http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ Transition Towns Forum Topic: "Transition Network: a proposal for structure" - your comments invited en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:31:06 +0000 http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-791 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:31:42 +0000 RobHopkins 791@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi All,<br /> The minutes from the recent day in Bristol at the Full Moon are now available online at <a href="http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/." rel="nofollow">http://transitionculture.org/2008/09/18/bristol-meeting-about-the-transition-network-structure-document/.</a> Pete and I are working on the final version, and Gary Alexander is working on the Vision of 2011 bit. Should all be done soon. Thanks so much to everyone who has chipped in on this process, we hope you'll like the final product! </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-743 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:07:04 +0000 marcusperrin 743@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>(As also posted to Transition Culture)</p> <p>Thank you Rob (and Peter) for creating this draft and making it available for comment to the wider network. Sorry we can’t make a representative available in Bristol this week. Please accept this submission on behalf of Transition Chepstow.</p> <p>Here we go……</p> <p>Overall, the document is a good start towards defining the network. The document would benefit from a revised structure, using simpler and more direct language. The document would benefit from being much shorter, but containing references to other proposed policies and procedures, as necessary. The structure should separate and (include only where relevant) specific policies, procedures and educational material.<br /> Quotes add variety and interest but should be used more sparingly. The idea of creating a biological theme/comparisons is good.<br /> Technical/scientific terms should, however, be used with care. The concept of developing a ‘master’ plan for an initiative is recognised. However, not all communities may want to use the term Energy Descent Plan’ e.g. they may choose ‘Transition Plan’. Can this be recognised in the document?</p> <p>Pg3 ‘possible models, viable systems, sociocracy, parecon…..’ – Is this detail essential? If yes, could a these models be explained in simpler terms?<br /> ‘..from biology ‘autopoiesis’…’ suggest removing from text.</p> <p>Pg 5 Definition of terms is very useful. ‘Dramatis Personae’ term considered unnecessary. Add definitions for ‘resilience’, ‘carbon cutting’, ‘energy descent action plan’/Transition Plan’.</p> <p>Pg6 The idea of a graphical representation of the network is a good one. The proposed model is explained well however the rings representing Transition Network and the ‘creative edge’ could be seen as containing/constraining the ‘network’ . Is there another analogy that could be used to represent the network that would characterise the growing, spreading, nature of the network and that would be more accessible to people e.g. a vine, tree etc ?</p> <p>Pg7 ‘best practice’ to read ‘good practice’</p> <p>Pg8 The first and second definitions of purpose are considered improvements on the existing definition.</p> <p>Pg9 Positive Visioning – campaigning may be for needs/requirements laid out in Transition Plans.</p> <p>‘telling people’ to read ‘sharing with people’</p> <p>The Transition Movement will create history – ‘The generation of new stories and myth…’ does not need to be said.</p> <p>‘Usual suspects’ – can we use a different term here?</p> <p>Pg10<br /> Web platform = Website?</p> <p>Inner and Outer Transition – Suggest describing the need to learn and understand belief systems which can lead to developing trust and community.</p> <p>Remove ‘Subsidiarity’</p> <p>Openness for Peer to Peer feedback to read ‘Openness to Feedback’<br /> Suggest noting that feedback can also be affirming and generate confidence.</p> <p>Pg 11 Transition makes sense – could this be better defined as currently it is too open to interpretation. Suggest reference is made to the fact that national and global action is important in the overall picture (to compliment community action).</p> <p>Pg12 Could an initiative lose its official status? What behaviours would result in an Initiative losing its official status? What is the process that would be followed?</p> <p>Pg13 Additional principles…<br /> Could 2 and 4 be combined?<br /> Initiating groups – can we recognise that some groups may change/evolve away form their initial structure rather than go through ‘demise’.</p> <p>Additional Principles for Transition District Initiatives; Can register with Transition Network when there are two or more official initiatives within the district.<br /> Use technology ways or working together that minimise the carbon footprint of the Initiative e.g. teleconferencing</p> <p>Regional Networks;Could we talk more simply about regional initiatives, describing the variety of forms they may take but put less emphasis on the detail of these different forms.