Talk:Facilitation Working Group

Proposal for GA Proposal Submission - consented by FWG, on 10/20/11

user:gsmurphy Thursday, 6:25 pm

This proposal will be presented to a public working group, for consensus, before being presented at a GA:

To strive for an inclusive consensus process, to allow the Assembly to be more informed about, and better prepared for hearing and voting on proposals, to help OccupyBoston participants to be able to plan to be at specific General Assemblies to vote on proposals of interest, and to better the likelihood of passage ....

The Facilitators Working Group proposes that pre-announced, pre-posted, pre-scheduled proposals which have had publicly announced meetings and passed consensus at a public working group meeting, will be considered prior to other proposals, at General Assemblies. Working Groups and individuals may still bring proposals to the GA, without submitting to this new process. Emergency proposals, e.g., from Safety, Medics, Legal, etc., will continue to get immediate attention.

The Facilitators Working Group proposes the following process for preparing proposals to be taken through consensus at a General Assembly:

1. First Steps (at least one week prior to presenting at GA): ○ post the proposal on the OccupyBoston wiki and make physical copies available at camp; ○ schedule and post online, the date of the GA at which the proposal will be presented; ○ do outreach to all Working Groups to let them know you have a proposal in the pipeline and would like their input; ○ schedule and post online, the date of a public working group meeting, at which the proposal will be reviewed and taken through the consensus process. (Individuals can host meetings, they simply become a working group once the meeting begins.) 2. Announce at the earliest possible evening GA: ○ that you are preparing a proposal, ○ the subject of the proposal and that it is posted online, ○ the date, time and location of the public working group meeting, ○ and the date the proposal will be presented to the GA. 3. Conduct a full consensus Working Group meeting: ○ Document all objections and amendments, ○ Explain how objections were addressed, (Objections must remain on a public list so that if the proposal cannot address them, and is still consented to, the community knows that there are outstanding concerns/objections to address.) ○ Explain whether or why not amendments were adopted. 4. If the proposal has passed consensus in the public working group meeting, present the proposal at the pre-scheduled GA. 5. If the proposal did not reach consensus at the public working group meeting, post that result online and announce at the next available GA that the proposal will not be presented on the previously scheduled date.

re: Proposal for GA Proposal Submission - consented by FWG, on 10/20/11

user:anonyta Today 1:24 am

Hi all,

The proposal below emerges from a tough Transparency WG meeting and from conversations with some of the most active people on-site -- the people who don't attend meetings and GAs (to their detriment, of course - but, also, to ours). Basically, there are big problems with internet access and a lot of frustration about the aimlessness of some GAs. I floated it in this past Facilitation meeting and got some advice on it from Maureen and others. Tell me what you think!

The proposal: that agendas (of proposals! not announcements) for GA nights should be decided on the night before, in a small, consensus-based discussion between the individuals and WG reps presenting proposals. On Friday night that small discussion will decide the proposals agenda for both Saturday and Sunday. The idea is for presenters to figure out together which proposals need to be discussed most immediately, versus those that can be discussed by a smaller group or even moved to the next GA or re-worked. A facilitator can facilitate the discussion and gather the proposals and put them on the wiki or on occupybostonglobe.com, so that commuters as well as campers know what proposals will be discussed, and in what order.

Talking Points -- I offer to do this, and recruit some facilitators for it, since I am free on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays more than on Tuesdays and Thursdays (in fact, I teach on those nights). --This face-to-face consensus decision would eliminate the problem of internet access, but still allow for some level of predictability and preparation for everybody. --It would also, ideally, highlight the proposals that are not yet worked out enough, in a consensus environment. --after the Transparency meeting and these various conversations with campers, I realized that Allison's proposal for proposals, which we passed in the previous FWG meeting, relies too heavily on the internet. It will guarantee that the WGs whose members are mostly working off-site are always given priority, over those who are on-site. So, for example, groups or individuals that are talking about "Message" will be given priority, over those that are organizing events that often come up within the week, or those that need money within the week. At the moment, we don't have the kind of stability that would allow WGs to prepare proposals for a week - especially with winter coming, it seems that things are much more in flux for groups that organize events. --Ironically, in a lot of those conversations, people were basically saying that they wanted us Facilitators to use more of our common sense, to vet proposals in order for GAs to be bearable. For the good of the community and etc.

Well, do let me know what you think! Allison, what do you think about the modification that this makes to your proposal??

re: Proposal for GA Proposal Submission - consented by FWG, on 10/20/11

user:pcovery Today 4:44 am

I welcome more organization, especially in a way that knits together on-site and off-site participants. Thanks for your stamina in facilitating!

CORRECTED GA Schedule Consented Proposal - 10/21/11

user:gsmurphy Yesterday 5:06 am

The Facilitators Working Group (FWG) proposes, starting on Sunday, October 23, that OccupyBoston move to a schedule of conducting General Assembly on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and in case of emergencies.

