New England NVC Circle Minutes Nov 10, 2008
The New England NVC Circle now has a defined membership who make decisions. Observers welcome.
Present: Present: Jerry Koch-Gonzalez (WMA; facilitator and minute taker), , Joe Brummer (CT), Judy Nommik (VT). Absent: Bonnie Mioduchoski (EMA&RI); Pan Vera (VT)
1. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS (10 minutes)
1.1. Consented to Jerry Koch-Gonzalez being the facilitator & notetaker for today.
1.2. approved minutes of October 2008 meeting
1.3. Next meeting: December 16 at 11am
1.4. Consented to the agenda for today
CONTENT OF THE MEETING (60 minutes)
2. Generate and/or support circle development in our 6 identified regions
2.1. Active progress in Berkshire (sub of Western MA): Karen Andrews is coordinator for that region and organizing intro eves, workshops and networking for practice groups. Action Step: Jerry and Karen will tak about Berkshire development. Joe networking in Connecticut. Action Step: Jerry and Joe will talk to plan CT development.
2.2. target meeting Eastern MA (Boston) for December; New Hampshire in January
3. Policy research and development in support of well-functioning of NENVC (financial, database access, representation on website, etc.)
3.1. Scheduled conversation with Miki Oct 24 did not happen; See report from GCC & discussion on trainer’s fee proposal.
4. Support development of website: website ready for backend (database integration), sill tinkering with design, more pages being developed about structure.
5. Administrative support for NENVC: log keep, note taking (as needed), bookkeeping. Minutes to be on website. Bookkeeping system in place; current net asset $300, Jerry met financial expert on Nov 6th. Financial accounts in place and ready.
6. Support information sharing across NE Circles and with other NVC entities: just website at the moment
7. Represent NENVC in relation to other NVC entities (Americas Circle, GCC, etc) Jerry reported briefly on ESAC & GCC meetings and upcoming CNVC strategic planning. Our part: identify NVC in NE, which is our intent anyway. Topics in discussion are trainer fees and the evolution of organization structure and decision making.
8. Fundraising plan
8.1. Paypal is up and running on the website - can receive donations.
8.2. Appeal letter to NE NVCers: Fundraising letter waiting for website but intent is to mail before Thanksgiving. Questions about the feasibility of that timeline.
8.3. Appeals at workshops: no action yet
8.4. Discussion of GCC Trainers Fee Proposal
Feedback (no attempt to consent on proposal or on reactions to it)
• Want more info on CNVC use of money
• Implies need for staff to comply with rules and regulations
• Reads more like a demand than a request (joyless and juiceless); coming from low trust
• Would like an attitude of doing what makes sense and trust; flexibility
• If trainer is doing private workshops as well as community workshops, would 10% be figured the same way
• Have the regional center make a group donation to CNVC by choice rather than by regulation
• Everybody needs to do some individual and group healing and clarifying needs work on topic of money
9. CLOSING ROUND
• Joe: laid stuff out on the table. Inspired by that. Like to see continued support to see each New England region organized
• Judy: glad that the meeting was more joyful and juicy than the topic of trainers fees
• Jerry: enjoyed sense of companionship in engaging with the trainers fees/regional centers regardless of differences of opinions
Supporting Information
Aims:
1. Provide a means of information exchange among NVC groups
and with
CNVC leadership
2. Support cooperation and collaboration among those
contributing to
the spread of NVC
3. Increase participation in, and quality, number and
variety of
opportunities to learn NVC.
4. Provide ways for all those interested to contribute
time, skills
and money to the growth of the NVC community.
5. Improve access for all to information about NVC and
opportunities
to learn NVC.
6. Create and sustain a structure for decision making that
models
partnership.
Decision: organization of New England NVC. Term 1 year. Measure: progress on aim:
1. We define the initial composition of New England NVC as 2 people selected from each of 6 regions: Maine, NH, VT, Western MA (Worcester, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire Counties), Eastern MA & RI, CT
2. These two people will be that region’s functional leader and a delegate. (if there is no functional leader, the region will send 2 delegates)
3. In any region, these two people will be chosen by the existing organized NVC Circles in that region. If there is more than one organized circle in a region, those circles will create a regional circle that will select the 2 people.
4. For any region without a functional NVC circle the NENVC may appoint people to help generate groups in that region.
5. A functional NVC Circle is defined as a group that has filled out the Americas Circle survey.
6. Once at least 4 people from at least 3 different regions have been elected, the New England Circle shall exist and the New England Implementation Committee will be dissolved.
Decision: initial membership of New England NVC Circle. Term 6 months. Measure: contribution to aim realization, quality of connection with others
1. Maine: not organized as a sociocratic circle, invite Peggy and/or Gina to join NENVC Circle
2. NH: not organized as a sociocratic circle, appoint no one at this time
3. VT: Judy and Pan (elected by Vermont NVC)
4. Eastern MA & RI: not organized as a sociocratic circle, Bonnie Mioduchosky appointed
5. Western MA: Jerry (elected by Pioneer Valley NVC)
6. CT: not organized as a sociocratic circle, Joe Brummer appointed