</p> <p>National Transition Organisations;Please mention the developing Welsh Network in this section.<br /> Can we list the potential benefits that National Networks can bring? E.g. larger scale integration (transport), developing the cultural identity of the network, working with distinct legal frameworks</p> <p>Pg18; Very clear and informative description of the Networks role.Can we drop the use of ‘Ltd’ in the body of the document (if we have explained the Ltd nature in the definitions)?</p> <p>Pg19;Ebay feature not considered appropriate.</p> <p>Pg22;How are the 4 new people elected?</p> <p>Pg 23; A vision/snapshot is valuable and the content is good. Is 2013 a more realistic timeframe?<br /> Why are there differing terms used for the National initiatives?<br /> What is a Local Transition Initiative – can we define this somewhere?</p> <p>Pg24; ‘the five psychological stages of grief……….’ – suggest this is too much detail for the Snapshot</p> <p>Pg36; Can the MoU operate for 2 or 3 years? One year isn’t long enough to make significant progress within a National Initiative.</p> <p>Pg39; Should the Network Constitution contain overarching statements on environmental, social and ethical standards (to compliment the UN declaration). Data protection, confidentiality?</p> <p>Pg 44; Borrowing – please expand this section. Will ethical borrowing/investment principles be followed?</p> <p>Pg45; Who is the Chief Executive?</p> <p>Thanks again for the opportunity to comment.</p> <p>Marcus Perrin<br /> Coordinator Transition Chepstow<br /> <a href="http://www.transitionchepstow.org.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.transitionchepstow.org.uk</a> </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-737 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:32:38 +0000 RobHopkins 737@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Dear All,<br /> After the Transition Chat today, here is a draft agenda for Wednesday's meeting. The exact order will depend on how many people come... it is hard to gauge, could be anything from 5 to 50. First, and most important point is that there will be tea and coffee when you arrive, but you will need to provide your own lunch.... So, on to the Agenda...</p> <p>Welcomes/Introductions<br /> A review of the process so far...<br /> Suggestions for topics to be discussed<br /> The core issues as we have identified them for initial discussion;<br /> Transition Purpose<br /> Membership: who, what, how<br /> Criteria: assessed or self administered<br /> International Initiatives<br /> A quick review of the principles</p> <p>Agreement of next steps<br /> Close</p> <p>Something like that anyway. As I say it will depend on who comes and so on, but that's a gist. Looking forward to it. See you there.<br /> Rob </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-722 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:35:04 +0000 RobHopkins 722@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi Gary<br /> We are planning to hold off doing an Agenda until after the Transition Chat on Monday. I appreciate it is rather short notice, but that feels like a useful way of doing it, so we can reflect the aspects of the document that people want to look at. Certainly the Purpose will be one thing, but we will post the Agenda here on Tuesday morning...<br /> Thanks<br /> Rob </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-714 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:08:51 +0000 garyalex 714@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Re: Steve Penny's comments on centralised structure</p> <p>Yes, there is a need for some organisation at various scales, including regional and national if there is to be a wholeness, or sense of identity. However, it need not be 'top-down' in the sense that decision making is imposed from higher levels to lower levels.</p> <p>Several of us have been promoting models for decentralised organisation in which there is co-ordination of lower level groupings to ensure synergy, handle conflicts, planning and policy. Some of us are inspired by Stafford Beer's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viable_System_Model">Viable Systems Model</a>, for example, which does just that.</p> <p>To me, this is a major issue to be discussed at our meeting in Bristol on 10th September.</p> <p>And by the way, is there an Agenda, or any preliminary documents, or anything we can do to prepare for that meeting?</p> <p>Yours,</p> <p>Gary </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-691 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:26:41 +0000 Martien 691@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>I am happy to set up a freely structured semantic Wiki that hosts a Pattern Language, where each Pattern captures practical knowledge in the form of context/problem or desire/forces/solution/new context. A language emerges from the fact that individual patterns refer to and embellish each other. They form a web of mutal reinforcing "knowledge" bites that help generate and unfold a whole organization/architecture/society/what have you.