These 22 slides accompanied a workshop that focused on teaching the basics of a consensus process that uses cooperative dialogue. It also covered techniques for an efficient council and tools for effective community engagement. The participants were parents interested in forming a school council, but could be useful for any group interested in using a consensus based approach for their collective decision-making. Handouts from the workshop are available for download at http://cooptools.ca/groveworkshopsept29 Dotmocracy materials are available at www.Dotmocracy.org

1. Consensus Decision-Making Grove Community School - Parent Council Training Workshop

2. Agenda Introduction Who's Here? Consensus Basics Dialogue for Consensus Techniques for an Efficient Council Tools for Effective Community Engagement Community Meeting Scenario Next Steps Parents can talk to grade reps (OPTIONAL)

3. Introduction Workshop Goal: Skills building among parents Plan to create a Parent Council

4. Introduction Jason Diceman & Simone Arsenault-May

5. Who’s Here?

6. What is Consensus? Democratic form of group decision-making that works best in small groups (less than 15). Process: Creative and cooperative discussion of ideas and opinions. Goal: Find the best solution that everyone can live with. Equal opportunity to participate. Promote the growth of community and build trust.

7. What Consensus is Not Not necessarily unanimous agreement with 100% enthusiastic satisfaction. Not voting on competing options (e.g. Robert’s Rules). Not debating or bargaining to win your view. Not going with the lowest common denominator. Silence interpreted as consent. Not just going along with ‘the leader’.

8. Your Definition Your group will create and agree upon your own working definition of consensus, and when and how other kinds of decision-making will be used e.g. voting, delegation.

9. Basic Steps of Consensus Introduction: Presentation of issue to be addressed. Clarification: Questions and information gathering. Dialogue: Discussion of ideas and opinions towards the formation of a proposal. Address Concerns: Ask for concerns with proposal and seek solutions. Call for Consensus: Each member states their level of support for proposal. If lacking support, further dialogue is likely required. Option to use alternative decision-making (e.g. delegate, vote). Shelve the decision to be addressed at a later date.

10. Levels of Support

11. Using Alternative Decision-Making Conditions for using other forms of decision-making need to be determined in advance. Participants should be sincerely seeking consensus, not sabotaging in order to force a vote. When the decision at hand is very subjective it might be better to delegate. When urgent decisions are required it may be better to delegate.

12. Dialogue for Consensus Role Playing Dialogue vs. Debate: What should be our special lunch day menu?

14. Tips for an Efficient Council Hard working and cooperative individuals Experienced meeting chair person Consistent use of a discussion email list (e.g. Yahoo Groups, Google Groups) Up-to-date documentation on the web(e.g. Google Sites, WikiSpaces.com) Simple web tools to help schedule meetings (e.g. Doodle.com, MeetingWizard.com)

15. Methods for Community Messages Email list / e-newsletter Up-to-date website Take home letters Posters Bulletin Boards

16. Techniques for Community Engagement ‘One-window’ contacts One person and set of contact details responsible for managing communication to and from the council Promotes consistency and group accountability Speak w/one voice - avoid conflicting messages Online Surveys (e.g. SurveyMonkey.com)

17. Techniques for Community Engagement Forums Open House Events Study Circles

18. Dotmocracy Sheets

19. Dotmocracy Wall

20. Dotmocracy Wall

21. Community Meeting Scenario DEMONSTRATIONUse Dotmocracy sheets to recognize agreements concerning: What should our policy be for what students can take to school?

22. Next Steps Slides to be posted at www.cooptools.ca/groveworkshopsept29