Notes by John Kapp
Present Jo Nean (facilitator) Steve Watson (leader) John Bristow (leader) Dave (leader) Doly (leader) Maureen (leader) Liz, Laura, Louis, Ted, Jackie, Vicky,Lara Lewington, John Kapp (secretary)
Report back
Members reported back on their attendance at regional meetings of Transition Towns. The movement is spreading like wild fire. It is proposed to form regional, national and international forums of Transition Towns, eg for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and overseas.
Agenda for this meeting
1 To decide how to make decisions
2 To consider proposals to change the structure of TBH.
3To consult those present by world café method.
4To adopt Aims and Principles (as Lewes and others have done)
5To decide on the next meeting.
6Any Other Business (AOB)
1 Decision making
It was proposed to adopt the consensus model of decision making as the default , with the option of deciding by consensus to adopt another method to save time eg delegation of powers to an individual, or voting on specific decisions.
Suggested hand signals to indicate intention: Wish to speak = hand up. Agreement = wobbling hands, Strong disagreement= blocking movement of palm. Weak disagreement, dis-association, stand aside= no signal. (like ‘nem con’=none against)
It was proposed to offer training in facilitation of meetings. Agreed. Action Jo
2 Change from ‘hub and spoke’ to ‘forum and spoke’ structure
It was proposed to widen the Hub from just the co-ordinators of the groups, to a forum of all members including the co-ordinators, or their substitute, so that no group is unrepresented. This was agreed (1 stand aside) on a trial basis for the first Forum meeting, without yet dissolving the Hub. Action: All to attend
It was proposed to offer new members occasional induction meetings. Agreed. Action Jo, Steve, john B.
3 World café consultation
In 3 groups we considered what is good, bad and interesting about TBH. The leader wrote down points made. for writing up and considering later. Action: Dave, Maureen, Doly, to write up conclusions for consideration at the next meeting
Charlie Haward of Evolution, had written a fun ‘structure’. It was proposed to incorporate this into our structure. Agreed. Consult book ‘Gaia democracy’. Action Jo, Steve, John B.
4 Aims and Principles
The Aims and Principles of Lewes were tabled and it was proposed that we adopt Aims and Principles of our own, as a vehicle to achieving our objective of creating an Energy Descent Action Plan for Brighton and Hove, compiled from each groups contribution to it. This was agreed. Action ? (secretary will draft for next meeting)
5 Forum meeting
It was agreed to hold the first forum meeting on Thurs 5.6.08 at 7.30pm at corner of Edward St, Brighton Agenda: Matters arising from this meeting, including
conclusions of World Café consultation, Aims and Principles. Action Louis
6 AOB
a) It was proposed that Co-housing should be either a new group of TBH, or an affiliation of existing group to TBH. This was agreed enthusiastically. Action Vicky
b) Participation in Frank Jay’s Green Wave Festival, Preston Park, Weekend 5-6 July was proposed. Agreed enthusiastically. Action Jackie?Notes from World Cafe discussions
Questions:
What is good about Transition Brighton & Hove? (these notes by David Greenop)
Communication:
• Website:
o Very professionally produced
o Well managed
o Response from webmaster quick & helpful
o Appears fresh & tidy
o Content kept up to date
• Publicity activities:
o Radio interviews
o Press articles
o Public talks
o Leaflets
• Events:
o Events at the Cowley Club such Buy Nothing Day, Swaparama, From Planet to Plate and Great Reskilling are engaging with people in a way that is different from other green groups.
Community focus:
• TB&H provides an opportunity for communities to do something together to tackle Climate change and Peak oil
Involvement:
• A good diversity of ages, backgrounds and interests of individuals involved in TB&H
• Individuals show respect for each other and disagreements get resolved
• There is a strong sense of urgency to get things done
• TB&H provide opportunity for networking, skill sharing and making new contacts
• Provides an opportunity for individuals to develop new skills such as facilitation and leadership
• Encourages learning new things and seeing things in a new perspective
Interest Groups:
• Some Interest Groups are working well although started earlier than the 12 Step suggested.
• Interest groups foster a positive feeling of being involved in a group with a purpose
• Developing activities down to a participation level e.g. food events and community allotment
• TB&H interest groups working in partnership with other organisation is a good model
Political / Organisational:
• Being a politically neutral organisation is important as it is non-partisan and allows TB&H to control the agenda, to determine its own alignments and raise difficult questions.
• Support from and access to B&H Council Sustainability group
What is working well and needs to continue
Communication: Continue the use of public facing activities such as the website, events, talks, press articles and radio & TV interviews, perhaps our own local radio show. Be a source of trusted public information on what is happening on Climate Change & Peak Oil
Special Interest groups: These need to be encouraged and developed as they are positive way for people to get involved. New ideas for Interest groups could be seeded and they should be given more autonomy. Collectively they give a resilient network cell type structure which is self supporting. Encourage skill exchange across groups.
Events: Whether large scale or small, initiated by TB&H or done in partnership can reach many different parts of the population of B&H.
Involvement: Need to continue to diversify with involvement from all parts of the population. Increase our local networking with individuals and organisation. Continue to educate yourselves by encouraging knowledge and skill developments and in particular leadership.
Organisational: Continue to have dialogue with B&H Council and remain politically neutral. Strengthen our network and cultivate a culture of Action, followed by Reflection, followed by Dialogue.
