Collaborative Self Governance

Collaborative means doing together.

Let's say that we want to co-operate in a effective and satisfying way. To begin listen to this thrice and then review this blogsite. Then consider why so many of us consider that getting closer to the practice of equality is effective and satisfying. Then review your values.

Collaboration and cooperation empower us. Let's consider their effective and satisfying practice. There is a lot of healthy food for thought in this video, view it again. If you are interested in a goal, the one offered in this video is, harmonize people power, and process. An old aunt of mine told me that she was very glad that someone told her that, "It ain't so much about what you do: and it's  a lot more about the way how you do it." Process is important.

    

Consider the simple meaning of governance. Governance is how we collectively organize ourselves to take care of ourselves, Let's consider "how" and begin to practice.

                                                                                        

                                                                                                                Richard

Organizing power: for self-governance

 Governance, Organization, Effective Citizenship, and the Power to Do

                Your organization can make you a more effective citizen. There seems to be a new or renewed urge toward new political organization and active citizenship these days. Many of us have a growing understanding of democracy. We see that more active citizenship brings more democracy.

                A new organization is much like an old organization. It takes people to organize, but many of those organizing are new not old. Persons new to organizing, especially political organizing, have a lot to learn. Their energy and enthusiasm will be an important aid to their progress. 

                An organization may have a beginning in individual minds, but its realization will be in a group. A group of people is most often a mess and a mess of people is not an organization. To become an organization there are doings such a mess of people must do. They can begin with a bit of togetherness and continue with a growing ability to cooperate. 

                Agreement that a new organization is necessary or a darn good idea can be a useful beginning. Agreement, perhaps tacit, to work together can be another important step. Finding ways to cooperate is important. Old organizers found many ways to facilitate cooperation.

                Soon the purpose of the organization must begin to be identified and clarified. Clarification of purpose is an ongoing process and activity. This may often be begun by a small group of leaders, but must be carried on by many others.

                Say that the original growing group is made up of citizens who have discovered that they want a brand new political organization. They have some willingness to work together. The also have understandings and misunderstandings to work out. A lot of work.

                Members of this very new organization need to maintain an ongoing understanding of the aims, values, and wants of others in the organization in so far as they affect the organization. Not easy, but important to their ability to increase their effectiveness.

                An important benefit of an organization is that which needs to be done, need not be done by one or a very few, but rather can be shared among and by all members. In fact the more involved with the important work of the organization that are all members, the better the moral and effectiveness of the organization is likely to be. 

                The members of a well functioning group can feel themselves to be effective doers, and can be those effective doers in fact.

                There are some doings and practices which have helped others to start and maintain their organization.

Doings and practices to begin promptly:

~ Consider how you intend to keep in contact.

~ Begin identifying your goals and aims.

~ Clarify goals and aims.

~ Restate goals and aims.

~ Arrange to have each member help to achieve these goals and aims.

~ Take care of all business promptly.

~ Arrange for the ongoing education for all members.

~ Practice dialogue skills.

~ Arrange for members to have opportunity to be educators.

~ Enjoy your participation.

~ Keep in mind that teaching one another is important. Outside help can be very good, but seldom as good as that which we do for ourselves. As we teach, we learn.

~ Demonstrate abundant and appropriate trust of one another.

~ Keep in mind that the fewer the secrets the better. "No secrets" is a good policy.

~ Be inclusive.  as a policy, help anyone who wants to be a member to be one.

~ Encourage equality.

~ Remind one another that each of you is important to and responsible for the maintenance of your organization, its philosophy, and its doings.

~ Lay out clear steps for achieving important and doable goals and plans for your organization.

~ Aims and goals ought to be not only doable and important but also be an attractive and challenging big deal.

~ Set out one or two doings or goals to be worked on today. Your organization will benefit by having important things to be done right now.

~ Keep in mind that there is much to be done and that each member ought to help with those doings.

~ Make clarifying the "grand vision" of your organization an ongoing activity. "Learning, teaching, and practicing democratic self governance for all" might be an example of such a vision.

~ Aim to govern yourselves by practicing self-governance.

            Click on the light blue text above for more information.

            Thank you very much for reading.

                                                                                                                        RCS

 

Teach, Learn, and Act

Civic self care is an ongoing activity:

                The hope of our people to be organizing for our economic and social well-being survives among a significant number of us. It took a turn for the worse when trade and worker unionists failed to teach their children of social organization and responsibility for self-governance. Educational institutions did not take up the slack nor did most other persons or institutions. Still with some knowledge of cooperation, some common sense, a bit of our history and our ability to listen, learn, and share, here we are.

