Post by marie0331 on Oct 13, 2011 22:45:04 GMT -5
Prospective agenda for tonight's meeting:
Methods of Consensus:
- How is Agenda determined
- List and Clear Definition of Roles
- What is Block?
- Seating Issues
- How to do Stack
- Clear Defining of hand Signals
- Facilitators
- Defining Role, Recruiting New Ones, Diversity, Training,
Requirements
- Signs, Easels, Handouts
- Tasks
1ST TOPIC
Who is the vibe person, what is and empath?
- Answer: A person at a meeting who is able to say there is tension in the room and bring that to the attention of the facilitator(s).
2ND TOPIC
- The proposed Agenda for tonight's meeting is agreed upon
3RD TOPIC
- A draft of a document on Consensus Process is shown to the group and suggested as one of the handouts at future meetings
4TH TOPIC
- HOW SHOULD THE AGENDA GO AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)?
------------------------general discussion-------------------------------
- Working groups should report back to the GA.
- Issues with computer access for people of low income, other,
that may make getting their items on the agenda difficult.
- Proposal that 1st working groups that just have information
share that information, then working groups that have proposals
come up and talk about there proposals. If proposals disputed
they can go back to the working group.
- For people who have limited computer access they can come
ahead of time and talk to a facilitator before meeting to try and
get topic on agenda.
- Idea of having a hand out of agenda, Idea of making a Poster
with agenda.
- AGREED UPON:
The General Assembly Meetings will have a general flow as follows, of course this can be changed in future working group meetings as people at the general assembly raise concerns:
1. Introduction - Safety - Housekeeping - How this works -
Welcome
2. Working Groups - information presentation
3. Working Groups - proposals
a. If not pressing proposal and the GA is in disagreement
proposal can go back to working group to be re-worked
b. If pressing concern the GA will want to make decision then
---------more discussion on GA Agenda and related--------------
- Question: When a proposal is necessary vs. when a working
group has autonomous power to make a decision?
- AGREED UPON - Answer: If the item has broader general
implications then it should go back to the GA.
- As the Occupation starts and as things progress GA meetings
will be held with more frequency, we are just trying to lay the
ground work for that process.
- If people bring up concerns that are off topic a large piece of
paper will track the things in hopes that they can be address
later in the meeting. Paper called "Parking Lot"
5TH TOPIC
ROLES AT MEETING
------------------general discussion---------------------------------------
- Start off ideas: Stack, Facilitator, Time Keeper, Vibe Check
- Facilitator mentions the topic, but someone different describes
topic
- Multiple stack takers though out the room, signs, Stack people
ask if what person wants to say is related to topic.
- So people understand what the roles are possibly doing a role
play at the General Assembly
- Stack taker checking for Egos - discussion of checking egos at
the door
- Idea of a "cool off zone"
- People coming late having a handout table of process
- Other meetings having people who go and talk to people who
seem really worked up.
***AGREED UPON***
Roles:
1. Stack
2. Two Facilitators
3. Vibe Check
4. Time Keeper
5. Greeters
6. Agenda Helpers
- b4 meetings work with facilitator to coordinate additional
agenda items.
-----Also brought up in Role Discussion ----------------------------
- If there where people whose job it was to calm down/comfort
people who are getting upset, it would be really tricky and
condescending.
- Should there be a Bouncer for dangerous situations. Discussion
tabled, possibly to be dealt with at a Security Working Group if
need be.
- Should there be an announcement no weapons at meetings.
Again tabled to possible security working group.
6TH TOPIC
WHAT IS A BLOCK?
------------------------general discussion--------------------------------
- What does it mean
- It is only used as when really important, very serious
- Confusion about what it means in Occupy Albany vs. in the
literature
*AGREED UPON*
Block Definition:
1. Someone has a profound moral disagreement with what is
being proposed such that they would not continue with the
organization such as it is being proposed.
2. The proposal has an immediate Safety concern
Other ways of disagreeing:
1. Declaring reservations:
- voice concern on the record
2. Stand aside
-------------------more general discussion about block----------------
- Present all the choices for ways of disagreeing
- Question: How does a facilitator respond after someone blocks?
