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Amnesty International Toronto Organization Oct 16, 2004 Regional Meeting Evaluation Summary (summary of evaluation forms completed by meeting participants). In short. 68 (48% of 143) participants completed an evaluation 60% of respondents were community group members
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Amnesty International Toronto Organization Oct 16, 2004 Regional Meeting Evaluation Summary (summary of evaluation forms completed by meeting participants)
In short... • 68 (48% of 143) participants completed an evaluation • 60% of respondents were community group members • Respondents have been AI members an average of 9.7 years, but the single biggest group was <1 to 5 year members • Most heard of the meeting via the internet (41%) and/or their group (31%) • Evaluations overall were highly favourable • 84% thought the price ($25) was right • 90% of facility ratings were 4 or 5 - the only significant complaint was the plenary room (too large, hard to hear) • Workshop and plenary session ratings were generally high (4 and 5 scores) • The other common observation was that we simply packed too much into the day • Many participants would like to see more regional meetings, possibly annually or every 2 years Comments throughout are those of the participants who completed evaluation forms
Profile of participants Female male split at the meeting was about 80 - 20
Meeting arrangements - comments/suggestions • problem hearing in council chamber (esp audience questions) • more vegetarian and vegan food - possibly hot food • spread food tables out to avoid lineups, volunteers direct traffic • tables to eat at, write letters at • have fruit at breaks • meeting could have been over 2 days • lecterns with microphones in the workshop rooms • cost and timing excluded youth from participation Overall assessment of meeting arrangements was highly favourable
Plenary sessions - level of satisfaction Scores for ‘informative’, ‘well planned/delivered’ and ‘I will use’ combined (detailed scores are at the end - slide 29)
Stop Violence Against Women - comments • Information could have been developed more • Really made me re-think many things • Discussion was scattered - needed a focal point and action call • Themes could have been tied together better by moderator • My least favourite session • All 3 speakers brought value to the discussion • Speakers were effective and inspiring - Farrah was moving • Colourful diversity in an important panel • Very moving and eloquent • Definitely an asset for the day - excellent use of first person experiences • ‘Male bashing’ in one speaker’s jokes got tedious • Wanted more info on the refugee aspect of the issue The major point made in comments was that the session was hard to hear and follow
Armed Conflict - comments • Good session, but I was fatigued by the end of the day • Extremely difficult question well presented • Very interesting ideas - lots to think about • Closing discussion was great • Good to get participant feedback in open mikes • Need to get this info to members • I learned a lot from this • Alex is an excellent/inspiring speaker • Good ‘plain language’ discussion • I will soul search...
What I liked best • Lots of first rate material - great deal of planning went into the day • Key note speaker and closing plenary • Good workshops (comment made by many) • Very well organized - comfortable venue - good workshop themes • Excellent to have the opportunity to discuss • Stayed on schedule - great • Informative - topical - well organized - variety of topics • Opportunity to meet with people - networking • Opportunity to listen to so many people with good ideas • Friendly atmosphere, great speakers • Opportunity to get ‘recharged’ - new ‘fire in my belly’ • Variety of fascinating topics
What I liked least • The large room and poor acoustics for the plenaries • Too much packed into too little time (common comment) • Day was too long - try to end by 4PM • I wish more people had come • Being inside all day • Try an ‘icebreaker’ between participants to stimulate interaction • Had trouble folding the dove - hard to follow the instructions • Lunch setup - no tables • Need more networking time - not enough free time • The guilt I feel when I can’t take on all the causes • Early start (hard on out of town participants) • Violence Against Women panel was the weakest moment
Suggestions for improvements • Hold an annual conference (or at least more frequent) - common comment • Email lists of activities - area newsletter • Mini conferences and more inter group activities • Provide workshop info packages for those who couldn’t attend • Two day conference • Have Art team and events/promo team at conference to help groups • More small discussion groups (7-20 people) • Improve means of inter group contacts • Target more young people to attend the conference Note - suggestions were about improved activism in the GTA, not just the conference
