Next Step Together Campaign Proposal
Game One is a fun and easy campaign to introduce the NST meme and take it viral. The ideas behind The Point are strategically brilliant. Check it out!
We would love to have your consent, objections and improvements.
GAME ONE real democracy
OBJECTIVE
To PLAY a game that will teach us how to get organized and get things done.
TERMS
When we reach at least $1,000, we then decide how to spend it using the basic rules of healthy human interaction that we already know.
THE PITCH
Many of us can't live with most "democracies".
But, sociocracy = real democracy.
It's efficient, everyone's voice is heard, we share equal power, and nothing happens we can't all live with!
PLAY Game One with your friends and their friends.
Help awaken up the elegant, intricate governance web between us!
HOW TO PLAY
• JOIN at ThePoint.com
• COMMIT at least $1
• INVITE all your friends
• We START when $1,000 is committed (that’s when your card will be charged)
• JUST WATCH the game, or PLAY:
TO PLAY:
• MEET with 3 or more friends (they don’t all have to have COMMITTED $) – that’s your Friend Circle
• Friend Circles DECIDE: They CONSENT to, OBJECT to and MAKE proposals
• ELECT a Representative to communicate your decisions
• Representatives JOIN Next Step Together (NST)
• The NST staff FACILITATES decision-making via your Reps
• Everyone CONSENTS (or is reimbursed) and SPENDS $1000!
WHY DO THIS?
• Our long term goal is movement building. There are many
progressives and moderates with very similar goals, but we rarely
coordinate and work together on a large scale. Sociocracy is the best
way we know to cooperate and use the power of our huge numbers.
• Game One is a way to spread sociocracy. With Game One we are
developing a mode of movement-self-governance that will spread quickly
and easily. It’s about getting along, and getting things done!
• What amazing things we might think up with so many of us thinking well
together! It’s literally impossible for one mind to predict what 100
minds working in concert will create! What might a thousand
minds do?
DETAILS
ANONIMITY
- Your commitment on The Point is anonymous. You can choose to reveal your name at any time. For more information, click FAQ.
MONEY
- It’s as little as $1 to play, but you’ll only pay if and when we have at least $1,000. If $1,000 isn’t committed, you pay nothing.
- The Point will not charge your credit card until $1,000 has been committed.
- The Point holds the money until the Players decide together how to spend it.
- The Point will continue to accept money until the end of Game One.
- More money means Game One will be more fun and more powerful! $1 is fine, and we think it’d be fair to commit $10 for every $10,000 you earn – or have – !
- Everyone will be informed of the final spending decision and given time to withdraw their contribution if they just can’t live with it, no questions asked.
- The Point charges 5% for handling.
- Next Step Together charges 5% for facilitation.
FACILITATION
- Under the guidance of, and audited by, Governance Alive, the Next Step Together staff coordinates Representative circles.
- NST provides meeting and decision-making guidelines and helps with any issues circles encounter.
- NST provides information about the decision-making process and refunds contributions if a player opts out after the campaign has tipped.
SOCIOCRACY
- You already know the essentials of sociocracy, though the word is probably new. Another term for it is Dynamic Governance. It’s mainly consent. It’s the way you make decisions with those you know and trust. It adopts age-old methods of governing healthy, small groups, so that any number of people may self-govern. You don’t ignore your friends and family. You compromise. You care. You experiment. You create. You get ’er done!
- In sociocracy we keep steering forward, trying out new ideas, rather than struggling for perfection.
- Decisions are made by everyone affected by the decision.
- Everyone involved has equivalent power.
- We decide only in small groups – Circles – where personal needs get met best.
- A Circle can only make a decision by consent. Consent does not mean that everybody agrees wholeheartedly on a proposal, just that everybody can live with it, for a period of time.
- Sociocracy is different from consensus in many ways, including that it works great with large numbers of people who don’t know or trust one another.
- Sociocracy is different from majority-rules democracy. The process satisfies minorities instead of outvoting and ignoring them until they want revenge! Everybody wins.
- Read more on: Wikipedia
CIRCLES
- 8 people is a good circle size.
- Consider choosing local people for your Friend Circle: friends, family – people who understand each other. Meeting in person with folks you know and trust makes deciding easier.
- Circles may also meet by phone, or online. Distant and less-connected members may add expertise or perspective.
- If there is consent on a decision, the Friend Circle elects a Representative who then registers at Next Step Together and connects to a Regional Circle of Representatives.
- Regional Circles, Continental Circles and Global Circles discuss proposals and objections, and connect everyone.
DECISIONS
- Proposals and objections (decisions) must all come from at least 4 people.
- Proposals and objections must be both important and reasoned. If they are not, circles set them aside or improve them.
- Reaching consent means only that everybody can live with a decision, not that it’s perfect.
- Keep the process moving. Few decisions will be everyone’s first choice. Decisions may be changed until the game ends.
REPRESENTATIVES
- Do not necessarily elect your circle’s leader or visionary. A representative is in service to the group. It’s more work than honor. Pick a person who is good with details, listens well and remembers what others think.
- Be cautious about electing those who dominate discussions or volunteer for the job.
- Try this brilliant election method which works wonders.
QUESTIONS
- The Point has a Help section, Next Step Together has a website, and, we will happily answer your questions by phone or email. There is a good web radio interview of Tim Anderson introducing sociocracy, Next Step Together and Game One.
