The 2005 WWFOR Fall Retreat, had the theme "Creating Common Good in Challenging Times".

During the retreat, groups of 15-20 met to consider what steps could be taken to create common good in 4 areas: government, economics, environment and civil society. Groups were asked to consider actions which were both in their sphere of control but also those which were only in their sphere of influence or concern. This document represents a distillation of the notes taken during these small group sessions. Notes have been edited and organized for the purpose of making them more useful, both to people who were there but also to those who were not able to attend but would like to consider some wonderful ideas for action! . (The full, unedited list of notes is available to anyone who would like to see them in their original form. Please contact Ellen Finkelstein (206) 789-5565 or wwfor@connectexpress.com for a copy.)

Notes have been organized here into 4 sections, each of which is expanded below.

Explanation of sections

Section 1: This is a compilation of comments from all of the groups that seemed to the editors to represent some of the overarching philosophical positions which pertain to all of the work we do. Thus, they were extracted from particular group notes and are listed in this section.

Section 2: Since there were some comments that were made by 3 or 4 groups, these were taken out of individual lists to reduce redundancy and are organized by the following topics: sustainability, peace, education, health care, urban planning & community building.

Section 3: These are the notes from individual groups that were not extracted for Section 1 or 2 or telescoped in some other way. Within each broad category (economics, environment, government and civil society), you’ll notice a division between what participants thought were actions that were, to a large extent, under ones control (above the line) and those which were of concern but less under ones individual control (below the line).

Section 4: For the final session of the retreat, participants broke into new groups; these are the notes taken during the final group sessions. These sessions focused on the following topics: diversity, legislative activism, peace, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability and living our values. Groups were asked to list 2 or 3 "next steps" as well as to develop a list of "allies". (You’ll note some crossover between what was developed here and things culled from individual groups to make up the lists in Section 2.)

Section 5: Two of the models that were used to help discussion during the retreat.

SECTION 1

Section 1: This is a compilation of comments from all of the groups that seemed to the editors to represent some of the overarching philosophical positions which pertain to all of the work we do. Thus, they were extracted from particular group notes and are listed in this section.

Everything we do makes a difference.

Language and framing are important.

Cheaper is not necessarily better.

Leave politics out of it – focus on common humanity when trying to find common ground.

Unplug from the culture of acquisition and be happy in your parallel universe.

It’s important to reawaken our sense of interdependence.

Join one another in a single collective action

Hold up the idea of diminishing your economic footprint.

Community and social events = good health

Treat the government as a potential ally, not as an enemy

Develop ways to turn "to" each other instead of against each other.

Create curiosity

Rather than tell people to GO and do something, let’s go to where the people already are & help

them do good things where they are

"First do no harm" – identify our values as a first step toward finding common ground.

Believe in the generosity of others (trust in this potential).

Find common ground when we seem to differ.

Compassionately counteract the forces of evil.

Tangible actions can multiply.

Be the change that we want to see.

Section 2: Since there were some comments that were made by 3 or 4 groups, these were taken out of individual lists to reduce redundancy and are organized by the following topics: sustainability, peace, education, health care, urban planning & community building.

SUSTAINABILITY

lead by example (e.g. charge ourselves $.05 personal gas tax and give it to Earth Corp or ??)

develop support groups to live sustainably (due to constant pressures to consume)

slow down/use fewer resources

buy locally (support fair trade)

do what we can to insure that regions live within their means

support biofuel production, legislation (team up with local farmers)

support fair trade

support coop businesses

help develop community gardens

do what we can to get Walmart to buy locally

support farmers’ markets

share resources

model simple living

PEACE

work for establishment of the Department of Peace

promote a gas tax to pay for war

engage in tax resistance and tax diversion

research and publicize the idea of a Department of Peace

teach peace and nonviolence in schools as importantly as math and science

establish a "peace" tax

EDUCATION

put lots of resources into early childhood education vis-à-vis environment

require that every high school student is an exchange student in a 3^rd world country

find ways to empower the youth

give every child a chance to live in a foreign country

start early with kids to promote compassion, inclusiveness, etc.

teach peace and nonviolence in schools

practice cooperative learning in schools so kids can create cooperation in society later on

promote social justice education in elementary/high schools

fund FOR education in schools

promote community service for K-15 students as part of curriculum

HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

promote legislation – health care for all

develop a junk food tax to pay for health care

URBAN PLANNING/COMMUNITY BUILDING

start block by block with parties and grow from there

talk with strangers

find ways to organize neighborhoods to take care of neighbors in need without gov’t or agencies

hang a white sheet on your garage door – show movies for the neighborhood

organize neighborhood bbq’s

support urban planning/planned communities

know the neighbors three houses away

initiate a prototype poster for block parties where people could download and fill in address/date

suggest to the fire department that they help organize neighborhoods in case of disaster

Section 3: These are the notes from individual groups that were not extracted for Section 1 or 2 or telescoped in some other way. Within each broad category (economics, environment, government and civil society), you’ll notice a division between what participants thought were actions that were, to a large extent, under ones control (above the line) and those which were of concern but less under ones individual control (below the line).

