Cohousing-L Mailing List: NICA Presents The 8 Shields Model, an introduction

[Craig Ragland (craigragland]

NICA is the Northwest Intentional Communities Association, which
includes numerous cohousing communities. At our 14th annual meeting
this past weekend at RoseWind Cohousing, 7 out of the 12 communities
represented were cohousing and people from cohousing came in force,
e.g. 9 from Songaia, several from Winslow, etc.

Some of us from NICA have begun using the 8-Shields Model to organize
work around a large communities event and are excited about its
potential in structuring community.

The 8-Shields Model, an introduction
Alan Seid
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 7:30pm
Songaia Cohousing Community

For full details, visit the NICA Website:
http://www.ic.org/nica/

WHAT: Based on the Native American medicine wheel, the 8-Shields Model
is many things: a map for organizational design, a checklist for
events, a flowchart for projects, and much more. Also known as the
Acorn Model, this tool helps us integrate people's diverse gifts into
cohesive, effective teams. It clarifies some important and confusing
issues regarding consensus decision-making, as well as between
hierarchical and egalitarian approaches to organizational design. The
Acorn Model is known for being both highly effective and very fun!

WHEN: Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 7:30pm to 9pm
WHERE: Songaia Cohousing Community Common House (see NICA website for
full details)
COST: By donation, you decide your contribution

WHO: Alan  Seid teaches a number of specific sustainable living tools
he has found to be powerful. He has been applying the Acorn Model
since 2000, when he first learned it from Jon Young, founder of the
Wilderness Awareness School (WAS). Alan has attended a total of 14
training days on the Acorn with Jon and WAS staff, including Coyote
Mentoring, The Art of Mentoring, The Mind of Mentoring (2005), and a
one-day private training. Since 2000    Alan has lived and worked with
people applying this model to their personal and work lives. Alan is a
founding member of the Whatcom Network for Compassionate Communication
(WNCC) which uses the Acorn Model organizationally and in all their
trainings.

Questions? Contact Nancy Lanphear at Nancy [at] songaia.com