 In the Summer of 1998, a miracle of Community happened.
The setting was the 'Real Time' conference sponsored by Fast Company Magazine in Monterrey,
California, USA. 350 readers of the magazine came together from around the world.
In retrospect, none could say exactly 'why' they had come... they just had to be
there. The energy was intense -- the buzzing of passionate minds finding each other
as if they were all long-lost brothers and sisters from another planet.In the course of two days, about 30 of the Real Timers became such 'Fast Friends', that they knew they could not wait a whole six months for another Real Time conference. They determined that they had to act, to form community, to make a difference in the world. They resolved to meet again in three months in Atlanta at the Aberdeen Woods Conference Center, and began to communicate via the Internet immediately upon their returns home. The interplay was fast, furious, and intensely personal. Without being able to articulate any mission or even shared values, there was intense belief that they shared these things all the same. The Fast Friends did indeed meet in Atlanta in the early Fall of 1998. By that time, they had called themselves 'Fast Friends Forum', and had shortened that to simply F3. They didn't disappoint each other at this gathering. The ideas flowed, the energy was incredible. After a while, they began to accept their Community without being able to define it; in fact, attempts to define it seemed somehow limiting to a group which believed in no boundaries. The group left Atlanta with an even higher sense of Community, and a growing sense of a powerful need to 'give back' from the wonderful blessings they felt. In the Winter of 1998, F3 was convened again around the Real Time conference in New Orleans. Amidst the hugs and camaraderie, the need to give back grew. The group departed New Orleans with the knowledge that they were called to real, meaningful, world-changing action. Some of the members felt that the gift of Community itself was the thing they most wanted to share with others. So, with the support and love of all, this group embarked upon planning the F3 Summit on Community. They felt an extreme sense of urgency to explore and share Community. A few conversations with Community leaders from diverse areas turned up extremely strong evidence that 'something was up'. The reports kept coming in that dramatic surges in Community were becoming a phenomenon in many seemingly unrelated walks of life. It was clear that Community was a key element in the most dynamic growth in Business, Non-Profit, Governmental, Religious, Virtual / Internet, and of course Living / Intentional Community. There was something to be learned from passionate people from all these walks; the power of a Community of Community-Builders. The Vision was set. We, F3, have experienced in our Community the power of dialogue. We have seen what can only be called miracles in thought breakthrough occur when passionate people share from their hearts and the depths of their experiences and intensely focus on an issue. We have witnessed the simple power of Open Space, and we simply want to share it. We hope our story will light a fire in your soul to share your passion for Community with others, April 8-9, 1999, In Atlanta, Georgia, USA at the F3 Summit on Community. |