Through Open Space facilitation, Idea Mixology, personal consultations, and many cups of coffee, ROIers spent hours generating dozens of ideas and uploading nearly 50 of them online through a site called IdeaScale. Each idea was the product of at least three ROIers - some ideas were brand new and some the products of years of thought. On Wednesday, the system was closed to new ideas, and it was time for an intensive 24-hour period of voting – not just for those at the Summit, but for ROIers and friends worldwide, who were following along on the internet. Voters were also encouraged to provide comments, suggestions, resources, offer of collaborations and any other thoughts they might be able to contribute to help the ideas grow. The ideas with the most votes -  - would get the opportunity to present at Thursday’s Innovation Showcase - a panel of people who are involved in a wide range of corporate and non-profit worlds: Yossi Vardi, Noa Tishby, Yossi Abramowitz and Danna Azrieli.

 

The 50 project ideas submitted with barely 48 hours of prep time showcased our values and exemplified the spirit of international collaboration - each project represented not just one single person, but a team of individuals from all over the planet, each bringing his or her unique passion and perspective to the idea. 

 

At the Project Shuk, the “market” where teams had the chance to hawk their ideas, you certainly felt the excitement of competition, but the whole experience was about so much more than winning: it was really about the recurring brand and theme of ROI - connecting and creating. With the ROIers in the room, and hundreds of people outside the room who were viewing and voting on ideas, it became clear that this exercise was about community and how we are going to move forward to shape the future of our world together. 

 

Wednesday also brought a welcome reprieve from the innovation competition, in the form of diplomats, authors, curators, and venture capitalists. They came to give master classes, and stayed for a networking luncheon where they were joined by other esteemed guests, including educators and activists, journalists and Jewish professionals.

 

After another intense day everyone relaxed by kicking back poolside for dinner and dancing, and enjoyed the Film Festival and Variety Showcase, where talented ROIers strutted their artistic, cinematic and musical stuff.

 

By Day 5, ROIers’ motors were still running, but they were beginning to understand that things would soon be coming to an end. Thursday morning motivation was provided by tech genius Yanki Margalit, the CEO of Aladdin Knowledge Systems, who gave us food for thought on “the future of the future.” Let’s just say that if Yanki is right, the connectors and creators of the future may be robots. Margalit also spoke about consumption, particularly in America, and called for Americans to distribute resources differently, and to consume less.

 

Then the top three most-voted for ideas were revealed, and their champions presented to the celebrity panel. Adopt a Safta, which matched young immigrants with a Holocaust survivor, Olim for a Better Israel, and Socialocus- at long last, the Innovation Showcase had arrived. 

 

With the panelists on stage, the three winning entries presented their projects. And before we knew it, with some final presentations, a surprise flash mob, and final embraces, the Summit was over. 

 

But - with a little help from ROI Community founder Lynn Schusterman - ROIers were reminded of why they were there. "We have an obligation to make the world a better place for everyone," she said. "With all this modern technology, nothing takes the place of looking someone in the eye and saying, 'I care about you.'"