PROTOCOL CORE GROUP MEETING 5 – 7 JANUARY 2007 AT UBERLINGEN

Present:  Jaak Hillen, Monica Pfiffner, Ulrike Schauss, Immo Lunzer, Shirley and Coenraad van Houten  (Apologies from Hans Supenkaemper, Sophie Pannitschka, Kurt Pistek, Elisabeth Scharna)

Aim of meeting was to envision future, confirm practical actions, and take time to dwell with the spiritual impulse of the NALM.  Conversations on spiritual substance are not recorded.

Friday

Meeting began with general sharing of the spiritual situation of our work…

Direction:  NALM Network is developing a new kind of working community.

We want to clarify how to handle the activities of people, and how to support each other in creativity, confidence, and schooling path.  There is work that needs to happen, not out of my own needs.  This community could be helped by

-          regional groups

-          persons who can go to places to help the working groups

-          networking, people who are developing themselves but also move on to objective care for the impulse

-          our interest for others will build ‘community’ and also gather more carriers

STRATEGIES

Coen presented his ideas on how to work in process management, where there is a common aim or policy, but the way is open.  When taking an initiative, one asks beforehand:       

WHEN – the right time

            WHERE – with whom, in what situation

            HOW – the social moral technique, art how we work together, per situation

Overlaying these is the moral spiritual quality of WHAT FOR and WHY do I do it.

Saturday

Night Echo…

Conversation on spiritual impulse in NALM work…

Consultancy Services proposal

Shirley outlined this idea, why needed and how it could develop. Two areas were so far identified – of consultants in education and consultants for organizations. Benefits could include: 

-          offers a certainty of quality

-          offers a source of financial support for NALM (sharing of fees for NALM consultancy projects)

-          can train or advise one another on the way, on the job;

-          can open doors, draw other colleagues in, allow karma to work

Suggested we can already begin in education area with known colleagues, arranged through NALM office.  Management area needs more training of personnel.  Meanwhile we announce the service as a direction we are working towards for the future, and allow it to grow as it will.  If a project comes to the NALM, we should insist on a financial arrangement concerning fees, to be shared for the colleague and NALM.

Over the coming 2 years we would need to prepare colleagues for this work, including training (with Coen) for how to handle projects.

NALM Colleagues

Monica will coordinate the NALM Colleagues Group forming process, contacting individuals and sending the descriptive letter after a personal conversation. When confirmed, she will send a letter as from the Core Group.  Copies of these letters will be kept on file.  A list of recognized colleagues will be available in due course.

The descriptive letter will also be published in the Bulletin.   If any of us make the contact with a colleague, we should inform Monica.   We should have confidence in the field, make the process as human and natural as possible. It will regulate itself.

NALM Verein

A meeting with the NALMeV vorstand took place 16.30 pm.  See separate report.

Sunday

Night echo…

Conversation on Core Group as a heart function…

Network

Colleagues Group is basically a network task.  For the present, confirming letter will be sent as from the Core Group.  We make start with ourselves.  Over next 2 years this will bring movement into the network, will meet people and know them, will encourage working groups.

Colleagues meeting

A working weekend will be arranged 23-25 March at Engen for colleagues, on the theme of Art and Destiny Learning. Intent is to exchange experiences as destiny learning facilitators.  Ulrike Benz and Jaak Hillen will arrange this and invite known persons (by email).

NALM Calendar/Program

A new step will be made for the calendar, to include a section on ‘Working and Research Groups of Academy for New Learning’.  This will make Academy visible in the publication and show that colleagues development is one of the NALM activities.

Institutional connection to NALM

A request was received from Arscura Art Centre in Toronto how to make visible the connection of the institution to NALM.  Some of their faculty work with new learning and the life processes.   There will be other institutions with the same question.

If an institution is called a NALM centre, it restricts any persons joining the faculty; or if the NALM associated faculty leave, the institution may no longer be really connected.   The connection to NALM is basically individual.