Citizens:

                Many members of unions and other citizens had not learned enough about our common law, our Constitution, and the power of democracy to take up their social and civic responsibility to care for their cities, states, nations as well as they might. Some even began to see their citizenship as a gift rather than as a responsibility and a self protection. Many of us to this day have an incomplete understanding of the basis of our history. The power of the jury was forgotten, as was the power of the public forum, dialogue, and organization.

                 My intention here is to speak to citizens in general and not just to union members. My excuse for having unionists on the mind is that historically they take a certain responsibility for governing themselves. And in what survives of our unions is archived some wisdom about citizens organizing and active democracy. Also with survival of some union there is a better chance of finding a more perfect union.

                After WWII there seemed to be a decline in citizen organization, Men and women became less active in their clubs. Most clubs had taken some part in civic education and practice and did much good. Many members gained an understanding of the results of ongoing legislation. Some club member did a better job of educating one another and others about the politics of the land then did some unions.

                Knowledge of aspects of democratic citizen organizing have been misplaced. Still, it can be found. It is not only to be found in union archives, but is also to be found, sometimes with difficulty, in most universities of the land. Libraries hold much good information and much, with some sorting, can be found on the www. Students of democracy and active citizenship have done important work in modernizing and updating the wisdom of governance of, by, and for the people.  One large are of agreement centers on the fact that the less citizen activity there is in governance the less the existence of democracy. Another area of agreement is that the more citizens practice citizenship the more they learn of citizenship.

Useful Information:

                  Over the decades much of great value has been written about active citizenship, civic organization,and education for self governance. It is here for us to read.

By law you have the power to govern. People power is right now. We can learn to use it. From lack of use our right and our power can evaporate. If you are a reader please feel free to share that which you find out about how to do active citizenship, use our Constitution and Common Law, learning to govern ourselves, and like that. You can report or inform us in "comments" just below. You can even as questions or make comments there. I like to use my own name but you can use a pen name or avatar.

                 Back to unions. I think that they have some good examples of citizens taking responsibility for their own governance. I suspect that the practice of some unionism can lead to a more perfect union. There are some important union people who have done some important work about organizing for example. However there are philosophers, educators, historians, statesmen, and more who can inform us well. There ar those among us who can tells about them. With some careful sorting and discrimination we can find useful works online, on the www, which we can share and use to take better care of ourselves socially, civically, and in self-governance. We need to be courageous enough to begin to talk among ourselves about our common good.

Action:

                You can practice here. For example, when you find information about people, persons, and individuals organizing democratically for their mutual good you can tell us about it here. You could so anonymously if you want to. When you find something amazing that we can lawfully do to take better care of ourselves you could tell us about it. This blog is about governance and we can share info about governance here.We can share info about social or political learning or teaching, or about interesting democratic mutual aid organizing.  We can share interesting doings and activities. Grass roots doings can be interesting.

                By searching this site you could find something interesting.

              Thank you for the visit.

                                                                                                        rcs  

 

Organization, Effective Citizenship, and the Power to Do

                 Your organization can make you a more effective citizen. There seems to be a new or renewed urge toward new political organization and active citizenship these days. Many of us have a growing understanding of democracy. We see that more active citizenship brings more democracy.

                 It takes people to organize, but many of those organizing are new, not old. Persons new to organizing, especially political organizing, have a lot to learn. Their energy and enthusiasm will be an important aid to their progress. 

                An organization may have a beginning in individual minds, but its realization will be in a group. A group of people is most often a mess and a mess of people is not an organization. To become an organization there are doings such a mess of people must do. They can begin with a bit of togetherness and continue with a growing ability to cooperate. 

                Agreement that a new organization is necessary or a darn good idea can be a useful beginning. Agreement, perhaps tacit, to work together can be another important step. Finding ways to cooperate is important. Old organizers found many ways to facilitate co-operation.

                Soon the purpose of the organization must begin to be identified and clarified. Clarification of purpose is an ongoing process and activity. This may often be begun by a small group of leaders, but must be carried on by many others.

                Say that the original growing group is made up of citizens who have discovered that they want a brand new political organization. They have some willingness to work together. The also have understandings and misunderstandings to work out. A lot of work.

