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?