Proposed ESAC Vision: Revision by Glenda, Raj and Jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Hi everyone,

On our last conference call (July 17), we discussed the vision
statement for ESAC, and several people had objections and/or
suggestions: myself (Jeff), Glenda and Raj.

The three of us agreed to meet and modify the vision so that it met
our needs. We have met, and we now offer our proposed vision
statement.

-----

First, here is the vision statement we all considered at the last
conference call:

"A world where people have the skills to articulate their needs and
resolve their conflicts peacefully - where people are creating and
participating in worldwide networks of life-serving social, political,
and economic systems."

-----

Next, here is the modified proposal that Glenda, Raj and I came up
with:

"A world where where all people are getting their needs met and
resolving their conflicts peacefully - where people are creating and
participating in worldwide networks of life-serving social, political,
and economic systems."

-----

As you can see, the second half of the statement remains intact. The
first part changes from, "...have the skills to articulate their needs
and resolve their conflicts peacfully..." to, "...are getting their
needs met and resolving their conflicts peacefully..."

We submit this as the current proposed vision statement for ESAC, with
the hope that this also meets everyone else's needs sufficiently that
everyone can live with this.

If there is a person creating an agenda for our next meeting on August
13, could you please add this item?

Warmly, Jeff
___________________________________
Jeff Brown, Certified Trainer
Center for Nonviolent Communication ~ www.cnvc.org
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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[John Mudie]

Jeff suggested..

As you can see, the second half of the statement remains intact. The
first part changes from, "...have the skills to articulate their needs
and resolve their conflicts peacfully..." to, "...are getting their
needs met and resolving their conflicts peacefully..."

--------------------
I attened a training recently where the taller giraffes seemed to be talking
about "having needs valued" as opposed to "having needs met"

Does this distinction bring up anything for anybody?

I am feeling puzzled at the word shift but currently prefer "met"

J

[Jerry Koch-Gonzalez]

As I understand this issue:
"A worlds where everyone's needs matter" puts primacy on needs
consciousness. When we deeply connect with life-serving needs, ours and
others, then our natural creativity will generate actions, solutions,
requests that may lead to getting our needs met.

Some people say that that the point of needs consciousness is to get needs
met. Whereas others worry that focusing on needs getting met may lead us to
put primacy attention on requests rather than needs (a material rather than
spiritual consciousness, getting rather than being).

Can anyone else illuminate the "arguments" on each side?

One of my hopes for the future in NVC is that we develop systems for shared
ongoing learning. Nowadays key conversations happen in pockets of linked
people but there are no clear ways to keep evolving the "canon" of nvc. Like
for example what belongs on the list of needs. There was a time when
fairness was on the list. Now fairness is off most people's needs lists.
Lately there's been discussion of sexual expression - a need or a strategy.
And this thread about needs mattering/being valued vs needs getting met.

Jerry

[su...@propeace.net]

To build on what Jerry just said, the discussion I've heard is about
connecting with the beauty of the need itself without bothering to ask
my head if the need is met or not. I'm grateful for your acceptance
of the second phrase, and I totally got it at the meeting about
deleting the bit about having certain skills because it's living them
that's important.

A world where people are in touch with their needs and resolve their
conflicts peacefully -

Can you see how I'm struggling to say this without resorting to the
NVC-ese "connected"? Is there anyone else who is concerned about this
discussion who can turn that phrase around in a way that captures both
positions? I'd say we're closer to a creative solution than we
realize....

[Rachel McDavid]

I prefer the idea of holding our needs with care. In the end getting
my needs met is not often as important as knowing that my needs are
held with care .

"A world where all people's needs are held with care and conflicts are
peacefully resolved"

Rachel

[su...@propeace.net]

Rachel, I love this frame, but I'd like to recast the phrase in the
active voice so that the sense of agency or efficacy is included.
Whenever I see the passive voice, I find myself asking questions like
"held by whom?" or "resolved by whom?" So I feel either suspicious or
dismissive. Here is the same statement in the active voice:

"A world where people hold their needs and the needs of others with
care and resolve their conflicts peacefully."

Or, if that looks to defensive, perhaps the following more general
statement would be more comfortable:

"A world where people hold needs with care and resolve conflicts
peacefully."

In fact, I like that better because it allows Earth and other living
things to have needs and conflicts, too - not just people.