                Members of this very new organization need to maintain an ongoing understanding of the aims, values, and wants of others in the organization in so far as they affect the organization. Not easy, but important to their ability to increase their effectiveness.

                An important benefit of an organization is that which needs to be done, need not be done by one or a very few, but rather can be shared among and by all members. In fact the more involved with the important work of the organization that are all members, the better the moral and effectiveness of the organization is likely to be. 

                The members of a well functioning group can feel themselves to be effective doers, and can be those effective doers in fact.

                There are some doings and practices which have helped others to start and maintain their organization.

Doings and practices to begin promptly:

~ Consider how you intend to keep in contact.

~ Begin identifying your goals and aims.

~ Clarify goals and aims.

~ Restate goals and aims.

~ Arrange to have each member help to achieve these goals and aims.

~ Take care of all business promptly.

~ Arrange for the ongoing education for all members.

~ Practice dialogue skills.

~ Arrange for members to have opportunity to be educators.

~ Enjoy your participation.

~ Keep in mind that teaching one another is important. Outside help can be very good, but seldom as good as that which we do for ourselves. As we teach, we learn.

~ Demonstrate abundant and appropriate trust of one another.

~ Keep in mind that the fewer the secrets the better. "No secrets" is a good policy.

~ Be inclusive.  as a policy, help anyone who wants to be a member to be one.

~ Encourage equality.

~ Remind one another that each of you is important to and responsible for the maintenance of your organization, its philosophy, and its doings.

~ Lay out clear steps for achieving important and doable goals and plans for your organization.

~ Aims and goals ought to be not only doable and important but also be an attractive and challenging big deal.

~ Set out one or two doings or goals to be worked on today. Your organization will benefit by having important things to be done right now.

~ Keep in mind that there is much to be done and that each member ought to help with those doings.

~ Make clarifying the "grand vision" of your organization an ongoing activity. "Learning, teaching, and practicing democratic self governance for all" might be an example of such a vision.

~ Aim to govern yourselves by practicing self-governance.

                There is a 'comments' window below for comments on the content of this posts.

                                                                    RCS

Your Vocabulary and the Irish Land Wars

Governance With RCS: Irish history and your governance

                The Irish Land Wars are the source or the introduction of a powerfully effective word in the English language. In 1850 Irish persons formed the the Tenant Rights League in Ireland to demand reform in the land law of Ireland. A law not of democratic origin. This organization was followed by about 40 years of unrest in Ireland, and to some learning and reform.

                The word in question was derived from the name of a landlord so disliked that he was refused labor to harvest his crops, as well as refusal to to service shops, laundries, and other facilities. This social excommunication of Mr. Boycott, this landlord, led to his name being used to describe these refusals. Boycotts have worked well as a nonviolent protest measure.

                Know you know the meaning of "to boycott," "boycotting," and more.

                We can be more aware that we are responsible for ruling ourselves. We can be more aware of out responsibility for self-governance. In Ireland a name for self rule has been Home Rule. It does seem best to begin governance at home. One's town, county, water district, and country are examples of places for home Rule. You can blame your wife, your father, your mayor, and your president, but that often turns out to be a waste of energy. Where you are concerned you are the authority and the boss, and the doing is yours to do. You will have your results. We all have responsibility and we all have learning to do. That learning is easier when we do it together.

 

                We can learn more effective doing by observing the doings of others. that's history. You can check out the Home Rule League of Ireland for some instructive history. You may find out things just by reading on here. You may learn something of practical civics or social organization. You can also report your understandings in "comments" below. "Comments" can also be a good place to ask questions. You can check out Gandhi on social organizing and the use of resistance. Well reasoned and well presented have been important parts of useful social measures. U. S. citizens have plenty to learn about the use of our Constitution and the use of democracy. There is much of interest to learn of the structure and function of our actual governments.

                We can become more effectual citizens by learning about the uses pf politics and of our history. History is were we can begin to learn of what has worked and what has not. As we learn to observe and to practice taking care of ourselves (self-governance), we may find it useful to learn more of and from our own histories as well as from the histories of others. 

                We can call politics the way we co-operate to get our governance working well.

                Well, what do you know about the verb "to boycott?" You may remember that every verb is an action word. You can learn more about the: when, where, why, and how of boycott online. You may report your interesting and useful findings here in the "comments" section just below.

 

                Thank you very much for reading.

