WCC Meeting Notes, December 10, 2006

Hi Everyone

Thanks for a productive meeting this past Saturday. At this time, our overall group energy supports convening WC #1 at the school level with a progression to the Greater Victoria level (Sooke to Saanich) for WC #3. Support for WC #2 was 50/50 between the neighbourhood level and Greater Victoria level.

Update: This meeting has been cancelled. Next meeting: If there is anything new to report from the school contacts, the next meeting is planned for December 30th, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm, Room 142 UVic Fraser Law Building. Watch for confirmation by email before Christmas.

Update: January 6th meeting will go ahead as a regular meeting. UVic Fraser Room 142 10 am - 12:30 pm. The DF demo originally planned has been postponed.
January 6 Dynamic Facilitation demonstration: please remember the demonstration beginning at 10:00 am for 3-4 hours. I've booked room 157 UVic Fraser Law Building. My proposal, in the interests of time, is to conduct the demo with 12 participants (whoever wants to join in) with others observing the process. The nature of the DF process is to have everyone heard and this takes time, so 3-4 hours allows for roughly a dozen participants. There's a lot to be said for being either a participant or observer. I've been an observer and, in some ways, it provides some added insights to the process, since participants usually become very engrossed in the content of the discussion which, of course, can be energizing. So both roles are interesting and worthwhile.

I've summarized our Saturday meeting via notes in the agenda below. Please feel free to email your own comments or observations.

Enjoy the festive season!
George

Agenda:

10:00 Brief introductions - 30 sec each

10:10 Focus on Process: how to guage individual preferences and make decisions

>> Desired Outcome: agreement on how group makes decisions

I proposed the following process based on the decision rule: "strive for unanimity, settle for strong agreement" (suggest replacing "near" with "strong", as shown - GS). The proposal was well-received and, after some discussion, we agreed to use this approach:
1. Call for closure - any member can call for closure of a discussion
2. Clarify options/ proposal -- a proponent or the chair clarifies the proposal and/or alternatives
3. Take a poll using the following "Gradient of Agreement:"
(1. Endorse - 2. Agree with some reservation - 3. Neutral - 4. Don't like - 5. Oppose)
4. Make a Decision using two pathways:
> A) based on the Gradient of Agreement:
-- if all individuals indicate 1-3 there is unanimous support and the decision is made
> B) Vote for a Vote:
(i) if 80% or more support voting on a proposal, a vote is held
(ii) if a large majority (> 80%) support a proposal, the decision is made.

I have attached a copy to this email, as well as posting it at: http://wisedemocracyvictoria.wetpaint.com/page/WCC+Decision+Process

10:40 Reports from three people investigating potential for school-based WCs - 5 min each

The three people checking with schools have made some initial contacts:
1. Brigitte: The principal at Bayside school is definitely interested and a further discussion is planned to further describe the WC process. Caspar or George to attend if possible. Brigitte is also contacting the vice-superintendent.
2. Dianne: initial response from Esquimalt high school is favourable and discussions are underway, with Caspar involved.
3. Dan: the principal at Victoria High school has retired and Dan has emailed the new principal.

11:00 Discuss options regarding the scope for WCs (population frame):

* school

* community

* greater Victoria

After some discussion I introduced a matrix for capturing individual preferences for the scope for each of the planned wisdom councils. There were some clear preferences along the following lines:
WC #1: clear preference for having the 1st WC at the school level (9/13),
WC #2: 50/50 for having the 2nd WC at either the neighbourhood or Greater Victoria level, and
WC #3: clear preference for having the 3rd WC at the Greater Victoria level (11/13)

11:20 Take a Break and undertake informal poll on individual preferences (three coloured dots)

As above

11:30 Decide on preferred alternative in terms of scope

>> Desired Outcome: decision on scope for 1st WC and subsequent WCs

Based on the preferences noted above, the group decided that it was best to continue discussions with the schools to see if there was sufficient support and understanding of the WC process (particularly Bayside middle and Equimalt high) to begin convening a WC at one or more schools. Some people thought that the issues at Bayside school, in particular, made it a perfect venue for a WC and might create a buzz in the community and in the media.

12:00 Begin working on timeline for first WC -- who does what, by when.

Deferred until plans for the WC #1 are firmed up. There was some discussion on the need to be aware of school breaks (e.g., Easter). There was a preference to stay with March for the first WC, if at all possible, even though this might present a bit of a squeeze logistically.

If there's time available, consider random selection process and group communication (listserv).

Out of time

12:30 End of meeting