New England NVC Circle Minutes
August 27, 2008 Teleconference
Present: Judy Nommik (VT), Pan Vera (VT), Bonnie Mioduchoski (MA), Jerry Koch-Gonzalez (MA; facilitator and notetaker), Joe Brummer (CT). Absent: no one
- ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
- approved of minutes of July 2008 meeting
- Set Next meeting dates (observers welcome)
- New England NVC Circle September 16, 3:00-4:30 PM via teleconference
- IT Committee: Monday September 1, 9:00AM via Skype
- Consented to the agenda for today
CONTENT OF THE MEETING
- New England NVC Website/database
- Our question was: Do we go ahead with the plan approved in a previous meeting given the new developments of Pan working as CNVC’s IT person and BayNVC developing a Dupral-based database project?
- Pan reported that CNVC was excited by what he showed them about the system we want to copy from Northwest Compass that supports online registration for workshops. CNVC would like to move in that direction with some modifications including setting it up within Dupral and having some relation between CNVC and local websites that is yet to be determined. CNVC’s interest is in a hassle free way to keep training info updated that also gathers data about trainings offered that can be used in fundraising (also our interest). Unknown how long it will take for the CNVC website to be functional in that way (3months to a year). Pan’s opinion was that we move ahead with our plan given the low cost, the uncertainty of CNVC’s timeline and our desire to move New England NVC along in fulfilling its mission. When CNVC and BayNVC projects go online we can see how they work and if and how we want to adjust.
- Decision: We will move ahead with our website/database development as planned. An IT Committee was scheduled for Monday September 1 at 9 AM via Skype.
- Staffing and Fundraising
- Jerry shared that in the past he as fundraised through the Institute for Peaceable Communities for his NVC work. Would like to do that again but torn about whether to do that on his own or as possible staff person for New England NVC. There was both interest in moving ahead with staffing/fundraising and concern about our readiness.
- Action step: Bonnie will send her fundraising letter draft to all of us. Jerry will draft a staffing/fundraising plan for discussion at our next meeting.
- Development of regional group, focus on Connecticut
- We brainstormed contacts and possible next steps for Joe’s training work in CT and for developing a Connecticut NVC Circle. No formal action steps were agreed to.
- CLOSING ROUND (5 minutes)
- Joe: inspired by ideas, especially the tow tracks of my training work and forming CT NVC
- Bonnie: enjoyed the meeting. Longing to meet in person
- Judy: encouraged by moving ahead with website/database; enjoyed connection especially with Joe coming on board
- Pan: excited about moving forward. Confident about the long-term fruitfulness of our relationship.
- Jerry: the meeting helped me be more comfortable and at ease than where I was when we started. Grateful for greater clarity about how to focus work in near term and enjoying the pleasure of companion ship on this journey
Background
The role of the New England Circle is to realize the aims of New England NVC. To put the above decisions in context, here our previously agreed upon Mission and Aims:
Mission
- To support the growth of the NVC community in New England* by creating
and sustaining a Circle with outward links to the English Speaking
Americas Circle/Global Community Circle/CNVC and inward links to local
NVC groups in New England and English Speaking Eastern Canada. - *New England: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
Aims:
- Provide a means of information exchange among NVC groups and with
CNVC leadership - Support cooperation and collaboration among those contributing to
the spread of NVC - Increase participation in, and quality, number and variety of
opportunities to learn NVC. - Provide ways for all those interested to contribute time, skills
and money to the growth of the NVC community. - Improve access for all to information about NVC and opportunities
to learn NVC. - Create and sustain a structure for decision making that models
partnership.