Hi Pat, I agree with much you say here. Our first intention as SuirCAN is something to which we have all agreed – that is to sing off the same hymn sheet, to first of all build group report, to vibrate together (create a swarm?). Let the young and the old vibrate together, the quick and the slow, those with long history in the context and those that are new, professionals and laymen, the passionately feverish and frustrated, the cool, calm and collected, etc. I am also aware that quite a few people do not look at emails often or ever, so they will not be on board with these kind of new dynamics and communications, calls for action or suggestions. So maybe we can try for now to let things grow in the actual face to face group contact.
We have to sacrifice ourselves to the group first if we want to be part of it. First ‘feel’ the group/ hear the group. This is SLOW group dynamics (along the principles of the SLOW movement , slow food, etc. where quick fixes, paste-overs, quick answers, reactive responses along the lines of our own education and past experience are to be questioned). I for one would want to keep things on the level of the water pool that symbolically lay in our midst. Mieke, in our first meeting we had a murky blue fabric laid out in the centre on the floor amidst our circle of chairs – this was there in part to represent the murky waters around the suir island which we want to clear; in part to represent the us as bathing in a pool of shared intent (even though with different skills and views as individuals) and in part to represent something from which we hope a clear vision and way forward can slowly emerge. So looking into this pool is where we are at. As with all group dynamics we have to check how we dialogue, the form of our dialogue and the inclusiveness of what we consult on. When we step into the circle when it is our turn to talk, we have to ask ourselves whether we are creating a dialogue or a monologue, will the group intent be served or not, there is an art to group dialogue and it is very important to keep an eye on the common denominator: ‘the golden thread’ – to make sure that every member of the group is attached to this thread as the only means to keep us from getting lost in the maze or from splintering off into dead-end passages / splinter groups. At the moment we may view this golden thread simply as our passion for community spirit or to work within the public realm with a stronger voice for the common good. Anyway, we are at the start, and our aim is to unite ourselves around a common thing. To see and hear this THING clearly before we move on to re-action, pro-action. We also want to discover and go towards healing the heart of our perceived community. Part of the ailment might well be the way that we rush in with positive action or campaigning or whatever positivism too quick without bringing to light the shadow aspects or understanding the mechanisms that have created this stuff we do not want. This is not about positive or negative, more a search for
truth (transparency being key). That does not mean that we cannot continue
to act as individuals and groups of friends in our own capacities. This group is one of normal citizens practicing democracy (rediscovering their own democracy and what that means) – so we are not inviting officials unless they are comfortable to not be officials and only with total group consent.
Mieke, thanks for the swot. It is a good start – though for now I don’t know if that is what we as a group would want to do. We can discuss it in the group?. Me and Theresa did also retort that we would do a swot or similar at an early stage of our project (with this we mean the Creative Amenities Now art intervention side of the Suir Island project: A-wake-ing the Island – which is a separate aspect – a collaboration between me Shay and Theresia).
We have not got round to this yet. There are other methodologies to explore – swot is just the most well-known route. Also, your suggestions are good, most of them have come up already – and it is good to know that we are thinking along the same lines. We have to think of ways to introduce our suggestions for ‘a way forward’ to the group when we get to that stage, but we are not there yet, are we….??? Anyway, it would be good to meet you face to face quite soon.
Lyn
Lyn Mather