Question:
Things we don't know/are unclear: (these notes by Doly Garcia
- Not knowing enough useful people outside TBH
- Not knowing the technical issues about CC and PO
- Not knowing structures and decision-making processes
- Not knowing the skills we have within TBH
- No consistent understanding among people outside the hub of what TBH does
- Perceived as a "wobbly jelliness" (nothing is clearly defined)
- Not clear who has decision-making power
- Not clear how people can join TBH
Other things we lack:
- Not enough reaching out/publicity/education and awareness, and almost none directed to specific different groups of people
- Not enough strategic thinking (EDRAP), and not enough linking of interest groups to EDRAP
- Not enough active people in some groups. Proposal: move the edge towards the inside, make the lurkers more active
- Not enough information sharing, internally and externally
- No sense of urgency
- No social activities
- No general principles
Issues with meetings:
- Bad advertising of meetings
- The meetings aren't properly structured. Proposal: Action lists, find good facilitators
- Boring meetings
People/perception issues:
- Perceived as middle class
- Some people are judgemental (anti-techie, anti-fluffy)
- Not everybody's views are respected (cliques)
- Too much Transition Towns jargon
- The hub appears an elite within TBH
- Perceived as a talking shop
- TBH is too centralized
The TBH Big Rethink meeting – Wed 7 May
Notes from TBH general meeting – Wed 9 April
Notes by Stephen Watson
The purpose of the meeting was to try to work out how to keep people more engaged with what is going on in TBH.
How did you hear about this meeting tonight?
Web site: 1 + 1/2 + 1/2
Word of mouth: 1 + 1/2
Hub: 7
Green Party Meeting: 1 + 1/2
Mailing list: 1
(The 1/2 was people who heard about it one way and check it via another)
Why did you come to this meeting tonight?
Very involved
A sense of involvement with it
I Care about it
A sense of responsibility
Importance of the process
Nurturing the Transition seedling
Community
Responsibility to community
To make a difference to our future
Worked in community development for years. Wanted to find out more, so as to be more useful helping Ann on Saturday. Out of work at the moment, so has some free time. has ideas about ways of changing environment. Only way we can change if we stop consuming so much.
Involved last year in a group trying to setup an eco-village. Group ended.
Get back involved.
Knew about Transition Towns from Permaculture and prompted me to get involved.
Don't just think about it - do it!
Aware that things are beginning to get urgent now - go on paying lip service rather than action for this.
Needs to come from grassroots - government has no real commitment.
To keep up with what's going on
Good movement
Challenges of the coming meltdown
Extremely worried about the coming 'meltdown'
Don't think that groups / lobbyists / government is up to the challenge
Overarching group rather than a single issue
All other work part of TT anyway
Determined to come to every meeting since the first one - I'm a stubborn person
Was going to come to the meeting anyway - but no expectations
Addicted to Transition meetings
Nothing on TV
Connection with FairTrade
To get back into the loop and the bigger group instead of just attending small interest groups
Interested in starting up a young people's group
Keep in touch with what everybody's doing
To see new faces: more energy coming into the group
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How can we contact various people in Brighton?
Local papers
Radio (Reverb)
Flyers at (Community) Libraries
Discussions at Community and Forum Groups
Activist and Community Groups
Coffee meetings
Community Newsletters
Stickers
Performance
Viral marketing
Stalls
Speakers
Graffiti
Political engagement
Schools
Publicity Stunts
Multimedia pack
Film making
DVD Club
Film screenings
Working with other Activist Groups
1) Join B&H Community or Voluntary Sector Forum
a) Update on newsletter
b) Work with them on Climate Change & Peak Oil
2) Use Brighton Activist Network website - Sign In. Provide a diary of meeting dates
3) Stalls at events:
Interfaith Group
World Fair Trade Day
Wave event in Preston Park
Events such as Gay Pride
Hove Farmers' market
4) Facilitating TB&H Interest Groups seeking mutual interest & ??? with other local groups active in their areas
5) Events with other local groups i.e.
Speakers
WDM Transition Town Talk
Send invites to similar people & organisations
We support their events
7) Use vision/EDAP process to talk & engage with people and organisations. Get their contributions - set questions
Discussions at Community Groups and Forums (Outreach)
Brighton Youth Service ( web site) - every Estate has a centre
Detached
Centre-based
Drop-in
Care Centres
Day Centres - Millview hospital may have list
Elderly Homes
Supported Housing
Community Base
High Rise Action Group
Islamic and other ethnic groups
EB4U BME officers
Probation Service
Community Centres (lunch clubs, other courses, etc.)
Being sensitive to other cultures (esp. norms) and being proactive - go into other people's "realm"
Flyer Tesco + ASDA
National Trust
RSPB - more members than any political party!
Volunteer Bureau on Western Road
Film Showings
What?
Power of Community
Crude
Message in the Waves
An Inconvenient Truth
*Crude Awakening*
What a Way To Go (certainly not for everyone - maybe home showings?)
Story of Stuff
End of Suburbia
Where?
Brighton Unemployed Centre Family Centre
Duke of York's
Alicats
The Cowley Club
Friends Meeting House
'Village' halls / Community Centres
Who?
Job descriptions?
Roles to attract & keep new members before you lose them
Refreshments (Vegan) - vegan ice cream. (for Funding)
How?
