When you dismiss people, most of them will never come back!!!
Snyder, Sheryl & Brandon
It "was" my turn to speak & I was interrupted. When I resumed, I was
told that I was out of order by someone who then spoke, out of turn. I
was speaking for The Committee of People, which I pointed out each one
by name. People who have been security officers on site, overnight,
many times. Garrison is not our only one, by far!!! Someone was trying
to propose a decision to make Garrison Sheriff, when they did not have
all the facts. I had every right to speak up for our group. You are
dismissing the rest of the security team when you try to give them a
boss. It is not right, just ask Allison, Frazier, Dave, Duffy, Jim,
Gayle, Bill, Rich & Richard or any of the other people who stay here
if we want "any" Sheriff!! IMO we prefer it just the way it is, a
team. When was the last time any of you bought food for everyone
here???? If you all want to get freaked out about our issues maybe you
should freak about our recent possible eviction issue!!!!
I really do not think you want me to call "out of order" on every one
who interrupts". Because, I will do that, if I have to prove that I am
being singled out!!!! Stop treating me like I am the only one who does
it!!!! Especially when I am speaking up for a committee of people who
were not being recognized. This is exactly why we are losing
people!!!! Treat them with more dignity, or you are no better than the
1%.
clyd...@gmail.com
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Snyder, Sheryl & Brandon
for precisely this reason???? Just ask Rachel about the many who
called and complained of not being/feeling heard!!! They too were
dismissed!!! I am not like most people, therefore, I will just sink my
teeth in deeper. Like a pit-bull, tenacious .. lol
Christian
Saturday's G.A. , I must apologize if you felt that you were being
unfairly silence when it was your turn to speak.
I also feel that it is not productive to respond to feedback with
condescending remarks, as has been the case here.
In the future, if I find myself in a facilitation role, I will try not
to let people silence or speak over others, after all this is one of
the main objectives of the consensus decision making process. I
apologize if I was not able to guide the process along smoothly.
However, I must say that I find your statement referring as to why we
have had so many folks leave the meeting and movement in general, a
bit oversimplified. The situation as it regards to the alienating
nature of the facilitation process is very complex.
I believe, that many people have left because they have felt that they
were not being heard, I think we probably all agree on this.
I believe however that the reason that those folks have felt alienated
and have been compelled to leave is that they have not properly
understood the process well enough. If they had, they would have
understood that it is the most democratic process model we have
available to us.
I believe that because of the fragile and easily disrupted nature of
the open democratic decision making system (Consensus) that is at the
heart of, and is the glue that holds the Occupy Movement together, and
to be able to salvage whats left of this movement moving forward, ALL
the folks on the Coordinating Committee AND ALL the folks attending
the events on Saturday (as a whole), have to ALL agree on an answer to
a very simple question: WHY ARE WE GATHERING?
1. If we gather ONLY to give a space so that people may stand with
others and voice their disposable with the current system of
things( Gov., Economics, Lifestyles etc.) then by default we are A.)
not a movement, but a long drawn out protest, or, if we are a
movement, then B). we are not an openly democratic movement as we
claim to be, seeing as important decisions, views, policies and
guidelines that reflect the movement are to be decided by a select
group of folks in a separate forum that does not include the movement
as a whole.
OR
2. If we gather ONLY to address decisions, views, policies and
guidelines that reflect the movement and to lay the foundations for
alternative models to those institutions that we have grievances with,
WITHOUT creating a forum where possible allies are able to vent their
frustrations against the current system of things, then we risk
alienating them. Folks, need to feel like they have been understood
and that they have found like minded allies
SO
3. If We are endeavoring to create a forum on Saturdays, to do BOTH,
create a space to air grievances AND ALSO to have a legitimate
organizing meeting that is to steer, set policy and direction, and
build alternatives to corrupt institutions we have grievances against,
AND one that is TRULY OPEN and DEMOCRATIC, or in other words; one that
involves EVERYONE in the movement, not just a select FEW, then BOTH
the Coordinating Committee and the Movement as whole as it gathers on
Saturdays, must understand and respect the fact, that these two
reasons to gather (and goals for a forum) are complimentary, BUT and
this is a HUGE BUT, they must be kept as separate as possible. I
BELIEVE THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE FAILED!!!!!!