 

 

                                                                            rcs

 

           

 

Free, Democratic, and Inclusive

 History With RCS: Cossack, Ukrainian, and Free

 

                Cossacks have been free men and democratic. They have only been known to history since about 650 AD. They have been active in self-governing communities for well over a thousand years. They have been open, inclusive, with a Slavic bent. They knew a world from Siberia to Lithuania and up and down for many years, but were drawn to a certain land.

                The Ukrainian Cossack State was formed in about 1650 in what is now central Ukraine. Their leaders were elected.

                Through the years they have been few. Democracy is not easy. They experienced much, and stayed free among strong neighbors such as Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. Among such neighbors they continued to show a strong will for self-governance.

                They formed the Ukrainian Peoples Republic in 1917 to 1921, the western Ukrainian Peoples Republic 1918 to 1919, and the Ukrainian Peoples Republic in exile  from 1920 to 1992.

                They were among the very first members of the Soviet Union with its promise of self-governing citizens. They may have been the first to leave that Union when it showed little will to self-governing citizenship.

                They were among the charter members of the United Nations with its promise of a chance for peace and freedom. They have not given up on their fellow members yet. 

                Ah, yes, I believe that at the breakup of the Soviet Union the were left with one of the greatest stock of atomic weapons on Earth and gave up that stock to the U.N.

                They have been few and still are. They are still a mixture of races, nationalities, and religions. They are a free democratic people self selected from that mixture.

                We might mention that while all this was going on they, with the help of a few viking Norsemen, created Russia. Oh, and they had a modern republic type written constitution in 1710.

                I believe that a history of the cultures most effecting these people could be traced back another 4,000 years. However, before about 650 AD they were little recognized in history as a discrete people. Throughout perhaps a thousand years of their history they stayed freer, more democratic, and inclusive than most. They have had to defend themselves and they have. They have also kept the hope and faith that they could live a free people among free people. They have  seen inclusiveness, freedom, and democracy disappear like smoke again and again. Still they hold a vision of that freedom and self governance closer and dearer than do most.

               Please feel free to correct this work or add to it in the "comments" section below or just to click on a social media button just below.

                Ukraine. 

                Thank you for reading.

 

                                                                                    rcs

 

Mondragon Co-operatives in Basque Country

 

 Co-operatives seem doable, understandable, and worth learning more about.

 

                    This set of co-ops seems an excellent example. It seems to be a success in every sense of the word. I do not know all that is worth knowing about it, but I know enough to want to know more. If you are planning a trip to Spain and are up for visiting the Basque country. Do so. Arrange to visit the little city of Mondragon. Once there arrange for tour of the nearby Mondragon co-op facilities near by. Your purpose for doing this is to bring us a report and post it in "comments" below. You might want to check out the nature of worker co-ops before heading to Basque Country. Viewing this video makes a decent start.

                Enjoy the video.

                                                                                                            rcs

            

                                                                    RCS

A Little List (for the political)

Governance With RCS: Many in the U.S. are considering brand new political organizations on a wider than usual scale.

 

 

                They want organizations capable of working with large numbers of active citizens effectively. They are expecting wider participation in self governance. They want to do that which effectively furthers their aims right now.

We might analyze those aims into organizational aims and platform aims, but here here I will just offer a first draft of a "to do" list. It seems OK to call our organization political for now.

To Do Now:

* Restate clarified goals and aims.

* Arrange to have each member help in achieving those goals.

* Arrange to take care of all business promptly.

* Arrange for the ongoing education of all members.

* Make each member an educator.

* Keep in mind that teaching one another is important. Outside help is seldom as good as that which you do for yourselves.  

* Demonstrate abundant and appropriate trust for each member.

* The fewer secrets the better and "no secrets" is the best policy.

* Be inclusive. Help anyone who wants to be a member to be a member.

* Let each member know that he or she is in building and maintaining the organization, its philosophy, and its doings.

* Lay out clear steps for important and doable goals of your organization.

* One goal must not only be important and doable , but also a truly  attractive, challenging,  big deal. 

* Set out two or three goals to be worked on today. You want an organization where there are happenings right now.

* Every member needs a job they can do right now.

* Make clarifying the "grand vision" of your organization an ongoing activity. (Learning and teaching participatory, democratic, self-governance would be an attractive"grand vision" for me.

* Aim to govern yourselves by practicing self governance. Begin with teach-ins.

* A big enough vision for a brand new political organization might be "Govern ourselves and help others to govern themselves.

May you find that your consideration of my early hints lead you to thoughts of your own organizational plan and action. I wish you active citizenship.