A film screening group within TB&H
Schools and Youth Groups
Hook up with Project Genie
Council - Eco schools - nature, recycling
Local food - after school cookery club
Half day conference - ???? energy descent plan conference for kids
Develop workshops - performance, hands-n workshops. Storytelling.
Youth Groups - Woodingdean / Whitehawk
Cowley Club, Scouts, Woodcraft Folk, Guides, YMCA
Impact Initiatives Youth Group, Council run youth services
Youth Clubs
Kids Clubs
Home education kids
Workshop / Storytelling
TT youth group
Figure out key people with TT
Find out exactly what other groups are doing and get help
Developing workshops / curriculums
Trial with youth groups
Funding - lots of it available for kids / youth stuff
Launch TBH 'Youth' Group
Sign up here:
Jo Nean
Beth Tilson
Jon Seagrave (may co-ordinate)
Vicky Wakefield-Jarret
Sarah Flyn
Who are some of the groups we can we contact in Brighton?
Office workers
Homeless
Unemployed & working class
Commuters
Middle classes
Supermarket workers
Rich people
Elderly
Teachers
Anarchists
Food growers
Clubbers
Techie people
Hospital users / workers
Students
Alternative Therapists
Faith groups
Children
Local businesses
Tourism workers
Residents' groups
(Ex-) Offenders
Gay community and other 'Communities of Interest'
Parents
Vulnerable Groups - elderly, long-term care, disabilities
Aristocracy
Animals!
Vulnerable Groups
Includes: disabled / elderly / long-term care / offenders / homeless
Be inclusive
How are they involved? What can they offer?**
Opportunity for input - their experiences, their dreams
We are moving to a new future; how would this affect these groups?
Impacts of energy & food scarcity
Rising costs of living
What do we plan for?
How to provide resilience & security for these groups?
Do we need new ways of providing care & housing and keeping people involved in the community - creating a sense of community.
** Ask for their involvement in skill transfer or exchange. The art of living in a different time is something to share.
Skill swaps with the elderly (one on one sessions, days of skill swapping as an event)
Tomorrow's home - reflecting on the 1940s e.g. home but future looking
Unemployed and Working Class
Where?
Brighton Unemployed Family Centre
Unemployed Workers Centre
Community Centres (Whitehawk, The Bridge, Bristol Estate)
Getting people involved in events that are already going. Increase involvement in allotment, cookery classes, Great reskilling etc.
Energy generation
1st Event: raising awareness about PO & CC
Film: The Story of Stuff, Crude, The Power of Community
Suburbanite
Money / Capitalist
'Chinks in a cosy existence'
morsbags given out
Watch 'The End of Suburbia' - ad in bag
Children's performance about Peak Oil / CC. A lovely sustainable future outside supermarket / in a park
How to connect with commuters
Trains
Written info / flyers at train station. Free newspapers; add into metro / Argus Lite
Flyers at stations - 7am
Flyer typical commuter houses?
Flyer with a bisucit ( & a smile) - made by the Food Group
Content:
Tell commuters about working from home - info about how you can work from home - government info on this
Flexible working laws (women especially)
Cars
School runs
Support no car day - dangerous to cross the road during a school run
Work with schools - want to reduce school runs for environmental reasons
Make walking to schools safer
Work with schools to make the area around schools safer
No car day once a week as a target. Create a 'critical mass' & pattern of behaviour
Council - Zebra crossings, pavements, "Brighton not built for cars"
Bus Drivers
Educate them to be safer and more aware
Promote more cycle safety
Promote bike use - subsidise bike schemes. Estate Agents!
Bio fuels address power that a car holds - how do you make bio fuel
Bikes as a status symbol
Selling green as fashionable - cloth bags are a good example of this
Next TBH general meeting – Thu 28 February
The next general meeting is at 7.30pm on Thu 28 February at The Werks, 45 Church Street, Hove (map) The aim of this meeting is to inspire a deeper sense of connection and engagement amongst participants in Transition Brighton and Hove. We'll be asking for feedback from representatives of the various interest groups, showing a film clip, and facilitating an exercise designed to encourage all of us to think about our role within a successful network.
[read full text]
Notes from TBH general meeting – Wed 30 January
Notes taken by John Bristow
Where we'd like TBH to be at end of 08: Organised under 12 Steps Framework
These ideas come from post-its (24, some with more than one idea on them) from 30 Jan workshop and ideas from 3 Jan Hub meeting.
This is a collection of ideas which hopefully will inspire us – not a “ to do” list! We can review this at subsequent General Meetings, in Transition Interest Groups (TIGs) and in the Hub and select our priorities and how we want to use our time and energy, given the number of us who can and want to be actively involved. As we attract others who want to be active participants we can do more.
The key aspirations we are acting on:
1. Training workshops on Transition: shared understanding of aims and process amongst ourselves and others
2. Awareness Raising: Talks, DVD showings, Speaker Programme, Events: Wider awareness of the issues and Transition Towns
3. Known by and Collaborating with Other Parts of the Community: Community groups, Business, Universities and Council. Consulted, respected, asked to speak.
4. Visible Signs and Projects: clear answer to question - what are you doing? Small scale projects that involve others, and demonstrate what we are about
5. Unleashing Event: attracting a wide and diverse range of people
6. Transition Interest Groups: clear purpose and goals, projects, contribution to our energy descent and action plans
7. Neighbourhood groups under way: talks, awareness raising and workshops at street and neighbourhood level.
8. Vision and Energy Descent Plan: Project team working with other groups – current state, aims, vision, indicators and measures drafted. Open Space event.
