Creative Community Governance and Decision Making

by Mandy Merklein 9/6/17 on FaceBook A big thank you to Robin Clayfield for her time here on Mallorca, six workshops, PDC support, over 60 participants and sharing loads of information and materials on dynamic groups, decision-making and facilitation! In addition we shared fun, gardening, sailing, sunsets, garden meals and inspiring stories. Thanks to all the workshop participants for your creative involvement, and to Ana Digon for your amazing translation, and Miquel Ramis of Artifex Balear for co-hosting. And thanks to the PermaMed and Escola Kumar team and Bruce and Elias Robson for your support! Robin left us with lots of ideas and resources to share. Today Robin heads off to continue her tour in Europe. We highly recommend her upcoming workshops- for more information see https://dynamicgroups.com.au. Locally on Mallorca Ana Digon will be offering a follow up workshop on dynamic groups June 14 at the Biogranja La Real.   …

An invitation from the Education Team at Braziers Park Community enticed Robin to the experimental group work and social research community in South Oxfordshire for four days. This completed her stay in UK. Members were interested to participate in a ‘Dynamic Decision Making’ one day workshop and Robin also encouraged some community cross pollination by giving a presentation about ‘Crystal Waters Permaculture Village’ on her last evening there. The community is housed in a small Gothic style castle, quite an extraordinary building that was originally a farm house built in 1688 and extended with the Gothic turret type wings in 1799. The community has a large Permaculture garden and hosts many volunteers, workshops, seminars and four festivals a year including WOOD which Robin was luck enough to participate in on her first day there. Each day the community has a half hour morning circle where people share anything they feel …

Recently Robin was asked to facilitate a three hour session for a new arm of a training college. Her brief was to support them to come up with an Intention, a Mission Statement and do some Visioning. When considering the difference between a Mission Statement and a Vision Statement Robin felt a definition could be useful and found she could refer to a chapter in her upcoming book that she’d already written to guide her planning.  Here’s the definitions:- Group Purpose – A Groups Purpose is it’s intention or reason for existing. A Mission Statement – Frames up the purpose or intention of the group, business or organisation into a summary of core purpose, aims, values and focus as a way to channel the groups actions, define it’s goals and guide decision making. It says what the group is, what it does, why it exists, and how it does what …

In March 2008 Robin initiated an innovative completion process for the ‘Future Visions’ session on the final day of the APC9 (Australasian Permaculture Convergence. Sydney), having been invited to facilitate the three hour session. Her now infamous ‘Jumping’ Process has been the completion for all four APC’s since and has been introduced to the IPC (International Permaculture Convergence) in Cuba and last year in UK. At APC13 in WA in October Robin led the ‘Jumping’ on the final day and along with many others also had a turn jumping off the stage. Erin Young and Robin held hands and jumped together into a future of supporting each other to achieve success in Robin’s business in such a way that it creates an income for both Erin and Robin and also for Erin to support Robin to get her next book out there in the world. The process has started and …

by Erin Young Achieving our dreams and visions for a world that cares for earth, people, spirit and fair share of abundance and resources requires dynamic and effective organisation. This form of organisation is designed with transparency, effectiveness and equal-value, governed by a resilience resembling nature’s inherently sophisticated feedback loops, and provides connection, trust and fulfilment. Sociocracy is a social technology for the governance and facilitation of these groups and organisations. Based on circle process, the methodology allows a clarity of group purpose on macro and micro levels, bringing together all elements of the system through a balanced “power-with” autonomy. Founded on the both/and approach, Sociocracy allows for both flat-structure at the appropriate level and a hierarchy of focus. Each person is invited to become a leader in their domain of influence, collaboratively deciding on operational policy in semi-autonomous self-organising groups in order to achieve the organisational mission. Stay tuned …

Ross Mars, Convener of the Australasian Permaculture Convergence (APC) in WA in October has invited Robin to be the principle trainer of a five day Advanced Permaculture Teachers Course to be held from 10th to 14th October. Annaliese Hordern and Charles Otway will join Robin to present the course and Ross and others will have a Special Guest spot.  More information, bios about the presenters and bookings can be seen by clicking here on the APC13 Website. A quick transition will see Robin arrive at Fairharvest in Margaret River, hosted by Jodie Lane and team. She’ll be offering a one day Social Permaculture course on Sunday 16th October, joined by her good friend Robina McCurdy from NZ/Aotearoa. On Monday 17th she’ll also offer her ‘Dynamic Decision Making’ day, ideal for people involved in groups, teams, courses or organisations from any industry or genre. Click here to see the Social Permaculture Course …