2009 05 14-17 Draft Minutes of In Person Board Meeting in Albuqueruqe New Mexico May 14-17 2009

CNVC Board of Directors In Person Meeting

Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 14 - 17, 2009

Draft Minutes

In attendance:

Board Members:

Gail Taylor– Board Member (by phone)
Margo Pair – Board Secretary
Marshall Rosenberg – Board Member
Valentina Rosenberg – Board Treasurer
Robert Gonzales – Board President
Stefan Wisbauer – Board Vice-President (by phone for select
decisions)

Absent:

Stefan Wisbauer – Board Vice-President (most of the meeting)

Observers:

CNVC Communication Coordinator Glenda Mattinson (Canada – Ontario),
CNVC IT Coordinator Pan Vera (US – Vermont),
Robert Heim (US - New York) - Friday May 15th

Facilitator: John Buck

Notetaker: Elin Skappel (John Buck was notetaker for the committee time on the afternoon of Friday 15th and Saturday 16th)

[summary of the below action items, decisions, pre decision items and future agenda items will be added as soon as time permits]

The meeting was started with a moment of silence for Milli O'Nair.

Announcements & Administrative Matters (May 14th)

• Minutes of the April 15, 2009 Board Meeting received consent.

"Envisioning Sandbox", Creating - Dreaming (May 14th)

·The Board went around a number of times, and touched on topics such as nvc conventions, regional gatherings and celebrations, newsletters (including "advice column", the ability to search and categorize the information, weblogs, discussion groups), media presence, connection with trainers and those who are involved with NVC in general (ex: training circuits and regular annual offerings in various cities/areas), ongoing training for trainers and assessors, nvc depth-projects in already-established communities, resource center/reservoire for people to find guidance, an exchange program, fun ways to do fundraising, the use of technology including webcasts/webinars, including ways for trainers to use internet as a growing outreach tool, the two dimensions of nvc training - breadth and depth - and how to connect around them, etc.

• A rough draft of this conversation is available here.

Board Communication Recommendation – Review (May 14th)

Pre Decision Item:

• We've gotten feedback from the global network wanting more inclusion, consideration, choice.
• As an experiment to meet those needs, The Board requests 2 things:

1. If your team is making a decision that impacts others/other teams, please notify them and include their input (as best you can when relevant and when resources are available to do so)
2. Please designate a team member to transparently share post-input decisions with the network.
   1. What is the nature of the decision?
   2. What observations gave rise to the decision?
   3. What needs are trying to be met by this decision?

• Teams can each select which decisions get input, get shared and to what degree.
• The Board is moving in stages to implement technology that the teams can use for requesting, collecting and reviewing pre-decision input and post-decision feedback.
• The Board requests input before Aug 11th so that it can be reviewed and a decision drawn at the Aug Board Meeting.

Communication
Policy Experiment - Recommendation (May 17th)

Pre Decision Items:

• To fulfill the Board Communication Recommendation Conclusion of 5/14/09, the Board requests each circle/team to be accountable to coordinating communication, using this model:
  1. each circle/team selects a representative (or alternates them) - the reps role is to share updates / minutes / new decisions with other circles and the global network.
  2. each circle/team chooses which topics / updates the representative will deliver.
  3. all circles create a 10-20min timeframe at the start of some meetings to RECEIVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE updates from other circles and the global network
• We recognize there's a tension on two unresolved topics: 1. monitoring and 2. the gap between team choice on how much gets shared when and our intention to inform and get pre-decision input. We'll hold this as an ongoing experiment to resolve.
• The Communication Coordinator 1-year contract ends June 30th 2009. After consulting with Glenda Mattinson, the Board opts not to extend the Communication Coordinator Position as a paid position at this time. The board expresses a deep appreciation to Glenda for the tools that she has given the teams during her year filling this position.
• Recognizing the quality and support the roles and duties of Communication Coordinator and Translation Coordinator bring to our organization, CNVC will invite individuals in our global network to contribute their skill, experience and time to fill as volunteers.
• Communication policy page technical maintenance will be transferred to webmaster if we are not able to fill the volunteer position of Communication Coordinator. (pre-decision input requested from Pan before 8/11).
• The Board will request the current Translation coordinator to explore GCC taking function of ownership of the Translation coordinator responsibilities if we are not able to fill the volunteer position of Translation coordinator. Pre-decision input requested before 8/11.