1. Training Workshops for us and others in the City: Greater Shared Understanding of our Aims and Method
Transition Training: Heart and Soul of change, and then EDAP process for all in the network and public workshops in the City
Anyone engaged has gone through personal reflection and visioning and comparing this with how and where contemporary society is taking them.
Develop, pilot and deliver workshop on energy and resource use, ideally within neighbourhoods to develop local, street solutions. Use and adapt existing tools from NEF, Green Streets etc. Partner with other community/environment groups.
Use of Open Space, and learning how to run it.
Skills/Kn sharing amongst ourselves e.g. Gaian Democracy – offers so far: Lo Gov, Publicity, Public Speaking
Also Facilitation short input sessions very useful (e.g. for TIGs)
2. Awareness Raising
Big, successful, wide-reaching and vibrant education and awareness programme for an awakened and empowered city
People to have heard of TT and TBH outside our existing network
Everybody will understand what Transition Towns are.
Simple language – less jargon
Successful Speaker Programme – good reputation from it, and ideas for our vision and plan, support from Council and Lo Gov, and co-operation with other envt and community groups (BPEC, BHFP, Friends of Earth etc). Being set up.
DVD showings and discussion – both city-wide and home groups (underway)
Attracting more people – awareness raising and fun
Events and stalls that target a wide demographic
Well known around and about Brighton. Awareness raising puts us on the map.
Participation activity in public events
Guardian article on TBH - Bebe Banderzee (Chris)
Media profile: constant reference in Argus and free papers/magazines (Rocks etc)
TBH embedded in the curriculum in schools; teacher and pupil networks. Fitting in a moral perspective to subjects (geography, science). PSHE activities (clothing).
Awareness stands in chill-out rooms in clubs.
3. Connection and Relationships with Key parts of Community
Joint event and festivals with other community and environment groups (already 8 June proposed)
Connected to and working with other groups: BHFP, BPEC , FoE, Brighton Climate Change, CRAG, Green Women, BH CVSF, Neighbourhood Action Groups, Residents Associations, Cycling groups, Buddhists/Churches/Mosques, Allotment groups, Oxfam, WDM, Peace groups, Trade Unions, Youth groups, Mum and Toddler groups.
Recognised by majority of public and groups.
Brighton businesses linked to us – sticker supporting us and us supporting them. Relationship with Economic Partnership and Business Forum more developed.
Council engagement – Effective stakeholders for Sustainable Community Plan and strategy, as well as consulted for LSP and Climate Change strategy, and by Sustainability Commission. Represented in all SD committees and well respected
More inter-connected: throughout Brighton and the country as a whole
(Don’t forget to look at transition network website to see the Newsletter. It is a fast growing organisation and we are challenged in getting the funds, resources and organisation structures to avoid burn out or a national office bottleneck.
20 to 35 official transition towns in 4 months since August 07. and 400 others interested and mulling it over.
Internationally – interest in setting up a transition network in Australia, New Zealand, US as well as Scotland and Ireland.
Rob Hopkins Book launch (“Small is inervitable”?)
4. Visible Signs
Clear projects – in answer to question “What are you doing?”
Publicise success – keep a log of what concrete tangible things have been achieved and use this to gain publicity and promote awareness.
Aim for a small number of concrete tangible achievements rather than a large number of overly ambitious unrealistic goals.
Some physical manifestations of change
Demonstration projects (e.g. house and flat refurbishment, local food growing, etc) or stories of transition (published) from different perspectives (kaleidoscope of views and popsitions). Some being planned already.
Transition allotment project
Something very visible in Brighton that would show everybody that Brighton is now a Transition City, e.g.. "Thank you for using the train instead of a car. Signed: The Earth."
Undertaking some project specifically to increase the resilience of Brighton people in the face of an energy crisis – including vulnerability studies and/or recommendations for specific organizations, like Totnes has done.
Incinerator not going ahead
Brighton and Lewes marketed as a place for renewables sector.
5. Unleashing
Unleashing event during the year – such that whole city knows
A great unleashing, birthing event – huge, wide-reaching and fun. Attracting a diverse crowd to energise the wider community around the idea of collectively designing our future.
6. Transition Interest Groups
TIGs have vision and clear purpose and goals, and “design criteria” for solutions.
TIGs done a first picture of Brighton and contributed to our EDRAP, and each got a project
Heart and Soul of Change/Personal Life Style workshops run
“Action Experiments” with local residents, businesses, etc to explore ways of addressing Climate Change and Peak Oil. An informed action-orientation combined with learning before, during and after action.
MSc projects in summer term in co-operation with Sussex and Brighton Universities that help us understand the current state in the City, others’ aims and aspirations, and what blocks and enable transition. (Transport and Energy projects currently being discussed)
7. Neighbourhood groups under way
Follow up to invitations to talk to residential/community associations – DVD showings, Transition Workshop, Resource/Energy/Waste workshop
Transition Training workshops encouraging people to form “home groups” to support each other in carrying on the learning and change in everyday life.
8. Reskilling
Start this with various skill sets (e.g. textiles, food growing etc)
People learning new skills
Anyone engaged in TBH has gained a new skill.
