Lisa, Jill, JR, Mark, Peggy, Dave, Mary, Ross, Linda, Don, and Mike, welcomed Brenna, Tina, Andi, and Julie to their first meeting.

Lisa facilitated, arranging the chairs in a large circle and opening with a brief round of introductions followed by an explanation of Open Space Technology (a meeting style we use that gives everyone an opportunity to participate-please see previous meeting notes for an explanation of Open Space techniques). We than began creating the meeting's agenda, by posting and arranging topics/questions of interest. The agenda developed into seven topics :

The first two topics convened concurrently, led by Peggy and Mark respectively. Participants flowed between each topic, making use of an aspect of Open Space called, "The Law of Two Feet-move freely from topic to topic, as you wish, floating in like a butterfly to observe, or like a bee to participant in (pollinate) conversation." Learnings included the necessity of becoming a knowledgeable investor to best ensure meeting your retirement expectations and needs, and a solid motivator for change is for someone to want to make that change happen-sometimes it takes pain to create the want, desire and commitment to change.

Letting Life flow and finding work you love to do followed, led by Ross and Lisa. Learnings from these two topics included finding work you love to do is a process and it takes time and effort. There are many strategies and tools to use - we need to be open to seeing them and actively seeking them out. Also, you can place greater value on the work you are currently doing and derive greater fulfillment from it. A lot of this depends on your attitude and perspective.

And throughout meeting, smaller groups sprung up from time to time, to discuss ancillary/miscellaneous topics whenever need, and concluding whenever discussion was complete.

As we neared the end of the meeting, everyone came back to form the large circle we had begun with. Mike updated the group on a new organization the New Road Map Foundation has formed called, Financial Intelligence Associates (FIA). It is a grass roots organization that consists of a Board (which Mike and Linda currently serve on as advisors for Your Money Or Your Life Marketing/Media), FIA Members, and a FIA email List Server. The List Server is used by FIA Members to post and share observations and topics with other FIA Members, as a way of connecting groups from other cities/locations (the notes posted on the VS-Chicago Web Site from the Boston Group are an example of this). To become a FIA Member, contact the Mike or Linda, or the New Road Map Foundation. Criteria and acceptance for membership is doing the steps in the book, Your Money Or Your Life. Mike & Linda would like to form a FIA-Chicago Group, as a way to increase our overall knowledge and practical application of simplicity.

Mike also asked those who attended the April & May YMOYL Audio Tape Study Sessions, their thoughts and feedback to date. Boston has done surveys of previous study group attendees, and Mike will have their data available for our next simplicity meeting. Comments included:

Lisa closed meeting at 12:05pm.

Following, Jill, Lisa, JR and Mike continued discussion on FIA Chicago until 1:20pm.

(Reported by: Mike Lenich)