ECONOMICS

barter

find ways to educate others about consumer power (bus boycott modeled by Rosa Parks)

buy CITGO gas (from Venezuela)

provide incentives; reward people’s good behavior

plan a Wal-Mart week of action

advertise happiness & satisfaction of simple living and non-consumptive lifestyle

______________________

help create jobs at higher than minimum wages (pay for these jobs from gas taxes)

make public transpiration free

invigorate small businesses

gas tax to pay for war

rent control

educate consumers

no wealth transfer allowed generation to generation

get Wal-Mart to buy locally

ENVIRONMENT

support sympathetic legislators who are already working on this

change ourselves – be the change we want in this area

case studies of individuals, families, orgs who are doing this well

promote legislative action (work with those who are sympathetic)

have a party to talk about ideas for reducing

invite friends to shop with you at co-ops

promote "FREECYCLE.org" – keep things working = fewer disposable items

recognize cost of packaging

find and point out the needs (JOYFULLY!)

recognize as pernicious the religious exhortation to prosper

recognize as useful the religious exhortation to live simply

use flex cars

point out the need for dramatic reduction of human populations

host a world café @ environmental stewardship

reduce our income/ live in smaller houses – promote their construction

___________________

limit the availability of luxury items

combine cemeteries & golf courses

develop sustainable, chemical-free food supply

promote a Centralia/Chehalis competition to reduce ecological footprints

promote school gardens

promote drip irrigation (reduce agricultural waste)

protect native species

government mandated minimum mileage requirements for autos

support development of local/rural transportation

support competition among WWFOR chapters re: environmental footprints

support green building construction/legislation

promote strong laws against corporate cost externalization

don’t support flood insurance

GOVERNMENT

keep on vigiling

encourage good folks to run for office

focus on your own health

write to and visit senators & representatives

call in to talk shows frequently

write letters to judges

join PTSA at local school

join a group working on justice issues (such as JwJ)

send letters to the editor to support the U.N.

boycott stores that sell war toys

en mass visits to congressional offices

run for office yourself

________________

make use of different communication tools/billboards, ads, etc. to emphasize message

publicize the nonviolent Peace Force

require truth in recruiting

require an essay by all recruits on their willingness to kill

promote campaign finance reform

support veterans benefits

plan a campaign of strategic sequential letters on same subject

non-violent direct action at Senators’ offices

nonviolence training more available

sue the president when he abrogates treaties or stars wars

support more public owned media with media considered part of the "commons"

pay dues to UN – advocate for paying dues

demand socially responsible investing for all pension funds

strongly support the UN and world justice

require HS diploma to join military

have more than one president at a time

CIVIL SOCIETY

show video series "A Force More Powerful" in local communities

empower ourselves without waiting for others – direct action can be useful

call attention to the truth about where our health care dollars go

encourage service for others – not just military "service"

promote "democracy School" to learn about "corporate personhood"- educate ourselves & see

what can be done

forward the best and most meaningful emails to people who don’t yet know

promote Southern Poverty Law Centers’ "Teach Tolerance" magazines for teachers, etc.

create local "Hyde Park" soapbox on a recurring basis with protocols & etiquette – empower

people

use language that’s inclusive

find ways to focus on basic principles – tell our stories simply

stimulate discussions of deeply held values

_________________________________

support the "Take Back Your Time" movement

create 30-hour fasts with short "teach-in" feathers [feathers?] for young people (e.g., in a church)

examine OUR values and extend them from personal to community level to global level

practice social services based on the Catholic Worker model

publicize how much of our $ goes to bureaucracy instead of actually providing health care

address the issue of "corporate personhood" AND impose responsibilities for corporate behavior

affirm many kinds of diversity

develop more racial inclusiveness in order to be civil

look for models like the Scandinavian countries: health care, etc.

find ways to make cities welcoming and livable for poor people

use the expressive and visual arts to express truths & feelings that the media fails to address

accept different learning styles

promote a gay-straight alliance in every school

help people find time to do the good work we are proposing

Section 4: For the final session of the retreat, participants broke into new groups; these are the notes taken during the final group sessions. These sessions focused on the following topics: diversity, legislative activism, peace, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability and living our values. Groups were asked to list 2 or 3 "next steps" as well as to develop a list of "allies". (You’ll note some crossover between what was developed here and things culled from individual groups to make up the lists in Section 2.)

DIVERSITY

Change language to be more inclusive.

Talking about disabled, sexual minorities, elderly, racial minorities.

How do we influence adults: radio, newspapers, educational programs for businesses, diversity training (make it fun, role plays, theater), churches, schools.

We want to be safely heard. We want to be loud but not so loud that we push people away.