- After a block their should not be an immediate over-ride vote
- Discussion of people with dissenting views talking, how many
people?
- The over-ride vote is powerful, as big a deal as the block
- Facilitators are asking for amendments to proposals and also
asking the person who is blocking what could be changed to
make their block go away?
*AGREED UPON*
People who use the Block, should be expected to be asked "What can we change to make your block go away?"
7TH TOPIC
WHAT IS MODIFIED CONSENSUS VS. STRICT CONSENSUS
-------------------------general discussion of topic-------------------
- Strict Consensus means the proposal does not happen if one
person says no. Everyone must agree at the end on it will not
pass.
- Modified Consensus means 90% of the vote
- How do you gauge 90%? Do you count?
- Which of these are we doing?
- If this should be decided at this meeting.
- Decided to this could take up a lot of time at a GA. Let us make
a decision if issues can be changed at future logistics working
group meetings
- If Modified then so far that has meant 90% agree to get through
override.
- 90% does not seem fair when taking into account that 1 in ten
people are GLBT.
*AGREED UPON*
1. The method used at next GA will be modified consensus, with
95% of the people needing to be in agreement to over ride a
block.
2. That 95% must be counted individually - head count
---------general discussion overlap consensus and block--------------- There must be a feedback mechanism
- Facilitators can tell the person who is blocking that what they
are saying is not a block.
- An amendment becomes friendly when the person who proposes
the amendment confirms the amendment in there proposal.
- Is the head count too much, a way to get around head count.
- Head count is important because it stresses the importance of
the block.
8TH TOPIC
SEATING ISSUES
--------------------General Discussion----------------------------------
- Seating in the round makes it hard for the facilitators to see
everybody
- There are body language issues with seating in the round.
- Sound is not as good in the round
- Aisle for disabilities
*AGREED UPON*
1. The seating will be facing front radially (horse shoe) with aisle
9TH TOPIC
STACK
*AGREED UPON*
1. Meetings will use progressive stack, where people who haven't
spoken before, or are minorities can be prioritized.
2. How many people can be on stack will be in proportion to how
much time each topic will take.
-----------------general discussion----------------------------------------
- Using the agenda can people get on stack list ahead of time
- How many stack takers should there be. Should it be a ratio to
the amount of people at the meeting? 50:1, 30:1, 100:1
- If too many stack takers then confusing. Should there be a
stack coordinator?
- If the stack list is too long, what can the facilator do to help the
meeting to continue?
- Some too long stack issues may be resolved as people hear
what they want to say being said by other people.
- "Parking Lot" of off topic stuff board may help with stack too,
also stack takers asking if on topic.
*AGREED UPON*
For this Sundays GA there will be 3 stack takers, number will be changed, if needed, for next meeting.
10TH TOPIC
HAND SIGNALS
-------------------------General Discussion-----------------------------
- Someone needs to draw
- The need for hand outs
- People seemed to get hand signals for temperature checks
- Wrap it up signal can be rude
- Wrap it up signal can be helpful to keep meeting moving.
- Should hand signals of agree, disagree not happen when
someone is talking
- If GA hand signals are showing support while talking could be
good because then the speaker might limit what they are saying
when they see they already have support.
- Point of Process and Point of information often used incorrectly.
- Need to better define Point of Information, Process
*AGREED UPON* (but my notes not totally clear here, sorry)
1. Point of Process: Someone believes what we are talking about
is deviating from the process
2. Point of Information: Someone has information that will quickly
clarify and end a discussion.
------------------General Discussion--------------------------------------
- Are there limits to direct response? Who can directly respond?
- Hand signals on furum
11TH TOPIC
END OF MEETING STUFF AND TASKS
- Colin - can help with hand outs, has access to free printing
- Most of the other stuff can be taken care of on discussion boards
- Lauryl (sp?) - volunteered greeter
- Colin - Facilitator
- Beth Ann - Vibes
- Rachel - pos. stack back up facilitator
- More positions decided on-line
- Try to have diversity in facilitator
- When is good next meeting
- Spokesperson?
