Works."

"Enlightened organisations seek out their spiral wizards, protect them from dress codes, political games and bureaucratic constraints and allow them to scan a large horizon for developing trends. This constitutes the think tank for an organisation, what he later calls the Z template - X template involves the work that a company does, Y template are those people who can... encourage, and support the X template -- managers in the old sense." 

Z template folks can be encouraged with highly creative environments such as the:
* wild duck pond, where nonconformists can swim and
* play field, a loose and creative environment where teams wrestle with tough challenges.

Don Beck and Christopher Cowan. (2004). Spiral Dynamics: Mastering values, leadership, and change. Oxford: Blackwell. Excerpt from a summary paper by Steve Dinan, Esalen Institute based on Beck and Cowan's work, initiated by Clare W. Graves.


About the cover:

10th. Anniversary Conference
AUSTRALASIAN FACILITATORS’ NETWORK
Adelaide, South Australia.  28 – 30 November, 2007

Theme:  “The next chapter:  Showcasing the purpose of facilitation”

STORY and SYMBOLISM of the CONFERENCE BANNER

The whole image is an expression of the dynamic life energy we hope to generate as we come together for this conference.  As we share our thoughts, ideas, energy and commitment to our work as facilitators, in an atmosphere of  shared purpose, we access and release huge resources of potential energy for the future.  The image depicts this energy vibrating around the planet and beyond, bursting with life, growth, healing, colour and transformation.  The energy is potent dynamic, organic and limitless.  It is the manifestation of our hopes, dreams and desires for humanity and our planet.

The spectrum of colour represents the diversity of human and cultural expression around the planet.  The colours come together as an expression of harmony which can be achieved when we work in a spirit of cooperation.  The coral colour is the theme colour for our conference and represents a new way of collective living at a planetary level.
            ____________________________________

The Banner is a Silk Painting
by Adelaide artist  Gail Donovan