CC Minutes - 05/06/07/09 Goals Session

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Again, the message is visually and intellectually clear to the larger group. If you exclude people, do not hear or acknowledge their information, they will form coalitions and oppose you. In doing so, while all the needed information is expressed, little of it is actually heard. Including everyone, hearing the whole story, results in community. I bring back the excluded members and they are integrated into the whole story. I remind them that the collective statement includes all words expressed by the individuals in the group. The purpose of the collective statement writer is to write the story. A porcupine walked into the meadow. It was a warm and sunny day. He saw another animal in the meadow. It was a bear, an angry bear just waking up from a winter nap. The bear growled at the porcupine when he approached. This frightened the porcupine, so he climbed a tree to get away from the bear. There he met a female porcupine who became his mate for life. When this is done, Kathy sees her statement is in the story. It is between Rob and Laura’s statements (I have Kathy hold Rob’s hand and Laura’s hand). She is part of the story connected with them. In like manner, Laura is connected by the story to Jon, and Jon to Debbie, etc. Soon, all the storytellers are connected with their hands. “This,” I emphasize, “is community.” Everyone has had their say, been listened to and acknowl- edged. And, what they have said has been put into a collective statement, linking them together. Now, they can decide what to do about this story they have created.” I ask those standing to take a bow, still holding their hands, and then ask the members of the group to honor these people for helping them learn. They all stand and applaud. The meeting adjourned on February 7, 2009, at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jon Ruiz City Manager (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 6-7, 2009 Page 26 Goals Setting Session