By Jim Rough
Please note: this is a draft. Jim welcomes your feedback and comments! You can respond publicly by commenting on the blog posting, or contact Jim directly at 360-385-7118 or jim [@] dynamicfacilitation.com
THE ISSUE
Government faces increasingly complex, impossible-seeming problems. Some examples are:
a working document of the New World Roundtable
By Richard K. Moore
The localization movement
In the face of economic crisis and global resource scarcities, more and more communities are beginning to look to themselves, and their own local resources, as a means of responding to these crises. The localization movement generally, and the Transition Towns movement in particular, are spreading, with an emphasis on local organic food production, buy local campaigns, and various kinds of local cooperative projects. Complementary to this is a community-currency movement. Community currencies not only encourage people to buy local, and enable local exchange to flourish, but they increase the effective wealth of the community: costly official currency can be devoted to external expenses and taxes, instead of being tied up in local transactions. Read the rest of this entry »
An Open Letter from DeAnna Martin, Executive Director
Our organization is impressed that the City of Seattle is making the creation of an open and participatory government a priority. We would also encourage the city to take this opportunity to be an innovator in what this means. Rather than doing the minimum to be compliant with state law, this committee can lead Seattle in becoming a leading edge and best practice model for “open, transparent, and participatory” government in the 21st century. Read the rest of this entry »
By Jim Rough
(DRAFT for the Upcoming Book “The Future of Public Participation”)
Lake Constance is at the heart of Europe bordering three countries: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. On the Austrian border is the ancient city of Bregenz, capital of the wealthiest state in Austria, Vorarlberg. Dr. Manfred Hellrigl is Director of the Department of Future Related Issues for Vorarlberg and a pioneer in the art of democracy. Read the rest of this entry »
By DeAnna Martin
On April 16, 2009, we held a conference call for members of the Wisdom Council community of practice to learn about the practice of Wisdom and Creative Insight Councils in Austria. The call lasted about an hour and consists of a brief introduction by Jim Rough and Dr. Manfred Hellrigl then questions and answers by participants. Click here to listen online now!
BREAKING THROUGH:
Innovative Solutions to the Impasse in Bucks County
“We can solve impossible problems.” - Jim Rough, Co-Founder, Center for Wise Democracy
Special Guests: DeAnna Martin, Center for Wise Democracy &
Sara Haile -Mariam, Development Director, Manhattan Young Democrats
Listen to the Broadcast of this show on March 11, 2009 at 8PM ET
Voice of the Voters!
Every Wednesday - 8 to 9 PM Eastern
Heard on 1360 AM Philadelphia and on the Internet Read the rest of this entry »
From Manfred Hellrigl
Recently a randomly selected group of citizens in Bregenz met to figure out what to do with a piece of public land in town. The city had been divided about what to do, but the council created a new option that many embraced. They presented their conclusions to the Mayor and the town in a community meeting held Monday night, March 16th, 2009.
Here are links to:
And, here are some images of two other newspaper articles that were published in print…
Please note this media coverage is in Austrian German, not English!
Delivered by DeAnna Martin at the inaugural committee meeting on 2/27/09
My name is DeAnna Martin. I live in the North Rainier Valley and am co-founder of a nonprofit called the Center for Wise Democracy. Our organization facilitates communities to identify, creatively explore and find solutions to the problems they face in collaboration with government. Read the rest of this entry »