The FWG proposes that all Working Groups hold at least one publicly accessible, weekly meeting -- except Legal WG, whose meetings are necessarily confidential. The day and time and place of the meeting is to be posted on the OccupyBoston website, and made available to the Info tent and the Media scheduling boards. The meeting will be facilitated as a horizontal democracy using a consensus decision-making process. During the non-GA evenings, there will be facilitated discussions and debates starting 7pm, on issues that interest the Occupy Boston community. Topics for these non-GA nights should be proposed in advance by individuals or Working Groups during General Assembly.

The FWG offers its services to all Working Groups who wish to be trained in a consensus process, and, if needed, can help Working Groups with the facilitation of their first scheduled public meeting.

re: CORRECTED GA Schedule Consented Proposal - 10/21/11

user:gsmurphy Yesterday 5:19 am

Actually, the proposal was consented to by the GA, on 10/20/11

Final GA Schedule Proposal - consented by GA on 10/20/11

user:gsmurphy Thursday, 6:20 pm

The Facilitators Working Group (FWG) proposes, starting on Sunday, October 23, that OccupyBoston move to a schedule of conducting General Assembly on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

The FWG proposes that all Working Groups hold at least one publicly accessible, weekly meeting, during one of the non-GA evenings, or on a weekend afternoon. The day and time and place of the meeting is to be posted on the OccupyBoston website, and made available to the Info tent and the Media scheduling boards. The meeting will be facilitated as a horizontal democracy using a consensus decision-making process.

The FWG offers its services to all Working Groups who wish to be trained in a consensus process, and, if needed, can help Working Groups with the facilitation of their first scheduled public meeting.

Talking points • FWG knows that members of OccupyBoston are yearning for more public (community-wide) discussion on relevant topics. This new GA schedule allows plenty of opportunity for these discussions, as well as community teach-ins and workshops, without a sponsoring group having to go through a GA consensus process to arrange the time.

• For example, this new schedule allows groups, such as the anti-oppression group, to present additional workshops, on an ongoing basis, without impacting GA time.

• This new schedule would allow for Working Groups to attract broader participation from Boston residents who do not live at that camp and who are not available during the day, via meetings held during early evening hours, without interfering with and/or drawing people away from GA.

• This new schedule allows the FWG much needed meeting time to address other facilitation and communication needs, and to develop and schedule facilitator trainings and Introduction to consensus decision-making workshops.

• Let us remember and recognize that this global movement, of which occupyboston is the local realization, is steeped in horizontal democracy and the consensus process. It is the cornerstone, if not the foundation of how it operates - all voices are equal and everyone gets to listen and comment.

• As Facilitators, we are the protectors and champions (as many of you are, as well) of these guiding principles and we hope to inculcate the consensus practice throughout OB, and not simply have it be seen as a GA management tool.

MISTAKE - Final GA Schedule Proposal - consented by GA on 10/20/11

user:gsmurphy Yesterday 5:05 am

MISTAKE - this was not the Final Version consented to by the GA.

Proposal for GA Proposal Submission

user:gsmurphy Thursday, 10:48 am

To strive for an inclusive consensus process, to allow the Assembly to be more informed about, and better prepared for hearing and voting on proposals, to help OccupyBoston participants to be able to plan to be at specific General Assemblies to vote on proposals of interest, and to better the likelihood of passage ....

The Facilitators Working Group proposes the following process for preparing proposals to be taken through consensus at a General Assembly:

1. First Steps (at least one week prior to presenting at GA): ○ post the proposal on the OccupyBoston wiki and make physical copies available at camp; ○ schedule and post online, the date of the GA at which the proposal will be presented; ○ do outreach to all Working Groups to let them know you have a proposal in the pipeline and would like their input; ○ schedule and post online, the date of a public working group meeting, at which the proposal will be reviewed and taken through the consensus process. (Individuals can host meetings, they simply become a working group once the meeting begins.) 2. Announce at the earliest possible evening GA: ○ that you are preparing a proposal, ○ the subject of the proposal and that it is posted online, ○ the date, time and location of the public working group meeting, ○ and the date the proposal will be presented to the GA. 3. Conduct a full consensus Working Group meeting: ○ Document all objections and amendments, ○ Explain how objections were addressed, (Objections must remain on a public list so that if the proposal cannot address them, and is still consented to, the community knows that there are outstanding concerns/objections to address.) ○ Explain whether or why not amendments were adopted. 4. If the proposal has passed consensus in the public working group meeting, present at the pre-scheduled GA. 5. If the proposal did not reach consensus at the public working group meeting, post that result online and announce at the next available GA that the proposal will not be presented on the previously scheduled date.

We propose that pre-announced, pre-posted, pre-scheduled proposals which have had publicly announced meetings and passed consensus at the public working group meeting, will be considered prior to other proposals, at General Assemblies.