Note:
I am sorry if I missed or misrepresented key items that may have taken place at tonight's meeting. Feel free to add in notes, etc,
- Marie
Methods of Consensus:
- How is Agenda determined
- List and Clear Definition of Roles
- What is Block?
- Seating Issues
- How to do Stack
- Clear Defining of hand Signals
- Facilitators
- Defining Role, Recruiting New Ones, Diversity, Training,
Requirements
- Signs, Easels, Handouts
- Tasks
1ST TOPIC
Who is the vibe person, what is and empath?
- Answer: A person at a meeting who is able to say there is tension in the room and bring that to the attention of the facilitator(s).
2ND TOPIC
- The proposed Agenda for tonight's meeting is agreed upon
3RD TOPIC
- A draft of a document on Consensus Process is shown to the group and suggested as one of the handouts at future meetings
4TH TOPIC
- HOW SHOULD THE AGENDA GO AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)?
------------------------general discussion-------------------------------
- Working groups should report back to the GA.
- Issues with computer access for people of low income, other,
that may make getting their items on the agenda difficult.
- Proposal that 1st working groups that just have information
share that information, then working groups that have proposals
come up and talk about there proposals. If proposals disputed
they can go back to the working group.
- For people who have limited computer access they can come
ahead of time and talk to a facilitator before meeting to try and
get topic on agenda.
- Idea of having a hand out of agenda, Idea of making a Poster
with agenda.
- AGREED UPON:
The General Assembly Meetings will have a general flow as follows, of course this can be changed in future working group meetings as people at the general assembly raise concerns:
1. Introduction - Safety - Housekeeping - How this works -
Welcome
2. Working Groups - information presentation
3. Working Groups - proposals
a. If not pressing proposal and the GA is in disagreement
proposal can go back to working group to be re-worked
b. If pressing concern the GA will want to make decision then
---------more discussion on GA Agenda and related--------------
- Question: When a proposal is necessary vs. when a working
group has autonomous power to make a decision?
- AGREED UPON - Answer: If the item has broader general
implications then it should go back to the GA.
- As the Occupation starts and as things progress GA meetings
will be held with more frequency, we are just trying to lay the
ground work for that process.
- If people bring up concerns that are off topic a large piece of
paper will track the things in hopes that they can be address
later in the meeting. Paper called "Parking Lot"
5TH TOPIC
ROLES AT MEETING
------------------general discussion---------------------------------------
- Start off ideas: Stack, Facilitator, Time Keeper, Vibe Check
- Facilitator mentions the topic, but someone different describes
topic
- Multiple stack takers though out the room, signs, Stack people
ask if what person wants to say is related to topic.
- So people understand what the roles are possibly doing a role
play at the General Assembly
- Stack taker checking for Egos - discussion of checking egos at
the door
- Idea of a "cool off zone"
- People coming late having a handout table of process
- Other meetings having people who go and talk to people who
seem really worked up.
***AGREED UPON***
Roles:
1. Stack
2. Two Facilitators
3. Vibe Check
4. Time Keeper
5. Greeters
6. Agenda Helpers
- b4 meetings work with facilitator to coordinate additional
agenda items.
-----Also brought up in Role Discussion ----------------------------
- If there where people whose job it was to calm down/comfort
people who are getting upset, it would be really tricky and
condescending.
- Should there be a Bouncer for dangerous situations. Discussion
tabled, possibly to be dealt with at a Security Working Group if
need be.
- Should there be an announcement no weapons at meetings.
Again tabled to possible security working group.
6TH TOPIC
WHAT IS A BLOCK?
------------------------general discussion--------------------------------
- What does it mean
- It is only used as when really important, very serious
- Confusion about what it means in Occupy Albany vs. in the
literature
*AGREED UPON*
Block Definition:
1. Someone has a profound moral disagreement with what is
being proposed such that they would not continue with the
organization such as it is being proposed.
2. The proposal has an immediate Safety concern
Other ways of disagreeing:
1. Declaring reservations:
- voice concern on the record
2. Stand aside
-------------------more general discussion about block----------------
- Present all the choices for ways of disagreeing
- Question: How does a facilitator respond after someone blocks?
