On 13th and 14th June Simon Allen attended the Transition Network Conference, in Devon. The conference is well written up on www.transitionnetwork.org and www.transitionculture.org.

• There were 300 people there, many from overseas.
• I found it inspiring, encouraging and fun to attend.  It was excellently run.
• I attended workshops on Social Enterprise, the stunning film HOME – available free on the web http://www.home-2009.com/us/index.html, and a Rob Hopkins workshop on his new thinking about the 'patterns' needed to run a transition group. Currently this work is aimed at new groups – the work for longer established initiatives like Stroud is still to be grappled with!
• It was interesting to hear other participants I chatted to say they perceive Stroud to be a very successful initiative. Our website is seen as impressive. When I said we had 15 people regularly active this was far more than most groups I spoke to – including Lewes – another long term successful group. Two people hunted me out saying they wanted to come here....... 
• One of the dramatic events of the Conference was a workshop by a woman called Nicole Foss (aka blogger Stoneleigh) on the economy. It took place on the 12th (Saturday) and people were still reeling from it 2 days later.  She speaks very clearly, lucidly and convincingly about the economic crash to come and defensive measures individuals may wish to take. Her talk and questions/answers are recorded (About 2 hours worth - listen to her talk here http://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/2010/06/453356.html and her website is  http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/ .)