Meeting schedule through 2010 (May 14th)

Observations:

• The Board Members are volunteering their time on the Board and have full schedules outside of their participation on the Board.
• The Admin Team has voiced a concern that the amount of time spent in meetings and preparing for meetings are cutting down on the time they are able to spend on fulfilling their duties.
• The GCC has been asked to take “initiative to develop the NVC global infrastructure” by “promoting the formation and development of semiautonomous NVC regional, local, and themed organizations whose mission is to promote NVC”. Also to “promote clear communications to the NVC community concerning activities, initiatives, and decisions by CNVC”, and “maintain regular communication with the Admin Team to receive information about inquiries and requests for support in developing local NVC activities.”
• It has been many years since the last international conference convened by the CNVC and the Board Members expressed an interest in and a need for a deeper connection with, and an opportunity to share and celebrate with, members of our global network in a face-to-face setting.

Needs: efficient use of time (so the Board and Board Members can fulfill their objectives), joy, connection, celebration

Decisions:

• The Board will hold quarterly meetings with other meetings as needed, with the
  possibility of subcommittees for work between the quarterly meetings.
• Meeting dates for 2009: August 19th plus face to face Nov 12th - 15th for 2009.
• Meeting dates for 2010 - February 10th, May 20th to 23rd (In Person), August 18th, November 4th to 7th (In Person)
• People who wish to speak directly to the board can contact Board Secretary Margo Pair. Proposals for inclusion in a board meeting will be considered on a case by case basis, keeping in mind that needs may best be met by directing conversations to the responsible Leadership Team/Circle (for example
  GCC, Educational Services, Information Technology, CNVC Office, Admin Team).
• The Board requests the Admin Team to explore the possibility of co-creating an International NVC Conference in Europe in 2011, during which The Board members would be present in a gathering for celebration and connection.

Action Item: Admin Team to explore the possibility of co-creating an International NVC Conference in Europe in 2011, during which The Board members would be present in a gathering for celebration and connection.

Global celebrations/fundraising (May 16th, committee time)

Action Item:The Admin Team will look into sub committees or the Fundraiser position to work on encouraging global celebrations. Margo Pair is interested in connecting with the GCC to coordinate the global events. Funds raised would be divided between local organizations, regional organizations and CNVC.
Examples on events/celebrations:

• global walk-a-thon, particularly a big b-day party walk-a-thon for Marshall's 75th (9th) birthday and 25 years of CNVC
• international conference in Europe in 2011 (already mentioned)
• make money out of guitar playing
• spaghetti dinners of $500-1000 plates with donors/philanthropists of means
• auctions - ppl give things free, we auction them off to raise funds
• ask trainers worldwide to donate # of hours to a particular in-need project (ex: NVC to a new prison or inner city school or group etc)
  hold a party with philanthropists who sponsor that person's idea; auction to find a sponsor
• scheduled / regular bi-annual funding drive (of some sort)
• music festival - musicians volunteer - location donation - monetize it with ticket sales + sell prods there + volunteer massages

Legal Issues (May 16th, committee time)
Future Agenda Item: Ethical guidelines are to be developed: how donations are received and who they are coming from, to see if they are congruent with our vision, mission and aim.
Action Item: The Admin Team will approach those identified in the Saegis report as owners of "CNVC", "Center for Nonviolent Communication" and "Nonviolent Communication" trademarks for their country and ask them to re-register the copyrights under CNVC and identify themselves as agents.
Trainer Renewal/Trainer Certification Agreement (May 16th, committee time)
Action Items:

• The Admin Team, together with the Educational Services Team, will review the trainer certification package and renewal, and notify new trainers about legal arrangements.
• To embody the NVC spirit of community, collaboration and care, The Board requests the Admin Team and Leadership Team Coordinators to initiate dialogue with the trainer community (certified trainers, certification candidates and trainers who do not seek certification). The purpose of this dialogue is to request that travelling trainers contact and coordinate with local trainers to hold events in ways that hear and account for everyone's needs.