- After a block their should not be an immediate over-ride vote
- Discussion of people with dissenting views talking, how many
people?
- The over-ride vote is powerful, as big a deal as the block
- Facilitators are asking for amendments to proposals and also
asking the person who is blocking what could be changed to
make their block go away?
*AGREED UPON*
People who use the Block, should be expected to be asked "What can we change to make your block go away?"
7TH TOPIC
WHAT IS MODIFIED CONSENSUS VS. STRICT CONSENSUS
-------------------------general discussion of topic-------------------
- Strict Consensus means the proposal does not happen if one
person says no. Everyone must agree at the end on it will not
pass.
- Modified Consensus means 90% of the vote
- How do you gauge 90%? Do you count?
- Which of these are we doing?
- If this should be decided at this meeting.
- Decided to this could take up a lot of time at a GA. Let us make
a decision if issues can be changed at future logistics working
group meetings
- If Modified then so far that has meant 90% agree to get through
override.
- 90% does not seem fair when taking into account that 1 in ten
people are GLBT.
*AGREED UPON*
1. The method used at next GA will be modified consensus, with
95% of the people needing to be in agreement to over ride a
block.
2. That 95% must be counted individually - head count
---------general discussion overlap consensus and block--------------- There must be a feedback mechanism
- Facilitators can tell the person who is blocking that what they
are saying is not a block.
- An amendment becomes friendly when the person who proposes
the amendment confirms the amendment in there proposal.
- Is the head count too much, a way to get around head count.
- Head count is important because it stresses the importance of
the block.
8TH TOPIC
SEATING ISSUES
--------------------General Discussion----------------------------------
- Seating in the round makes it hard for the facilitators to see
everybody
- There are body language issues with seating in the round.
- Sound is not as good in the round
- Aisle for disabilities
*AGREED UPON*
1. The seating will be facing front radially (horse shoe) with aisle
9TH TOPIC
STACK
*AGREED UPON*
1. Meetings will use progressive stack, where people who haven't
spoken before, or are minorities can be prioritized.
2. How many people can be on stack will be in proportion to how
much time each topic will take.
-----------------general discussion----------------------------------------
- Using the agenda can people get on stack list ahead of time
- How many stack takers should there be. Should it be a ratio to
the amount of people at the meeting? 50:1, 30:1, 100:1
- If too many stack takers then confusing. Should there be a
stack coordinator?
- If the stack list is too long, what can the facilator do to help the
meeting to continue?
- Some too long stack issues may be resolved as people hear
what they want to say being said by other people.
- "Parking Lot" of off topic stuff board may help with stack too,
also stack takers asking if on topic.
*AGREED UPON*
For this Sundays GA there will be 3 stack takers, number will be changed, if needed, for next meeting.
10TH TOPIC
HAND SIGNALS
-------------------------General Discussion-----------------------------
- Someone needs to draw
- The need for hand outs
- People seemed to get hand signals for temperature checks
- Wrap it up signal can be rude
- Wrap it up signal can be helpful to keep meeting moving.
- Should hand signals of agree, disagree not happen when
someone is talking
- If GA hand signals are showing support while talking could be
good because then the speaker might limit what they are saying
when they see they already have support.
- Point of Process and Point of information often used incorrectly.
- Need to better define Point of Information, Process
*AGREED UPON* (but my notes not totally clear here, sorry)
1. Point of Process: Someone believes what we are talking about
is deviating from the process
2. Point of Information: Someone has information that will quickly
clarify and end a discussion.
------------------General Discussion--------------------------------------
- Are there limits to direct response? Who can directly respond?
- Hand signals on furum
11TH TOPIC
END OF MEETING STUFF AND TASKS
- Colin - can help with hand outs, has access to free printing
- Most of the other stuff can be taken care of on discussion boards
- Lauryl (sp?) - volunteered greeter
- Colin - Facilitator
- Beth Ann - Vibes
- Rachel - pos. stack back up facilitator
- More positions decided on-line
- Try to have diversity in facilitator
- When is good next meeting
- Spokesperson?
Note:
I am sorry if I missed or misrepresented key items that may have taken place at tonight's meeting. Feel free to add in notes, etc,
- Marie
