Corporate Records

Meeting Minutes: November 2014

“This may be the most important aspect of teaching fishing. Set your bait, cast your lines, and be ready to reel in your catch . . . in the mean time, relax and enjoy the scenery.”

This is the advice I give to participants in the Principles of Community Design workshop. We had a great one, the third now, this past Saturday. That completes the 11 courses LSI hosted this year. (12 if you count the 2nd hive build).

Of course, for me, it is a compulsion. I have no choice but to try and share this understanding of system function and how it could reshape our world. Still, here at the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next, I am trying to come to terms with the limits to what I can do and then take my own advice.

The permaculture principle is to apply self regulation and accept feed back. The corresponding concept in my own work these past ten years is to hold open an offer to participate and learn from acceptance and rejection.

I want to think through the participation we received through the 11 courses and make changes based on that feed back. I want to try and figure out why we got 30 people on a miserable day in March to learn about contained systems in our food cell and only 6 on a beautiful August afternoon interested in facilitating the creation of a Bee Safe Neighborhood. Over the course of the year there were maybe 2 or 3 people that were participating in more than one of the courses because they were interested in:
 

“Each of the classes listed below will introduce you to parts of these cycles. Attend the basic 11 classes and you will begin to see the patterns.”

I appreciate any insights or suggestions for changes you may have. If you have time you can review the introduction and full course list at the link below. Perhaps there is a way to generate greater interest in a full understanding.

I can't think of anything that requires a vote right now.  Don and I are going to try a gauge the demand for a hive build in January, since we just did one in October.  If we decide we should go forward I will ask you to approve LSI taking the risk that we don't get at least 5 participants to cover the cost of materials.

Thanks for working with me to improve our habitat,

David B