Dear all, I wholeheartedly agree with the list put forth by Herbert: ------
but the next thing we should ALL think about are - in my opinion: * is there a need for a better structure in the european network? * are the national networkers and organisations cited on the european website really representatives of their countries or should we rely on a more 'chaotic' variety of different people and aims? * is there a common base for simple, cheap, natural strawbale-building and professional, passivehouse-like, prefab, high-tech-constructions or should we separate these aims in the future? * what about funding and tests: is there a need for more cooperation?
------What I feel is necessary to add is the issue which Piet put forth: Should ESBG only be for SB professionals?
I may remind the list that it was initially my intention when we offered to host the ESBG. However I was persuaded not to be so strict in this aspect: Mostly by Rikki, who pointed out that her participation in an ESBG changed her life, and subsquently has caused her to be a significant SB teacher/builder in Spain and co-author of a Spanish SB book. I also believe this was part of the input in the survey made by the (s)elective workgroup deciding how to decide where to host ESBG 2011.
In other words; such closure makes it very hard to get 'new blood'. (Though I still believe these initial steps should be through national gatherings, as the one we arranged on the last day of the ESBG; the Saturday E-Cohabitat fair).
I personally believe the input/output of the previous 3 ESBG's has spoken clearly: No, there's not a sufficient 'critical mass' for neither an organizational structure of an European network, nor an articulated need for separation of aims, nor for big scale cooperation; All happens in accordance with the (permaculture!?) organizational approach of 'mycelium organization'; un-structured non-hierarchical networks, rather than the much too often power grabbing or stagnancy of hierarchical organizations.
Cheers, MaxOh: For my 2 cents: I'll love to see ESBG 2013 in Poland hosted by the Cohabitat movement. As a neighbour looking over the fence, I'm very impressed about the popular, yet quiet, grassroot revolution which is happening in Poland these months.