Revised GA Schedule Talking Points

user:gsmurphy Wednesday, 8:29 pm

TALKING POINTS

• FWG knows that members of OccupyBoston are yearning for more public (community-wide) discussion on relevant topics. This new GA schedule allows plenty of opportunity for these discussions, as well as community teach-ins and workshops, without a sponsoring group having to go through a GA consensus process to arrange the time.

• For example, this new schedule allows groups, such as the anti-oppression group, to present additional workshops, on an ongoing basis, without impacting GA time.

• This new schedule would allow Working Groups to attract broader participation from Boston residents who do not live at that camp and who are not available during the day, via meetings held during early evening hours, without interfering with and/or drawing people away from GA.

• This new schedule allows the FWG much needed meeting time to address other facilitation and communication needs, and to develop and schedule facilitator trainings and Introduction to consensus decision-making workshops.

re: Revised GA Schedule Talking Points

user:gsmurphy Thursday, 8:03 am

additional TP:

Let us remember and recognize that this global movement, of which occupyboston is the local realization, is steeped in horizontal democracy and the consensus process. It is the cornerstone, if not the foundation of how it operates.

As Facilitators, we are the protectors and champions (as many of you are, as well) of these guiding principles and we hope to inculcate the consensus paractice throughout OB, and not simply have it be seen as a GA management tool.

Revised GA Schedule Proposal

user:gsmurphy Wednesday, 8:20 pm

This proposal reached consensus at the Facilitator Working Group Meeting, on 10/19/11, and will be presented to the GA, on 10/20/11.

PROPOSAL The Facilitators Working Group (FWG) proposes, starting on Sunday, October 23, that OccupyBoston move to a schedule of conducting General Assembly every other night, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

The FWG proposes that all Workin Groups hold at least one publicly accessible, weekly meeting, during one of the non-GA evenings, or on a weekend afternoon. The day and time and place of the meeting is to be posted on the OccupyBoston website, and made available to the Info tent and the Media scheduling boards. The meeting will be facilitated as a horizontal democracy using a consensus decision-making process.

The FWG offers its services to all Working Groups who wish to be trained in a consensus process, and, if needed, can help Working Groups with the facilitation of their first scheduled public meeting.

Priority Process Proposal as amended at FWG public meeting

Priority Proposal Process

(Draft - updated to reflect amendments made during public working group meeting )

(please note and use the Comment function, at the upper right.

For Occupy Boston proposals to: reflect more voices and broader ownership; strive for an inclusive process; allow the Assembly to be more informed about and better prepared for hearing and voting on proposals; to help Occupy Boston participants plan to attend specific General Assemblies so they can vote on proposals of interest; help those making proposals gain practice presenting; and to better the likelihood of passage; the Facilitator Working Group recommends a Priority Proposal process.

We strongly encourage everyone to make proposals, particularly those from historically oppressed communities. We think this process helps to ensure that your voice will be heard.

Please note that emergency proposals, e.g., from Safety, Medics, Legal, etc., will continue to get immediate attention.

We propose the following steps to achieve priority status for your proposal:

1. Decide if you want your proposal to receive priority status at a General Assembly.
   Anyone, whether a group or an individual, can make proposals and gain priority status.
   Pre-announced, pre-posted, pre-scheduled proposals which have had publicly announced meetings and passed consensus at a public meeting, will be considered prior to other proposals at General Assemblies.
   Working Groups and individuals may still bring any proposals to the GA, without submitting to this new process, they simply will not have priority status on the agenda.
2. First Steps (at least 4 days prior to presenting at GA):
   1. post the proposal on the OccupyBoston wiki and make physical copies available at the camp library;
   2. schedule and post online, the date of the GA at which the proposal will be presented;
   3. do outreach to all WGs to let them know you have a proposal in the pipeline and would like their input;
   4. schedule and post online, with 48 hours notice, the date of a public meeting (which must be at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled GA), at which the proposal will be reviewed and taken through the consensus process. (Individuals can host meetings)
      (On non-GA evenings, facilitators will be available at the 5pm Facilitators Working Group meeting to assist with all of these steps, including typing your proposal and helping you write, to the best of our ability.)
3. Announce at the earliest possible evening GA,
   1. that you are preparing a proposal,
   2. the subject of the proposal and that it is posted online,
   3. the date of the public meeting,
   4. and the date the proposal will be presented to the GA;
4. Conduct a full consensus WG meeting where you
   1. state the need the proposal is addressing;
   2. first assess whether the proposal requires consensus at a General Assembly;
   3. Document all objections and amendments.
   4. Explain how objections were addressed
      (Objections must remain on a public list so that, if the proposal cannot address them and is still consented to, the community knows that there are outstanding concerns/objections to address.)
   5. Explain whether or why not amendments were adopted.
5. If the proposal has passed consensus in the public meeting, present at the pre-scheduled GA;
6. If the proposal did not reach consensus at the public working group meeting, post that result online and announce at the next available GA that the proposal will not be presented on the previously scheduled date OR that you will still bring the proposal to the GA, but it will be given priority status.