10/23/24/08 Choicess gathering on Communication

We opened up with chatting with a partner that we did not know before and had a conversation to find at least two things we had in common. We introduced our partners to the whole group by our commonalities.

We closed our eyes and visualized what perfection looks like with communication what is happening what do we see going on?

A few of us reflected on our visualizations to be: Direct communication between people, sharing resouces, be respectful and being equal, everyone would benefit from the communication as equals.

Becky read a quote to get us started that was from an earlier blog entry provided by Dennis to get the juices running.

We reviewed the Blog from our last gathering so that we could update everyone where we left off and encourage others to look for the blog as a way to stay connected.

Before we broke into our group we listened to another quote

"the dominant belevif is that laser-like goals, better controls, clearer consequences, more inspirational leadership, and better systems will make a difference. They won't. they are the problem, not the solution. these strategies are incapable of transormation; they just make things a little better." peter block

Question 1
•If you could make any change with regards to communication and were assured it would be successful what would it be?

• Everyone is happy
  
• everyone would type




• joyfully at job
• looks invisable-everyone is integrated into community
• reliable and accessible daily notes
• recording what is meaningful
  "Leadership with power depens on listening, convening, invitation, and hte triumph of questions over answers. It is the act of supporting others to find their voice, name their world, and in that accountability is created". peter block

Ouestion 2:What does success look/feel like from the perspectve of each part of community?

We looked at this question from the perspective of:
•First –people receiving services/their families

Reflections from the group were:

• Feel in control
• Respectful
• people are in control of who/what information is given out
• families will be welcomed to gatherings with partnership
• Trust/partnership with families
• individuals/families are happy and communication is smooth
• listen

"the purpose of the design of each gathering is to create the social space where a proliferation of gifts is possible". peter block

Then we looked at the question in the next round from
•Second-people providing services and people supervising services

• Trainings are important to express your opinions and being herd
• having people who receive services feel safe to give feedback
• be direct
• no talking behind back
• wide range of choices
• team closer connections
• eyes over shoulder/things are getting done
• moral good people making a contribution/a difference

"we change the culture by changing the nature of the conversation. This is more than improving the conversation or becoming more skilled at dialogue. It is about choosing conversations that have the power to create a new future". peter block

"this occurs when we shift the conversation from problem solving to possibility, defficiencies and needs to gifts, lip service to dissent, blame to ownership, and barter to commitment". peter block

Ouestion 3

If you could make any change with regards to communication and were assured it would be successful what would it be?

• 
  Information about people who receive services
• computerized data collection
• everything done by e-mial-computers
• always reaching for perfection because nothing is perfect
• ways for team members to communicate
• all communication comes for the focus person
• more gatherings

Our closing discussion:

What are the outcomes/benchmarks that will signify successful communication ?

• Team meeting
• seeing that everything gets done
• keep your eye on the goal
• keep energy up
• tune ups
• communication among the team
• knowing the gifts of the team members
• information tranfers to each on the team
  Follow-up work group:
  •James
  •Noel
  •Patricia

We are embarking on Self and Customized employment project together and are looking for intrested support staff and individuals that receive services who want to here more or be apart of the project. Please let Dina, Dennis or Joe know and we will be having an overview shortly.

James Manny
Barbara
Shelia

We finished with our closing round:

New, blessed, learning , informed, okay, real well, comical, back @school, awesome, meaningfull,
stimulating, cold, recharged, productive use of out time well, informative, fun, happy, entertained, eyes opened, creative, togetherness, communication, warm display, success, energized, being apart of it all

Highs: Talking about communication, very good, great dialouge
Lows: not enought time, ditto, need more floks here, we need more people