Attachment A: Civic Governance Basin Team Training
Outcomes from Feb. 26th, 2014-4thTraining
Civic Governance Identity Statement- Civic Governance is a new approach to policy making (governance) that
produces the civic infrastructure needed to govern for the common good and sustain democracy as a just system of
governance while achieving particular water quality goals.
The Purpose for Training. Members will be introduced to the Civic Governance Policy Document as it would be
applied to water governance. This document summarizes a civic organizing approach. Members will determine its
relevance to their role.
Reminder: In 6 sessions we will introduce the civic organizing disciplines listed in your copy of the Civic
Governance Policy Document. We will do so through practice and outcomes will be tracked through this
document.
Civic Standards guide all decision-making Reminder: These civic standards guide our practice during the training
but also in all actions taken in the name of Civic Governance. (See Civic Governance Policy Document)
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All those impacted by the problem are stakeholders and help define the problem in light of civic principles and the realities of
their situation.
All stakeholders are accountable for contributing resources (leadership/time, knowledge, constituencies & dollars) to solve
the problem.
All stakeholders are engaged in decision-making and policy-making that contributes to the common good.
All stakeholders implement policies (agreements) grounded in civic principles in the places where they have the authority to
act
Participants Present: Chris Gaetzke, Amanda Hanson, Kyle Kulow, Sam Martin, Webb, Ron Verdon, John
Haack, Dan Zerr, Buzz Sorge, Julia Olmstead, Danette Olson, Dan Prestebak, Peg Michels.
Those not able to participate: Tim Ritten, Eric Wojchik, Lynne Kolze, Rodd Webb
Reminder: Meeting evaluation is based upon approved purpose for the Meeting. Meeting Purpose for
Feb. 26th-Meeting 4:
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I.
Final approval of the January Outcomes Document.
Individual Check-in: Pre-work Each individual will come prepared to check-in on outcomes from practice including:
o Civic Governance Policy Document-identifying what you think the themes or points are that are being made.
o Describing those themes in your words.
o 1-1 Public Meeting. Identifying a key person who you consider an ally or supportive of your efforts. Test out
your themes with that person to see if it helps develop the capacity to communicate this document in your
conversations with others.
o Others Insights, questions….
Learn about the civic organizing concept of power and the discipline of Power Analysis.
Determine next steps and do meeting evaluation.
Meeting Evaluation. 5.0 out of a possible rating of 5.0.
Please note: We are introducing, through our meeting practice, the civic organizing disciplines: PrincipledDriven Calendar-Public Meeting-Public Evaluation. An individual who becomes a member of a civic
organizing agency:
 Invests time in carrying out work plan agreements because their interests are in alignment with the Civic
Governance Policy Document. (Principled Driven Calendar)
 They evaluate their practice since the last meeting and come prepared to check in on outcomes (Public
Evaluation).
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The meeting is structured for each individual to check-in on their outcomes, learn from practice, and to
govern the initiative.
What worked?
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Achieved the purpose for the meeting-Agenda worked-governed our time and recognized there will be tension
between taking time to explore particular questions, issues and achieving the agenda in the time allotted. (A
tension between two “goods”) .
Everyone agreed that our commitment and follow through on pre-work is the only authentic way to learn the
relevance of civic organizing. “I can read the materials but it does not come alive until I hear how it is
applied.” In order to get that meeting outcome, members have to apply what they are learning in between the
meetings. Feedback loop.
Felt that we crossed a threshold. In three meetings, everyone is applying civic principles and standards and
finding they have value in their role.
Keep meeting structure—small groups where every individual can be heard, determining common agreements
from that engagement— with the obligation to report findings to the large group where individuals get
another chance to influence the findings. (This public meeting structure is an example of what can be used in
other meetings to meet civic standards-get contribution from everyone but against a common agenda, produce
transparency and accountability.)
Gap? There were no points taken off however, there were suggestions and questions raised.
 Need more concrete illustrations from Peg M during her teaching.
 Is there too much time in between meetings? Hard to hold onto what is being learned?
 Who is planning to move forward as part of a Civic Governance organizing agency? Buzz is seeking dollars
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to support that effort.
Would like to know more about the concept of power-the civic organizing discipline-power analysis.
Is everyone doing pre-work?
Not easy to balance the need for each individual to have the time to express and/or answer questions against
the need to complete the agenda in the time allotted.
Steps to address the gaps:
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Regarding pre-work and individual obligation. We agree that check-in on practice is the most valuable use
of time, that all members are obligated to do pre-work in order to contribute to achieving the meeting purpose.
(2nd civic organizing standard). However, not everyone will do the pre-work the same way.
Regarding need for illustrations relates to questions of how time is allocated: All members are not only
free but are obligated to stop any member and ask for concrete illustrations in order to get clarity.
We recognize, that doing so will produce the tension between two public goods: Focus on particular questions
and need for clarity (a public good) and completing the whole agenda in time allotted (a public good). As
governing members of the meeting, we will negotiate and govern in that tension between these goods to find
the “common good”.
