She nyc/fuq

'''Formerly Unanswered Questions (Read: some of the topic of the gathering)'''

Who is a nomad?
A nomad is someone who believes that traveling (physically or mentally) is a way to learn (about others and about themselves) and to experience life. Some of the nomads travel for work, others for study, others to learn from random encounters on the road.

Some have been nomadic in the past, others are nomadic by spirit. Nomads use to change locations often, and are mostly laptop equipped. Some are long-term travelers. others seasonal workes or volunteers. Also, the networks of journeymen/women in Germany and France have a very long tradition in this field, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journeyman).

Who is organizing this event?
This event is a follow up of a similar gathering happening in Berlin from the 20th to the 30th of November, or maybe even longer. See http://sharewiki.org/en/she. The event in Berlin has been collectively organized by a loose network of nomads, skillsurfers, hackers, open space fanatics and hospitality exchange addicts.

In NY, the event is organized by Valentina, one of the hospitality exchange addict mentioned above. It is also organised by you.

What is the final goal of the Berlin conference?
The final dream is to set up spaces/bases/places that are open for nomads. On a smaller scale, we want to promote nomadism and make it easier for nomads to go beyond conventional housing, jobs and schooling, and create new real social networks.

In essence, we would like to create a shared way of living/ cooperating that goes beyond borders, and which brings people together.

What is a nomad base?
This is topic of open discussion. The 'bases' we aspire to should encourage more cooperation, sharing and solidarity between the participants and should be a vehicle for experimenting with social/political activism, exchange of nomadic skills and crafts, as well as nomadic cooperatives and other business models, practical skillsharing, etc.

What is hospitality exchange?
The initiative for nomadbases is one that is closely related to hospitality exchange. In the past 5 years we have seen a great leap forward in this field, examples include networks such as http://bewelcome.org and http://couchsurfing.org See for an overview here: http://couchwiki.org/en/A_Brief_History_of_Hospitality_Exchange_Networks

Hospitality Exchange Networks sounds great! What is the difference with what you want to do? Yes, they are great! Whereas hospitality exchange has a focus on (free) short-term accomodation, we would like to go beyond this model and step into the world of rather long-term hospitality. What we would like to see is a network of bases that are shared with (neo)nomads.

In essence what we would like to accomplish is a sustainable network of communities, houses, farms, squats, collaborative work-spaces, etc. that are open for shared living with people that travel as a way of life. These places would be in essence autonomous nodes within a larger network that function as convergence places to teach/learn/share and to meet like-minded people who you can connect with and work on projects together.

So there are many nomad bases around?
Yes! More than what we think! But they do not necessarily define themselves as such. You have a nomad base everytime one person decides to give free access to nomads for long term periods. Sometimes nomads organize themselves into collectives and intentional living houses for a longer period, before moving on.

Let’s speak about SHE in NYC: Do I have to pay something?
No! The gathering is for free. This is the basic rule of hospitality. You are the host here! Behave consequently.

However there are costs connected to food and some donation for the Urban Sanctuary will be asked. Because these are donations for the space, if you work and can afford them, please contribute. If you cannot afford them, just let people know and pay as you wish.

There is going to be food?
Yes! One of the workshops is dumpster diving food in the neighborhood (on Friday night, the 4th, and then on Saturday night again) and to cook it together. Contribution to buy additional good will be welcome.

What if I need a place to sleep?
You are welcome! We will try to accommodate all the ones who need a place to sleep because coming from far. Bring your sleeping bag and camping mattress and we will find you a spot somewhere.

How long does the gathering last?
The gathering will start on Friday night at 7pm in Brooklyn: hosts from the area will meet up to gather food together. This will be the perfect occasion to learn more about dumpster diving! Then Saturday morning at 12.00 will meet up at the Brooklyn Urban Sanctuary, in Park Slope area. The event will continue on Sunday at ganas, in Staten Island. It will conclude at 18.00. People who need a place where to sleep, will be hosted from Friday until Sunday. There might be car rides to Staten Island for Sunday morning.

What are the conferences about?
There are no conferences intended as such. People will gather in groups talking of their needs, dreams and experiences.

Everything is open. We want everyone to be the host: this is your event! Find out what you want to talk about. We will share these questions at the beginning of the event but you can also already share these on the google group.

What form/structure the meetings will take?
The meetings will use an Open Space approach.

There is no fixed agenda and participants themselves will set up topics at the start of the conference. We share our intentions of why we come together, and feed our common agenda based on the main questions we have. We will group these questions around specific categories of type of meetings we want.

This also means that separate topics could be discussed in different spaces at the same time. At the same time, people could be discussing technical stuff, while other people meet to discuss the culture of a nomadbase. Participants vote with their feet: you go where you feel at place - where you feel/ think you can learn or contribute.

How can I participate?
If you are reading this, you are on the right track! This is an event that we build up together and to do so, a good start is to get to know each other beforehand. Send an email to the group: she_nyc@googlegroups.com.

In your profile on google group (http://groups.google.com/group/she_nyc), list your blog, your interests, your profile in hospitality exchange (if you have one).

Introduce yourself and state your expectations. Someone will go back to you with an offer of hospitality.

Why do you organize this?
Valentina is organizing SHE in NY because she believes that neo-nomadism is a way to experience freedom and learning about yourself and the others. Living in a nomad base changed her life: it empowered her to dream and it gave her a sense of family and community when she had any. Therefore, she wants to share this experience with others. Plus, when she does not spend her time in front of a laptop, she is a quite sociable person and wants to have a blast with amazing people like you. :P