Hi again, I created this document last year around the same time as the one on Green Architecture. THe point was to describe the type of organization I hope to do my work within. The idea is to create a structure which brings out the best in people and is fun to be a part of. To quothe Harrison Owen, who developed Open Space Technology; "Making people do things they don't want to do is a bummer". Of course, being on the recieving end of "management" is even worse! Todd A Participatory Organization My goal is to participate in the creation of a collective whose mission is to offer services which enable people in Tompkins county to live a sustainable lifestyle. - Focus on the built environment. - Operate primarily in Tompkins county. - Be up and running within 3 years. Not negotiable - I'd rather not invest my time in the creation of an organization that doesn't have these qualities: - Mission - The mission of the organization would be the bottom line. Finances would be managed so as to uphold and continue the mission, profit would not be an end in itself. - Decision making process - in order to bring out the best ideas and benefit from the most profound commitments of the members, decisions will be made by consensus, but authority will be weighted toward those who will implement decisions or be most directly affected by them. If consensus fails and a decision must be made, a vote can be taken on the basis of one member one vote. - If significant capital is needed, interest can be paid on investments at a fixed, limited rate, without voting rights. Contribution of capital must never override the will of the workers - Transparency - all information will be shared openly and actively with all members and the general public. - Personal Development - We will seek to understand the motives, gifts, and needs of each member and in order to bring out their best. - Open Collaboration - we will work with other organizations, coops, businesses, individuals and institutions that share similar goals and interests. We will include Users, Builders, Financiers, and Municipal Authorities, and Other Designers in the design process. - Growth - we will advance our mission by actively sharing what is best about our organization with anyone who is interested. Negotiable: - Small enough to function effectively as a consensus based, non hierarchical organization, about 3 to 12 people. Maybe there could be smaller teams within a larger more loosely defined group. - Income from activities will be returned to the members in the form of hourly pay and yearly patronage refunds in proportion to hours worked. Pay will be equal on the basis of hours worked, including participating in planning processes (management). - Services we could offer include: - Participatory design - Sketches, presentation and working drawings - Information, education and training - Consulting - Cost estimates - Network building - Construction - Education - we will continually learn and share ideas about : - Design of sustainable environments, structures, materials, landscaping, patterns, building technology. - Urban and regional planning - Economics, economic justice, cooperative principles - Community - Organization - Open Space, Appreciative Inquiry, Consensus - The relationship of Faith and Philosophy to sustainable living - Information technology, CAD, Internet - Political constraints and opportunities, Building codes - Legal structure, whether it is cooperative, for profit, or non profit, will be chosen and modified to best facilitate the goals of the members.