Some quick context for you surrounding the evolution of this new website…for some of us who have spent a great deal of time in and around cyberspace, there exists a keen understanding that the manner in which interactive technologies are programmed, has a defining impact on the way people who use them, relate. In a nutshell, how we design our convivial information technologies has immense ‘democratic’ import.
As some of you may know, a dedicated ‘behind-the-scenes’ effort to develop functional and inclusive democratic protocols locally has long been and continues to be an absolutely central concern of the permie guild steering committee. This priority has not only informed an extended stewardship of the design process around the creation of this website, but the resulting technology structure itself and, we hope, the quality of interaction that will result.
Of course, virtual ambitions are simply that. As Thoreau put it, Americans must have their dreams, their castles in the clouds: but ya gotta put foundation stones under them. Show me the cornerstone, as they say. What then, of democratic analogs in local meatspace as distinct from local cyberspace? The flesh on the ideal?
Well, as it happens, the permie guild’s steering committee’s patient, long running effort to collaboratively explore the question ‘How does one hash out a democratic protocol democratically?’ is reaching a very interesting midpoint. Back in the Spring, we formally committed to the creation of a ‘process art’ group within the guild (that is, a subgroup whose remit is very simply to facilitate coherent interaction). Details of that discussion are at:
http://www.seedambassadors.org/Mainpages/consensus.htm
It’s a co-intelligent discussion about ‘co-intelligence’ itself and, as such, it affords a powerfully self-referential example of how collective decision-making can be wise indeed.
At the steering committee’s most recent meeting (I hope to have the videotape of the key proceedings on this website, soon) our exploration of process culiminated with the steering committee sending the process art group off with a clear remit to ‘formalize’ a democratic agreement for the group. The meeting was expertly facilitated by Lysbeth Borie, group facilitator, trainer and mediator with the Alpha Institute. In brief, here are the relevant instructions, from the minutes. We are seeking a protocol in which:
1) Everyone has an opportunity to be heard.
2) Avoid discussion being dominated by any one.
3) Neutral facilitation.
4) Group agreement about authority of facilitator, ie ability to stop/change discussion, time-limit constraints.
5) Need a way to resolve conflicts and differences - need a conflict resolution process.
6) May need (more and specialized) training for facilitators.
7 Group and facilitators need more skills and tools to develop common ground.
8) Need on-going body of minutes.
9) Process agreements need to be written and available.
10) Committees are still part of the group and operate by the same group agreements.
11) Intent is for the good of the group.
12) EPG has oversight of activities of committees.
13) Rule of Three (as per Lysbeth) for participation and membership.
14) Orientation for new members.
15) Clarify right, roles and responsibilities of committees and relationship to whole.
16) Training of members in consensus and facilitation.
17) Consider communication guidelines; use ‘I’ statements, no generalizations, etc.
Please don’t let the apparent simplicity of this list belie the wisdom therein. The instruction set represents the so-far culmination of a process that has been born of noble souls, deeply committed to a fair world, returning again and again and again to the challenges of a cause embracing the All.
The process art group will continue to tackle its evolving remit in time to report to the guild steering committee at our next scheduled meeting on the evening of Monday 13th, November. The issues at hand are fascinating. As Tom Atlee, one of the world’s foremost authorities on co-intelligent technes, who lives locally and who is advising our process art group, recently noted of one of our central concerns: “this is one of the most challenging challenges process folks like us find ourselves in.” We are also being advised by Tree Bressen, another local, and one who has an immense amount of practical experience helping groups consciously evolve.
I hope this gives you a sense of what the permaculture guild steering committee is quietly but assiduously striving toward.
Do, please, enjoy this website.
n.