Learning from our first meeting

WHAT I WANTED TO LEARN
I wanted to learn how to participate effectively in circle meetings
WHAT I DID
I suggested using the talking stick and facilitated its use
WHAT HAPPENED
What went well
- people started to get the hang of it, and most managed to express their intentions for the meeting and their participation
- we started to see we need a "culture" of handling the stick for text conversations. For example a sign for when we hand the stick on
- we also need a stick of some kind, I guess you wear it from your inventory when it is your turn
- We had some good input from Any1 who was there as an advisor
- acceptance of talking stick seemed to be high
- Mias reporting managed to get the positive out of the session even if at the time there was a feeling of chaos
What went not so well
- Any1s input came during the circle exercise
- as we were new, there was some "scuffling" with the stick
- the stick question posed was not so succinct - was it about the meeting or participation in general?
- it was not always easy to see when people were answering
- concentration felt low

WHAT I LEARNED
- You need
--- A stick and handling routines agreed
--- Succinct first question
--- A Stick facilitator
--- It could be an effective method for sharing both feelings and points of view
--- the group to concentrate and focus
--- a good reporter is worth gold

HOW WE CAN APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE
Introduce the stick for the next few meetings as a test
get agreement on how it will work and get the facilitator to stick to it
if it works, make it part of routine
invite a reporter to summarise for those not attendning

THE REFLECTIONS I HAD
How come, professional, educated, computer savvy, intelligent people like us get into a bit of a pickle when we meet more than a few to have an important meeting?
It think it may be because, despite the thousands of years of development of culture, the culture of individuals coming together like this has not been developed. In fact, I believe the skill has been lost. Our forefathers had nothing of the tools we have today. They came together with maximum something to sit on and a camp fire. And they were dependent on each other and peace with neighbours. And they developed ways, maybe the talking stick was one of them. As civilisation developed it was an advantage to the ruling classes that individuals were NOT able to come together. How dangerous are self organised groups to business as usual? I believe we are embarking upon important work and we have to take baby steps. Agriculture started 10,000 years ago as the EMPIRE started to develop. That's 10,000 years of unlearning. All experienced in one evening round the campfire. AMAZING. Thanks to MIA we saw the positive thread as well.

IDEAS FOR NEW LEARNING
Keep trying and reflecting in the meetings. Maybe find some references to how our forefathers worked together before EMPIRE