SoMBu 2024 Week 23

Language: Español

Broadcast Thursday, June 06, 2024

There is a kind of moment of stillness coming at the solstice. Whether you are in full summer or full winter or somewhere inbetween. Our Annual Conference has come and gone (and we are now working on our 8th year!). It feels that we are in a final burst of growth at this point–right on the verge of change. 

By now, you should know that SoFA is exploring a transition to a Network Model. Beginning in January, General Circle has been working with Department Circle leaders and delegates to evolve SoFA to a new frame which can help us grow and meet our needs better. We’ve asked questions, had many hours of conversation, and shared lots of feedback and concern. We are coming to the end of our exploration phase by drafting the things we want SoFA to evolve towards.

At this point, prototypes of three new Department Circles formed with General Circle guidance (Infrastructure, Delivery Support, and Communities). These prototypes are working on draft aims/domains of their departments, a proposed budget for the next quarter (and subsequent three quarters); and proposing subcircles. These draft proposals will bring us clarity about what we will look like, how money and information and work will flow, and how we can take the next step together. 

Here’s what I am imagining for our process (just speaking for myself): Prototype circles will ask the General Circle to consent to their aims/domains and budget proposals and form the new departments. Then the new departments can take up the work of their aims, the new subcircles will form, new leaders and delegates will come into the General Circle. We will continue our evolution. 

While moving through this process, we have made mistakes and are learning from them. I imagine we will be learning for many years to come! I know the many perspectives, fears, concerns, and hopes I have heard from you have been great teachers.

So far, we’ve found the process together – rebuilding the airplane while flying it.  There are also many successes to celebrate and when this is through, the new SoFA can be a better organization that can grow, meet our needs, and bring us together in new ways.   

While we are in these deep conversations, I hope that you can find a moment of solstice stillness to breathe into transformation together. 

Rhonda Baird, 

Operational Leader/Executive Director

✨ Highlights

Shared Power Week

We are so very excited to bring this announcement to you of the Shared Power Week–a global coordinated set of events to celebrate inclusive governance!

Please mark you calendars for Shared Power Week the week of September 12-20 and look for more information and announcements in the coming days and weeks. 

To get you started we wanted to share our announcement of the event. (Please share with your SoFA contacts and circles and networks! We are beginning to work on language localization, so look for more in the next few days.)

What event do you dream of offering? How can you participate? We developed an information sheet to get you started. 

If you are new to planning an event or want a little support here is an event planning guide we put together to get you started! 

With gratitude and celebration and encouragement to all of you! Let’s do it! 

Shared Power Week circle.

✏️ Circle reports

Mission Circle

• The Mission Circle has selected Seba as the new Facilitator/Chair and Pame as the new Secretary.
• Reviewed the Network Model.
• Previewed the upcoming Shared Power Week.

International Circle

• SoItalia: Leading the formation of Sociocrazia Insieme (Sociocracy Together) as a Community of Practice (CoP), resulting from the merging of three current groups.
• SoPra: Updated facilitation and secretary roles. Experienced significant tensions and confusion during the process of exploring the Network Model. Continued with trainings and events.
• Multilingual Academy: Progressing well. Set the initial date for February 2025 to accommodate holidays in both northern and southern hemispheres. Planning basic training sessions from September to December 2024 to attract more participants.

Content Circle

• Training Circle: Canceling trainings due to low attendance. Facing struggles with events. Preparing for the Academy.
• Web Content Publishing: Working on a proposal to dissolve the circle. Next meeting scheduled for June 10. Two ICT workshops have been scheduled. Still organizing the dates and dynamics for leaders/influencers workshops.
• Website Circle: The Content, Website, Web Content Publishing, and SoFA Support Services circles have agreed to move the Website Circle as a subcircle of SoFA Support Services for the next three months, effective immediately. Working on setting up the Web Content Publishing (WCP) workflow. Each circle will have its own web content publisher and join the community of practice.

SoFA Support Services

• Reviewed the proposed aim statement of the Infrastructure Circle. Moved the Website Circle into a direct subcircle of SoFA Support Services for the next three months. Reviewed the development of the Commons Proposal. Reviewed circle membership with the aim of updating double links.
• Financial Wellbeing: working on template language for DU agreements. Developing budget templates for the next quarter. Submitted a grant for the Community of Practice (CoP).
• IT Circle: Working on merging contacts as part of the domain. Discussed linking the Website Circle. Reviewing the roles of System Administrator and Logkeeper.

Ecosystem Circle

• Met and consented to a proposal to dissolve the Ecosystem Circle. Existing sector circles will move to the Communities Circle until or unless they find a new place in the model, pending General Circle (GC) decision. A process to support this transition was agreed upon.

💙 New Members

Ma´raj Sheikh (España) – SoPra