2009.11.10 14:00 Working Group Meeting

Eliza proposes the following agenda:

1) Decisions This Week: Tags and Disruptive Behavior

    A. Decisions were made this week regarding the "PaB Host" name tag. On Nov8,
        Pema sent and email containing the following:
    
               "There now is a "PaB Host" option, which any guardian can wear
               when they activate their "playasbeinghere" SL group.  There is
               no obligation to activate that group, while attending a PaB
               session, and if you activate it, there is also no obligation
               to choose the "PaB Host" option; other options are "cultivator"
               or "Playasbeing Guardian".

               How, or even whether, we want to use the new "PaB tag" is still
               a completely open question.  We can discuss that later, or we
               can just experiment and see who is interested in wearing that
               tag. But since we have discussed it as a possible way of
               indicating our host role, at least we now have the option to
               wear the tag, after Storm created it today.
         
     B. Vibrant discussions have been taking place within the PlayasBeing google
         group regarding disruptive visitors and PaB general policy. It was
         decided that with a current example, the most thoughtful approach would be
         a temporary ban. Three months has been given as a suggestion. One person has
         responded so far.

         Is the Working Group in agreement with this suggestion? Do we wait for, or ask for,
         further responses from the general group before implementing this course of action?

 
2) Donations

          After extensive discussion, Maxine and Pema have decided that they would
          like to each donate some amount of money to PaB, every three
          months. They hope that others in PaB will follow their example, probably with
          a smaller amount, but hopefully in a way that will together make a
          difference.
 
          Background: costs of PaB will be about $2500/year in tier for the PaB
          part of the Kira lands, plus the full travel and lodging expenses for
          the retreat coordinator, currently Eos, for each retreat. In addition,
          we would like to get extra income, so that we can then hand out stipends
          to those who like to attend RL retreats, but don't have the money to do so.
 
          Is the basic idea one that we all like, and if so, how do we best present the idea
          of a "PaB fund drive" to the whole guardian group?

3) Chat Logs

         A. Last week there was discussion regarding "What is the function of PaB chat logs?" 
             Pema sent a detailed message regarding what he finds to be the function of the logs
             and also the pros and cons of posting the logs publicly, which Storm then added to.

             Eos suggested PaB consider a system in which some items remain publicly visible,
             while other items such as retreat information be posted in a private mode.

             Having spoken with others, perhaps Eos can give an update on the feasibility of this
             sort of process? We can then clarify thoughts further.

        B. Pema has made the suggestion that each WG member read a day's worth of logs, every
            six days. This would be in order to keep up with threads or situations that may
            require or suggest further discussion/action.
   
            Do we like this idea? If so, should one person draft a schedule for the Working Group, to
            begin this week?           

4) RL Retreats in 2010 (formerly item #12)

             We have four retreats proposed for 2010, in Malta, California,
             Hawaii or Nova Scotia, and Germany, in that order.  Are we happy
             with those four, or do we want to suggest possible alternatives?
             And which place to pick for the summer?

             *Due to advanced planning required, this item has been moved forward.

5) Unrecorded Guardian Meetings  
        

             Pila suggested introducing unrecorded guardian meetings;
             there are clearly many options, as has been mentioned at
             several occasions, such as:

              -- SL retreat sessions of several-hours or even longer
              -- spontaneous groups of guardians setting up their own meetings
              -- organizing specific officially non-recorded guardian meetings
             and in addition we can also suggest setting up a mentor system,
             to give guardians the opportunity to talk about their experiences.

             At the guardian meeting on Nov.1, Storm made a suggestion regarding
             different kinds of sessions. Since that time, other guardians have begun
             to take initiatives as well. 

             Would the WG like to initiate further discussion within the PlayasBeing
             google group, to ask others to bring specific suggestions to the floor, and
             to comment on those suggestions given by others?

7) PaB Village

              Are there any suggestions for new events and/or structures in the
              PaB Village, perhaps in relation to retreats?

8) Coordinator as Role Name

             The six WG members play a role as coordinators, yet they also
             delegate some of their responsibilities to other coordinators
             outside the group; would it be more clear if the WG members 
             would be given another role name, different from "coordinator"?

9) A Chair for the WG?

             Do we want a rotating role of chair for the Working Group; the
             name could be "chair" or "WG coordinator" or "sweeper" (Storm's
             suggestion) or whatever to indicate that this person's responsibility
             is "the buck stops here", checking regularly whether the decisions 
             made in the WG are actually followed up, and where not, gently
             the other WG members reminding them to follow up :).  This role
             may or may not be different from the agenda maker and moderator
             for weekly WG meetings; it probably should be for half a year or so,
             to give sufficient time to get deep enough into the organization to 
             be able to play that role.

10) Mentor System for New Guardians and New Guardian Roles

            The idea has been put forward to instate a mentor system for new
            guardians, in two versions: one for those who become a general PaB
            guardian for the first time, and one for guardians who take on a
            weekly session for the first time.

11) Introductory PaB sessions

            Storm and Patty Barnes, from Spirit of the Senses, came up with 
            the suggestion to organize special introductory PaB sessions, once 
            a month or so.

12) Outreach: Community Gateway

           We may want to consider offering PaB as one of the groups that 
           newbies can turn to during their initial orientation.