Supporting Materials for Group Convenors

(this page is in development; if you have useful materials please send them to info@transitiontownbrixton.org)

We hope to have some facilitation training (in conjunction with the Heart and Soul Group). If you would be interested please email with FACILITATION in the subject line. see facilition materials below.

Meetings

Please remember to update the Group Meetings Calendar with details of your next meeting perhaps with a link to an agenda/minutes page if you have one on your Group Page.

Guide for Successful Group Meetings Some easy permaculture techniques to have ensure good meetings

How we work

A beautiful and radical policy document outlining how we hope to cooperate from Transition Town Lewes.

Guidelines for new groups from Totnes, taken from the Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins

“To get the Food group going, we first ran an evening event called ‘Feeding Totnes: past, present and future’, where speakers addressed each aspect of the issue in turn. This drew in many of the people in the town with an interest in food. This was followed three days later by an Open Space Day on food. This explored in depth the possibilities of the relocalisation of food in the Totnes area. From this meeting a number of initiatives emerged, and people came forward to run the Food group. We have since used this model to start a few of the other groups. In TTT, we have set out a collection of guidelines that we ask those considering forming new groups to read through first. They run as follows:

Each group should have a core of people who steer it, and who meet regularly, but also be open to whoever else wants to come.
Each group should be continually asking itself ‘Who isn’t here that should be here?’, that is, always being open to exploring new ,avenues’ by which new people with relevant skills can be drawn into the group.
The key task of each group is to explore the question: ‘What is a vision for a low‑energy Totnes in relation to this field, and what might a timetable for that look like?’ The group is assembling ideas and information that will enable them to put together their section of the Totnes Energy Descent Action Plan.
Each group will have access to the relevant section of the project’s website, and will also be able to use the logo in its publicity materials. In exchange, it will keep a record of its business on the website, be it as minutes or as notes. At present the Transition Network offers Wiki webspace to new Transition Initiatives which is easy to maintain and update.
Each group will also be able to use the Wiki website, allowing it to post initial drafts of documents or of its section of the Energy Descent Plan, in such a way that others can edit it online – a powerful collaborative information-building tool.
It is also useful for these groups to meet each other on a monthhly basis (at least). In TTT the facilitators of each group meet monthly. Each group sends one person to that meeting. Designing in as many opportunities for the groups to network and meet each other as possible is crucial.”

Energy Descent Action Plan

The original EDAP was produced in Kinsale in 2005 as a permaculture student project. It is still an exemplary and inspiring document. Download and read at least the chapter relating to your group.

There is an excellent guide to producing an EDAP produced by Eat the Suburbs

And Lewes have done a lot of excellent thinking on creating their EDAP which they have renamed the Pathway to a Positive Future.

Visions

Visioning is powerful process in defining the good destination we are all prepared to strive towards. It is an essential first step in the EDAP process. There are many inspiring visions that have come out of TTB meetings including the Unleashing. Some have been grouped under themed group headings. Why not take some of them to meetings and fly them as kites to see if they inspire people to new thinking or to set up projects to move towards the vision. Or start writing them into the vision section of your EDAP chapter.

Successful Groups

GuildlinesforGroups prepared by Transition Town Totnes (especially for Neighbourhood Groups but excellent for all)

Useful couple of Slides on meeting the various ‘needs’ of a group.

‘Designing Productive Meetings and Events; How to increase participation and enjoyment‘. Duncan has an excellent book by this title. It is in pdf format at 2Mb. To get a copy emailed contact Duncan dl@duncanlaw.co.uk

A paper copy is available.

A potted summary of the above

Seeds for Change website with really useful group working suggestions.

Practicalities and boring stuff
Guidelines for contacting group members

Use of database and emailing (still to be written)
Creating a group email (still to be written)

Finding a venue
and other stuff about holding local events

Notes on the NCVO approach to Other Players Analysis and Options (Margaret Creer)
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