Step 1. A small group of people (maybe 2-8) identify an issue that has to be solved. They meet, get an overview of the situation, and create a possible solution. This group is composed of two kinds of people: (1) "Specialists" -- people with a particular interest in the issue and/or (2) "Generalists" -- people from the "Carrier Circle" (people who have self-selected to make decisions for the community). Mostly, the group is composed of people from the Carrier Circle. [How many in the Carrier Circle? How often do they meet? Can anyone be in the Carrier Circle?] Once they have an overview of the issue and a possible solution, they take the issue to the Plenary.
Step 2. The Plenary is an open group that participates in the decision-making process. Anyone in the Community can come to the Plenary and contribute. It meets weekly or less, depending on the number of issues. Various "Issue Groups" (from step 1) present issues one at a time. The Issue Group gives an overview of the issue and a possible solution. Everyone present at the Plenary is able to vote Yes or No. [What is done with these votes? Do you have a consensus process, majority rule, 2/3 majority; nothing -- the votes are simply information for the Issue Group, that makes the final decision????] [What is the format for this meeting? Do people get up in the center and present? Are there time limits? Is an actual "vote" taken, or how are the yes's and no's determined? Who officiates this meeting? How many are usually there?]
Step 3. If a decision was reached, the Issue Group implements the decision. If a decision was not reached, the Issue Group meets again to try to find a solution. When the group is ready, it again returns to the Plenary and presents it's possible solution. This process is continued until a solution is found. [I'm not clear where the decision is actually made and by whom. Does the Plenary actually make the decisions? If so, exactly how does this happen?]
The Plenary is a very simple form of coming together. It should create joy, community, understanding and transparency on the issues that are not for the Forum but have to be taken care of. For example building infrastructure processes, information about ongoing projects, money issues etc.
Our carrier circle meets at least once a week. In this carrier circle are people from all groups at Tamera. We, as we are about 200 people (100 co-worker, 80 students and 20 children) living at Tamera, are organised in sub groups, small communities itself, embedded in the whole. We tried some different types of leading and carrying the community. And in the last years this form seemed to be the most effective for our lifestyle. There are about 30 people in the carrier circle, included youth and elders. Everyone who is committed to a responsible position at Tamera can be in the carrier circle.
The format looks like a big Forum, only that everyone knows that it is a Plenary. Without mirrors... Every community member -who is able to- joins the plenary. We try to reduce the total time of the Plenary to one hour. In this sense the input is as short as possible to get an overview on the issue. We say it in this way: The input should be interesting, informative, intelligent and innovative. The Plenary is officiated by the "Organisation-team". This are people from all sub groups that meet weekly to bring together information on a very basic level, the materialisation and organisation of things and work. (You see, we are a very complex system and all forms are created because there was something needed to solve problems or to make life easier.)
The voting is more an information for the people who are dealing with this issue. But you have to know that many of us are living together for more than 20 years. We went through very deep and profound forum-processes, reflection on the events and systems, reflection on the (re-)actions everyone does. So one knows each other and knows f.e. that something is thought until the end and proofed to the best solution when it comes into the plenary. Our way of living together is different than at other places. It is a daily research for a form of understanding, trust, and mutual support on a very profound and human level.
Trying to describe the Plenary is similar to trying to describe the Forum. There are some conditions that are describable, but some are not easy to put into words without knowing and sensing the context it is made in.
I hope this information is supportive for your process.
As far as I know there is nothing written about the Plenary until now.
Silvia (Tamera) &
Zoe (Maui)
