XR Dorset - Gathering *

The first big Dorset gathering is taking place on November 22nd in Poole at The Spires Cafe (listed as Wesley's Cafe on Google maps) 6pm arriving, 7pm start, going on until 11:30pm. We will have access to the kitchen for teas. But you'll need to bring your own food.  This is the first of what will hopefully become a regular Dorset gathering of our wonderful tribe, aimed at stirring debate, fostering more collaboration, pooling resources, and generally facilitating XR's progress and evolution in Dorset. It will take the simple format of gathering, sharing ideas, seeing if we can agree on pursuing any of them, and then setting in motion the means to begin doing so. So anyone who wants to be part of those decisions needs to be there, whether they're coordinators or motivated rebels.

=== OVERVIEW === It will take the following simple format. 6pm gather. 7pm start of a big group discussion following this structure  - Introductions to each XR group and the wonderful things they've done. - A carefully focused session of constructive criticisms we'll hopefully address during the evening.  - A discussion on possible pooling of resources between groups. - A discussion of possible Dorset wide communications solutions.  - A discussion of whether, in light of such ideas, a different organisational structure might be better, with new Dorset wide workgroups etc.  After a short break we'll return for a fun session of proposals.  - Proposals for potential targets and actions in Dorset and the UK.  - Proposals for potential collaboratory projects.  - Proposals for bigger possibilities such as a common goal we might all work towards.  After a break the hall will be split into green lit proposals, and interested rebels will be able to put their names to them and network with others interested in them. I am also keen to facilitate people of similar disciplines finding each other. So the hall may also have areas for disciplines such as science, law, etc.  Hopefully by 10:30pm a whole set of exciting decisions will have been made, a few inspiring proposals green lit and started, and new friendships made.  Rebels can then chat and socialise before we all need to be out by 11:30pm. The Brewhouse & Kitchen pub around the corner is open until midnight. If anyone is coming from afar and would like to stay the night. Let us know and we'll try and arrange a rebel host for you.  === GETTING PREPARED === In order to make this evening as constructive as possible, groups should come with a sense of what they'd like to say and those motivated to do so should prepare proposals to put to the gathering. Ideally your group will have met and determined your views on some of the issues covered so that a spokesperson can at least represent those views before opening up to debate. It would be good for your group to have considered...  - A positive introduction to your group and all the wonderful things it's done, both in Dorset and up in London. - Any concerns or problems you'd like to air. This may touch on specifics such as communications problems etc or it may be a more philosophical concern about XR's approach to system change, perhaps in light of some of the events in London. Please keep criticisms constructive and specific rather than vague and defeatist.  - Resources your group could offer (what are your strengths?) and resources your group could do with pooling (where are you struggling?)  - Your views on what might be the best technical solution to communications for other groups, whether it makes sense to standardise that and setup a broad Dorset wide comms solution whereby everyone in Dorset can get to know more about what's going on in XR in Dorset and thus promote wider engagement and collaboration, and whether, in light of such ideas, we should adopt a different organisational structure, for example eschewing each XR groups music workgroup and establishing a single Dorset wide music workgroup, etc.  Those motivated to do so should also develop proposals they want to put before the Dorset XR community. Please notify us of these ahead of time and we'll print out a list of them so that rebels can read up on them at the beginning of the evening and begin to formulate their feelings on them. Proposals will cover the following territories... - Proposals for targets for action. - Proposals for types of actions.  - Proposals for an overriding theme or narrative to targets and actions over the coming months.  - Proposals for certain projects, be they musical, theatrical, educational, etc.  - Proposals for advocacy collaborations.  - And even more bold proposals, perhaps for a common goal we could all work towards or for a new approach or evolution for XR in Dorset.  There is also space for proposing solutions for communications, developing more engagement and community, outreach, etc. These are probably best proposed as projects, but if not we will make space for them.  Since these are all proposals, it is important to recognise that they will require the agreement of the gathering to green light them. So it is best to frame them as something you'd like to do, with the group's agreement, rather than something you will do, regardless of whether anyone agrees with you or not. If there isn't Dorset wide support for your proposal there's no reason your own XR group couldn't pursue it in isolation. It's just that this gathering is specifically aimed at things we can do together.  =============== Together we are stronger! Together we can support each other! Together we can rise higher! Together we are many!