</p> <p>As a matter of fact, I'm already collecting a lot of Patterns in Pareltaal (http://pareltaal.nl/Categorie:Parel in Dutch, sorry). Parel is Dutch for Pearl. A Pearl differs from a Pattern in that it always states the desired outcome or desire rather than the problem. So it approaches everything from the positive side. This positive intention helps its manifestation and realisation. It gives inpsiration and energy.</p> <p>These Pearls range from A Timeless Way of Building to running effective and energizing meetings (The Art of Hosting) to new governance systems like sociocracy and holacracy.</p> <p>Succes en plezier,</p> <p>Martien van Steenbergen<br /> +31 6 53 54 59 60 </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-689 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:36:27 +0000 StevePenny 689@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi. Here are my comments on the document. Apologies if they seem abrupt, but time has been short.</p> <p>OVERALL COMMENTS</p> <p>This document is very large. This could make it impractical for many people to respond to given most people live busy lives. Part of the problem is that it contains a great deal of apparently superfluous information, such as some of the appendices, statement of aims and profiles of board members.</p> <p>Since you seem to reject the idea of an intentional structure, is this document necessary at all?</p> <p>There is much confusion caused throughout the document by inconsistent use of the term Transition Network – sometimes it means the movement and sometimes the limited company.</p> <p>SECTION 1</p> <p>How exactly do you “enable networking”? I think this is too vague to be useful or assess success.</p> <p>SECTION 3</p> <p>“or worse, a top-down network” – Please qualify and justify this statement. I understand that you do not wish to impose authority from the top, but a top-down organisation does not necessarily do this. Most systems of organisation, such as the naming of organisms in biology, are top-down. If not, is it really an organisation at all?</p> <p>Without top-down organisation, there is every possibility of groups duplicating function/decisions within the network.</p> <p>Allowing groups to evolve is a free-market approach to developing a structure. This often does not result in an optimal solution, and a planned approach can be better. If a non-optimal group is established its existence may prevent the optimal group forming, such as when a business has sufficient control of market-share to prevent entry by other businesses. For example, the prior existence of Transition Wales could preclude or prevent the formation of the probably more useful Transition Severn (addressing the bioregion formed by the water catchment). Conflict could result.</p> <p>TNL functions are not distributed, and so TNL seems over-centralised. For example, TNL is the catalyst at the edge of the organisation, implying it bears all responsibility for expanding the network. There is no delegation of this role to other groups within the network.</p> <p>There appears to be no structure or mechanism to put TNL under genuinely effective democratic control. Mass-elections of strangers are a symptom of the problem we are attempting to solve.</p> <p>There is no mention of functions/roles within TNL. This is one of the most important things I would have expected to see in this document.</p> <p>What is a Strand?</p> <p>SECTION 4</p> <p>The statement produced by the Purpose Working Group was for TNL, not this new definition of Transition Network. It will therefore need to be revisited.</p> <p>Agreement on a single statement of purpose needs to be made before doing any further work on the structure document.</p> <p>Aims, principles and methods should be separated. Also, none of them belong in this document. They belong in a separate Terms of Reference document to which this document should refer.</p> <p>Some of the stated principles appear to be aims or methods.</p> <p>Endorsing campaigning makes the organisation political, which might invalidate funding and charitable status.</p> <p>SECTION 6</p> <p>A structure does not have aims; a structure supports aims. These are (ill-)defined elsewhere. This section seems instead to be a list of objectives necessary to achieve the aims.</p> <p>“enable” is a word that evades responsibility for achieving or defining the objective. What exactly is required in order to enable?</p> <p>“ensure” with what authority/mechanism? </p> <p>“To” is usually the best word with which to begin an objective statement.</p> <p>Objectives do not belong in this document; they belong in a separate Terms of Reference. </p> <p>Aims need to be clear and agreed before attempting to define objectives.</p> <p>SECTION 8</p> <p>Again TNL seems over-centralised e.g. registry of transition speakers, “national”. Surely each locale should have its own registry.</p> <p>SECTION 9</p> <p>The board of TNL has no relevance to structure</p> <p>Adding four more people to the board will invite a collapse in effectiveness. The absolute maximum should be nine. Six is optimal.</p> <p>Two new functions of TNL have been added: communication and structure. Why aren’t these part of the five aims? How do those aims square with the aims of the Transition Network?