Welcome, intro, personal history with Homecoming

I. Homecoming is all about relationships--the whole concept of Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is built on our relationship with the University of Oklahoma.

II. Groups can't work well together without working on KNOWING each other. Our experiences here at OU, with Homecoming, or in our organizations are not universal. If we don't do the work of getting to know each other, we assume that the experiences are the same.

III. Actually knowing each other helps us trust that other folks will do their part of the work of Homecoming.

What are the ways you can work now to build relationships that can be impactful?

We often talk about who has a seat at the table, but the seat kind of isn't the end game. If we only worry about the seats and not the rest of it, we've missed the point.

To extend the metaphor...how are people seated at your table? If folks are invited late--after you've already made decisions, is that the most inclusive?

How do you expect people to work together at your table? Do you expect people to be voices of entire populations?
Where is your physical table located? If you consistently hold meetings in or talk about places people can't identity with, who are you reaching? If we remember that every experience isn't universal, is your chapter house the most welcoming place? Where could be better?

On your note card, what are two takeaways you can list about YOUR TABLE that could be more inclusive?

This is where it gets real. You could have built good relationships AND thought about how you include people and still whiff on the planning piece.

The little sphere is you and the big sphere is your organization. Now imagine the little sphere if your organization and the big sphere is your Homecoming Group as a whole. What happens when we close off?

You can't plan stuff without all the players.
You can't invite folks in at 75% planned and tell them it's collaborative.

Here's the hard part: you may have to un-plan some things because it wasn't collaborative. I'm not saying it always has to be consensus building, but I am saying that real attempts to engage people have to be made if you say something is co-programmed.

This may feel like a loss of control and autonomy--but lean into it! This is where the opportunity for innovation lives!

Think abouthow much better everything we can do could be with more brains involved.

On your notecard, what is at least one area of your event that you know needs BIG THINKS, may need to be un-planned, or in general just needs to be thought about more collaboratively?

Some groups have more money than others, this isn't hard for us to figure out.

That does NOT mean that money should equal power and influence if we are genuinely trying to be collaborative.

Be open, transparent, and NON JUDGMENTAL about the money conversation. Use your staff Homecoming Guide to help you navigate these conversations. Be willing to compromise.