Making Microsolidarity Presentation - 30/05/2020

from Peter: Could you address how the congregation structure of microsolidarity differs from biz/social organizations such as Rotary?

Thanks Rich! Should work now.

alas somehow these links seem to be broked?

UPDATE: Some crew topics are being explored by people of our congregation. Here's the list! (*fixed links)

Artistic Research Methods

BBF - Business Back and Forth

Children Book

Interdisciplinary Politics, Art and Social Action

Solidarity Morning Calls - starting our day's with intention

Care Pod

Gathering Crew

Observation and Story Telling

Theoretical, Practical and Entrepreneurial Exploration of Circularity and Sustainability

Maastricht-Based Crew

Sharing Money

We haven't actually crewed yet, but some ideas that have been floating around our Congregation are: an online course, a reading circle of identity politics and activism, the intersection between politics and arts. Some folks could crew to learn and practice how to organise people, or just a place for you to come every month and check in with where you are emotionally.

About 14 people of our Congregation recently had a 2.5 hr workshop to explore alternative ways to share and relate with money. Out of this, I would personally like to call for a crew to experiment on a small scale with a shared pot of money. In this I'd like to explore at which moments in the process we are triggered and ask: what can we learn about ourselves and relationship to money from these triggers?

It depends on people's desires and needs, and of where they are in life. I hope this can give you some more clarity!

from Rowan: What topics have you crewed about in the past? Or, can you give some examples?

There are certainly similarities between the ideas of 'commoning' & the commons and Microsolidarity and our Congregation's implementation of it.

Firstly, I've not researched deeply into 'commoning' from Peter Linebaugh. However, from what I understand, commoning is simply the actions taken by people to create and share resources with each other. It's my understanding that commoning includes a practice of reciprocity (my gain does not mean your loss; we exchange vs. profit from each other).

The original proposal for Microsolidarity actually includes a section called "The Reciprocity Game". This is a fun idea to move through layers of building trust from listening with attention through co-owning a company, income or assets.

Additionally, I'll add that our use of Microsolidarity is especially concerned with emotional intimacy – how to act in a group of people you can trust highly and speak vulnerably with from a deeper emotional/psychological/spiritual level. Microsolidarity first creates and then builds upon this trustworthy foundation based in relationship between people. The method goes on to then provide space for us to know deeply that we can trust the people we are sharing the commons with (e.g. income, a company, assets) therefore feeling safe to do, as well as knowing that we are supporting ourselves in supporting others.

Romy R: how does this idea and your work relate to ‘commoning’ and the commons, there are similarities right?

I'll have to answer this one out of forethought more than from lived experience since none of us have crewed just yet. I've learned from @Nati Lombardo that the following is important:

Intention: purpose, why are we meeting?

Norms: how do we want to be together? explore needs, desires, fears

Structure: the meeting format. Follow a pre-made one, or design your own

Rhythm: how often are you meeting? For how long?

Cycles: when do you finish or stop to reflect? Start with the end in mind

from Simon: What shared information can help the formation of crews?

Josh and I prepare our sessions in advance, after having asked around what are people's needs and desires.

We always take into account and try to balance at least two things:

• Giving interesting content and information so that Congregation members can get inspired and learn new cool stuff.

• Allowing space for people to bring their own voices, and to create exchange of information and experiences.

Additionally, the format usually has a basic structure of:

• Context/remember why we're meeting

• Check in so everyone can see and be seen

• The content at hand (often includes small group breakouts)

• Collect and reflect together on content

• Check out - with what are you leaving this meeting? another moment to see and be seen

In here you can see in good detail how our meetings are organized (Congregating: the Process > any of the meetings).

From Weronika : How does your work look like at the meeting sessions? Is there a specific structure?

A percentage into common pot is a common first step. The kind of crews I'd like to be involved in would be ones where crew members are actually helping each other materially in that process of earning money. In which case, it makes sense to share it... maybe when sufficient trust and mutual knowledge is there, one can work towards everyone feeling responsible that everyone else is employed, within their stated capacity. (I.e. some people may opt to be part time and aim for an income proportionate to what others aim for)

@Katherine Glass Meaningful work in our case includes earning incomes. That form of income can be defined as financial or otherwise. For now, our specific Congregation holds a collective vision that we intend to move into work which does support our needs for money.

To answer the second part of your Q in an example: If I make money from the work I do as a freelancer, I will keep that money for myself. However, we have begun exploratory talks within our congregation about sharing money. There are no real systems in place for it yet, but it's definitely possible that, for example, a % or a self-defined amount of everyone's income would go to a common pot. The way in which the money in the common pot is used is to be defined by the collective that contributes to it.

From Katherine: When you focus on Meaningful work, is that also about earning incomes? And are the incomes separate? Or intertwined for the community ?

Maybe, simply, if a topic feels like a shared vital interest to a number of people? What they then do about it can vary. But for a crew with an extended life (not just short term) my guess is that is has to be rewarding and sustaining in meaningful ways. If the crew members need income, then the crew will probably have to focus around income ... etc. But that's not always the case.

In our understanding of the process of Crewing, it all starts with someone's idea, desire or curiosity. This desire is then turned into a "Call" - a call for a few others to join around the topic of curiosity.

What makes a topic worth crewing ? There's no absolute answers, but usually you can consider...:

• Whether the topic feels important for you in your life.

• Usually we Crew after being in the Gathering with all the Congregation. You can also take into account what conversations were predominant in the Gathering and collect something from there.

From Julan: what makes a topic worth ‘crewing’ about?