9. Respect the Elders
Bringing people together from different age or income groups, backgrounds etc. e.g food growing and cooking – young people in schools brought together with “elders” and learning from and with each other.
10. Letting go and Keeping Focus
People able to move in and out of Hub as required
Many people and groups exercise leadership.
Getting balance right between initiative and self-organising on the one hand and alignment and co-ordination on the other. Keeping an eye on how our ways of organising work or don’t work and getting feedback from network to hub and back.
11. Vision and Energy Descent Action Plan
Beginnings of a shared vision in our network.
Paper version of EDAP together with an annual review process.
Involve art and education groups in a vision exercise with a visual result.
Have some idea of how we would measure change
Ensure that TBH has SMART goals and objectives so that they are clear, workable and more likely to be met rather than causing frustration and disillusionment: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound
Other Areas
Website
Continue making it more user friendly
Next Transition Brighton and Hove general meeting – 29 November
The next general meeting is on 29 November at the slightly earlier time of 7–9pm, at the Salvation Army Hall, 1 Park Crescent (north side of the Level map)
Do you want to participate in working groups that address our basic need areas – such as Food, Energy, Transport, Buildings, Waste and Resources, Textiles? And/or in a Neighbourhood group for the particular area in which you live?
The Purpose of this meeting is to form these groups and help them organise their first meetings. We will be covering:
• the purpose of function and neighbourhood groups
• how to organise your first meeting
• a possible agenda for the first meeting
• where to go for resources and information about the Transition process
• how to use the website and forum for your group
• the direction of the groups in the future
with lots of time for questions about anything else you want to know.
We will be also having informal Christmas drinks in a nearby pub afterwards
Next Transition network meeting – Tue 6 Nov
Our next Whole Network meeting for Transition B&H is now to be on Tuesday 6th November 7.30 to 9.30 at the Brighthelm Centre (map). We felt this Tues would be too soon.
Our Agenda is
1. Update from the Leaflet group and Hub on the Core Message, and from the Logo group on the Logo, and updates on Progress from all the Education and Awareness Programme Action Groups present.
2. Setting up Function and Neighbourhood Groups.
Facilitated by Stephen Watson and Ann Baldridge.
Next Transition network meeting Thu 18 Oct (NEW VENUE)
Whole Network Meeting
Thurs 18th October 7.30pm to 9.30pm
NEW VENUE The Salvation Army Hall, Park Crescent (north end of the Level) map
Free entry
Purpose
To empower and enable the Action Groups now formed to carry out our Education and Awareness Programme by helping them to
(1) Co-ordinate their activities with the Programme as a whole and with the other Action Groups
(2) Get the help and resources they need from the various groups within the network, and know where to go to for what (using a “map” of the network as an organisation)
(3) Discuss how the Function and Neighbourhood groups can support them in the Programme
PLEASE COME AND JOIN IN whether you are in an action group yet or not, and whether you are thinking of being in a Function (e.g. Food, Energy, Transport, Buildings etc) or Neighbourhood group – or not.
Background Info: The Education Awareness Programme plan will be updated by Mon 15th October. Guidelines for Function and Neighbourhood groups are in draft. Both documents will be available on the website. A short (4 page) core message is in preparation and authors are being approached.
Next Transition network meeting
The next network meeting is at 7.30 on Wednesday 3 October at the Hanover room in the Brighthelm centre. We'll be organising the Education and Awareness actions that were proposed at the last meeting, see the forum for the list of actions. Please come along and help out...
[read full text]
Minutes of Network Meeting on 19th September 07
Meeting in Hanover Room, Brighthelm. 19:30 to 21:30
Minutes by Stephen Watson
We intend to get into groups to discuss what we're raising awareness about.
Update from John Bristow: Formed coordinating hub, become official. Membership ios temporary for 6 months. 250 people on mailing list. We have interest and neighbourhood groups. Chris has sert new web site to allow groups to form and assist groups. About to form e & a group. Flip charts from previous meetings are on the wall and have been types up on web. (See web for details).
We're not doing this alone, we're trying to reach 270,000 people! Also rach out to all other grosups, business, schools etc. We're a network linking organisation around PO and CC.
We're working in partnership with other groups. We do steps 2 & 3 of the Primer together - probably. DVDs are 'doomy' so we need to be inspiring.
Jo explained that we'll use consensus and explained about "silent clapping".
Jo said that we'll get into small groups to discuss what we're raising awareness for.
John read out principles to all, followed by the "What" list from the wall flip chart.
Jo says that it's important that we find our way to do this.
Kat asked how other TTs are doing this; John said mostly by DVD showings and expert talks followed by Open Space discussions.
John Baker has had his ideas and had printouts to share.
We split into 3 groups to discuss what was our message.
The groups reported back and Chris wrote them up:
Oil used in everything
Transition is about not waiting for government to do things for us
Show benefits to society (Power of Community)
Clarifying problems
Practical solutions as shown by other Transition Towns
Greenwash. Debunking myths / supplying concrete facts
Implications both globally and locally
We split into 3 groups, but not the same ones, to discuss how we might put the message over.
2nd feedback
(4) Farmers' market - stalls. Basic awareness raising with leaflets for upcoming events.
