We asked 2006 Forum attendees to share their highlights with us. Here are some highlights - straight from attendees:

• Being my first Forum, my highlight was how quickly I shared a connection with people there. Almost from the instant I arrived, I felt a shared belonging with all there. The breadth of the presentations from mental illness to Zen meditation was absolutely fantastic and each one seemed to be pointing to 'a better way of seeing things' and all pointing in a similar direction. A terrific work out for my mind! -Ketan Varia, Kinetik Solutions, London
• The energy of the attendees is inspiring and contagious. -Kim Monroe, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA
• There are so many great things it would be impossible to pick one. Since we do Power Point, I will do some bullets.
  - Russ Ackoff's talk - especially his comments that downsizing is immoral and that globalization can be done without job loss
  - Dr. Glasser - his lighthearted look at a serious subject especially his comments about Prozac in the water
  - Peter Collis - his demonstration of silent leadership by teaching the group two songs was great fun and instructive - we didn't sound bad for amateurs
  - Lori Strom - Her help and happy presence
  - Michelle Harms - her boundless energy and obvious enthusiasm was infectious
  - The balloon exercise before dinner on Saturday
  - Annie Barron for her book, her thoughts and her obvious devotion to Oscar's memory
  - The energy, sharing attitude and love among the participants. It is rare to attend a conference where there is not competition, back stabbing and hording of ideas. This forum is an example of what society could be. -Ed Shroyer, The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, CA
• Although I was only able to attend part of the session this year (made every other one all the way through!), I thoroughly enjoyed Russell Ackoff's discussion as well as George Hopson's session. The forum continues to evolve as we do. -John Duddy, The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, CA
• The highlight for me this year was simply being at an event where the building of relationships (stillness, presence, listening) was acknowledged and explored in its connection to organizational transformation (fearless engagement). -Sonia Balcer, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, CA
• The idea that variance exists at all time ... the question is how to manage it. -Micah Fierstein, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK
• The highlight of the Forum for me is the participants/attendees. Getting to know them as individuals, their views and perspectives, their problems, concerns, and activities; their insights, wisdom, and where they are "Daring to Explore". I believe most of the participants can identify with the person who said in the pre-conference workshop that when she is at the forum she does not feel crazy for thinking in creative ways about "creating possibilities together". -Dennis Bowyer, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, CA
• “The daily unveiling of a different international soccer jersey a la Tim Higgins’ extensive collection!” -Mary Doherty, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA
• The opportunity to talk directly with some of the speakers was certainly invaluable to me. Often, speakers do their “thing”, then disappear. The Forum made them available to all. Thank you. -Diana Deming Cahill, W. Edwards Deming Institute, Los Angeles, CA
• One of the coolest moments of the weekend for me happened on Saturday night, when Peter Collis led the group to sing together. It felt as though the entire group was focused and in the moment, and then pleasantly surprised by our accomplishment. -Kelly Harris, United Launch Alliance, Decatur, AL
• I greatly enjoyed hearing Russ Ackoff tell his marvelous stories chock full of systems thinking principles and lessons. William Glasser’s stories were also very rich. Thanks. -Terry Begnoche, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, MI
• The highlight for me was the Networking Session on Saturday afternoon. Several of us designed this session via long distance collaboration, and it was very satisfying to see it happen. People were engaged in conversation, seemed to have some fun, and we ran long because the participants had many insights to share. And I felt great because I had contributed. -Steve Byers, Consultant, Olympia, WA
• A Forum highlight for me Russell Ackoff’s presentation in Rocketdyne’s “Trophy Room”. During that presentation, Russ drew on a flipchart to illustrate his intelligent, swapable commuter car design. I was very fortunate to have him sign this drawing and give it to me! A treasured souvenir. Cheers. -Andrew Johnson, Mirus Point Facilitators, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Forum highlights for me include:
  1. Hearing Dr. Ackoff in person, plus having lunch at his table.
  2. Doing red bead exercise as a red, then Blue Pen Company.
  3. Meeting so many incredible people!! (I had the opportunity to take Ernst Glauser and his wife Jocelyn round SF last Thursday, so that was enjoyable! We were very lucky in that it was one of the first non-rainy days for weeks!!)
  There are so many more and I'm looking forward to Forum 2007!! Cheers! -Karen Larkin, Member of the Community, Danville, CA
• So there I was. Sitting in the back of the class by myself, eating a fantastic lunch when who decides to sit next to me? Russ Ackoff. He was in the mood to talk. I was in the mood to shut-up and listen. I never noticed when it happened but by the time Russ was through the table was packed with people and I had an 8.5 by 11 piece of scrap paper with a bunch of Russ's drawings. I only wish I could remember all he said. -Bill Sopoliga, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, CA