[John Mudie]

I like this.
Its similar to the statement that I heard that "all nneds are valued" and
might also lessen the tendency I note that some giraffes feel that they have
to fill all needs immediately when they are presented to them. (That's a
tendency I have too )

J

-----Original Message-----
From: ESAc...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ESAc...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Rachel McDavid
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 7:40 AM
To: ESAc...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Americas Circle:156] Re: Proposed ESAC Vision: Revision by Glenda,
Raj and Jeff

[Kit Miller-BayNVC]

I also like this. Thanks for working on this everyone!
Kit

[judyatthursdays]

Hi All,
I'm back from Toronto and glad to see the work being done. I'd like to see
"where people are creating and participating in local and worldwide
networks of ..."

Any thoughts?
Warmly,
Judy in humid rainy northern Vermont

[Eliane Geren]

I like the phrase that Rachel quotes below.

As I see it: If I hold my needs as precious, that already gives me some inner peace. I can also be more hopeful that the need may be fulfilled--and hopefully I will have company in the "holding of my need with care."

I'm not as comfortable with the words "conflicts are peacefully resolved." Here's why: At times, the process of conflict resolution has people raising their voices, even blaming (etc.) and I wouldn't call it peaceful, though I call it authentic. The word "effectively" works better for me. I'm wondering though, if "peacefully" refers only to the end result, then perhaps the following quote would feel more accurate??

"A world where all people's needs are held with care and conflicts are processed effectively and
resolved peacefully."

Oh, boy...words. I'm a little frustrated and wish they were easier to handle.

Love,

Eliane

--

"What people really need is a good listening to."

--Mary Lou Casey

[su...@propeace.net]

Judy, my understanding is that the phrase you like is still the second
phrase of the vision statement - it's just the first phrase that we're
trying to tweak so that it provides the inspiration we long for.
Since I'm confident that others who were not following the discussion
as it unfolded may also be wondering what happened to that piece, I'll
reattach it in my Reply to Eliane. Peace and Love, Susan L

On Jul 23, 10:19 pm, judyatthursdays <judyatthursd...@surfglobal.net>
wrote:

> >>> and economic systems- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[su...@propeace.net]

Dear Eliane

Your post gave me a real "aha moment" by reminding me that some people
do indeed consider "peace activist" to be an oxymoron. In fact, I'm
sure there are those who would say that conflicts were "peacefully
resolved" in Africa and the Middle East by some lines that were drawn
on a piece of paper 60+ years ago.

I share your focus on effectiveness; however, the place to apply that
is in the Mission. The Vision does, in fact, refer only to the end
result; it is the answer to the question, "If you accomplish your Aim
and your Mission is effective, what will the world look like?"
Suppose we were to reserve the consideration of process for the
Mission and replace the concept "peace" with the concept
"nonviolence" (in the Ghandian sense of the word, of course)? When I
do that, the full version of the proposed Vision so far is this:

"A world where people hold needs with care and resolve conflicts

nonviolently - where people are creating and participating in

worldwide networks of life-serving social, political, and economic

systems."

WOW!!! Now THAT's the world I want to co-create!

[Donna S]

I have been reading this thread and would like to participate.  I like that one Susan as it seems to summarize or value the feelings and needs of all on this thread which IS what we are after after all....:)
Donna in Payson AZ

> Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:47:20 -0700
> Subject: [Americas Circle:163] Re: Proposed ESAC Vision: Revision by Glenda, Raj and Jeff
> From: su...@propeace.net
> To: ESAc...@googlegroups.com

>
>
>>
> "A world where people hold needs with care and resolve conflicts
> nonviolently - where people are creating and participating in
> worldwide networks of life-serving social, political, and economic
> systems."
>
> WOW!!! Now THAT's the world I want to co-create!

---

Time for vacation? WIN what you need. Enter Now!

[judyatthursdays]

Susan, I'm guessing that you might not have noticed that I had added
'local' in the second paragraph.
W

[judyatthursdays]

Susan, I'm guessing that you might not have noticed that I had added
'local' in the second paragraph.
W

On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:30:49 -0700 (PDT), su...@propeace.net wrote:
>

[Faye Landey]

Hello dear English Speaking Friends,

The flurry of emails around the wordsmithing of the vision has me
chuckling......but not joyfully.

I am not a wordsmith, so I have not joined in the flurry over which word
to use.

What I AM desiring, no...what I am DEEPLY yearning for, is some clarity
that would answer the following:

Basically....what are we going to be doing as the ESAC? How can we fulfill
the INTENT of the vision...

What can I do here in Georgia? What are you willing to do and what do you
find exhilarating to do? And how can the rest of us support your passion?

In NVC words: what needs do each of the members of the ESAC have, that can
be met by being members of the ESAC Circle?

