Listening meetings | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Jim Snyder-Grant (jimsghotmail.com) | |
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 12:30:49 -0600 |
In an earlier message, I concluded by noting that New View was down to 2 all-group meetings a month: a decision meeting & a listening meeting. I got this note: >From: [name and address withheld] >What is a listening meeting? >Mimi > My Reply: This is New View's version of what other groups have called a 'sharing meeting' or 'third meeting' [I forget what the first two types were..]. No decisions allowed. The form is to do lots of listening to each other: we are not focussed on back-and-forth or consensus so much as simply hearing each other. The purpose is two-fold: to build a sense of community by building safety and knowledge about each other; and to have background discussions of issues and concerns that we will eventually have to make decisions about. They are organized by the process committee. Sometimes they have themes or agendas, and may include exercises to get people thinking and talking. Sometimes they are open: a go-round to find out what's on people's minds, and then the facilitator suggests either a theme or topic to to focus on. We discussed and agreed on norms at the first listening meeting, including: -no interruptions: one at a time, and include silence. -respect each other, and respecct yourself. -Disagreement is fine. Emotion is fine. -Topics that come up here can be carried on outside the meeting, but no talking 'about' someone unless you are willing to say that same thing directly to the person: i.e. 'No Gossip'. I'm doing this from memory, so I have some of this wrong, but you get the idea... We started doing this a few months ago after some crisis dejour. The turnout for these meetings is moderate to low, but the feedback we get from those attending is that they are working for both purposes of community building and supporting the decision-making processes carried out at the other meetings. -Jim ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
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