occupy boston consensus process draft

8/3/2019 Occupy Boston Consensus Process Draft

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This is a Facilitator guide for how to manage an OccupyBoston General Assembly

and to conduct the consensus process. The Facilitation Working Group is preparing

a proposal to present to the General Assembly with all the details for conducting a

General Assembly.

GA Facilitator Roles:

Facilitators - 2Process Aide -1Stack Aide - 1Floor Aides - 4+Site Monitor - 1

Vibe Monitor - 1 (can be combined with Site Manager, if needed)

Clerk - 1Timekeeper - 1Security (from SWG) - 3Opening Announcements

1. Opening Welcome to the General Assembly

2. Define the GA

Note: a time and place for occupyboston announcements and proposals, to

exercise horizontal democracy, to ensure each voice is heard. Remind GA that

by following our process we preserve horizontal democracy and set an example

for how our world can operate peacefully. You invite the members of the GA to

be as non-violent in their communication as we are in all of our group actions.

Script - (to be read or paraphrased, at each GA)

Occupy Boston is a non-violent movement that uses a consensus based,

non-hierarchical discussion and decision making process. All of us

have chosen to use this process, because it is the only way to ensure

that all of our voices are heard. Please honor that choice tonight.

There are no police here to arrest anyone who breaks this process; we

are trying to change that model. That means the only way we can

succeed and be heard is if every one of us honors each other and

respect the choice that we have made to commit to this process... and

demands that our neighbors do the same.

As Facilitators, we are here only to help General Assembly as a group

follow this process. We cannot enforce anything. We ask that you in

the General Assembly work together to honor this process and protect

your voices.

What this means is that we are asking all of us to learn and use the

hand signs instead of interrupting verbally. We are asking you to know


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and respect the difference between a point of information or question

which needs to be answered immediately, and your opinion, which

belongs on the individual stack so that we can hear you. We are asking

you to respect your fellow Occupiers by getting on stack, writing down

your points if you need help remembering them, and listening to what

each speaker has to say while you wait your turn to be heard.

When you see or hear someone violating this process, they are

disrespecting our Assembly and our choices. We must understand that

they are hurting us all and taking away our voices. Please invite them

to stop, and help us all return to the process.

Occupy Boston is a movement full of people who want to be heard. In

order to do that, someone has to listen. We invite you to set an

example for each other and the world tonight and show us all a way to

communicate that honors all of our voices.

Can I get a temperature check on this?

3. Define Working Groups, and invite everyone to find and join a working group (or

start their own.)

Note: an opportunity to work on solutions to problems, together with other

Occupiers; refining a proposal in a Working Group consensus process results in

better proposals that are easier for the GA to work on and bring to consensus as

a whole.

4. Invite the community to participate in Facilitation Working Group and announce

meeting times: Mon to Fri @ 5:00 PM, Sat & Sun @ 4:00 & Location: at Federal

Reserve Plaza across Atlantic Avenue from Media Tent. Also announce that the

GA & Consensus Guidelines are posted on the Wiki and invite the Assembly to

read and comment.

5. Introduce the evenings Facilitation Team, or ask them to introduce themselves.

6. Review the Agenda:

a. Working Group Announcementsb. Individual Announcementsc. Working Group Proposalsd. Individual Proposalse. Individual Stack

Note: Clearly State when each of these 5 stacks will be Opened for groups and

individuals to join. Direct people in how to join stack. Invite ALL voices to be

heard, especially from under represented and oppressed members of the 99%.


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7. Review Hand Signals

Note: Remind people that these signals are used to streamline non-violent

communication and make it easier for all of us to be heard respectfully.

a. I consent, I like, I feel good about this - hands up fingers wiggling upwardb. Im neutral, I feel so-so - hands flat with fingers wigging forward

c. I dont consent, I dont like, I feel badly about this - hands down, fingerswigging downward

d. Move it along, we hear what youre saying - roll fists around one anothere. Speak louder - with index finger pointing up, move arm up and down

Note: Indicate clearly that the following signals will bring a Floor Manager

over to you in order to review your point and put it on a "mini-stack" for

bringing to the floor when the current speaker reaches a natural break

f. Clarifying Question - put index finger and thumb into c shape

Note: define that a CQ is not an opinion. It must be answerable by the

proposer(s)g. Point of Information - point index finger up

Note: define that a POI is not an opinion. It is a fact relevant to the topic at

hand.

h. Point of Process - place tips of index finger together in horizontal line

Note: define that a POP is not an opinion, it is a reminder to the

Facilitators or Speaker about a point of order

i. Friendly Amendment - peace signj. Block - crossed arms over head

NOTE: Blocks are generally considered to be an extreme measure, only

used when a member feels a proposal endangers the organization or its

participants and/or the person feels so strongly about her/his position, s/he

will walk away from OccupyBoston.

8. Review how Stack works.

9. Timekeeper mentions that s/he will use the Move It Along hand signal, tenseconds before time is up and requests that the GA reproduce the hand signal sothe speaker sees it.

10.Move to Agenda

What is ConsensusConsensus is a process of nonviolent conflict resolution. The expression of concernsand conflicting ideas is considered desirable and important. When a group creates anatmosphere which nurtures and supports disagreement without hostility and fear, itbuilds a foundation for stronger, more creative decisions.


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DIRECT CONSENSUS1. Ask the group or individual to state their/her/his proposal.

2. Ask the proposer(s) to stand aside while you direct the Assembly to break into

pairs, for three to five minutes, to discuss the proposal and to check in with

each other to see if either of them have any of the following issues to declare:

clarifying questions, points of information, strong concerns or objections, strong

support, and amendments. During this time, floor aides are available to beconsulted by the pairs, if needed. After the appointed time is up, start the below

process. Explain to the Assembly that the pair person who has the issue, lets

her/his pair partner call the facilitators attention.