Regarding need for more information on specific topics-power and power analysis:
o March 26th will have an agenda items related to learning more about a civic organizing power
analysis. Members will be asked to read about the discipline in the curriculum with the expectation
that this pre-work will raise questions we can focus on at the meeting.
o Insights on power as it relates to leadership will be integrated into the draft of the Civic Organizing
101 Curriculum Guide for Policy Pilots in the section on the civic organizing discipline Civic
Leadership development. John will attach that curriculum to the March email that goes out for
Meeting 5.
Regarding time in between meetings and retaining learning.
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Retention of knowledge comes when what is being introduced in each session is applied to
practice and the individual finds value in the return. One has to go through that cycle-apply-learn
from practice-apply in order to come to a greater sense of sense of certainty in what they are doing.
Time, repetition, evaluation of practice leads to greater application and greater certainty of what is
working.
Please note: The purpose for this training is to introduce a civic organizing approach. By the end of
the 6 sessions you will have been introduced to all of the disciplines which together make up that
approach. Those who move forward will do a civic organizing strategic planning process for the civic
organizing agency which will result in a work plan each member will expand in their jurisdiction.
(See grid for progress being made in introducing civic organizing disciplines.) The work plan
integrates and repeats what has been introduced but in a concrete context in which members have a
shared interest in learning and governing the process.
Regarding the need to identify who is moving forward. Buzz will contact members individually.
Pre-work for March 26 , 2014. Meeting 5. See proposed March 26th Agenda.
Specific Insights
A. Individual Check-in on insights from practice
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“A civic organizing agency” is the structure of accountability in a civic organizing approach. Members
learn the “ideal practice of civic organizing” as it is applied within the civic organizing agency where
individuals share a common interest in learning the ideal. However, the real work of organizing happens
when members organize their key stakeholders to achieve goals. In this organizing, members use their
political judgment as to the most effective way to create a climate for civic organizing in their work.
Members identified the following practices they applied that seem to be effective in creating a climate for
the Civic Governance Policy Document:
o Adapt a public meeting agenda to your situation. Link the purpose for the meeting to the
larger purpose that defines the group. Include evaluation. Repeat the process based on feedback.
Link the experience to accountability and how the group is going to work together (govern
themselves)
o Do 1-1 meetings to address issues that are getting in the way of progress related to goals you
need to achieve- If this experience provides evidence that an organizing approach is effective, be
intentional about setting up your calendar to do them with key stakeholders on a regular basis
making sure that outcomes relate to the governing meetings you are organizing. Evaluate if the
organizing practice produces greater progress. When you have evidence that an organizing
approach works, name it and begin to make the case that others should do the same. At some
point, use the 1-1 to link the organizing practice to the civic principles and civic standards.
o Negotiate your expectations when taking on a leadership role for any group:
 Group has to agree on public purpose and goals.
 Determine their role in achieving purpose and goals.
 Method for establishing transparency, accountability and governance with everyone
being expected to participate in the decision making process
 Adapt (if you cannot assert) civic principles and standards to support method so you have
a piece of paper (ground rules) that reflect expectations.
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Use public meeting discipline (1-1 linked to governing meeting) to test their value as it
relates to specific purpose and goals-then use concrete experience to begin relating to
Civic Governance Policy Document.
Need to know that Democracy by definition is not one person one vote. Democracy is a process that
requires “the people” to determine the common (public) good between different interpretations of
democratic principles and a civic process and infrastructure is needed to determine the “common good”
within these tensions.
Conscience------Law
Freedom-----Equality
Diversity----Unity
Private------Public
Immediate interests------Sustainability
The lack of civic identity, capacity and infrastructure needed to determine how to achieve water quality
given these democratic tensions is the primary cause for lack of progress-civic organizing/Civic
Governance is a solution strategy that aims to meet the need. Have to start small to demonstrate what a
“civic infrastructure” would look like, how it is organized, and the value it brings to the need to establish
water quality in these times. (See curriculum for more discussion)
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Draw upon traditions that governed from the need to achieve the common good reminding people
there is a democratic legacy to draw upon as it relates to environmental protection. (For more
information, the curriculum has a section on the value and challenges of tradition as it relates to
leadership and power)
Others?
B. Concept of Power and civic organizing discipline of power analysis.
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Associations with the concept of power
o Authority-access to resources
o Power over-control
o Fear
o Not having any
o Expertise is a significant factor related to power in an information, service based, globalized
economy. A way to control. Good examples of individual principles being in alignment with
civic principles and when they are not. In general there seemed to be evidence that alignment
produced more sustainable outcomes, non-alignment was associated with “failure”.
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Root word of power potere, to be able. Power is a dynamic force that goes well beyond any
one person, jurisdiction, generation. Individuals attempt to impact a power dynamic but they
cannot control it. The issue related to power has to do with power for what purpose, and how
best to impact a power dynamic to achieve that purpose. (See descriptions in the curriculum
of power as it relates to leadership approaches).
Members of a civic organizing agency are accountable for the use, misuse, and non use of
power as it relates to advancing the Jurisdiction Governing Document (I.e. Civic Governance
Policy Document). A civic organizing discipline power analysis was developed to support
and to hold members accountable to do so. (See pg. 11-17 in curriculum for more
information
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IV.