And what are the needs of the ESAC circle, that each of us individuals can
meet for the organization itself?

And there is the very pertinent question that I would like addressed, with
real clarity and communication from CNVC as follows:

How are we linked to the GCC? How is the GCC linked to CNVC?

Are there ANY needs of CNVC that would be met by having an ESAC? By having
the GCC? And what realm of action does CNVC want from GCC/ESAC?

For me, I do not know the answers to the these questions, and I am curious
as to how the actions and behavior of ESAC is valuable to CNVC.

Responses?

Faye

----- Original Message -----
From: "judyatthursdays" <judyatt...@surfglobal.net>
To: <ESAc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 1:28 PM
Subject: [Americas Circle:166] Re: Proposed ESAC Vision: Revision by Glenda,
Raj and Jeff

>

[Prosperity Circles Coaching]

Dear Faye,
I am so much agreeing with your e-mail message and I continue to wonder how
I can stay present to the multiple e-mails and suggestions.
I appreciate your message and would enjoy some deeper understanding and
meaning for the group's existence or formation.
In a teleconference call in Feb or March I had said that I would enjoy
"connection before direction or correction." I am feeling discouraged
expressing that I have not found a way to get the need for connection met in
a joyful way.
A I write so many words I am connected to my need to be in the flow of a
conversation rather than write a lot of words.
At the moment no other request is present for me.
Thank you
Warmly
Raj
Raj Gill B.Sc., ART., CPCC
Certified Professional Coach/Speaker
CNVC Certified Trainer, Communication with Compassion
Prosperity Circles Coaching Intl
604-531-2564
raj....@telus.net
Get Results through the Power of Your Ideas, Words and Actions

[su...@propeace.net]

Judy, how about taking out "worldwide" instead of adding "local."

"A world where people hold needs with care and resolve conflicts

nonviolently - where people are creating and participating in networks
of life-serving social, political, and economic systems."

I'm starting a new thread with Faye's letter and Raj's response so
that this thread can maintain its narrow focus on the Vision.

[Jim and Jori]

Dear Faye and All,
I have some responses to the questions about CNVC that reflect my experience and understanding below

On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 4:29 PM, Faye Landey <fayel...@mindspring.com> wrote:

And there is the very pertinent question that I would like addressed, with
real clarity and communication from CNVC as follows:

How are we linked to the GCC?

Through a representative from ESAC, Jerry Koch Gonzales, as a member of the GCC

 How is the GCC linked to CNVC?

The coordinator of the GCC is a member of the CNVC LT (Leadership Team)

Are there ANY needs of CNVC that would be met by having an ESAC?  By having
the GCC? And what realm of action does CNVC want from GCC/ESAC?

The CNVC office receives calls asking about how to connect with others in various areas.  The GCC is charged with developing this information (among other things).

Hope this helps.
Jori

[Judy Nommik]

Works well for me.........as in less is better.

----- Original Message -----
From: <su...@propeace.net>
To: "English-Speaking Americas Circle" <ESAc...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 9:51 PM
Subject: [Americas Circle:169] Re: Proposed ESAC Vision: Revision by Glenda,
Raj and Jeff

>

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>

[Mercedes]

I enjoy the wording in this statement from Rachel and refreshed by
Susan, i get a sense of caring and tenderness for all people.
Appreciation to Jeff for beginning the thread and your including us
all in your sculpture.

~Mercedes

[Rhonda Mills]

I'm celebrating the wording "all needs held with care" and feel confident that this *pointing to the consciousness* of NVC will serve us well!

 

Warmly,

Rhonda

 

>
> John Mudie wrote:
> > I like this.
> > Its similar to the statement that I heard that "all nneds are valued" and
> > might also lessen the tendency I note that some giraffes feel that they have
> > to fill all needs immediately  when they are presented to them. (That's a
> > tendency I have too )
>
> > J
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ESAc...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ESAc...@googlegroups.com] On
> > Behalf Of Rachel McDavid
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 7:40 AM
> > To: ESAc...@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: [Americas Circle:156] Re: Proposed ESAC Vision: Revision by Glenda,
> > Raj and Jeff
>
> > I prefer the idea of holding our needs with care.  In the end getting
> > my needs met is not often as important as  knowing that my needs are
> > held with care .
>
> > "A world where all people's needs are held with care and conflicts are
> > peacefully resolved"
>
> > Rachel
>

--
Rhonda Mills,
Compassionate Communication Trainer, Para Yoga Sr. Teacher &  
Applicant for Certification with the Center for Nonviolent Communication
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