FM - Ralli Hall showing rolling films in side hall with discussion
(5) Trailer advertising TB&H shown by DOY before each film
(10) One off showings of a variety of related Transition films + discussion + panel
(10) Unleashing as part of Brighton Festival Fringe. Open House - eco house
(4) Stickers in shop windows "I'm supporting TB&H"
(7) Flyers to be left in shops
(1) Video blogs
(0) Radio adverts
(4) Theatre events, Arts 'installation' and exhibitions.
(6) Multimedia pack
(7) Publicity stunts
(4) DVD club
(3) Invite documentaries to be made
(4) Free schooling days
(8) Workshops in and with schools and companies
(5) Survey what people really know know and get onto South Today
(3) TT in property magazines
(2) Street parties
(4) More articles in magazines
(8) Regular column in Rocks? magazine (Argus)
(0) Awareness raising outside supermarkets.
The numbers above in parentheses are the numbers of people showing interest in taking this forward.
Date and location of next meeting to be decided.
Notes on Meeting - 29th August 07
Notes on Meeting - 29th August 07 (Note taker John Bristow)
Attendance 17
Purpose and Outline
Share ideas on Step 2 of Transition Journey: Education and Awareness raising in B&H
Complete Accreditation with Transition Towns Network and Agree some Hub Roles
Progress and Outcome
1. Forming our Network Organisation, and Planning our Meetings
We completed our accreditation application and this has been sent to TT central office (see Pages on this Website)
We have 10 members of the Hub so far and have allocated some necessary roles (see Pages on this Website)
We are discussing what meetings we need to have and have suggested a whole network meeting for Wed 19th Sept 7.30 - 9.30 probably at Brighthelm Centre (venue to be confirmed), with social time after; and the Hub will probably meet on the 12th Sept (venue to be announced).
A Website design group is planning to meet too - but see the Discussion on our website.
We have some people offering to convene Function and Neighbourhood Groups. I will email them and suggest they set up a Discussion and a Page on the website, with examples of TT network groups do in the early stages, if they have not done so already (Energy and Business have, and notes form Buildings, Health, Education and Awareness, Transport, Peak Oil, Integrating with others are in Pages).
2. Learning about, and Planning, Education and Awareness Raising in line with Vision Development and Working with Other Groups and Organisations in the City: Steps 2 and 3
We discussed ideas in groups of 3 and these were recorded on Post-its and have been typed up. They are in a Discussion and will be consolidated with other reports on this from 25 July and 15 August meetings in Pages
A small group discussed this further while the Hub was meeting and this report is included in these Pages - linking to other community groups and organisations and developing a shared vision.
Function and Neighbourhood groups can feed into this from their perspectives in due course.
But meanwhile we are seeking input and guidance from TT network nationally. Some of us are visiting Totnes and hopefully someone from Totnes will attend one of our network meetings. We also want to network with other towns and cities to learn from what they did in the first stages of transition, and have links to their websites in ours.
We can then pool this knowledge and the ideas generated so far and take it further in a whole network meeting using Open Space format.
We are developing a "journey map" for the initial steps up to our launch conference ("unleashing") adapting the Transition journey steps to our local context, and linking key elements together: issues of Climate Change and Peak Oil and how they impact on key function/need areas (food, energy, buildings, transport, waste etc), using input from our Science and Technology group, solutions from TT network and around the world, analysis of B&H situation now (generally and by key function/baisc needs group) and developing a shared vision (first version) with other groups and organisations, with targets and measures of progress - and a planning process to go with it.to address climate change and peak oil and move towards more local resilience and self-reliance in meeting our basic needs (some re-localisation). In our accreditation application we stated our purpose as "providing education and support that mobilises community and personal responses to climate change and energy scarcity", in line with TT network's purpose.
We are in a learning and planning stage right now, it seems.
Notes on Meeting – 15 August 07
Notes on Meeting – 15 August 07 (Note-taker: John Bristow)
Meeting Purpose, Outline and Turnout
Around 40 of us met at Brighthelm Centre for 2 hrs from 7.30.
The meeting went well and many were pleased at where we had got to by the end.
The aim was twofold to:
Form, or start to form, a Hub for the TBH network and begin to discuss its role in relation to the rest of the Network in B&H and other groups and organisations in the city, in carrying out together the tasks of the first steps of the transition journey.
Prepare to meet the Transition Network’s criteria for starting a transition within the national network, as agreed with its Funders.
Doly introduced the meeting.
John gave an update on numbers of network members (145 on email list) and the function and neighbourhood groups that people have interest in joining (sometimes putting name down for 2 or 3). Function areas cover: (1) the way how we meet basic needs links to climate change and peak oil (food, transport, buildings, energy, recycling etc – 64 people), (2) other community needs generally and in transition towards greater resilience (education and awareness raising throughout the city, community enlargement, use of arts and media, health, local economy – 48 people), (3) co-operating and joint planning with local government (8 people), community and environmental groups (16 people) and business (6 people) - and networking nationally and internationally (8 people), (4) use of science and technology (6 people). Neighbourhood groups cover 5 or so areas of B&H (101 people or 76% wanting to be in neighbourhood groups).
Steve described the first few stages in the transition process (from the primer), and went through the questions for meeting the national network criteria using the Nottingham example (a similar size city), and the typical functions of a hub group.
