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LAUNCH Outline

Detailed Course Outline, August 2011

Day one: Preparing the Ground

Introductions and Warm-up
We start with a short appreciation and gratitude exercise

Group exercise

 

The context for transition towns… ‘Why do we need a Transition?’Working with the Transition chart

  • “Peak Oil Mingle” where participants practice explaining to each other what peak oil is, why is it so important, and when it is likely to happen
  • “Climate Change Mingle” followed by a whole group presentation where the vision is widened to include other reasons why we need to create a transition, like social justice, global inequality, other resource constraints, and financial instability
  • Summary of  reasons why Transition is needed.  Option: some trainers show a short film, or brainstorm of the main points relative to peak oil.

 Overview of the Transition Town Model

  • What are the principles of Transition? Brainstorm and role play
  • Overview of the early stages of Transition

 Vision of a Healthy World

  • Why is vision so important and how can you use it in your Transition Initiative?
  • Experiential exercise using a visualisation process

 The Transition Model In DepthParticipant talking to the group

  • First steps: Awareness-raising and Group Initiation
  • Awareness raising
    • Why raise awareness?
    • How we do it
    • Building a model for change
    • Game using the skills we described in the presentation
  • Group initiation
    • Skills needed
    • Talks and films
    • Who to aim for – existing groups, general public
    • Creating publicity – press, posters, word of mouth, email list, website
    • Showing films (including introduction and digestion time)
    • Gathering emails. How to invite people to think about how they want to be involved
    • Enticing speakers
    • When is the job done? The Launch
    • “The historic night it all started”
    • Speaker? Band? Something that will draw and inspire people
    • A vision for YOUR community
    • Inviting participation at the event – post-its, spaces to write thoughts, visions, requests, areas of interest
    • What comes out of The Launch?

Day two: Inner Worlds and Next Stages of Transition

Mingling exercise

Inner Worlds

  • Brainstorm: 'What are the beliefs and values that underpin the Industrial Growth Society?'
  • Presentation on what we mean by ‘inner worlds’
  • Why is it so important?
  • How can we use this information to create a Transition?
  • How to develop an inner worlds group?

 Open SpaceOpen Space chart

  • We create an Open Space structure in order to teach how to set one up
  • Participants experience of an Open Space structure
  • When to use and when not to use Open Space
  • How do you facilitate Open Space?

 Joanna Macy Exercises

  • “Milling” and “Meet the Descendents” exercises, which enable participants to deepen their own personal journey

Evolving Structure

Presentation

  • Where does your Transition Initiative go after the early stages?
  • What happens after you have dissolved the initiating group?
  • When is the right time to do an Energy Descent Plan?
  • Where has Transition got to nationally, and Internationally?
  • What financial and legal structures support the next stages of Transition?
  • How can social enterprises be used to fund Transition Initiatives?

 

Your Next Steps

Celebrating

  • Paper exercises and feedback opportunities to cover:
    • Initiating group – Who is it? What roles do people have? What’s your role? What’s the culture of the group – leader? Consensus? How are decisions made? What are your strengths? What are you missing or weak at? How could you address this – invite others to join? Training?
    • Awareness-raising: what groups are you linked with – environmental? Other? Who could you approach? What venues do you have? What resources – speakers? Local projects or experts? Places to visit e.g. eco house or permaculture project? What kind of publicity can you generate? Links to local paper? Radio? Other? Local government?
    • Your personal journey. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What support do you have? What is your dream or vision? What do you want to learn about? What makes you passionate?
    • How do you address ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ worlds?
    • Who are you reaching? Are there groups that are not responding?
    • Are there any organisational relationships that need attention?
       Photos: All photos were taken at a Transition Launch courses in Spain (CC Transición Sostenible); www.transicionsostenible.com