International Intensive Trainings (May 16th, committee time and May 17th)
Observations:

• The Board discussed the possibilities of increasing the numbers of International Intensive Trainings (IIT) and having the option of simultaneous IITs.
• The number of IITs held and the number of participants at each IIT has decreased over the last couple of years, and this significantly affects the funds CNVC has available to support our organization, our global network and our projects.
• Our Founder Marshall Rosenberg is currently the only person designated to lead IITs.

Needs: sustainability, growth, support, community, sharing

PRE DECISION ITEM: The Admin Team will explore expanding the number of IITs CNVC delivers by having others lead them in addition to Marshall,
keeping in mind the key elements that were written down during the committee time on May 16^th.

Strategic Planning Ad-Hoc Committee (May 16th, committee time)

Observations:

• There is a number of fundamental long range decisions that need to be made (e.g. the GCC trainer fee proposal), that can not be made without having an overall picture of where we're going.
• The Board has been attempting to complete strategic planning for more than two years.
• A completed strategic vision, mission and aim would create a framework of reference to support major decisions.

Needs: security, efficiency, community, the desire for the growth of a life serving system

Decision: Toward clarity and supporting sustainability, the Board creates an NVC-knowledgable ad-hoc Board committee on developing a recommended draft strategic plan that Gail would facilitate. This committee would go through a roughly 15-question process (Built To Last + Brian Process) and create strategic vision, mission, and aim DRAFTS that answer questions about how we assess progress and about how media, proposed activities, program services and proposals (i.e. GCC trainer renewal fee) fit in. The committee would then offer those drafts to The Board for consideration and revision. Because this is a co-creative process, interview-time to include perspectives of CNVC leadership members is vital. The process would also integrate materials previously developed by Stefan. Proposed committee members: Gail, Margo, Stefan, John, Brian. The ad-hoc Committee will report on progress in the August 19 meeting.

NOTE from Gail Taylor 8/3/2009: Since those notes were created, I've learned a great deal about people's expectations and projections around the phrase "Ad Hoc Committee". So I no longer feel comfortable consenting to that phrase (and I don't consent to the projections people have about what that means or what should or shouldn't happen in a Committee).

Financial Report (Margo and Valentina) (May 15th)

Financial statements and Review of investments were part of the agenda package for the Board Members.

The report was accepted as presented

Review of written LT Coordinator Reports (May 15th)

• Educational Services report can be found here.
  • Request from Robert Gonzales: that the paragraph about fees be made more clear when this information is shared with the global community
• GCC report can be found here: here.
• CNVC Office report can be found here: here.
• Information Technology report can be found here.
• Communication Coordinator report can be found here: here.

Admin Team list of activities (Margo and Valentina) (May 17th)

The Admin Team's list of activities can be found here.

IT Coordinator Proposal - Response (May 17th).

• The Board accepted IT Coordinator Pan Vera's request to allocate up to $6000 toward the upgrade of Drupal 6. The 90 days as mentioned in the proposal begin Monday May 18th, 2009.The proposal can be found here:

Sharing of recordings from this board meeting (May 17th)

• Observations:
• IT Coordinator Pan Vera requested from the Board their decision on whether to share the recordings of the Board Meeting on the cnvc.org website or not.
• The teleconference service used for this Board Meeting, Calliflower, seems to have a 2 hour limit to recordings and each meeting was cut off after 2 hours. Other means of manual recording were used but interruptions of recording occurred.
• Needs: We are considering the needs that would be met by sharing the recordings of the board meeting on the cnvc website.
• PRE DECISION ITEM/Future Agenda Item: At this current time we will not post the recordings on the website.

