SOL-SA1 for 2011 gained momentum today

The aspiration to have a Sol event for South Africa in July 2011 gained some momentum today. Nine people got together for two hours in Centurion, Pretoria, to discuss what would make this event worthwhile for South Africa and the international SF community. A lot of experience and know-how is represented in this group. Coaches, trainers, a psychologist, a project manager, people with organizational skills and television experience, an engineer and people wearing many hats simultaneously were all part of this initial group.

We worked in two groups to discuss what we would like to celebrate two weeks after a successful SOL-SA1. Lots of ideas were generated and both groups amazingly came up with very similar ideas. We would like to celebrate a great awareness campaign before the actual event. The group would like to celebrate a multi disciplinary interaction with various sectors of the SA community. We would like to involve corporate business, education, labor, finance, current practicing coaches and therapists. We foresee the media getting heavily involved in carrying the message about SF to our world. We want to celebrate the involvement of government on various levels. The group wants to say to one another that it was a great working, learning and fun experience. Our joy would be that a supporting SF community was established in SA with lots of energy to start organizing a SOL-SA2. We thought about amazing feats accomplished like broadcasting the event on the internet for those who could not come to SA and having the conference on a ship that cruises the SA coastline.

In a next phase we had a look where we are now and what resources we do have and were encouraged by the support pledged by the international SF community. We identified the will to make this work, the greatness of the opportunity and enthusiasm for the road ahead. We recognized the potential of an existing SF community in SA.

We contemplated for a while next steps to be taken in the direction of our imagined celebration. We need to formalize a steering group. The main deliverables must be identified and prioritized. We must build links with SF groups and individuals within SA and we must have a clear picture of the benefits of hosting an event of this nature.

From this followed the need for a more extensive meeting of all interested parties. It was decided to have a half day meeting on the 30^th of July 2010 with the possibility that it could stretch into a full one day meeting if necessary. We are currently investigating a venue for this meeting. Anyone interested to attend can contact Stanus at stanus@agosolf.co.za.