Tracking progress on learning civic organizing disciplines as they would be applied to role.
Civic Organizing Disciplines-Purpose
Where We Are in the Process
1st discipline- Civic Governance Policy Document-Primary policy
document for the Civic Governance Pilot based upon the recognition that
democracy is a process that requires “the people” to determine the
common (public) good between different interpretations of democratic
principles.
Conscience------Law
Freedom-----Equality
Diversity----Unity
Private------Public
Immediate interests------Sustainability
The document has an identity statement that summarizes the need for an
approach to governance/policymaking grounded in this fact:
Feb. 2014 Update. This discipline is
being introduced. (See Meeting
Evaluation and III in this document for
what is working). See curriculum for
more information.
Members agreed to continue to apply
practice that creates a climate for
introducing the need for a new
approach to governance.
Civic Governance is a new approach to policy making (governance) that
produces the civic infrastructure needed to govern for the common good
and sustain democracy as a just system of governance while achieving
particular water quality goals.
Civic Principles-provide the basis for governance in order to determine
the common good in the tension between democratic ideals that apply to
everyone, and then the way to implement the common good
Human Capacity-Democracy-Active Citizenship-Political CompetenceInstitutional Efficacy.
Purpose for Civic Governance -develop the civic imagination, and
organize the civic infrastructure needed to advance the Civic Governance
Policy Document.
Civic Standards for decision making that guide governing processes
between key stakeholders. Civic standards for governance are based upon
civic principles.
Civic Disciplines and skills are the way to meet civic standards for
governance.
2nd discipline Civic Leadership Development-Civic leaders advance the
Civic Governance Policy Document while achieving goals. Civic
Leadership Development is done in a structure called a “civic organizing
agency”. A civic infrastructure is a base of civic organizing agencies
whose members use the same civic language and civic organizing practice
in their jurisdiction. Because the practice is similar outcomes from specific
jurisdictions add up to produce the scale of influence needed to address
complex problems.
Purpose for the Civic Governance Organizing Agency: To organize the
civic capacity and civic infrastructure needed to advance and sustain the
Civic Governance Policy Document in the 4 stages of civic organizing.
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Feb Update:
 Introduced this discipline. See
curriculum piece for further
discussion of its meaning as it
relates to the role of organizing
and the function of power. .
 Individuals are in the process of
deciding who is going to move
forward to help establish a civic
organizing agency for the
Wisconsin St. Croix Basin
3rd discipline Power Analysis-Guides Strategic Planning,
Problem-solving, and Policy Making:
Purpose: Ensure that all members of the Civic Governance
Civic Organizing Agency do planning-problem-solving-and
rule making (policy functions) in light of the Civic
Governance Policy Document. (the primary policy
document that determines how to structure the use of
resources to achieve particular goals in alignment with the
whole document.
Feb. Update
This discipline is called a “power” analysis because
power means-to be able-or force-dynamic and is the
force that sustains or changes the status quo.
The discipline was introduced-but we will revisit it
March 26th. See curriculum piece for how this
discipline relates to Civic Leadership Development
and Civic Governance Policy Document.
4th discipline Work Plan-Uses civic organizing strategies
and disciplines and meet civic organizing measures to close
the gap identified by governing members through the
Power Analysis.
Civic organizing strategies:
Creating a Climate for Civic Governance
Restructuring Existing Resources
Organizing a Base of Influence
Ensuring Sustainability
Feb Update-We will introduce this discipline as part
of the training series.
Purpose: Organize a permanent civic infrastructure as a
growing base of influence. The discipline establishes
accountability within and across “units”, and sectors. The
work plan governs the base of partnerships and is the basis
for organizing their calendars-Principled-Driven
Calendar—Civic Governance Organizing Agency
Meetings- Public Meetings-Public Evaluation.
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5th discipline Principled Driven Calendars, Public
Meeting, Public Evaluation. Used to advance work plan.
Members who move forward will co-author a
civic organizing Work Plan based upon the
purpose statement.
Peg Michels and Lynne Kolze will be a resource
for a three pilot in which members advance work
plans.
Each member will identify a time and place to
apply civic organizing in their role.
The work plan will be compatible with existing
work plans but integrate a civic organizing
approach to achieving particular purpose and
goals. There will be a civic organizing work
plan that members of the civic organizing agency
will co-author.
Each member will learn how to use the
principled-driven calendar-Public MeetingPublic Evaluation disciplines we are introducing
to prepare their monthly check-in based upon
work plan outcomes and measures.
Feb Update.
In a civic organizing approach, these disciplines are
used to advance a civic organizing work plan.
We are practicing them in the way we structure the
training meetings.
6th discipline. Civic Policy Making-Outcome from the use
of the above civic organizing disciplines and skillsorganizes the civic infrastructure needed to solve complex
problems and sustain a just democracy.
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Feb. Update. Introducing civic policy making
through our practice. There is a Civic Governance
Case Study that is an example of civic policy making.
This is available to members. John Haack and Ron
Verdon attended a Civic Governance Policy Work
Shop March 6th and will come prepared to the March
26th meeting to check-in on their experience.