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MaryB,

I checked this portion of your Wiserearth in the morning where I saw your comments and minutes of the 3rd meeting. Surprisingly, I can't find it again. Meanwhile, find below my comments on the minutes earlier on posted.

Thanks for sending us the minutes of the 3^rd meeting.

I have the following comments:

(a) Attendance: Apart from the three Nigerian colleagues who were not listed on the attendance sheet, the rest are from USA. Global Commons is supposed to be a global organization as it is addressing (or is supposed to be addressing) global issues of global concern. We need to do something about this by mobilizing membership across the globe. I think Sumiko (with her team) needs to look into membership drive. Do we have a membership recruitment team at all? Let’s use WiserEarth to invite more members to join us.

(b) On Agenda for Jan 3.: I want to agree to the suggestion that we embark on publishing a newsletter updating members like we from the global south who have difficulty using skype or IT. It will be an opportunity for me in Nigeria to use the newsletter to recruit more members and popularize CGC the more as I will be sending it to some of the networks we have in Nigeria.

© On Flashmeeting time, “it was decided that we should have a consistent single meeting time for the next seven weeks”. Yes go ahead with the poll. If the internet is working at that time, I will vote. Any how, I go along with consensus (or majority) so far it is convenient for the generality of the participants.

(d) On Call for information: If anyone, especially the Nigerians, have models for decentralized group process, decision-making and action…The problem with decision-making involving too many people is the “thief of time”. In other words, it takes a hell of time before a decision is arrived at once you have too many people at the decision-making level. I suggest that we allow the few active individuals to take decisions on behalf of CGC. Wait a minute! We have active and people of brain and bran such as MaryB, MaxT, Pat(McB), Jay and Patty web who have been making meaningful contribution to decision-making process. Can’t we collate their experiences and make use of their submissions instead of welcoming more ideas that will eventually lead to more arguments and leave ultimately us more confused than we began? We have to start from somewhere; let’s begin from them while we can make modification as time progresses and according to our geographical culture and nuances.

(e) On Agenda Item 2: Communication processes

Thank you for considering those of us with technical limitations. As suggested we could incorporate the email update and or digest of the CGC research and considerations in the newsletter  suggested in (b) above.

(f)  On Draft Structure (please comment): Commons Governance Digest. James Quilligan suggests an Integral theory approach, let’s dwell much more on something practicable than theoretical. If we have sound ideas and implementation is a problem, that sound idea will end up in the dustbin! I don’t know whether something like the structure below is what you have in mind? This is my own idea/suggestion, pls.

                                         STRUCTURE:

     1. BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BT) (Elected/Appointed by the Global Steering Committee accountable to the Global Council. BT gives legal expression to the coalition; may be five or seven in number, CGC may be registered in the Netherlands, Germany, US or UK or in Africa, it may have its headquarters in any of the above according to consensus.

     2. GLOBAL COUNCIL (GC) comprising CGC representatives from all regions( i.e. from regional/local CGC). Considered the highest decision-making organ of CGC.

     3. GLOBAL STEERING COMMITTEE ( May be five or more depending on the office we want to create. They should spread so as to reflect the true CGC global structure. They can form ad hoc committees or groups or task force such as membership recruitment taskforce, policy and advocacy group, fundraising committee, research group, monitoring and evaluation team etc etc

     4. REGIONAL/LOCAL COMMITTEE (Appoint/elect their officers according to their local dictates/needs but reflecting the global character.

      5. THE SECRETARIAT (Based in Germany; Key staff and volunteers accountable directly to the Steering Committee).

(g) MaryB, I don’t get what you are driving at in your last submission beginning

With *From the Dec. 1, 2008 letter to the Coalition that initiated process work...and ending in who are the Coalition’s stakeholders, how can they be given voice, and empowered?Do you want us to comment on or analyse CGC stakeholders? I can do that if that’s what you are suggesting and asking me to do it.

Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to make comments. I wish you successful deliberation during the next meeting tomorrow.

Tola Winjobi