[matilda] facilitation: please read this

[R&A]

Dear Ruth,

believe it or not, i can't still "put a face" to your email signature 
and/or proper name. I daresay the opposite is also true: ie you can't 
identify my name with a Matilda's person's face.
That's why i think it important, following and not diverting from your 
statements below about the facilitation workshops, and from Jason's 
remarks, that we are all given the role of facilitator at least once in 
a blue moon;), so that we can all learn from practice.
Then perhaps also a workshop could be arranged to take place at Matilda, 
if you want to look after this topic...

Cheers and thanks for this opportunity

Amp

One of their members came to sheffield recently and
ran a workshop about facilitation. I think i can speak
for all of us who attended in saying it was useful and
inspiring and would encourage further workshops for
more people (which seeds for change will happily run
for us free/for travel costs).

I think it would be really helpful to us as a group to
  be more informed about concensus decision making,
what it is, and how it works well.


rhubarb tartlet wrote:

> Apart from whether we have a facilitator for mondays
> meeeting, which i don't know if we had but Lesley
> mentioned the other night she'd be up for it, i wanted
> to say a few words about it (sorry its a bit long but
> i think its worth reaching the end (personally!!))...
> 
> The role of the facilitator is very important in a
> large meeting if it is going to be a positive and
> productive experience. 
> 
> To FACILITATE the people in the meeting to do this
> (have a positive and constructive/productive
> meeting)involves a number of things. 
> 
> That includes not having a strong opinion about the
> matter/ being neutral (if possible), and also to keep 
> the group (not necessarily too vaguely!)to the
> structure and process that the group has agreed for
> the meeting; but other thigs aswell... 
> 
> Keeping it focussed 
> keeping an eye on and 'regulating flow of discussion'
> so that people talking to much will be limited and
> those not at all may be drawn out, 
> To clarify and summarise points being made, 
> To test for concensus and formalise decisions, 
> To help the group deal with conflict.
> 
> It is not the same as a chair (man!!) and it's a skill
> that can be developed by all of us, although i don't
> think it is an easy role to play well(thats not to say
> its massively difficult either!).
> 
> Most of the description above is drawn from resources
> created by Seeds for Change, 'a not for profit
> training co op helping people organise for action and
> positive social change'. 
> 
> One of their members came to sheffield recently and
> ran a workshop about facilitation. I think i can speak
> for all of us who attended in saying it was useful and
> inspiring and would encourage further workshops for
> more people (which seeds for change will happily run
> for us free/for travel costs).
> 
> I think it would be really helpful to us as a group to
>  be more informed about concensus decision making,
> what it is, and how it works well.
> 
> All the Seeds for Change resources are available on
> their website: www.seedsforchange.org.uk
> in the section 'free training and workshops for
> independent grass roots groups'.
> 
> I will bring some printed copies to the next meeting.
> Hope that will provide some food for thought!
> 
> see y'all monday
> 
> ruth
> xxxx
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 	
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