LISTENING TOUR SOUNDS PERFECT
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From: Sharon Riegie M.
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2009, 9:38 AM
Subject: Listening Tour SOUNDS PERFECT
Reply to: 267246
ID: 267247

The conversation has begun...

I have talked with a few friends and they like the idea and had some input. They would love to be involved with a very short, visual, non-invasive type survey over the next few months. I see it with two or three concise questions that may have multiple choice questions. The answers are instantly computed and so all participants can see the answers, percentages and check in periodically, if they chose, to see the ongoing compilations. The questions that require written answers were not appealing to them. I have seen sites that offer this type of survey. Is that something that you know to do, Bruce?

Also, I continue to hear that Light Pages is difficult to maneuver through and I wonder if we ought to leave Light Pages as one aspect of the whole with a site for outreach beyond the current groups - one that can be easily accessed, added to and changed by any one who signs up for access.

There are several sites which have features that I envision in the connecting "tube system". I will do a bit of checking on them and then send that information to Bruce this week.

Thanks to all,

Sharon Riegie Maynard

--- On Sat, Feb 21, 2009, in msg267246, Bonnie Kelley wrote ---

I just read Bruce's email and I'm excited to hear/read what you think Sharon and Jeanie. As Bruce says this is really non-invasive... it could kind of gradually enter (one question or so, at a time, like he suggests) into the cracks and crevices of what is already going on so that it feels natural and coherent. I really like the idea of a coherent, easy access, inquiry aspect gently coming to the surface to reveal itself right there in the organic tapestry of everything everyone is already doing. Like the sun just showing up as sparkles on a lake... very simple. Easily accepted and handled. Even the idea of "listening" is brilliant...the word listening is gentle word. Ok let's hear what the other 2 lovelies have to say. Thanks Bruce. This is a good call. (Nice listening...and I hadn't even noticed Hillary's new hair do.) Bonnie

--- On Sat, Feb 21, 2009, in msg267245, Consortium Admin wrote ---

Thanks for the responses here. This modest little project has a sweet feel about it.

I've been excited about this polling concept -- Jeanie and I have talked about it for a long time, seeing the possibilities in various ways -- and there's something about the way this is coming together that feels very fluent and easy.

I spent much of today finishing up the basic functions of this new process -- which involve sending these surveys out by email. I've added a few custom touches, so that an entire survey can be sent by email, with a link to respond, or a single question from a survey can be sent, in the same way.

I thought this "single question" possibility was important -- because I feel that these surveys should grow over time -- as we learn more about what people are feeling, what they have to suggest, what they want to include.

So, the idea there is -- put out an initial poll or quesstionnaire, and as answers come in, think about them and respond by adding new questions that are based on what we are learning. In this way, a single central theme that is always going to be important doesn't simply fall off the radar screen because we have not been working on it for the last six weeks...

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And -- an idea that feels right to me -- is this concept of "listening tour".

They say Hillary Clinton is on a "listening tour" of the world -- out there to start on the big job of restoring the bright shiny image of the USA in the eyes of the world. From what I've seen, she's doing a great job. She's brilliant -- and that new hairdo is -- very wow -- I like it, it's almost "star wars" :):) Very smooth....

But that's something we can do -- we can start to "listen" in a big way. We can start putting out our "pulse" process -- and gathering up every good idea and connection that anybody wants to bring our way.

I'd say -- that it's up to the ladies here -- to make some initial contacts with leaders of various groups -- GTW, Evolutionary Women -- etc. PeaceXPeace -- Standing Women -- everybody we can think of.

I think everybody will say yes -- because this process is so non-invasive. We must have something like 10,000 women listed in our database -- and we could just put them all into this system -- and, in a low-key and graceful way, let them know they're all invited.

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And, oh yes, I created another account, called "Consortium Admin" -- that could possibly be shared among various people if necessary -- as a way to keep my noisy male presence off the scene. I want to be able to actively contribute to this process, without rocking the boat.

But think about it. Let's do a "listening tour" of the international women's movement. Let's interview all the leaders, let's find out what they are thinking, let's get their ideas on working together or building spiritual unity. And let's start growing the underlying base of this process. My instinct is -- this is not a difficult thing. Let's see what unfolds through grace and co-creative imagination.