Questions then included:
What distinguishes the Transition Network and Transition B&H from other environment and community groups in the city? Answers included: (1) a coherent strategy to work with all groups to address the critical issues of climate change and rise in oil prices as oil passes its peak, to reduce carbon footprint and consume less energy and resources (“energy descent plan”). (2) This is a community-based network (3rd sector) that seeks to collaborate with local government and business, and leaves campaigning to others doing great work in that area already. (3) The uncertain, and potentially devastating, impacts of CC and Peak Oil together require greater local resilience across the country (much more re-localising of the economy to towns and regions, while not attempting complete self-sufficiency), and this is a key aim of the network. We focus on social and economic as well as environmental issues in addressing climate change and peak oil. A useful question which we can ask again from time to time!
Why was the 25 July meeting not made public in the Argus? We asked the Argus journalist present not to as we had not formed an organisation yet.
What are the Function and Neighbourhood groups supposed to do now? A good question that the Hub can discuss with F and N groups and others in the network, once the Hub has formed. Awareness raising across our city and neighbourhood seems to be an activity that all groups can share in during the first steps.
Creating a Shared Picture of the Transition Journey
We need to build a general picture of the transition process together, calling on the experience of towns such as Kinsale, Totnes, Stroud, and what has been distilled from this in the TT network guidelines. At the same time we can all start discussing how to go about education and awareness raising in all its aspects, both issues and solutions, with some of the 250K people in the city, including different income/age/ethnic/life style groups so that the network membership includes these. We can build relationships with existing local community-based organisations, local government, local media, schools and businesses through collaborating in this process, with a view to ongoing synergy and co-operation in the future. We have started this already – an education and awareness group formed on the 25th, and another one did at this meeting, and which will report back by website and email. Our membership has a good representation of local groups and organisations.
Building on what Steve said, based on TTNetwork guidelines (the “primer” and see also www.transitiontowns.org for examples) the next steps would be: after (or just before) an event to mark the start of the process proper (“the great unleashing”) we can develop a shared vision and direction for the transition. Then we can go on to create together both a long term plan, and a short term programme of projects, with others in government, business and the community locally, advised by our sci and tech group. Awareness raising and relationship building are key parts of the 1st stages of the transition journey leading to more specific initiatives after the shared direction and vision is in its first version or edition. These initiatives will in most cases be based on an analysis of the relevant city context and specific goals and measures and plans, with the aim of getting some some quick wins and visible results while making steps or achieving milestones in the longer term journey. Evaluation will stimulate learning-by-doing/doing-by- learning in making possible and attractive or desirable the necessary changes in life style, business practices, skills and preferred technologies. We mentioned that some external evaluation of outcome at various stages (e.g. awareness) can be conducted by local MSc students in 3 months projects for example. As a national network we can work on a regional and national scale as well, and link with others internationally.
We could start a discussion group on our transition journey.
Hub and Non-Hub Groups
After a round of introductions (we were sitting in a circle), introduced by Doly, John proposed the next phase in the meeting, as agreed by the Step 0 team planning and facilitating it: to vote with our feet in choosing whether to be (or explore being) in the hub or in a non-hub group
Participants in the hub group discussed what they might offer and what they needed to know before joining it (e.g. time commitments etc), and moved towards forming a hub group.
The non-hub group(s) were asked to discuss and report back on what they needed from the hub and what they thought the hub might need from them.
Two non-hub groups formed: an Education and Awareness Raising group (key initial activity) and a general non-Hub group, covering either function or neighbourhood groups. .
Report Back from the Hub Group
The good news is that there seem enough people ready to join the Hub now to make it work and to meet the accreditation criteria in this respect. At the same time the Hub membership is still forming: others may want to join and some of those in the Hub group on 15th are still thinking about it. 10 seem really interested and ready to join: Aisha Hannibal, Annie Baldridge, Chris Callard, Daniel Hill, David Greenop, Doly Garcia, John Bristow, Maureen Winder, Ming Wu, Stephen Watson. 2 others (who could not make it) said they might be interested. Once the network constitution and ways of operating are more established Maureen would like to withdraw as she sees her main contribution in helping us to set this up in a way that is going to attract and include people from different groups (income and ethnic etc).
We do not want too many in the core hub as we would not be able to have participative discussions – 12 as an upper limit was suggested. Others may play a co-ordinating role without attending hub meetings.
This Hub will need to have a number of people committed to stay in it until the launch conference (the “unleashing” as Rob Hopkins calls it) – and this is part of the accreditation criteria. Continuity of membership and a size small enough for discussions with all participating are probably essential conditions for the Hub to work effectively. But others who had necessary skills to offer that are not already in the Hub may well join in. After the launch (that could be 6 months to a year away) function groups will be more key, and need to be represented in the Hub full-time. So the Hub will be open again for a change of membership.
Those who have put themselves forward for the Hub will share very short bio details as part of the accreditation process. But we know already that the potential Hub group includes: a BPEC leader, B&H Food Partnership team member, a Futurist, knowledge of setting up inclusive 3rd sector organisations, Peak Oil writer, Local Businessman (recycling), Advisor on leadership and organising for societal change, Permaculture knowledge, International representative (China). 5 men and 5 women. Younger and Older people.
We began to start discussing what our tasks are, how we need to operate and some ground rules, and we would like to carry on and share these discussions with the network as a whole – e.g. through our website and at our meetings (“How do we want our Hub to be? What does the rest of the network need from it and what does it need from the network to do what we need to do together?) Visit our website now to join these discussions or email our email co-ordinator if you cannot get on the website (see end of these notes)
.