Many in the U.S. are considering brand new political organizations on a wider than usual scale.

They want organizations capable of working with large numbers of active citizens effectively. They are expecting wider participation in self governance. They want to do that which effectively furthers their aims right now.

We might analyze those aims into organizational aims and platform aims, but here here I will just offer a first draft of a "to do" list. It seems OK to call our organization political for now.

To Do Now:

* Restate clarified (party) goals and aims.

* Arrange to have each member help in achieving those goals.

* Arrange to take care of all business promptly.

* Arrange for the ongoing education of all members.

* Make each member an educator.

* Keep in mind that teaching one another is important. Outside help is seldom as good as that which you do for yourselves.  

* Demonstrate abundant and appropriate trust for each member.

* The fewer secrets the better and "no secrets" is the best policy.

* Be inclusive. Help anyone who wants to be a member to be a member.

* Let each member know that he or she is in building and maintaining the organization, its philosophy, and its doings.

* Lay out clear steps for important and doable goals of your organization.

* One goal must not only be important and doable , but also a truly  attractive, challenging,  big deal. 

* Set out two or three goals to be worked on today. You want an organization where there are happenings right now.

* Every member needs a job they can do right now.

* Make clarifying the "grand vision" of your organization an ongoing activity. (Learning and teaching participatory, democratic, self-governance would be an attractive"grand vision" for me.

* Aim to govern yourselves by practicing self governance. Begin with teach-ins.

* A big enough vision for a brand new political organization might be "Govern ourselves and help others to govern themselves.

May you find that your consideration of my early hints lead you to thoughts of your own organizational plan and action. I wish you active citizenship.

by Richard Sheehan

 

Active Citizen Two: A brand new political organization

  A Brand New Political Organization.

Many in the U.S. are considering brand new political organizations for many reasons: a new national party, a coalition, an ad hoc effort to promote a special bill or effort, for social betterment, and on and on. They want organizations capable of working with large numbers of active citizens. They are expecting wider participation in self-governance. They want to do that which effectively furthers their aims right now.

There is much which needs to be done and many of us to do it. However, just now I will offer a list of hints which may prove helpful to an organizer. 

The hints:

~ Be inclusive. Help anyone who wants to be a member, be a member.

~ Keep in mind that teaching one another is important. Outside help can be useful, but that which we do for ourselves is more important. Each a learner, each a teacher.

~ Clarify aims and goals. Restate them often. Better them when you can.

~ Arrange to have each member have opportunities to help in achieving those goals. How will that be done?

~ Arrange to take care of all business promptly. How will it be done. Arrange for the ongoing education of all members. That's education in the skills and understandings necessary to the organization and organizational aims.

~ Make each member an educator. You do not have to use any of these hints; but anyone of them can be very useful.

~ Demonstrate abundant and appropriate trust in each member.

~ The fewer secrets the better and "no secrets" is the best policy.

~ Let each member know that he or she is participating in the creation and nourishing of the organization, its philosophy, and its doings.

~ Lay out clear steps for accomplishing the important doable goals of your organization. 

~ Remember you are not alone. You are part of an organization. laying out, demonstrating, making, and doing are group affairs and  doings. Members want to be active. Let them be active. 

~ It is best that a goal members undertake not only be important and doable, but also ought to be attractive, challenging, and a big deal.

~ Set out a goal or two to be completed today. That is you as in you all set out a goal. You all want your organization to be where the "doings" are.

~ Each member deserves a worthy job he or she can work right now. What a power house an organization can be! Your organization is a big powerful group.

~ Make clarifying the "grand vision" of your organization an ongoing activity. A grand vision for me might be the ongoing practice of active self-governance. or the ongoing practice of participatory democracy.

~ Ends, goals, objectives, aims can all be good. However, to be well done is important and the way it is done can be the most important.  

~ Aim to govern yourselves by practicing active self-governance of the whole. Begin with "how to do" teach-ins.

May these hints/suggestions help you in your action plans.

We have a lot to learn and a lot to do. Its that there are a lot of us to help with that learning and doing. 

As That Active Citizen

As a participant in a meeting it is fair and useful to:

~ Show up.

~ Speak up.

~ Name the problem.

~ Team up.

~ Find a partner.

~ Frame the discussion.

That is: be there; address the group; Clarify the topic; Identify those of like mind; make a friend; listen and learn; sum up what the meeting has been about.

It all starts with showing up and being there.

RCS