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Requests Have your sayThe Newsletter team is putting out a request for articles, points of interest, requests etc, have your say, share your knowledge. If you are interested in making a contribution, or have any queries about the structure or content please visit http://www.ecocom.org/newsletter.htm and read the Newsletter Structure, Content and Submission Guidelines, then send any newsletter contributions to newsletter@ecocom.org. Updates
ThankyouI would like to send out a big thankyou to everyone who helped out and also those who came along to the open day I would like to list names but I am afraid of missing someone, so I will just like to register publicly a vote of gratitude to everyone who invested their time and effort to making the day a success (you know who you are so give yourself a pat on the back). Membership CoordinatorI am pleased to announce that Rebecca has volunteered to take on the role of Membership Coordinator. So I would also like to extend a big thank you to Rebecca for taking on this role. New membersJust recently it was suggested that we welcome new members to the community through the newsletter and I thought this was a great idea. So I have listed the names of new members over the last two months, and hopefully we will see you all on the next SomerVille Sunday. So without further ado and in no particular order I would like to welcome:
Look forward to seeing you all at SomerVille . Coming Events SomerVille calendar of eventsSome of you may already know this from the previous newsletter but I would like to note again that the calendar format has changed and rather than having a tentative calendar which is changing all the time, it has been decided to coincide workshops and meetings etc (with a few exceptions) with the SomerVille viewing days on the first Sunday of each month, which we will now call SomerVille Sundays. We will still email you in advance of events if we have your email address or you can check the calendar located at http://www.greenedge.org/calendar_of_events.htm a few days before each event. Sunday 1st May 2005:
Sunday 5th June 2005:
Sunday 3rd July
Sunday 7th August
Sunday 18th September 2005:
Sunday 2nd October
29th October 2005:
Note: Chidlow Markets occur on the last Saturday of every month, the next two being on the 30th April and the 28th May. For the latest list of all the coming events please visit http://www.greenedge.org/calendar_of_events.htm. Articles
Sociocracy in a NutshellGinaGovernance is the process by which we collectively solve problems and meet our community’s needs. A workshop on governance will be held on 1st May, 2005. It is important that we as a community determine what governance means for us, and exactly what it is that we require a governance system to achieve for us. We need to consider how it ties in to key issues of living in community such as decision-making, conflict resolution, corporate structures, economics and other aspects of life at SomerVille . Part of this process is to explore the available forms of governance and connect these back to our vision, mission and objectives so that we can best arrive at the preferred governance model for our journey. Democracy is a form of governance with which we are familiar. At the Year of Action launch in February we introduced Sociocracy as another form of governance which is currently being considered for use at SomerVille . Here is a two page summary of the salient features of sociocracy. For further information see the web sites listed in the ‘members only’ section of our web site, and Gerard Endenburg’s book “Sociocracy”. Sociocracy evolved in 1945 from the ideas of Kees Boeke which were inspired by Quaker equalitarian principles Sociocracy: is defined as the rule of an organization by the socii (L socius = companion or colleague) or people that regularly interact with each other and have a common aim. Sociocracy is a form of governance which can be applied to every kind of organization. It is an organization of the community by the community. It is designed to resemble a living organism which runs itself and is responsive to its environment. There are Four Principles which must be followed Governance by Consent:A decision can only be made when there are no reasoned or substantial objections. Sociocracy does not ask for a YES but does provide an opportunity to give a reasoned NO. It does not demand solidarity. Circle Organisations:The organization consists of circles of semi-autonomous groups. Each circle has its own goals and performs the three functions of directing, operating and measuring. Double linking:The connection between two circles consists of a double link. This means that at least two persons from each circle, the leader and an elected member, participate in the decision-making in the next higher circle Elections by Consent:Persons are elected exclusively by consent, after open discussion An underlying rule of Sociocracy is the recognition that the interests of others are as real and as important as one’s own. This engenders a spirit of goodwill which can bind people with the most varied points of view. Sociocracy also allows us to be social beings, to be human, to be at times uncaring, idle and unreliable egotists. At all times the principle of consent emerges as a guarantee of equal say for all participants in the decision-making process. Thus each individual’s potential is given the optimum opportunity for development and more human solutions to problems are found. Sociocratic circle organization is not