CLOSING ROUNDS:

***Note: The statements below were captured while spoken and while the intent has been to capture the statement as fully as possible, this is not a transcript and does not represent the statements with full accuracy***

Thursday May 14th Closing Round

Gail - particularly fun in ways I couldn't expect, always in awe hearing each person's
perspective

Robert - really enjoying the energy and everyone being here and even Gail being here
through Yahoo Video. The nature of the energy has to do with the shared focus and envisioning. My heart feels very open. Excitement and hope!

Margo - I'd like to borrow Robert's word "open" Heart and mind feels
nurtured, and feel open to life serving activities. I appreciate what everyone shared, which touched my heart and mind.

Valentina - I also feel very delighted to be here and that escalated more as we were
sharing, that we were integrating from our hearts and the energy, I started feeling more alive energy wise. I feel lighter, and comfortable and safe, can just feel and share and think out loud. Thank you Gail for being here with us too!

Marshall - I really got stimulated by a lot that was being covered and look forward to digesting it. It was a fun way of being stimulated!

Pan - Delighted to hear your ideas and look forward to how they will look when we implement them!

Glenda - Feeling light and open and inspired and excited and giggly! I think the other piece alive for me, several steps down the road, there are pieces done in our network, once some areas are chosen how can we also build with those bricks along with the new bricks. Excited to see how that piece will happen.

John - Gail thanks for your help with the issue concerning communication recommendation - the team work felt great. Appreciate all the technology you set up Elin, it worked far better than I've seen technology working. Look forward to people's suggestions to what to do with our committee time.

Friday May 15th Closing Round

Robert Heim, New York - Happy to be on the call, very gratifying to have this transparency and learn more about the organization, help in his nvc practice

Pan Vera - Really enjoyed the meeting, appreciate the work you're doing, looking forward
to the end of the session on Sunday and what comes of it

Glenda Mattinson - really enjoyed the sense of connection, warmth, pace people having space and time to be heard, love being able to see you guys through the webcam, I am also holding some sense of sadness, longing in myself to be able to feel this group being fed by the energy and activities that are going on in the network, and somehow have more of a sense of there's so much out there that would love to support you more fully if there was more shared understanding,
longing to see that happen.

Elin - Feeling very connected and also so in the space of typing. Loving the energy
and sense of going somewhere together. Great heartstorming. What's coming on Sunday? Looking forward to that.

John - I am looking forward to the continuing of the leisurely pace, it seems to be
working.

Robert - really enjoying how we're doing this, very appreciative of the clarity and
thoroughness of the reports everyone submitted. Really happy, pleased with the evolution of what has happened over the last year. Strong concern with the possibility that the movement forward could be affected, given the financial/budgetary situation with Pan and Glenda's positions. I see that what they are doing is so essential to the long and short term on what is happening in the nvc community. Concerned that a lack of funding in this area might hinder this evolution. How we can brainstorm, implement, whatever needs to happen, so we can continue to
support Pan and Glenda in what they are doing.

Margo - I so enjoyed our meeting so far and especially today. Happy that you (Robert) are enjoying the reports and the connectiveness with all the teams. In many ways I feel like we are being nurtured to help us look at how CNVC is enacting our vision, mission and aim. Many people have contributed to where we are today, and the information that will bring us forward. In a space of deep gratitude at this time.

Valentina - I am really enjoying the pace, it feels finally like i am getting comfortable,
really appreciate the reports, I feel that it will be good for me to also go over them again. I am enjoying our connection, our co-creating, if something has come up, it's like Elin was saying, it's a lot of support here from all of us, the presence here is very precious and alive, I feel very grateful and very pleased that we had all of you, even those of you that are on webcam - even though we can't touch you - you're here and we can feel your presence. Gail can you hold up Molly?

Marshall - I'm really very much impressed with all of this information, I'm having trouble
making good use of it - would need more time to digest it, still trying to find out what to do about that because I'm grateful to have this information but need more reading time, would like some highlighting on what will be the focus of the meeting so I can prepare.

Pan - Would it be useful in the future if we gave you a telephone call before the meeting to go through the reports?

Marshall - Something like that. Or just two to three sentences on what you hope will happen from the meeting, especially what is most improtant to you, what you would like to cover.

