Posted by Lin Deahl-Coy on April 21, 1999 at 16:20:10:
In Reply to: Re: Community development -- more info? posted by Jonah on April 13, 1999 at 14:19:28:
COMMON THREADS: WEAVING THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY
_________________________________________________________
April 1, 1999
Dear Baha'i Friends,
The COMMON THREADS workshop is now planning its summer 1999 schedule. We have enclosed information and brochures describing the program and we hope you will considering hosting a workshop in your area. We can only accept about 6 workshops this summer/fall so be sure to contact us as soon as possible so we can put your community on the calendar first.
Serving Baha'u'llah by building more loving cohesive communities is our greatest joy! Please allow us the privilege of presenting the Common Threads Workshop to your community and surrounding believers and seekers this summer
In His service,
Lin Deahl-Coy and John Suggs, Jr.
COMMON THREADS: WEAVING THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY
A COMMUNITY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
* Deepen the bonds of fellowship and friendship in your community?
* Use a personalized Community Needs Hierarchy as the basis for systematic planning?
* Understand how communities grow and maintain themselves?
* Identify the gifts and talents of your community members and match them to your local goals? Or create a talent bank?
* Become a better small group facilitator?
* Learn how to start and maintain expanding small person centered groups which foster relationships?
* Reengage inactive Baha'i's in your area?
* Bring isolated believers together in community?
* Identify people on the Drop Out Track" and intervene?
* Understand what helps communities foster fellowship and what conditions lead to breakdown?
If so, then your community is ready for the Common Threads Workshop
WHAT WE PRESENT
* An ENHANCED NEEDS HIERARCHY and practical applications to teaching, planning programs, and conducting activities.
* A COMMUNITY NEEDS HIERARCHY based on your local participation.
* A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO PROGRAM PLANNING.
* SKILLS which enhance small group facilitation.
* A WHOLE LIFE MODEL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
* A SKILLS IDENTIFICATION ASSESSMENT for individuals with applications in a community as the basis of forming a talent bank.
The aim of COMMON THREADS is to equip people with the skills and knowledge necessary to deepen the bonds of fellowship and unity and to sustain the process of entry by troops.
YOUR COMMUNITIES' RESULTS
At the end of the two day workshop you will have:
1. Assessed its needs and created a Community Needs Hierarchy which serves to "unify the friends in common vision."
2. Recognized that every community is a valid statistical model of the greater community in which the people live, and Created Teaching Plans which attract people the to the Cause by meeting their needs.
3. Assessed the skills and resources available for the community building process.
4. Explored ways to use the available resources to meet the needs of the community within the context of the four year plan. These Pre-goals are divided into short, medium and long term objectives which can later be developed into a more comprehensive plan in the light of further consultation.
5. Discussed the elements and principles of the Baha'i Model of Community.
6. Reviewed the principles of Systematic Program Planning.
7. Discovered the magic of the Whole Life Model and the use of small person centered groups to meet needs.
8. Learned communication skills which will help facilitate the process of chaos and foster the development of true consultation and unity.
9. Learned skills to intervene in the Drop Out Track and reengage members who have grown inactive in vibrant service.
10. Realized the pit falls of front end loading and the revolving door of attrition present in most mass teaching campaigns and explored methods of retention and consolidation through the use of small groups and family clusters.
RATIONALE
By teaching community members about (a) systematic needs assessment, (b) the process of group development and (c) the skills which foster a sense of belonging, members of a community are better equipped to intentionally build the loving environment they desire. By better understanding this process, the members of the community will be less likely to do things detrimental to the life of that community.
By offering a systematic skills assessment, Assemblies are better equipped to aid the "believers to serve the Cause according to their God given talents and capacities." By continually training new small group facilitators and community development specialists who constantly monitor the needs of the ever evolving community, a community is prepared to increase the circle of membership through the use of small need based groups.
WHY BUILD COMMUNITY?
An adolescent humanity is experiencing a developmental crisis of Insolation/Alienation/Fragmentation vs. Intimacy/Community/ Unity. For the masses it appears that Isolation is winning. The need for love, fellowship and connection is the predominate need of the"age in which we live" - the cultural center of gravity around which much of our collective suffering is centered.
"YOUR CHALLENGE IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE EFFICACY OF THE MESSAGE OF BAHA'U'LLAH IN MINISTERING TO THEIR NEEDS AND IN RECREATING THE VERY FOUNDATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL LIFE"
A group of people may accidentally tumble into the feeling of community and find themselves at home with a group of friends, but building community is too important to leave to chance! We must make the creation of loving vibrant communities INTENTIONAL through the use of spiritual principles, scientific theories and practical skills.
HOW THIS WORKSHOP DEVELOPED
In 1992 Lin began writing the Common Threads Book. John Suggs joined the collaboration in 1993 and the result was a text book, a two day intensive workshop, a compilation from the sacred writings, and a trainers manual. Soon to be followed by a Guide book to Assemblies on how to translate the workshop information and experience into community life.
COMMON THREADS has been presented in over 20 communities in 3 countries to over 450 participants.
WHO IS SHARING
Lin Deahl-Coy, B.S.N. - Graceland College; M.A. University of Iowa Student Development in Post Secondary Education. Lin is working at home with Mason 8 and Hannah 5, who is hearing impaired. She was formerly director of Career Counseling and Placement at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. She began he career as a Registered Nurse working in general medical and terminal cancer care hospital units including adjunct teaching for a community college.
John Suggs, Jr. B.A. - History, Eastern Michigan University; M.B.A. Business Management, Central Michigan University. John works for Chrysler Corporation as a Product Quality Engineering Specialist and as a Certified Interaction Management Trainer. He has also served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Detroit, the District Teaching Committee of Lower Michigan and as an Assistant to the Auxiliary Board - for Propagation.
If you are interested in having this workshop in your community please contact:
Ms. Lin Deahl-Coy
(248) 542-2038
Lindeahl@AOL.com
or
John Suggs Jr.
(810) 781-0909
JWSuggs@AOL.COM
SAMPLE AGENDA
DAY 1
9 A.M. WELCOME AND PRAYERS
9:15 WHAT DOES COMMUNITY MEAN TO ME?
WHAT DO I HAVE TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY BUILDING PROCESS
WHAT SKILLS/RESOURCES DOES THE COMMUNITY NEED TO ACQUIRE TO CREATE THE DESIRED COMMUNITY?
BREAK
AN ENHANCED NEEDS THEORY
LUNCH
AN ENHANCED NEED THEORY II
BREAK
BUILDING A COMMUNITY NEEDS HIERARCHY
HOW DO YOU MEET THE COMMUNITIES NEEDS?
DAY 2
9 A.M. WHY BUILD COMMUNITIES
WHAT IS THE BAHA'I VISION OF COMMUNITY
BREAK
HOW ARE COMMUNITIES BUILT?
USING SMALL PERSON CENTERED GROWTH GROWTHS FOR EXPANSION AND CONSOLIDATION
LUNCH
THE MAGIC OF THE WHOLE LIFE MODEL OF GROUP GROWTH
BREAK
AVOIDING THE DROPOUT TRACK
CLOSING CHALLENGE
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