intended to replace a particular organizational structure but to be an addition to that structure. When the four principles are introduced to an organization, specific problems surface which are a result of certain conditioned behaviours. Under the sociocratic circle model everything can, in principle, be open to discussion. New solutions are required and with them comes an awareness of how we are hampered by our conditioning. The new solutions are likely to differ from those arrived at under traditional approaches, and frequently they come from unexpected people. The fact that decision-making is ruled by the principle of consent does not mean that all decisions have to be taken according to this principle. In fact any form of decision making is possible provided that its adoption has been agreed by consent. In order to apply the principle of consent consistently, large organizations have to be broken down into smaller units, or circles. Double linking the circles ensures that the circle process can continue to operate. Circles are formed around groups of people who are functionally related. The circle selects a chairman and secretary after as many arguments as possible concerning the candidates are collected. Leadership plays an important role in reaching unanimity. The circle members establish the rules under which the circle functions. Rules are not absolute and may be adapted, by consent, in accordance with needs and insights. The circle members also formulate their own goals, which must fit with the vision of the whole organization. It is an important part of Sociocracy to always evaluate what is done in terms of these goals. Measurements and feedback are essential to enable optimum control and to close the circle. Circles are layered and the hierarchy of circles indicates the sequence of functions. Terms such as ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ lose their absolute value within the sociocratic model. One of the purposes of the top circle is to form links with other organizations. Thus its position relates to its function rather than to any overtones of political power. The size of circles varies: a circle concerned with general aims may function well with forty people while small circles of 3 to 6 are suitable when detailed decisions are required. Sociocracy in principle is simple, can be used by anyone, and cannot fail if the four principles are followed. On the other hand this simplicity can be deceiving and training is recommended by most practitioners. For more information on Sociocracy please go to the members only section at http://www.ecocom.org/members/sociocracy.htm
SomerVille Community Supported Agriculture Coming!PaulOne of our outcomes this year is to get food growing at SomerVille for all of us to enjoy. As you all know food is a big thing for us Somervillians! What better way to get this happening that through a community supported agriculture (CSA) approach. In our overseas trip we had the opportunity to learn about some excellent CSA’s that have been operational for many years and function well. We have looked at incorporating as much as we can into the SomerVille model which will be unfolding. As is the SomerVille Way there is nothing like a survey to provide us with some great input and feedback about what the community would like from a CSA scheme. We were amazed at the number of responses we had in just over 3 weeks. To date we’ve had over 60 responses. 47% of people indicated that they would support a SomerVille CSA with another 42% indicating possible support. It is clear from the timing and number of responses that the community is ready for the SomerVille CSA. We are now in the process of analysing the results and getting it into a format for feeding back to the community. This will happen in the next couple of weeks and will be used as a catalyst to put together a core group who will be the driving force behind making the CSA a reality at SomerVille . Amongst community there is much interest from those wishing to get involved in making the CSA happen. There already exists much passion, experience, and knowledge which will provide an excellent foundation to launch the CSA from. Absent from the survey results were many of our local native residents - the bouncy type as well as the flying often noisy type. One could only surmise that they may be a little concerned about having to share a little more of the SomerVille produce. They possibly sense a little change in the cool autumn air. Stay tuned as the CSA starts to unfold. The next step is to get all those interested in getting it happening together to look at the information collected to date and how best to move it forward. A big thank you for all those that have taken the time to provide the much needed input and feedback as to where they would like to CSA to go. If you have not yet completed the CSA survey – it’s not too late – hit the website today at http://www.greenedge.org/survey/csa.asp
UnlessSarahRecently at SomerVille we had a gathering, we caught up with friends and heard about our year of action. Stacey told us a story called the Lorax, and in action we all walked down to the “unless” which had been lovingly built to put forth our intent. We stood in a circle united, an offering to the elements, and put forth our intent for SomerVille . There were a few words spoken in prayer, and many voices raised in song. This was a celebration, and I was glad to be a part of it. It helped me to feel beyond the planning and guidelines to another part of us that is evolving and will enrich us all. |