Margo - An idea is, can we request of the IT Coordinator, Communication Coordinator, GCC Coordinator, if they could provide the Board Members and facilitator John Buck through email any synopsis/request (which issues to focus on, any action requested), so that we have this available for the committee time tomorrow?

Marshall - That would make a difference

Gail - Just delighted, I'm loving how the meeting went, especially amazed and moved as Robert said, the completeness in the reports, really got a sense of clear information, could see where progress was made. Want to echo what Robert said about concerns about [Information Technology
Coordinator] Pan [Vera] and [Communication Coordinator/GCC Coordinator] Glenda[Mattinson]'s continuation, am highly motivated to see how their contributions can be continued, see them as vital to the continuation of the organization.

Sunday Closing Round - Feedback on the Meeting

Glenda - The thing that stands out most strongly to me is how moved I feel is that my sense is - Marshall I want to check with you - that Marshall you are feeling heard and ... more than in the past, that is very important and meaningful to me. That is something that I would most want for you. I am also absolutely fine with this organization make decisions on how they use their resources. There is sadness in me, I would like to contribute... but am comfortable with the decision. My heart is really longing for a sense that the communication policy that I hold so dear is being fulfilled, that the network is being heard and included in the decision making, esp. the circles. That is the part that is most precious to me. I think somehow I ... the piece I would like you to know is the longing I hear from the network, to provide network and
also participate in decision making, and am feeling quite hopeful that that day is coming.

John - the appreciation for the work you have done in buidling this information structure, I have heard from many that they appreciate what you have built.

Elin - almost sad that the meeting is over already. So many things still to talk about. Enjoyed cocreation. Has been a joy to be the notetaker and meeting organizer.

John -I echo what you say Elin, so much to talk about - so feeling a little jangled from this morning. hopeful that the decision to involve more trainers in the running of the IITs will be a source of joy to you Marshall, kind of like having more people be able to do what you are doing and will be reflected in the financial strength of the organization
and hope it will be a joy for you.

Robert - appreciation for the whole number of days we've been here, enjoyed som many parts of it. Having a real appreciation - Glenda- consideration of Marshall being heard and how improtant that is, your consideration of it was touching to me. The other thing you said about communication policy and the value of the network and their sense of participation, is something I really value and want, want to acknowledge your mentioning that. Have a great appreciation of the challenge that brings, to live out this communication policy, I am excited about exploring that, because of the examples you gave, perhaps how we as the board were not acting in consistency of the communication policy, that stimulates in me a need to explore needs and strategies, .. the pre decision input is a huge thing, the implications of that, which is really different than post decision input, especially in regard to efficiency. An idea of a particular strategy of supporting efficiency. The other thing alive for me is incredible appreciation (frustration, challenge) - TIME! There's so much here, so much aliveness, so many different avenues of exploration, where is the time to do this?! It is so exciting to deal with this, and not get lost in the frustration of the overwhelm! We're not bored! Want to acknowledget how much that is in my awareness.

Margo - I'm just celebrating in our frustration and uneasiness because I see that as assisting in the joy and celebration of our growing to walk our talk. I dearly appreciate the time we've spent together, I think we all have a clear understanding of some things that I've been wrestling with. Also want to acknowledge the many different teams that have put their reports together to provide input, and staff that has assisted in putting the meeting together, as a board we are supported by many volunteers and look forward to connecting with others as we share and delegate additional responsibilities, and hoping as we build our communication structure, support involvement and understanding as we move towards tomorrow together - John your
facilitation skills, Elin for your grace supporting all of us, Stefan for fitting us into his schedule and being present in many ways, Gail so impressed by your ability to be here with us during this time, and to everyone here in this room.

