Question One: What are we learning about how learning communities should be formed; their life cycles; and if, when and how they should be closed?

Group One

• Form as needed (need by whom?)
• Need analysis (ongoing)
• Refelection, learning capture and ongoing feedback loops
• Life of the work does not depend solely on individuals
• Succession planning should be part of the process
• Continuum of engagment
• Continuum of learning circles in sycle. Community needs to evolve with the needs and context of the community and the work

Group Two

• Life of work continues after closure
• Form with a purpose and continuous assessment of need based on purpose
• What is the criteria for closing?
  • Achievement
  • No longer a need
  • Participants done
  • Wane in interest
• Formation requires clear and passionate purpose
• Closing Intentional
• CLARITY in everything!

Group Three

• Need a ritual for closure - If avoid the death or closing process then regeneration and rebirth are not possible or are delayed
• Compost is important but needs to be made well or it's useless
• Closing ritual very important in Nonprofits as they are usually operating in survival mode. Not necessarily a recipe. Must create conditions and be intentional but relingquish control and "weddedness" to intention/outcome.
• Timing has to right for formation/success. Soil must be fertile and season must be right. "Don't plant tomatoes in September"
• Be aware of both internal dynamics and external influences. Evolve with context/environment.

Group Four

• Formation requires critical mass. Mass # can be 2 or 2,000....
• Critical purpose necessary for engagement
• How does transfer of knowledge, history, passion, happen in succession process?
• How do we commit to the conversation? With or without a facilitator/convener?
• When the impact stops being obvious, is it a time for closure?
• Celebrate the work and the relationships regularly
• Pay attention to relationship development and cycles
• Make the experience of meetings and relationships more similar.

Group Five

• Context dependent
• Purpose is paramount
• It isn't always going to work
• Operating as a learning community is a cultural disconnect for some. ** How engage/enroll those of different sytles cultural experiences in the work?