Re: start up - Timeline Game
From: Mac & Sandy Thomson (ganeshrmi.net)
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 10:08:01 -0600 (MDT)
Yes,  I'd concur that the Timeline Game is a very good resource for
developing groups (but I'm pretty biased because I helped in it's creation
:-).  I've copied the Overview and Objectives of the Timeline Game below.
Coho/US sells the game, but I noticed that there's no info on the game at
the Coho/US website.  To order the game, contact:

Jean Ng
TCN bookkeeper
1504 Franklin Street, Ste 102
Oakland, CA 94612
510-844-0865
jeanngberggren [at] yahoo.com


====================
OVERVIEW
By playing the Timeline Game, you are going to produce a "flowchart"
(sometimes known as precedence diagram, network analysis diagram, Pert
chart, etc) of the process of developing your cohousing project from
inception up to the beginning of construction.  The flowchart is a diagram
of the group¹s thought process.  See the Timeline Game Sample Flowchart.

There is no ³right answer² to the game so your flowchart will look different
from the Sample Flowchart.  All cohousing situations are different, so they
all require a different strategy for moving through the development process.

Essentially the game involves defining activities and events (bundles of
work) on index cards and arranging these cards in a sequence along a long
table.  One end of the table represents "NOW" and the other end represents
"BEGIN CONSTRUCTION".

Playing the game, especially at the beginning, can be confusing and chaotic,
but that¹s all part of the learning process.  There are some suggestions in
the FACILITATOR¹S NOTES file for reducing the confusion.

OBJECTIVES
To help a core group to:
 - better understand and appreciate the cohousing development process.
 - learn a method of planning, organizing, and managing that process.

To cultivate in all members enthusiasm, involvement, and ownership in the
development process.

To create a process flowchart that, with increasing refinement, will:
 - help your group efficiently and effectively move through the process of
creating cohousing.
 - help orient newcomers to the process.
 - demonstrate to third parties your planning and organization.

To contribute to group members¹ understanding and appreciation of each other
and to create awareness of each other¹s expertise in various development
areas.

To have fun while you are playing the game.

====================
BTW, I'd strongly recommend against looking for land until you have plenty
of committed members.  Once you get under contract for land, the money clock
starts ticking so if you don't have all of your membership ducks in a row
(numbers, vision, trust, commitment, etc), it could easily cost you extra
money and/or sink the project altogether.

Besides the Timeline Game, I'd also highly recommend Chris Scott-Hanson's
book and the upcoming conference in Boulder.  There are a lot of good
resources out there after 20 years of cohousing development in the USA so
there's no need to reinvent the wheel.

Good luck!

- Mac

-- 
Mac Thomson

Heartwood Cohousing
Southwest Colorado
http://www.heartwoodcohousing.com

"The most beautiful thing one can experience is the mysterious.  It is the
source of all true art and science.  He to whom this reaction is a stranger
-- who no longer can pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe -- is as good as
dead, his eyes are closed."
           -- Albert Einstein
**********************************************************

On 06/02/03 HeidiNYS [at] aol.com wrote:
> Congratulations on startup....
> We had several tools.
> One is called the TimeLine Game.....   someone here'll know from whence it
> emanated [??]  and have input both pro & con.  We moved in five years ago
> [after 
> meeting for seven] so my memory's a bit dusty.  As I recall, it allowed us to
> see how our different tasks interacted:  land/permits/money/finding
> members..... finding members.... finding members, [where & how to do this is a
> major 
> taks]....  etc. 
> I think we had each item on a piece of construction paper,  able to both
> adhere to and be moved on a backing.  So we could see the impact of changing
> one 
> factor on the others.
> We also  had:
> A lot of tolerance for meetings,
> Folks who were 'burning souls' dedicated to making this happen;
> all liked and provided at various times Good Food,
> and perhaps of paramount import: had Senses of Humor.
> Best,
> Ruth Samuels Hirsch,
> Cantines Island CoHo

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