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Date and Location

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years, 2 months ago

Date & Location

UPDATE: It seems the greatest limiting factor on when we can have this retreat is the availability of outside facilitators. So we're trying to settle the question of who will play this role. Right now we have about one good idea. (Pam and Michael didn't respond to inquiries, no one could think of anyone else).

Morgan and Jessica met with Scilla and Paul Warhaftig, quakers who have had many years' experience facilitating the consensus process. We were both positively impressed with the meeting. Here are pertinent facts from my notes:

The experience with consensus seems quite extensive, and I think it will be a really good thing for us. Also they have worked with people over the years with all levels of experience with the process. They are not overly rosy about the process- very aware of its frustrations but also its rewards.
They were very interested in Free Ride and supportive of our mission. Paul has been an avid cyclist for many years.
Their experience with volunteer organizations of all sizes and ages might be beneficial too.
They asked lots of questions during our meeting to get a thorough background
They are excited to work with young people and did not bat an eye at our somewhat unkempt appearances.
They really seemed to understood our structural dilemmas, and especially our sensitivity to hierarchy. They understood our organizational structure as a valuable endeavor in its own right.

So, the questions:

1) Should we engage Scilla and Paul to facilitate the retreat? (Please feel free to call Morgan or Jessica if you want more info...not trying to force a decision, just to gauge where we're at)

Name	Vote	Comments
Jessica	yes
will	yes	We might end up learning a lot from them. Also, I'm very much in favor of firming up the retreat plans soon. This sounds like a viable option, so I say let's give it a try. It sounds like they have a lot of experience in an area where we need some guidance, and it sounds like they're pretty cool about stuff generally. Admittedly I have rather little to go on, but I don't feel worried about the "Is it going to be a problem for 'religious people' to facilitate our retreat?" angle. However, I would like to meet in a neutral location (as in not the sort of "church" that I'm familiar with). That said, I don't know anything about the Friends Meeting House, if other folks think it would be ok, I guess I'm down with it. Also, we should definitely do this some place where we can have meals, tea, coffee, etc.
jake	yes
diane	yes
Matt	Yes
Shaun	yes	not as worried about meeting at a Friends house, unless there's some better option. By the way I love this ine from above: "Pam and Michael didn't respond to inquiries"
andalu	yes
stuart	yes
Scott	yes

2) Can we pay them $400 to do so? (they requested this price. It would include both people, both days, plus prep time as needed. They are willing to negociate if needed).

Name	Vote	Comments
Jessica	yes	remember, our retreat cost $1000 last year
will	yes	Sure, I think it would be worth a lot more than $400 for us to set up a situation where we can sit down and constructively plow through our big list of stuff to figure out. By that I mean, if we can make the retreat less painful and more productive by dropping some cash, it will be money well spent. Let's do it! On that note, we should also spring for a bunch of food... ideally with somebody else doing the preparation, transportation, serving, and clean up. The idea would be for us to stay well fed and make the maximum use of our time (i.e. having meals and snack breaks that are restful and non-distracting for everybody involved in the meetings, not getting hungry-grumpy, and not losing people to the kitchen). Perhaps we could pay somebody to cater (maybe the co-op, Quiet Storm, or some non-Free Ride FNB folks)?
jake	yes	people need to eat.
diane	sure	keep in mind, there will still be costs for food and location
Matt	Yes	this seems perfectly reasonable price for two people and two eight to ten hour days
Shaun	yes	Hmm... sometimes when I read the things Will types, I feel like it's all 2006 again. I propose we eat nothing but cakes, Doritos, and O-Fries! If we're gonna drop cash, let's buy some high octane booze and really let out how we feel!
andalu	yes	i think all food from kml; pickles, refried beans and pop tarts
stuart	yes	I think tasty catering is important too - do we know anyone who does catering as a business who we could hire? What about Dave from filmmakers?
Scott	yes	thats fucking cheap. fuck.

New proposed dates. These are weekends when Scilla and Paul Wahrhafig would be available to facilitate. Please add your name, and indicate "yes", "okay", or "no" for your availability in both date columns. (availability page)

Name	March 8/9	March 15/16
Jessica	yes	yes
will	Did you mean 8/9? In either case, yes. (changed - SS)	yes
diane	no, but do it anyway!	nope...I'm leavin this week!
Matt	don't know	don't know
Shaun	maybe	no
andalu	yes	can but prefer other one
Stuart	probably	probably
jake	prolly not, but do it	prolly yea, but do it
Scott	probably	probably

Old date stuff

February 1
- Morgan = OK
- will = ok
- shaun = somewhat OK, no work schedule yet (I can schedule for this if it becomes solid, with at least some notice)
- Matt = OK
- Erland = OK (pending work availability)
- Andalusia- Definitely won't be here but don't worry about me being there- who needs the new yorker around anyways
- Scott = yes
- Diane = ok (ummm...so, this is really woo-woo, but Feb. 2 is Imbolg, the Celtic feast "of light and new life" how better to celebrate it than with a Free Ride retreat!)
- Stuart = ok
- Johnny = no. i will be in toronto. february is very booked for me. i leave for the west coast on the 6th of march. don't make planning contingent on me being there.

We gotta have this thing somewhere, so propose some locations here. Contact info would help, if you've got it.

The Merton Center - probably scheduling conflicts, maybe in the back of the third floor?
Squirrel Hill Library - very short hours, we'd have to be done at 5pm. boo.
Churches?
- Allegheny UU - Morgan will ask
- That one on Morewood?
- East Liberty Presbyterian - Diane is waiting to hear back
Pittsburgh Filmmakers
CMU - Free and definitely available - let me [stuart] know if I should book a conference room w/ whiteboards, etc.
United Cerebral Palsy Building - Oakland (see notes below)

Will says: I'm not super crazy about the idea of meeting at a "church"

Shaun says: I hate churches. Why not upstairs in the Big Idea (!!!)

Andalusia says what about bike-pgh office- noone is there over the weekend- there's a killer view and big conference table and coffee maker

* shaun seconds Andaloo's idea

Stuart would prefer places closer to his house, ie CMU, Merton, Friend's Meeting House, PGH Filmmakers, etc.

UCP Building - costs $150/day, has a nice kitchen, big conference room with white board, projector, tables - 4638 Centre Avenue in Oakland

East Liberty Presbyterian - has conference room with white board etc., costs $50/day, no kitchen, can't start 'till after 1pm on Sunday - Penn and Highland in East Liberty - are people concerned about meeting at a church if it is in a conference room?