Allies: Pflag, Planned Parenthood, FIST, Stonewall youth. Peoples Institute, CCEJ, Coalition of Antiracist Whites, Justice Works

Next 2 Steps: contact the media and do trainings on diversity that are fun and interactive

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVISM

Provide health care for all children residing in Washington.

"guns vs. butter" issue – empire vs. republic

Tax gas to pay for war. Tax pollution to pay for health care.

Campaign reform issue – contributions may be received ONLY from constituents.

Education funding comes from long term investment in things like windpower.

Allies: returning war veterans, church or rotary or other group member [member?] similar to legislators

Gas tax for war profits – reinstate "windfall" tax (thereby avoid reducing funding of social services).

Bring back national guard to serve in local emergencies.

Get informed on legislator’s individual perspectives and priorities.

PEACE

Eliminate institution of war starting with Iraq.

Department of Peace

Creating a peaceful non-violent community

Evolve into a global community

Non-violent peace force

Justice has to be addressed with peace.

Stop the war machine and then we have a chance to develop the communities we want.

We need lots of education for ourselves on non-violent actions and we need to educate others about the power of non-violence. Middle school & high school curricula need to be influenced. Share counter recruitment material with teachers.

Recommit to a day or half day a week in silence (listening deeper)

Educate ourselves about the Department of Peace

Counselors & mediators

Veterans for Peace

HEALTHCARE

Is there an advocacy group for Nat’l Health Care?

Help Physicians for Nat’l Healthcare by setting up hearings.

Sign petitions to City Council

Health Care for All – WA – get media coverage

Get "United for Nat’l Health Care" into citizen hearings & get elected officials to listen

Lobby for bills in the WA State Legislature

Need to get beyond the cost of Administration

Single payer bill still not out of committee.

Have ALL children covered by 2010.

Support and advocate Healthcare for All (HR 676 - Nat’l)

Support and advocate Healthcare for All (WA)

Eileen Cody (and other state reps

Jim McDermott- 36^th District

EDUCATION

How can we use the education system to achieve a more sustainable community?

Write Op Ed letters

Get involved in PTSA

Create Non-violent curriculum

Write to Superintendent

Allow kids access to the truth

Ask administration about recruitment & different cultural aspects

Letters to editors that are well researched.

Skills workshops on conflict resolution.

Educate parents regarding toys with violent connotations.

PTSA

Teachers Union

Faith-based communities

Colleges

Students themselves

ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY

Go to local transit meet-ups

Write letters to the editor

Find a volunteer activity that supports sustainable communities

Educate communities re: running out of oil

Community gardens

Make time for volunteering

Talk to strangers

Buy locally

Work together for a common cause

"Gleaner’s" dinners

Support food co-ops

Find a way to bring people who live close to us together around an issue that is having an impact on their lives. (This will probably draw together people who don’t already share our viewpoints on sustainability.) Once people have come together, we can get to know each other and find out other areas of common concern and ALSO share our ideas on sustainability.

In our local gatherings, bring what we learn in WWFOR about non-violent approaches to resolving conflicts. What we know is needed. To sustain cooperation, we need to know how to resolve conflicts.

Food coops

Pre-school coops

Local Gov'ts.

Citizens of our communities

LIVING OUR VALUES

Egalitarianism

Cooperation is a role model.

Help people explore deeply held values.

Help people rediscover "the common good."

Each of us does some variety of activities already to act on our values.

Be more able to express appreciation and reinforce other people’s positive values.

Nationwide town hall meeting process (including local house meetings) where we discuss Iraq

and direct the government to do what we want. Practice democracy.

We value buying locally and supporting local sustainability.

Live our values and help other people live their values, so there’s synergy across this afternoon’s

concurrent theme groups (e.g., local sustainable communities).

How to do this beyond the one-person-at-a-time basis?

Thank legislators when they do the right thing.

Award people who have done things well.

List locally owned companies that deserve customers because they have good practices

(sustainability, employee benefits, etc.).

Community report card to evaluate big box stores relative to community values.

How can we live our values?

Join a co-op, etc.

Organic food, workers at organic farms, etc.

Let’s be alert to other people who are struggling with crises related to living their values, and be

allies to them.

Celebrating good behavior (as with children)

Find ways of helping others live their values (that we share). Examples: Create an award after

looking for positive actions in community, Olympia FOR’s "Partners in Peacemaking" award,

Tumwater’s limiting business licenses to businesses meeting certain criteria, a similar example:

list of locally owned businesses we encourage patronage of (with reasons why doing so

represents a good value from community’s viewpoint)

Personal rules for consumption (awareness necessary) Examples: Don’t buy bad fat; Don’t buy

too much packaging

Constituencies affected by value(s) focused on—e.g., friends, books, local farmers, JWJ, Green

Pages, Media, Council of Churches

Section 5: Two of the models that were used to help discussion during the retreat.

The discussions made use of the models of "Finding Common Ground" and "Circles of Concern, Influence, Control." Here are representations of those ideas created by Janice Orcutt.

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