Transition Brighton & Hove: Crisis Gathering: The Werks Hove 10am – 4pm,19 April 2008. Notes by Natasha Thoday
Attendees:-
Ann Baldridge; Simon Brett; John Bristow; David Greenop; Kat Neeser; Jo Nean; Natasha Thoday; Stephen Watson; Maureen Winder; Chris Callard ; Louis Loizou; Doly Garcia
We sat in a circle on chairs with a flip chart with this list on it:-
What do we understand by Transition?
What is going well?
What could we be doing better?
How an we unleash our collective genius?
What excites us about transition?
Why are we involved with Transition B&H rather than other groups within the city?
What should we be focussing our energies on at the moment?
What is the best way to engage new people who volunteer help?
Step Zero: Did we form interest groups too early? Was it deliberate?
Each person briefly introduced themselves. Then the group decided to go round answering the first question above, which was rephrased:
Q: What do we understand by Transition? Core Message? What do we tell people what TT is?
Several people offered their pet technical phrases...
Bunch of ordinary people getting together to address problems.
The ‘shit is going to hit the fan’.
Avoid technical and clique language.
PO & CC will affect others in the UK.
Use story & analogy and examples from elsewhere e.g. in Mali a generator was built with local materials.
Talk about people’s pockets (i.e. their cash).
Assume some knowledge and build on that.
Come in at their level, and ask them about their knowledge.
PO & CC symptom of much deeper problem, their is currently a lack of resilience, and that only minor disturbances can upset the equilibrium.
Sustainable local community that must be in balance with nature.
We currently live in a highly vulnerable society.
Refer to media reports, e.g.. food riots, and retailers artificially manipulating local markets.
Technical definitions of TT & PO that are intrinsic to TT framework e.g. TT handbook.
Community emphasis and [that TT enables people to] relate better.
Aim to attract people like us.
Give a transition definition first.
We currently live a “sarcophagus [coffin] existence” alienated from the land.
Look at success stories.
What TT means personally and to our neighbourhood.
TT will make Brighton more sustainable.
A future not using fossil fuels due to PO mindful of big and small scales.
Definitions of TT depend on the knowledge level and sophistication of audiences.
Transition is such a good idea it almost doesn’t need PO and CC.
Tea Break, then the next question discussed was: what are TT B&H’s priorities?
Interest groups do targeted awareness raising.
Be mindful of designing in a group’s demise (e.g. in step 1).
How to focus in on steps 2 – 5 and how to ensure those groups design in their demise.
Do research towards EDAP via awareness raising, energising and engaging new people in the idea of the EDAP.
Do people on groups really understand TT concepts?
Is TT technology understandable, (e.g. what are the steps)?
How to engage reskilling enthusiasm about TT technology & techniques
Workshops about TT technology & techniques (interactive is good e.g. as delivered by Charley recently).
How to manage conflicts between paid and voluntary.
What is the impact of choice of vocabulary e.g. is it a gathering or a meeting?
Make gatherings / meetings interactive and entertaining.
Have to hold general meetings but must be shared.
Aim gatherings / meetings at newbies or oldies? Mentoring newbies.
At least 5 types of gatherings / meetings were identified: a) Hub; b) General meetings; c) Interest, d) Neighbourhood, and e) Project groups.
But why these types of gatherings / meetings?
Must have feedback to determine effectiveness of aims and outcomes of gatherings / meetings.
Concrete ideas needed about what we are doing.
Do we need a separate education and awareness group?
Should the hub should be separate from education and awareness group or should everybody be doing education and awareness?
Film screening events – get involvement from audience in the city, the city already has lots going on.
Need to target neighbourhood & community groups that already exist in city.
Putting on a film by Special Interest Group’s (SIG) is an easy thing to do.
Need to have responsibility for awareness raising.
Use general meeting for education – DVD.
How do we resolve issues and problems about individuals in the group?
First port of call: discuss with the individual concerned, not the whole group.
Everybody must learn about conflict resolution techniques..
Make a list of thing that need to be done.
To motivate interest groups have meetings of SIG coordinators and emails between SIG coordinators. Instigation by Hub of awareness training including vital DVD’s etc...
Do joint promotions and films with Brighton Climate Change group.
Need training on community work e.g. Working Together Project.
Use open space in general meetings, need facilitation training.
Clarification of purpose of general meetings.
Have more themed general meetings.
Have sharing sessions and /or project, hub, introductory, educational, etc... gatherings / meetings instead of general meetings.
Point of contacting other established TT’s to see what they do.
Themed gatherings / meetings start to look like Special Interest Group meetings.
Recognise the functions required and organise around.
Purpose of general meeting to keep people informed of what is going on. Should be okay for drop in new people to be given a 15 minutes intro talk before full session starts.
Separate the mechanics / admin functions from the fun stuff, i.e. well focussed.
Change name of general meeting to “All Network Meeting”.
Introductory awareness type of general meeting?
Communication meeting between parts of local network.
Strategy meeting. Events. Change name of HUB!
Separate meetings. General meeting – collective vision, open space celebrated on issues one question for the meeting.
Introductory sessions for new people e.g Charley’s work shop. Role groups.
Jo’s diagram. Consensus needed to go to general meeting.
Next general meeting. A rethink: “If you care about TT B&H come to this meeting”
Child care for children needed.
Action: how to make next general meeting / gathering inspiring, meeting of coordinators of SIG’s, introductory sessions, & Charley’s workshop. Group field trip to another TT eg open space in Lewes...
Practical proposals: Regular meeting at same venue, same day and venue each time, to make it simple for people to remember.
Open discussion day: the future of TBH – Sat 19 April
