"Transition Gathering: "How are We Doing?" "

How ARE we doing? WHO wants to know, and WHY?

Well, those questions, and more, were raised and discussed at a gathering of Transition folk, representing Transition initiatives in Asheville, Black Mountain, Hendersonville and Atlanta, GA! Dylan Ryals-Hamilton, from the Asheville Transition group, was our leader and began by reporting back on his time in Chicago this summer. He spent almost a week there in a Transition US sponsored 'Trainers Conference' and also visited local (Chicago) projects that amazed and inspired him (check out The Plant--www.plantchicago.com/ and Will Allen at "Growing Power--www.growingpower.org/index.htm ).  

Closer to home, Dylan lead those of us there through the use of a charming and effective diagnostic tool, utilizing the image of a dog  and pieces of a pie (you had to be there, but see below for a sense of it)

to evaluate how our own Transiton groups' effort were doing. Very helpful, to have a format to reflect upon and help put thoughts into words. 

Lastly we did a mini Open Space, the technique that allows people to self organize into discussion groups based on any-and everyone's most pressing interest--great tool!

Turned out what we were interested in included:

How to get a neighborhood on board with Transition ideas and projects?

How to turn passive curiosity and interest into ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT?

How to effectively speak with people about Peak Oil, Climate Change, Economic Instability-- without losing them? And--how to turn these potentially dismal topics into cause for creative action and involvement?

How to have fun and build joy and energy into this great work!

How to make visioning more prominent in our work?

All in all, this was an action -packed 5 hours, well worth spending time inside for, despite the beauty of the fall day! Those present are hopeful that this sort of evaluation and cross-fertilization of regional Transition initiatives will continue.  In the meantime, thank you to Dylan, for opening the door!