</p> <p>SECTION 8</p> <p>Regional hubs are mentioned but not listed</p> <p>SECTION 9 </p> <p>Suggestions:</p> <p>Enable decision-making by providing guidance on how to run effective meetings and mechanisms for democratic decision-making such as democratic agendas and range (and approval) voting. Restrict decision-making groups to around six members.</p> <p>Any business carrying the name Transition should be accountable and therefore is part of the network, not outside it.</p> <p>SECTION 11</p> <p>A proposal for a knowledge management person has no place in this document, which is about the structure of Transition Network.</p> <p>The role appears over-centralised.</p> <p>APPENDICES</p> <p>Why do we need all these appendices to describe structure? This is too much content for me to respond to.</p> <p>I hope you find these comments helpful and they make a difference.</p> <p>Best wishes<br /> Steve </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-643 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:12:39 +0000 garyalex 643@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Re: Nick's comments on Ning and Google's social network tools</p> <p>I agree that ease of engagement is vital and whatever we do must pay a lot of attention to that. </p> <p>Those tools have the advantage that they are there already and have had lots of expensive development, but the big disadvantage that we can customise them but not develop them and that they are not open source, they are commercial.</p> <p>My sense of what we want is that it will grow into a system that provides strong support for a collaborative economy, within and between Transition Town groups, and strong support for decentralised governance. So while we could start with an off-the-shelf, current social network site, we will immediately want to shape it to our needs. Thus we need to be in control of it.</p> <p>In terms of both control and overall philosophy, the differences between using a commercial product controlled by a very large corporation and using an open source product is vast.</p> <p>Yours,</p> <p>Gary </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-630 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:41:54 +0000 BrianDavey 630@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>I too think it's a great document...though I have my worries - see the topic in this forum headed "Them and Us" [linked <strong> <a href="http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic.php?id=177"> here</a> </strong>] which should really have been put in here. Unfortunately 10th September clashes with the International Biochar Initiative in Newcastle! Brian </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-620 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:46:24 +0000 tomma100 620@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Really exciting paper. My comments for what they are worth</p> <p>1. the trademark application could be for a "collective" mark - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_trademark" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_trademark</a></p> <p>2 building the online resource properly - the web app to support transition - is so important!</p> <p>just had the best New Forest Transition meeting we have had yet (for me anyway!) lots of good stuff happening over here! </p> <p>Tom </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-616 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:41:45 +0000 nickwilding 616@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi Ben, Rob, all</p> <p>great paper!</p> <p>I've just spent an exilerating weekend with Eva (Transition Support Scotland) and Davie (Ireland) at the Big Tent Festival in Fife (http://www.bigtentfestival.co.uk/) which was focussed on transition. There's lots on the go here including a climate challenge fund (£16.8 million specifically for communities to access) from the scottish government seemingly tailor-made for transition initiatives.... mention this context as it feeds into my comments below.</p> <p>Your paper is very helpful and seems really solid to me. Great news that Tudor will fund someone to work through lots of the knowledge thinking. Thought I'd write a hello here to connect as I'm doing very similar work in two contexts at the moment - developing communities of practice with the Centre for Human Ecology (www.che.ac.uk) and also for Carnegie UK Trust catalysing a UK/Ireland wide community of practice in cutting edge rural/bioregional development. We have a ning site that is just taking off (launching in november though I can invite folk on beforehand if interested).</p> <p>After some similar reflection on emergence/chaordic structures/and a review of social networking technology I've plumped for ning as the platform that seems to be easiest to engage with (vital) as well as to allow maximum self-organisation/user control. No doubt other options will emerge soon - worth perhaps checking out google's new set of social networking tools. Key thing with this technology is that people get it intuitively and it's actually fun to use.