The Hub’s initial task is to go through the accreditation criteria to become an official Transition Initiative in the national network. We will also need to set up Transition Brighton and Hove as an organisation (trust or charity or other), and a constitution. Then we can discuss funding and budgets etc.
The Hub role will be to co-ordinate the activity and decisions of the network as a whole so that thinking, decisions and activities are joined up where they need to be, the experience and skills of the network are best used, and people feel heard and involved, and able to influence what we decide and do. We said we want there to be an open, visible and transparent communication and decision processes in the Hub to enable this to happen, and trust to be established and maintained. We will through our meetings, website and emails help people network and link together; self-organise, yet link back to the Hub and align with our shared direction.
We had a whole group phase and then Hub and Other groups phase, followed by whole group again at the end in our TB&H Network meeting on 15th. This format might work well for a while, especially in shared activities such as awareness raising, and then later for key decisions, as it enables the Hub both to work alone and with others in the same meeting, and immediately co-opt people outside the Hub as needed. With website discussions before and after these meetings on questions that emerge as important, and communication about meeting agendas and outcomes through the website and by email, we will endeavour to involve the whole network in the processes of forming our organisation and making plans and decisions. People will know which general network meetings they want to attend.
At the same time if meetings are to be effective they need to be planned and facilitated, with notes taken and later disseminated. We have been doing this as a Step Zero team as best we can and others will need to take on this role, so that we share the role between us (often 2 or 3 people for each larger group meeting).
For the Hub itself, Natasha Thoday has agreed to act as a facilitator for the time being while not being a member of it. Any lead or chair roles are likely to be taken up by different Hub members at different times.
Tasks that the Network needs to carry out, together with Others in the City
o Through awareness raising “shepherd and nurture” a sense of urgency and mobilise the energy for active participation in transition amongst more people in Brighton and Hove, reaching all parts of the community.
o Form effective function groups (e.g. in the 12 areas already identified by us).
o Establish strong connections with other community and environmental groups, local businesses, schools, public service agencies, universities and research centres, the city council, and others, starting with collaboration in the awareness raising itself
o Get training and advice from the national network
o Support other towns and cities in the network.
o Carry out other key activities in the early stage of transition (as we get a clearer picture of our journey – see above)
Report Backs from the non-Hub Groups
Someone from each group has agreed to write up the meeting notes from flipcharts and put them on the website and send them to John for emailing around the members of the network. Here are some of the initial points made in the wrap-up at the end:
On what they need from the Hub:
Info on the knowledge and skills of Hub members (to be met as part of accreditation process).
Way of finding out what the programme of activities and meetings of TBH is without going to the website or receiving e-mails e.g. advertisement in the Argus.
A constitution with democratic and inclusive principles – and maybe start with a relevant template used elsewhere.
Trasparent processes for decision making etc, with opportunity for input
Specific to the Education and Awareness Group:
Aims, targets and syllabus for awareness raising agreed with Hub.
Exchanges with other transition towns and cities on what worked best on peak oil or climate change.
“Give us a steer”
On what they think the Hub needs from them:
Some report back from Function and Neighbourhood groups (using website).
Suggestion: Representatives from each Function group attending every 3rd or 4th Hub meetings (taking it in turns so that there are not too many at once). (In fact once we are up and running this Hub membership will change and Function group representatives will need to be in it).
Discussions about Organising and Planning on our Website
One discussion group has been set up following this meeting and others are being started:
How do we want our Hub to be? What does the rest of the network need from it and what does it need from the network to do what we need to do together? (see above). The Hub’s role will be formed in relation to the rest of the network and other stakeholders, community groups and partners in the city, in collaborating to fulfil our purpose.
Agenda setting and Planning for Meetings
Education and Awareness raising (building on the report backs from both 25 July and 15 Auguest meeting), and the possible roles of neighbourhood groups and function groups in this, together with the education and awareness raising group.
Next Meeting and its Purpose
This is on Wed 29th August 7.30-9.30 Brighthelm Centre.
We are discussing the agenda on the website and in the planning and facilitation group for this meeting. Nat and Doly have agreed to plan, facilitate and arrange for report back on this meeting. If you want to contribute to agenda forming please put any of your ideas on to the website or email them back to me John Bristow (address on the email I sent round to us all) and I will forward them to Nat and Doly.
The main aims of this meeting are likely to be:
To address key questions in forming the network and hub, getting input from the website discussion. Complete the accreditation process. Agree membership and initial tasks in the Hub. Others wanting to be in the Hub but who have not attended so far are particularly welcome.
To plan the first steps in awareness raising, in collaboration with others in the community (local schools and universities, local media, local businesses, local government, other environmental and community groups - linking to what they are doing already while focusing on climate change and peak oil); using the experience of other towns and cities in the network (including use of specific CDs and expert panels). Role of our “science and technology” group, the "education and awareness" group, neighbourhood groups and other key function groups in the network in the awareness raising process.
To get ideas and input of whole group on 1st version of our website.
Website and email Communications
Sam Watts has kindly set up a domain name for us – done in the pub after the meeting on the 15th. This links automatically to our google website for now until we set up it up properly. Our website is:
http://www.transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
We will need website moderators – probably eventually one in each main function group.
I am prepared to handle the e-mail communications for the time being as I have the lists on my address book. john.bristow1@btopenworld.com tel 01273 820543.