Foundations of Sociocracy

If you are a part of a group, team, committee or community, then this course is for you. Sociocracy is a form of self governance that helps us organise efficient and effective meetings, allowing every member of a group to step up, be heard and feel empowered in complementary roles together. 

This experiential training gives you the essential tools for exploring the Sociocratic Circle-organization Method in your existing or forming organization.

The class sessions include:

• Introduction to sociocratic values, principles and practices
• Consent decision making - implementing equivalence and effectiveness
• Circle (policy) meetings, roles, and elections - organizing work
• Organizational structure - how to scale equivalence, consent, feedback, and transparency.
• Operational effectiveness strategies
• Inclusive facilitation and leadership skills

A mix of interactive simulations, practice sessions, and exercises, presentation of essential information, and time for participant questions and feedback are part of every training session.

Gina Price

Gina has been interested in the way people organize themselves since spending a year on an Antarctic Base in 1985. She has gravitated towards experiences of working in groups to achieve goals on wilderness adventures, scientific expeditions, living in a Quaker community in Alaska, and in contributing to an ecovillage development project.

Gina has been learning about and working with the Sociocratic method since 2004. In 2006 she initiated the formation of the Australasia Training Circle for Sociocracy which adopted the approach of “using the method to promote the method.” In 2007 this resulted in the group hosting the first training event in Australia after which Gina, under the mentorship of Tena Meadows O’Rear, consulted to the first Australian business to trial Sociocracy. In April 2008 Gina became a certified trainer in Sociocracy through Sociocratisch Centrum Nederland. In May 2008 she worked alongside Tena to present training to the Sydney Coastal EcoVillage and at the Business Leaders Forum on Sustainability, Parliament House, Canberra. In September 2008 she gave her first solo training in Fairbanks, Alaska.

In July 2009 Gina completed a Certificate of Coaching with Coach School, Bentley, and brings a coaching approach to her work with individuals and organizations. Since then she has conducted a number of seminars, introductory evenings and further trainings. In teaching and promoting Sociocracy, Gina continues to develop approaches that provide opportunities for individuals to learn by doing.

Robina McCurdy

Robina is an international community development facilitator, permaculture educator and designer of common land spaces. She is a pioneer-resident of 35 year-old Tui Community & Land Trust (www.tuitrust.org.nz) in rural Aotearoa/New Zealand and the founder of The Institute of Earthcare Education Aotearoa: www.earthcare-
education.or... and currently serves on the Permaculture Council of NZ. Her professional community work encompasses: ‘midwifing’ new initiatives, social renewal of existing land-based communities, long-term conflict resolution, mentoring of new ecovillages, rebuilding community post natural disasters, strengthening the community culture within existing organizations and training community leaders as 'cultural change agents'. Robina also develops facilitators guides on participatory processes for decision-making and collective action, such as her ‘Food Sovereignty Facilitators Manual and 'Grounding Vision, Empowering Culture', which is used widely across the world.