</p> <p>Final thought - my sense is that transition will continue to accelerate into mainstream consciousness and that the pace of uptake will be a key evolutionary stress on emerging structures. So it seems to me that beyond the structures, the key to the integrity of the process will remain held by the key advocates/emerging leadership (whether we like the word or no) of the movement and their capacity to embody, shaman-like, the core purpose and principles as this evolutionary 'groove' is laid down. The culture of these systems is to my mind as critical as the systems themselves... hence why Joanna Macy's inspiration, rooted in engaged Buddhism, and other similarly rooted spiritual traditions... are so important to draw strength and presence from.</p> <p>Really looking forward to staying in touch; I'm afraid not able to come down in September as I'm on Skye with Highlands and Islands enterprise looking at supporting three islands as they face peak oil right now.</p> <p>best wishes<br /> Nick Wilding<br /> Falkland, Fife, Scotland<br /> nick [at] carnegieuk.org </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-615 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:03:49 +0000 KamilPachalko 615@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>2)Transition Training - distance learning<br /> - to enable people to participate who can't attend the official training days<br /> - to enable people clarify what is Transition actually<br /> - income stream for TN<br /> - modules for business people who want to make their business more resilient, officials and council staff who want to make their localities more resilient etc</p> <p>I'm doing a course now at <a href="http://moodle.zcommunications.org" rel="nofollow">http://moodle.zcommunications.org</a> about participatory economics and society and I would think that this form could be applied to transition training too.</p> <p><a href="http://moodle.org/" rel="nofollow">http://moodle.org/</a> - Moodle is a course management system (CMS) - a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-614 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:59:21 +0000 KamilPachalko 614@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hello great piece of work and thanks for putting all the sweat into doing that:)</p> <p>1)Strategy Document discussion day 10th of September - are you going to use real time wiki to enable more people to participate on that day?</p> <p>I remember in one of your youtube films you were talking about doing a write up of the open space/event online DURING the event so people who couldn't come can add ideas while the discussion takes place. </p> <p>This could be a good practice for future meetings/discussions of Transition Networks as long as:<br /> - there are the resources - laptop/PC, internet connection, a scribe:)<br /> - and the website for the write up is advertised with the event so people can easily find it</p> <p>I can see myself on the 10th of Sept sitting in my home with a cup of tea checking the wiki every now and again between 11:00 and 16:00 reading, typing, feeling I'm part of Transition Networks and I own it too because I can participate. </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-613 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:43:25 +0000 garyalex 613@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>I've been reading the document carefully, and have made some preliminary comments on the model, principles, structure and snapshot in 2011, about 2 A4 pages worth. Too long to post here so I've put them on <a href="http://dissconnected.net/Members/garyalex/Transition-structure" rel="nofollow">http://dissconnected.net/Members/garyalex/Transition-structure</a> .</p> <p>I'll post comments on the Knowledge Management issues soon. I am hoping that the dissconnected.net website will develop into a prototype for most of what is needed.</p> <p>Gary </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-606 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:00:44 +0000 RobHopkins 606@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi All, Please note change of venue for the Strategy Document discussion day... it is no longer to be held at Lam Rim, but will instead be held at the Full Moon...http://www.fullmoonbristol.co.uk/. Same times as before....See you there! </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-597 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:41:17 +0000 PaulBuchanan 597@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Dear Rob,</p> <p>Overall a great document, well done to both of you! A few small typos for the proof-readers amongst us to point out and a few presentation amendments needed, but apart from that, nothing major to contribute other than my best wishes.</p> <p>Had an idea for a quote you might like from de Bono about creativity: An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.