At Sat. General Assembly Garrison Alluded to this, and Clementine
Proposed a solution that was consensed on.
THIS IS CRUCIAL: THIS IS WHAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE
OCCUPY MOVEMENT NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND:
Our Movement guarantees everyone the right to air their grievances, as
well as their their ideas. Their forum: The SOAPBOX!
THIS IS WHERE THEIR RIGHTS END!
If anyone wants to see their idea, theory, plan, model or action
initiated, then that forum switches to the decision making process: -
CONSENSUS – COMMITTEES- their Forum: GENERAL ASSEMBLY!
This means that everyone has the BURDEN to bring their ideas,
theories, plans, models, and actions to the very, very, very
functional and openly democratic (open to anyone to join) structures
that are the Committees and work closely with those Committees and
then, WHEN AND IF, their ideas, theories, plans, models, or actions
pass the muster of that Committee, and are REFINED BY DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS, then, and only then, can they can be brought before the
whole movement at a GENERAL ASSEMBLY to be discussed and decided upon
within a very civil process structure that involves and respects
everyone’s opinion.
THIS ALSO MEANS, THAT NO ONE, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, HAS THE RIGHT TO
INTERRUPT THE PROCESS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, no matter what
brilliant ideas, theories, plans, models, or actions they might have
in mind. NO MORE PROPOSALS ON THE SPOT! ( THEY MUST BE REDIRECTED TO
THE PROPER COMMITTEE, in the most civil and courteous manner of
course)
The Facilitation Committee working with the Coordinating Committee
(made up of representatives of all other Committees) will set an
agenda for the Sat. General Assembly and we will not deviate! NO MORE
BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS (THOSE WILL BE SEPARATE FORUMS) ONLY
PROPOSALS!!!!!
EVERYONE MUST BACK UP THIS PROCESS IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK AND FOR US
TO MOVE FORWARD!!!
NO MORE WAVERING. NO MORE SCHIZOPHRENIC STANCES ON CONSENSUS! THIS IS
WHAT WAS CONSENSED ON AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAT 11/19. THIS HAS
WORKED ALL AROUND THE WORLD! THIS WILL WORK HERE!!!!!!!
Now we need to educate and bring the Whole Palm Beach County Occupy
Movement on board. How do we do this? Anyone have any ideas?
Christian
If you do not understand this, please look it up, and please do not
make light of it. You will alienate a lot of people.
Snyder, Sheryl & Brandon
However, it did not happen while you were facilitating. And thank you
for noting the initial response as inappropriate, I truly appreciate
that too!! I feel you were doing a good job with the procedure, as you
understand it quite well. The problem being that many do not. I would
ask that you please try again because I heard you say it is
frustrating for you. We (hopefully I can speak for others here as
well) appreciate your time & effort. IMO you have been an un-biased &
non-dismissive facilitator.
I agree that I have oversimplified, & should have said that dismissing
people is “one” reason they did not feel heard. (Not the only reason.)
I agree that, not having an understanding of the process, is another
reason people do not feel heard. Please note that I have not suggested
we abandon the consensus process, just improve upon it, to make it
work for us. We do have some ideas out for this & I am sure we will
hear more. My hope is that we will explore several ideas, not just
spend a ton of time on one, then vote it in & forget the rest. I agree
that our goal should be to find ways to help everyone (including
newcomers) understand the process better, feel fully able to
participate & be heard.
As to : WHY WE ARE GATHERING???
I TOTALLY AGREE THAT SOAPBOX & GENERAL ASSEMBLE MUST BE KEPT
SEPARATE!!!!This is one reason why I pushed for the advertising of our
Saturday events to be changed from a vague 10-2 description. We had a
consensus on separating into 3 events 10am-12noon soapbox (Flagler
Park) ~12noon rally/march (Flagler Park) & 2pm General Assemble for
decision making (at campground). I have posted this in the comments on
FB 3 times yet, still do not see it being advertised as such!!!! We
decided that this should be made clear in ALL of our advertising. Why
make decisions and not follow them through????
On Nov 21, 4:18 pm, Christian <proal...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Sheryl, seeing as how I was one of the facilitators at the this last