Charter for Compassion Network Report - 10/03/31
Wade Hudson
About 25 people in Tepoztlan, Mexico attended our April 27 Video
Release Party, which premiered eight responses to our Questionnaire on
Compassion http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B27FTVJ . Almost everyone
stayed for the entire one-hour-forty-minute show and at the end the
audience gave a loud round of applause. Fourteen stayed for a late-
night discussion, during which the participants expressed appreciation
for the presentation of such diverse perspectives on what they felt to
be very important issues.
When one participant expressed interest in meeting together regularly
to pursue how to collaborate on putting compassion into action, most
of the others echoed that sentiment. One possibility they discussed is
to produce one or more radio shows for Radio Tepoztlan, a local
station.
Soon we’ll begin uploading some or all of those videos to our YouTube
channel http://www.youtube.com/user/charternetwork1 .
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THE COMPASSION MOVEMENT: A DECLARATION
Our 13,000-word booklet, The Compassion Movement: A Declaration, which
is a work-in-progress, has been photocopied, folded, and stapled. The
initial response has been very positive.
The intent is to articulate, as concisely, clearly, and convincingly
as possible, the fundamental values and holistic, systemic worldview
that underlie Our Core Convictions http://charternetwork.org/Core.Home
. The motivation is based on the assumption that clarity and
commitment on our basic principles will enhance our effectiveness.
The contents include: Preface, Introduction, Compassion, Systemic
Reform, Shared Responsibility, Modernization, Humility, Beyond
Ideology, Whole Persons, Service, Holism, Partnerships, The Earth
Community, Authority, A Progressive Conservative Society, Being
Positive, Conclusion.
This booklet will continue to be modified so long as we feel the need
to do so. So feedback and suggested changes are most welcome. The
latest version will always be on our website at http://charternetwork.org/Booklet.Home
.
We may soon seek to have this statement published by an established
house along with substantial commentaries, including some by prominent
authors. We may also seek to have an abridged version published by a
magazine.
Any help that you can offer with this project will be appreciated.
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BECOME AN ACTIVE MEMBER
Please consider: 1) taking on a specific regular task (at least 1-2
hours per month) for the Charter for Compassion Network and/or 2)
allowing us to identify and publicize work that you’re already doing
as an “affiliated project”? A list of options is presented at
http://charternetwork.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Proposals.Home , but
feel free to suggest your own.
If you’re interested, please let us know by sending an email to
charter-for-com...@googlegroups.com .
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QUESTIONNAIRE ON COMPASSION
A “Report and Commentary” on responses to our Questionnaire on
Compassion will be posted and distributed soon. All respondents and
others in our Network will be invited to discuss the responses and
related issues. We’ll probably try to focus this discussion on a
forthcoming new Google Group, “Charter Network Discussions,” because
that platform will probably enable the broadest participation.
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CIRCLES OF COMPASSION
In Rochester, NY, John Testa, a member of our Coordinating Committee,
has organized the first Circle of Compassion, which consists of
Charter for Compassion supporters who commit to self-development,
community service, political activity, and mutual support. They meet
at least monthly to enjoy each other’s fellowship (perhaps including
sharing a meal or refreshments), conduct a semi-formal support group,
and engage in planning as needed. Reports on the Rochester meetings
are posted at http://charternetwork.org/Rochester.Home .
If you’re interested in starting a Circle, please let us know. John is
available for consultation.
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RESOURCE CENTER AND LIBRARY
John Cloud has presented the following offer:
I would like to begin a Resource Center and Library here on the East
Coast to house material for the Charter for Compassion. I am offering
the skill and time and energy to create a professionally done library,
suitable for study, professionally indexed, and more. I wish to
archive and collect the works of Compassion...not for me. I know
several prominent colleges and Universities with whom I could house
such a collection. First, feedback and support from all those whom you
wish to share such a plan.
