CONTEXT: People all over the U.S. are questioning traditional concepts and systems which no longer seem effective. As more people inhabit a world with limited natural resources, learning how to think differently and produce "what works" for sustainability will become an increasing priority. More powerful communication systems are available, new leadership concepts are being applied, and regional collaborative efforts are emerging. Together, these and other emerging factors provide an increasing opportunity to influence the future and create sustainable communities. The people attending this retreat each bring different perspectives and gifts to contribute to help shape that future.
PURPOSE: Come together, share our experiences, expand existing relationships, and explore further collaboration and mutual support.
GOALS:
This retreat follows the 1997 World Future’s Society Conference in San Francisco where 7 issues and 5 goals were discussed. To harness the energy of the WFS Conference, we need guidelines to organize the post-conference activities. Usually people get excited during the Conference and then go home. The World Future’s Society as an organization may use the conference as an end in itself. The context brings us all together, however the conference seems unfocused except for the Sustainability Track. The essence of futurism has changed: those engaged in futurism cannot just prognosticate, they must be involved.
This group could focus on "sustainability" with a new level of networking and ways of getting people involved.
Round table introduction capturing each participants motivation for participating, expectations and values
Some participants also commented on the WFS Conference and the possible need for the creation of a new Future’s Society:
Group’s Creation of the Collaborative Leadership Tetrahedron
Four faces - graphics available for printing (see Tetrahedron Model)
Introduction and moderation by Prasad Kaipa
The Tetrahedron Model is systems based using outcomes, intentions, and actions. The tetrahedron provides the necessary three dimensional (3-D) representation or architecture for describing how learning (knowledge exchange) occurs between people and allows us to create a shared language/culture to conceptualize sustainability and interrelate the system elements in multiple dimensions. The Model permits analysis of differences of opinion while seeking new outcomes acceptable to the Group.
At a systems level there are outcomes, intentions and actions.
Recommended reading Scared Geometry by Robert Lawler.
Today’s exercise is to identify the four faces (planes) while taking advantage of the polarities between the four faces to identify actions for mitigating the polarities between the faces (the edges).
The ground rules for brain-storming the possible outcomes, intentions and actions are:
Lists created during facilitated Group Brainstorming of:
Major Points of Conflict (polarities between intentions) associated with creating a Sustainable Future:
At this point a side discussion around the application of the tetrahedron: a model for representing the group’s efforts during the retreat or for reaching the goal of generational sustainability for a community.
Where do we want to go? What do we have to do to go there? What are our enablers?
This is the "Dark Side" of the Tetrahedron. If we can bring what is dark to light, it will no longer be dark. Our personal shadow sides are those things that stop us from achieving the intentions and collective outcomes.
Issues, dilemmas and ideas that are holding us back from accomplishing our desired outcomes. What are the major blocks? Individual assessments of personal shadow sides were shared.
Four faces (collective outcomes) established by the group for creating generational sustainability - graphics available for printing (see Tetrahedron Model).
Edges- six polarity mitigating actions
4 Corners- intentions
How can you use this model? What does it mean to you?
The value in what we are doing is to take away a common language. To find the relationship between and among. To create a common language making it easier to articulate to others.
The magic is in the creation process, however, there are tips and tricks for discussion. We can discuss it face by face. Ask someone to pick a single word, place excited word toward the person’s heart and discuss. Focus on 1) intentions (corners), 2) outcomes (faces) and then 3) actions (edges). Target who (in a community or the functional level involved) should act upon the edges (make an investment, take responsibility). Not all problems can be solved by a Tetrahedron since is created for a specific level (community). One must go up or down a level and spin off additional tetrahedrons from the one first created to solve challenges to the outcomes. For instance challenges involving relationships between communities will influence a global attainment of generational sustainability . One will have to go to the global level to address these issues. Visit article Prasad Kaipa's The Mithya Institute for Learning and Knowledge Architecturewebsite to learn more.
How to protect our continued use of the particular Tetrahedron? Should we publish a book? A series of articles targeting our constituencies? Sherrin Bennett to pursue an article of this collective experience and share a draft with the group. Group could add 1-2 paragraph side bars. Several participants clearly supported a publication effort (Martha, Bill, Andrew, and Sherrin).
Andrew Cohill to set up electronic mail list (listserv for the group is available at this address: sustainability@listserv.bev.org)
Grow our group in a sustainable way-avoid burn out/overtaxing, nurture a healthy group
Individuality
Need to redefine individuality. Individuality at a higher level. (Individual not at conflict with community, be self and part of larger collective, 1 and 1 making 11). Need a slight shift in culture that allows people to be themselves. Individual is affected by the collective: I impact the whole, the whole impacts me. Looking for the dance of harmony. The paradox is that Individual Freedoms and Rights vs. Collective is analogous to Economy vs. Environment.
Stages for something to become a part of the culture:
Apply the model to a specific project.
Take a specific practical situation and put the challenge in front of the group.
For example, logging in Russia by pulling logs out of the rivers.
Write a book together.
Reading List - Book List (see below)
Archived list of recommended reading arranged by topics.
Process of History
How has humanity evolved? Resistance to evolution, breakthroughs, higher consciousness.
Meta Team Concept
Traveling road-show, comprehensive to involve, cultural creatives coming together. "Best Practices" group. Create best practices and seek industrial funding for a center or create a road team presenting the practices. this approach could be deployed world wide. Like selling technological environmental fixes
Cynthia shared her experience of 2000 attendees at the Body/Soul Conference in Boulder CO. Suggested that we could do this for 200-400 around sustainability
WFS 17th Conference Audio Tapes
Real Audio server or transcribed book of proceedings.
Next WFS Conference
Convene this group in July in Chicago following the WFS conference. Thoughts about another meeting:
Honor experience with recognition of life long learning while providing an opportunity for leaders to surface
This retreat has opened up an opportunity to develop relationships. There are networks evolving and each individual brings special qualities to the table. Whatever form this group takes the issues are enormously complex, the challenges are beyond those in business and the issues are undefined. With all of these barriers and the fact that we are talking about long term (falls between geological and chronological time) issues, we can still progress by solidifying relationships and gaining a sense of trust. This trust within the group allows us to cut to the chase.
Let us leave with a tolerance for ambiguity and look toward the latent value by simply embracing the mystery of what might unfold.