</p> <p>Paul </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-591 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:48:39 +0000 RobHopkins 591@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Dear All,<br /> Thanks for comments so far.... I want to give you and update that you can pop in your diaries.... the date has now been set for a discussion day on the contents of this document. It will be held on Wednesday 10th September at Lam Rim Bristol (http://www.lamrim.org.uk/bristol/lrb_contact.html), and anyone who is involved in Transition initiatives and who wants to input into this document is welcome. It will run from 11pm until 4pm. See you there! </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-584 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:28:35 +0000 KellyR 584@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Congratulations on a job well done. It must have take a huge amount of time to draft this.</p> <p>One issue that is a problem for us is that you apparently require that any auxilliary group as we may form here in the States, become a not-for-profit organization. If all you mean is that we adopt the "not for profit" statement in our founding documents (as on your page 44), I don't see any difficulty. If, however, you require that our group become a non-profic or not-for-profit orgization legally, that is an onerous requirement here. It is expensive, time consuming and difficult to apply for what we call a "501-c-3" status. </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-582 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:16:45 +0000 jdaviescoates 582@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Interesting points Philralph makes.</p> <p>I'd agree that if we're to be serious about sharing (which I assume we are) the Transition Network should include principles about free open source software (specifically, that the web platform used/ developed will be free software and will always be free to use, modify, distribute etc.)</p> <p>A similar open content license should be formally adopted too.</p> <p>I'm assuming this is the plan, but it would help if the document made it explicit. </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-581 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:11:47 +0000 Philralph 581@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>How will you ensure that the principles of "Inclusion and Openness, Enabling Sharing and Networking" (pp 9 - 10), apply to people and networks who share some, though not necessarily all of your aims? (If they are not intended to, can you genuinely claim such attributes?). People and networks beyond your outer ring can of course include not only potential allies but also potential joiners to your network. (p. 7 states:) "The circles around the outer ring represent the strong set of partnerships that continue to be developed. This includes key organisations such as the Soil Association, NEF, Centre for Alternative Technology and so on." 'Partnerships' tend to be with established (or in some cases even establishment) organisations rather than wider (and arguably more open and inclusive) networks, perhaps irrespective of what they may actually have to offer, and so maybe the style here doesn't look entirely compatible with "reaching beyond the usual suspects" (p.9)? For example, to what extent will whatever electronic communication solution you come up with be fully open to any and all potential allies? To what extent will the situation be clear regarding free reuse of content (if you're serious about enabling sharing?) by for example some sort of copyleft type license? </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-580 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:55:07 +0000 RobHopkins 580@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Hi all,<br /> I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this... Peter and I worked on this for a while, and the exciting bit now is putting it out for your responses....<br /> Thanks<br /> Rob </p> http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/transition-network-a-proposal-for-structure-your-comments-invited#post-578 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:51:56 +0000 benbrangwyn 578@http://transitiontowns.org/forum/ <p>Following the <strong> -|<a href="http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic.php?id=89&#38;replies=1">strategy day</a>|- </strong> in Bristol attended by nearly 30 transitioners, Rob Hopkins and Peter Lipman have drafted a proposal for a structure that encompasses the sprawling vastness of the Transition Network, from its humble beginnings in the UK to the emerging regional and national forums to the bubbling initiatives across the globe.</p> <p>If you have an interest in how this network develops, please take a look at <strong> -|<a href="http://transitionnetwork.org/Miscellaneous/TransitionNetworkFutureStructuresDocumentv3-1-2.pdf">this document</a>|- </strong> and add your comments to this thread. </p> <p>Parallel discussion will be taking place on <strong> -|<a href="http://transitionculture.org/2008/07/22/shaping-the-transition-network-your-thoughts-please/">Rob's blog</a>|- </strong>.</p> <p>All the comments will combine to form the final versions of this document and provide the blueprint for how we prepare ourselves to scale up and embrace this amazing opportunity for positive change. </p>