Overall comments • Thanks everyone who worked so hard to make this happen • I really enjoyed the conference and got a lot out of it • Congratulations - thanks - really great…(many such comments) • Not happy about the initiative to purchase a building • Well organized - very informative • I’d like to see this conference grow • Make it annual or bi-annual • Only about 20-25 men in the entire group • Great chance to meet other AI members • First AI meeting - I can’t wait to attend more • Short bios and contact info for the speakers for later contact Extraordinarily positive reactions overall
Overall satisfaction with workshops Scores for ‘informative’, ‘well planned/delivered’ and ‘I will use’ combined (detailed scores are at the end - slides 26, 27, 28)
You can judge intensity of response by the number of comments for each workshop... • ESC Rights 16 • Death Penalty 5 • Security Certificates 10 • Art in Action 4 • AI in 100 seconds 17 • Fundraising 5 • FTA impact on women 12 • Landmines 3 • Canada’s resource sector abroad 23 • Total number of workshop comments 95 Overwhelming majority of workshop comments were positive
ESC workshop comments • Fledgling issue needs more in depth discussion and attention • Very stimulating and well presented • We need a full day/more time on this topic (common comment) • Food for thought • Needed more time - brainstorming was fantastic but rushed • In depth case studies would be helpful - handout was helpful • Exactly what I needed to get my head around ESC rights • Wonderful to hear about this new work • AI’s way of the future - glad to be part of it • Very good session - excellent job of preparing • Very useful • Best leave Q&As to the end and clock the presentation ahead of time • A great intro which is what I was looking for
Death penalty workshop comments • Very informative - Q&A especially interesting • Speakers made a high impact on understanding • Useful in defending AI’s position • Moderator didn’t use speakers as effectively as she could have • Margaret - great insight...Tracey - informative as well • Iris organised and ran it in her usual masterly fashion
Security certificates workshop comments • Helpful in understanding AI refugee work • Speaker was very good and session was informative • Very interesting presentation • First speaker did not stand - people at back had trouble hearing her • Good handouts, used Q&A effectively • Highly technical, facilitator did a good job breaking it down • Real eye opener - is it possible to have articles in the Activist? • Great speaker, informative and potent • Speaker presumed more knowledge in audience than some had
Art workshop comments • Info should be on the web site • I loved this workshop • Dynamite session and I am not even an artist • Fabulous - offer this at the AGM
AI in 100 seconds workshop comments • Dealing with ignorance, hostility and cynicism a challenging topic • Brought up important questions and supplied informative answers • Michael led an excellent workshop • Tips appreciated, and group discussions even more valuable • Helped crystallize thoughts and ability to communicate • We needed more time - common comment • Interactive activity very useful (need more) - common comment • Break-out session did not work too well with eight people • I would have preferred a session addressing a specific topic • Concise and to the point • Would like more such sessions in the future • Less informative than other sessions
Fundraising workshop comments • Information laden handouts requested - speaker was hard to follow • Group has poor fundraising skills - this was quite useful • More sharing of ideas would have made session better • Handouts were excellent • Excellent work - very informative
FTA workshop comments • Topic has enormous implications - very effectively addressed • Real eye opener - want to know more • Extremely interesting - use of videos, stories, questions - learned a lot • Loved this workshop - videos very useful • Very interesting, involving - bravo • I would have loved to hear more • Wonderful - absolutely revealing and educational • Thought provoking, interesting workshop • Excellent - could have used more detail on women in particular • Really useful and will be helpful in the future • Good discussion
Landmines workshop comments • Second speaker was much better than first • Good handouts • Great use of an external org for an AI relevant topic
Canadian resource sector workshop comments • Leslie should speak again at the AGM • Unnecessarily confrontational, not co-operative • Interesting to have speakers from opposite sides of the debate • Very inspiring - absolutely an invaluable session • Well informed articulate speakers, brisk, concise pace • Leslie’s knowledge of Colombia could have been better • Guests from the same industry would be the only improvement • Good handouts • Very informative - I learned so much • Great dialogue between 2 different sectors and perspectives • Industry rep was weak - had hoped presentation to be more substantive • Thought provoking • Superb facilitation - provocative, interesting • Is industry web site a cover?