Suggested the institution can identify in faculty descriptions who are NALM colleagues;  or can identify which programs are NALM courses; or can indicate working in association or cooperation with NALM.  We can refer enquirers to an institution where we know new learning is available. The institution can help make NALM more visible and recognized through their work. 

Question was also raised about financial implications. Here again there would be an individual contribution to NALM as a colleague.  The colleague could ask the institution to pay this for them – that would be their own arrangement.  Whether there could also be a contribution from fee revenues is an open question at the moment.

NALM Consultancy services

From conversation Saturday, direction was considered. Consultancy service is a real task of NALM. It is premature to form it now, but we do need a contact point for requests, who receives the requests, who knows colleagues and who to refer to them.  This is already beginning and potentially will grow.  Usually they want ‘the person’ to come; but this should become other colleagues also, not only Coen who is visible.  How do other colleagues become visible??

Strategy suggestion:  Coen can open up new areas, motivate people. He involves others from the beginning, who could take it further.  We need to prepare colleagues to be able to take on project work. 

Emphasis over the next 2 years:

1.      clarify the contact point

2.      training colleagues

3.      clarify financial implications and handling

Academy for New Learning

Following advice from Verein meeting, it is necessary to document specific research themes and new developments.  Coen will work on this.  Jaak will work on writing a statement of intent of the Academy, what it does, strategy for trainings.  This is necessary for fund raising appeals.  

Certification of destiny learning facilitators must also be documented. (see Academy protocol)  A letter will be prepared to sent to facilitators to inform of this development, and a certificate drafted.  It will also be announced in the Bulletin.

Clarification needs to be arranged with the Verein how Academy is financed, and for what do we need gift money. 

NALMeV  Verein

Important question is how will NALM earn income and be supported, after the present transition period? We need to present to funding sources a 5 year financing projection and plan.   Income could come from, for instance, projects, consultancy services, colleagues, general fund raising appeal to friends and supporters.  

Projection and budget so far prepared by Shirley will be worked out further according to guidelines from Michael Schmock and Verein meetings. An appeal letter/presentation has also to be prepared.

Good articles about NALM need to appear in journals and news sheets in the anthroposophical movement.

Registration of the Verein has been confirmed, (under the number VR 200074). Confirmation has yet to be received from the Finanzamt.  It was recommended we will need a good steuerberater to assist in dealing with the Finanzamt. (Verein has asked Kurt Pistek to handle bookkeeping and issue receipts for donations.  Shirley will authorize what expenses are to be paid by NALM.  Immo is assisting in setting up new bank account at GLS Bank in Bochum)

Coordinating Office

Interim situation of office is handled by Monica and Shirley, assisted by Jaak. (They are not paid for this work – it is a free contribution).  A new secretarial service needs to be established, perhaps located near Uberlingen? Tasks will need to be defined and a person given time to grow into it.  This need will be mentioned in the Bulletin, and by personal enquiries in the area.

Sophia was paid a monthly minimal amount until December 2006. This has now ended.  She would like to be paid for German editing work for NALM if possible. It was agreed this is not feasible at this time. This work should be a free contribution.

Whitsun Conference

Will be held at Engen.  Possible theme was discussed, what should be aim for this year?  Emphasis of this event is for the Colleagues Network.  Artistic experience of last year was an essential item.  Monica will find a preparation committee.  Jaak is willing to contribute an artistic process.

Core Group Meetings

            Whitsun  Saturday morning  26 May 2007,  9.00 – 12.45

            Those who can be there will meet Friday evening 25 May also to prepare for the weekend.

            Sunday, October 7, 2007  9.00 – 17.00  Time reserved; confirmation to follow later when situation and necessities are more clear.

            January 2-3 or 3-4, 2008   9.00 – 19.00 (with mid-day break)

Question raised who should be there at these meetings?  Do we wish to invite new colleagues into the group?  Suggestion to invite 1 or 2 colleagues to come to each meeting.

Meeting closed at 14.00 pm, with all present confirming their intention to be a NALM Colleague.  Monica will send confirming letters to us.

 Notes by Shirley