Donations of materials such as books and recordings are graciously
accepted. I am quite sure that those who have such materials and seek
to see them used will gladly share them when they are done with them
or donate them for fear that they will be ignored by others. I will
make sure that they are cared for and preserved.
You can reach him at John Cloud, PO Box 386, East Haddam, CT 06423,
USA or at <jcld2 AT live DOT com>.
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RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS
Please consider inviting people you know, perhaps one-by-one, to
become a regular Member of the Charter for Compassion Network. They
can do so by going to the homepage of our Google Group at
http://groups.google.com/group/charter-for-compassion-network and
following the instructions there.
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ON COMPASSION: A CONVERSATION
During my nine days here in Mexico City, where I’m staying at the
Quaker community center, Casa de los Amigos, I’ll be leading “On
Compassion: A Conversation.” I’ll seek opportunities to conduct
similar events in the San Francisco Bay Area during my seven months
there, as well as in Seattle during a visit there, when I’ll be going
to the wonderful Vancouver Folk Festival with my “surrogate family”
July 16-18 (anyone want to join us?). If you have an idea concerning
how to establish similar conversations, please let us know.
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OTHER OPTIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO
When I return to full-time cab driving in early April in San
Francisco, I won’t have nearly as much time to work on this project.
But I may record audio interviews with my passengers and use Dragon
software to help transcribe them.
And I’ll definitely try to initiate an “Open Exchange with an Elected
Official” (see http://progressiveresourcecatalog.org/index.php/Workshop/Proposal2),
formerly called a “Community Dialogue.” The basic idea is to persuade
elected officials to organize, publicize, and convene monthly public
forums that would be carefully structured so that the officials would
not dominate the interaction but rather would primarily listen
carefully to constituents. Speakers would be selected randomly and in
their limited time, they could make a statement or ask the officials a
question on any issue and receive a response. The officials would open
the forum with a brief report on their activities and close with a
brief overall response to the questions and statements from the floor.
Community organizations could distribute literature at tables and all
participants would be invited to stay for extended informal
interaction afterwards.
These forums would thus provide an open-ended opportunity for
compassionate communication between elected officials and their
constituents, create a greatly needed public space for political
dialogue, enable everyone, including audience members who only listen,
to increase their understanding of timely issues, provide individuals
who aren’t currently politically active with an easy way to become
involved, offer community organizations an organizing tool that they
could use to mobilize their members without having to spend time and
energy arranging for a special meeting, and establish a structural
reform in our political system that would strengthen our democracy.
I also want to initiate “A Truly Open Open Mike,” whose purpose would
be to share heartfelt communication and have fun. Presenters would be
selected randomly. If needed, an amplified public address system would
be provided. Each presenter would have a limited amount of time. The
notice for the events would clarify that presenters could: make a
speech; ask a question; engage in a discussion; read a poem (theirs or
others'); sing a song (theirs or others'); tell jokes (theirs or
others'); play a recording (theirs or others'); read an essay (theirs
or others'); present a dance, scene from a play, or performance art;
share a chant; lead a meditation; pray; ask for silence; or whatever.
Both of these projects, either or both of which the Charter for
Compassion Network might sponsor or co-sponsor, could foster
compassionate communication. If you’re interested in initiating either
or both in your hometown, feel free. And if you have suggested changes
in either of these ideas, please let us know.
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SEPT. 11 EVENT IN SAN FRANCISCO
We have a large, rent-free room reserved at the Main Library in San
Francisco for the afternoon of Saturday, Sept 11. When I return to San
Francisco, I’ll meet with old associates, seek contacts with new
(especially younger) compassion-minded individuals, and solicit ideas
about how to use that Sept. 11 opportunity. Hopefully we’ll form a
team to plan and convene an event.
Might you want to participate in this event? If needed, I might be
able to find free housing for you. Might you want to help plan it?
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CONTACT INFO
You can reach us by email at email to charter-for-compassion-
net...@googlegroups.com .