Valentina- I feel that several have said what I enjoyed hearing and what's in my heart. With Robert about the time, wish there was more time for us to get more into connection about many things that Glenda brought up, many things that are very alive, find ways to really connect the whole network, because when I was travelling with Marshall that was an important piece to many people. I hope that one day at a time we can come up with strategies that can really connect us, in a way that we can all feel that oneness in why we're here, and connect to our vision and mision and divine energy and holiness. I am very grateful for the work that you have all done, John for your facilitation, and Elin for your presence, just fels good to have you here and your typing. Gail Thank you for being here with us through phone and webcam. There's a lot but just want to say thank you, appreciate your presence and all that you've added and Glenda thank you for hanging in here with us as we were discussing delicate pieces, appreciate your patience. Margo thank you for always continuing to have these meetings put together, and have everything done in a way that is very efficient, grateful to Marshall for sharing your confusion, a good place to continue our conversation. Very much feel like there's a lot more and not wanting to let go of this space that we've created here, it's been very nurturing, and also really celebrating that I can hold the last few days, there's some areas I'm not very comfortable with but I can sit with them and that feels good .

Marshall - John I have some frustration that I didn't make it at all clear, my position on the IIT's, not having made myself clear... There is a lot that I need to be a lot more clearer about, what we're talking about, but I liked that we spent as much time as we did on these important things, also celebrating in a deep level that we're together on these
complicated issues. The other night Valentina went off to a party and I was digesting, a poem came to me in celebration, I'll work on it to share it, how much I'm celebrating the energy we're putting into this together.

John - I look forward to the poem, Marshall

Gail - What Robert said, differentiation as pre-decision vs/ POST-decision - thank you!! Grateful for tech support and inclusion in this dial-in way, and the willingness - allowed me to contribute in ways I could not have had I come in person. Grateful for playfulness. See powerful time rippling out to global impact powerful new understanding among us, powerful movement in foundational structures and funding, powerful new possibilities for thethriving of CNVC + global netwk
Sweetly cherishing ongoing evolution! Seeing the care and gifts you eachcarry and hope to give - like the weight of the world - so I'm deeplycherishing each of YOU.

The meeting was convened Thursday May 14th 1 PM MDT

The meeting was adjourned Sunday May 17th 12:30 PM MDT

Drafted by: Elin Skappel

Agenda May 14-17, 2009 CNVC Board Meeting

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Thursday

14-May-2009 1:00 PM Opening Round

1:15 PM Administrative Items

Announcements

Lodging, food, meeting arrangements

Overview of materials

Educational Services

GCC

Office

IT

Communication Coordinator

Consent to minutes: April 15th

Acceptance of agenda

Board Communication Recommendation – Review (see attachment)

2:30 PM “Envisioning Sandbox”

Creating – Dreaming

3:30 PM Closing Round - Feedback on the Meeting

14-May-2009 4:00 PM End Meeting

Friday

15-May-2009 9:30 AM Opening Round

9:45 AM Administrative Items

Announcements

Meeting schedule through 2010 (please see attachment to agenda)

Acceptance of today's Agenda

10:15 AM Financial Report: Margo and Valentina

• Financial statements
• Review of investments

11:00 AM --Pause--

11:15 AM Review of written LT Coordinators Reports

12:15 PM Closing Reflection – End Meeting

15-May-2009 12:30 PM Lunch – Committee Time

(not open to observers)

16-May-2009 Committee Time – Not open to observers

Sunday

17-May-2009 9:30 AM Opening Round

9:45 AM Administrative Items

Announcements

9:50 AM Acceptance of Agenda

10: 00AM IT Coordinator Proposal - Response

Comm. Coordinator Report - Response

10:30 AM Review of conclusions

11:00 AM --Pause—

11:15 AM Review of conclusions continued

12:00 Noon Closing Round - Feedback on the Meeting

12:15 PM End Meeting

To provide input or feedback to the Board, please use one of our feedback forms:

If you want the input you provide to be immediately accessible by other members of our community, please use the form labelled "Public",
which is located at http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p6HBFi7KGIunfDcZAl7RIEg.

- If you would like your input to be visible only to the Board, please use the form labelled "Private", which is located at
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p6HBFi7KGIumNAcd-FNDVUA.

Both of these forms are available at any time from the bottom of any page of the CNVC website (www.cnvc.org) by clicking on the link "Provide
input/feedback to CNVC Governance Teams".