Language: Español

Broadcast Thursday, November 23, 2023

Hello lovely SoFA Members! 

This week each year, I begin a series of reflections which lead to a renewal of my sense of purpose. The process begins with gratitude. Let me say that I am grateful for each of you. Whether you are brand new to SoFA or a member from a time before memberships were formal, I want you to know I appreciate you and your contributions to SoFA. I love meeting new members just starting their journey with SoFA. We are so very fortunate to have passionate, curious, creative thinkers and doers contributing to our mission. 

It is also a time of year when fundraising comes to the fore; and it is exciting to be celebrating SoFA’s work in a way that also asks for support from our growing community. You may have seen that we are preparing for a larger donation in the next several weeks – and along with that is likely to be a matching donation. We will need all hands on deck to support that goal; and we are excited to grow our network through the conversations. 

It’s especially exciting because this IS the moment. In so many places, people have been developing the conversations and practices that will change the world; and now is the time when they are connecting those conversations. We are also ready. We’ve been practicing, learning, and sharing for years. Now is also OUR moment to deepen our contribution to the world we envision. I look forward to seeing how you each do this over the coming weeks and months. 

Rhonda Baird

Operational Leader

💡 Sociocratic Tips

Tip: Embrace the Power of Dual Membership Roles

In our diverse and dynamic organization, we understand that each member contributes uniquely. That’s why we’re introducing the idea of differentiating between Social Membership and Governing Membership.

• Social Membership: Express your shared values, identify with our organization, and contribute to events or projects without the commitment to regular meetings or collective decisions. It’s a flexible way to stay connected and engaged.
• Governing Membership: Take an active role in shaping our collective future. Participate in decision-making processes, attend regular meetings, and be a driving force in our organizational initiatives.

Learn more in the article Membership in Organizations as a Source of Clarity written by John L. Clark

🤗 Community

Things you can do to support our fundraising efforts: 

• Share our requests with others over the next several weeks. While we are asking for financial support, this is also a great way to connect with more people about our mission and contribution to a more just world. 
• Look for more on a matching donation campaign – everyone knows someone who could contribute a significant amount to such a campaign. 
• Share our social media posts and help generate buzz for what we are doing! (We always appreciate this!)
• Consider filming a quick “why I love SoFA/sociocracy” video and sending it to us in the Outreach Circle. We’d love to see them (and share them). 
• Many of our members are also donors. We appreciate that very much! Recurring donations are one of the best ways for us to sustain our work.

😄 Fun

The mushroom at the end of the world.

I’m currently reading “The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins” , a book written by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing. The book, published in 2015, explores the global economy through the lens of the matsutake mushroom and its complex and diverse social, economic, and ecological relationships. Tsing examines how this mushroom, which grows in disrupted landscapes, connects various people and cultures around the world, reflecting on the possibilities of life in the midst of capitalist and environmental challenges. A fantastic book to read.

One of the main concepts of the book is ‘assemblage,’ which signifies a dynamic and contingent gathering of diverse elements in a specific time and space, including human and non-human actors, cultural practices, economic forces, and ecological conditions.

So that made me think. Can Sociocracy help us create assemblages? What about beyond human assemblages?

Just some crazy thoughts….

What do you think? Are there any books you are reading that make you think about sociocracy beyond the usual governance framework? Let me know in the forum!

Still don’t know how to use the forum? check this post.

Pame Carmona
Support Services Circle Leader