NOTE: facilitators to also use the peoples mic so Livestream viewers can hear

clarifying questions, points of information, strong concerns or objections, strong

support, and amendments

a. ask if there are any clarifying questions, if so, proposers have the

opportunity to answer them,

b. ask if there are any points of information,

c. ask if there are any strong concerns or objections with the following

explanations:

- allow some silent time, the more challenging the topic, the longer silence

we will allow to

provide an oportunity for everyone to think and express,

- before we share concerns, let's remember that in a consensus process,

when you

share a concern, it becomes a group concern. We will all be responsible

for making

sure it's addressed before we vote.- ask that concerns & objections be stated with the assumption that the

group will attempt

to resolve them,

- we are only listing, not addressing or resolving concerns or objections in

this moment,

that process will come later (that is what amendments and the proposers

consideration

of changes are for,)

d. ask if there are strong statements of support with the following

explanation:

- the statements of support are directed to the proposer(s), not to anyone

who stated a strong objection or concern.

e. ask if there are any friendly amendments to address the expressed

concerns and objections.

NOTE: during this section (except for part a) there should be no direct

responses. People will feel most safe expressing concerns and objections

if they know that they will not have to immediately hear rebuttals or ideas.


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The amendments offered are the response to concerns and objections.

The time where proposers consider amending their proposal is a way

of addressing or resolving concerns and objections. The goal is to keep

it non-confrontational and to focus on building solutions together by

assuming that every input is a brick in a building and the next input is a

brick placed above the foundation all the other bricks already laid.


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3. Give the proposers a moment to consider whether they will address the concerns

and objections by doing any of the following:

a. explain how any concerns or objections are already addressed,

b. withdraw the proposal,

c. amend the proposal based on concerns & objections,

d. adopt any of the suggested amendments, or

e. keep the proposal as is.

4. Instruct the proposers to restate the proposal (whether changed or not)

NOTE: this is done, even if there are no changes, to allow a refreshed hearing and

to make space for people consider again whether they concerns, objections or

amendments to offer. Dont want to move on to asking for consensus until it feels as

though all of this is expressed.

4. Repeat steps 2 & 3, a second (and final) time :

a. ask for clarifying questionsb. ask for points of information

c. ask for strong objections or concerns

d. ask for statements of support

e. ask for amendments

f. after allowing the proposer(s) time to reflect ask s/he, them to restate the

proposal (whether changed or not), unless they, s/he have decided to

table it.

5. Blocking

a. Define a blockNOTE: Blocks are generally considered to be an extreme measure, only

used when a member feels a proposal endanger[s] the organization or

its participants (from Wikipedia) and/or the person feels so strongly about

her/his position, s/he will walk away from OccupyBoston.

NOTE: In some models, the phrase or violate[s] the Mission of the

organization" is included in a definition of a Block, at this point in

OccupyBostons growth, a Mission Statement does not yet exist.

b. Ask if anyone has a block

c. If anyone has a block, s/he, them states it aloud to the Assembly

d. Ask Assembly if it is a Principled Block (temperature check)

e. if 75% of assembly confirm that its a vaild block (whether they agree with

it, or not), then ask how many people want to support the Block.

f. if 10% of the people support the Block, the proposal is tabled.

g. if less than 10% of the people support the Block, then the proposal can

move forward for consent.

6. If not blocked, ask Is this a proposal you can live with? and ask for a show of


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hands.

NOTE: Consensus is supposed to be about getting to a decision that everyone

can live with. It doesnt mean everyone agrees, it means they consent. Its

important that we make the distinction between consent (hence, consensus) and

agreement.


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7. If there is 75% consent, state, I see consensus, do you see consensus,

i.e., confirm with the Assembly that all see 75% consent, then announce that

consensus is reached and the proposal is adopted.

8. (If necessary) if there is not consensus, and the proposal is not blocked, you can

move to indirect consensus.

INDIRECT CONSENSUS - involves mini-presentations and possible break out groups:

1. Ask the GA for 3 people who support the proposal and 3 people who oppose it

to each speak for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, alternating the supporters and the

opposers.

2. Ask the Proposer(s) to restate the proposal

3. Ask Is this a proposal you can live with and ask for a show of hands.

4. If consensus is not reached, instruct assembly to break into small discussion

groups for 5 minutes to discuss the proposal.

Note: there are different kinds of discussion groups. We can decide to use one or

have a menu to choose from based on what the facilitator sees as most fit

5. Call participants back to assembly and . . .

a. ask if there are any clarifying questions,b. ask if there are any points of information,c. ask if there are any strong concerns or objections with the following

explanations:- we will allow some silent time, the more challenging the topic, the longersilence we will allow to make room for everyone to think and express,- we are only listing, not addressing or resolving concerns or objections inthis moment, that process will come later,

- ask that concerns & objections be stated with the assumption that thegroup will attempt to resolve themd. ask if theere are statements of supporte. ask if there are any friendly amendments.

6. Give the Proposer(s) a moment to consider whether they want to:

f. explain how any concerns or objections are already addressed,g. withdraw the proposal,

h. amend the proposal based on concerns & objections,i. adopt any of the suggested amendments, or

j. keep their proposal as is.

7. Instruct the proposers to restate the proposal (whether changed or not).

8. Define block and ask if there are any blocks.

9. If not blocked, ask Is this a proposal you can live with? and get temperature

check


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10.if consensus is not reached, you can repeat steps 1-8 or send the proposal back

to a working group. (if it was made by an individual, the individual should be

directed to work with a working group to reform the proposal.)


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occupy boston consensus process draft

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