--- On Sat, Feb 21, 2009, in msg267244, Bonnie Kelley wrote ---

Sharon I don't know of any group doing what is being discussed here. I say wholeheartedly "go for it." I love this idea of the survey... I have sat next to Bruce at his place and he has shown me the nuance, fluidity and grace that is possible here, with these tools. I am in complete support and encouragement. Blessings, Bonnie Kelley

--- On Fri, Feb 20, 2009, in msg267229, Sharon Riegie Maynard wrote ---

Dear All:

I realize that there are many of us who have the sense of a unified "system" for women as individuals, groups, circles and larger organizations. I would like to take the lead in investigating to find or to create such a system from a place of new possibilities. In my conversation with Bruce, his idea of survey matched a thought that I had had and he has with alot more experience. What I see in our country is that there are many, many amazing things being done by women and those who support them and yet the extensive interconnectedness that could take our voices to a new level of unity, support and community has yet to be in place. If we all keep doing what we have been doing, much will be accomplished and yet without extensive connective outreach we remain unconnected circles... not bad, just less effective. By creating an independent entity that can Weave the World of Women together, you are each free to continue focusing on what you are doing so magnificently and yet connect to support, mentoring, outreach, conversations, etc. that will link you to others throughout the U. S. and then the world.

I would be honored to work with Bruce in the survey process by reaching out to involve women organizations throughout the U.S. , to invite collaborative and circle mentoring with the view to a major teleconference in May, 2009. I anticipate that we will learn a great deal from the surveys about the women in our country; their thoughts, values, desires, priorities, etc. that will help us see each other at the teleconference.

Since there has been so much visioned, discussed and planned around this idea, I would like to know your response. If someone else is already doing this process, I would like to know to support their leadership.

Thanks for any input,

Sharon Riegie Maynard www.sisterspace.net

--- On Thu, Feb 19, 2009, in msg267219, Bruce Schuman wrote ---

Dear Ones -- dear Bonnie, Sharon, Jeanie --

Just a little late-afternoon hello from Santa Barbara.

I got a call today from Sharon Riegie Maynard, who wanted to talk about some ideas for "interconnecting women's groups" -- and I mentioned that I have been working on this new "survey" feature on LightPages.

I like the way this new feature hangs together. It feels to me -- like a way to do a "guided conversation" -- where everybody stays on topic -- unlike email, which buries us all alive...

So, Sharon and I considered that we might explore and unfold this idea. It feels right to me -- or, putting this another way -- I feel that the energy to unfold this concept is available. What I like about this approach is -- it's essentially simple. It doesn't demand strong and highly polarized leadership. It's relaxed.

What it would take -- to create a network based on polling and surveys, that reached out to "all the women's groups on LightPages" -- would simply be a slow steady presence, that just kind of administers the process, and responds creatively to "answers" that get submitted into the system. Any of us can do that, easily.

So, more or less -- the idea is -- create an opt-in network, where we can send "questions' (either entire surveys, or simply one question from an existing survey) to a large audience of recipients, who we have grounds to suppose might be interested in this emerging new women's movement.

I've been thinking of some initial questions, and started to put together an initial poll or survey. The first question, at least for now, in this exploratory moment -- is: "Have you heard the expression "Gather the Women - Save the World"? If so, what does this phrase mean to you?

I've put together an initial survey on this theme, and you can respond to it if you have a minute.

http://lightpages.net/lp/surveys.cfm?login=463404

There are a number of other questions that come up -- about the details, about the level of interest, about commitment, etc. But I thought it would make sense just to let this idea float out there in a small way.

Bonnie, you could easily hook this up with the existing Evolutionary Women projects. Andrea H has already expressed some interest in this survey feature -- and I think it's getting better -- more powerful, more graceful, easier to use and understand...

Jeanie -- I think this is a natural fit for Gather the Women. I think we could talk to all of those people and see how they respond...

And Sharon -- this is really just a probe. But -- it does feel full of life. Jeanie and I have talked about things like this for several years. It's going to be a couple more days until this survey works correctly -- but it's getting there. Jeanie, Christina Baldwin said her group wanted to use the survey feature...

I think this might be the right way to reach a large group. One quick little poll or question every week, in a brief email, with a fast-click link straight to the survey. Organize this right, and participants could have a kind of "personal control panel for their participation in the international women's movement".

There are 200 issues that come up, and here's how I feel about all 200 of them -- and here's how everybody else feels -- and maybe I can learn and adapt based on my experiences here....

Something like that. Happy sunset.

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