suggested meeting timeline and explanation of how this can work:
- Opening (5-10 minutes):
- Welcome Scouts and circle members
- Recite the Cloud Scouts pledge or mission statement
- Share any important announcements or updates
- Check-in Round (10-15 minutes):
- Each participant briefly shares how they are feeling, any successes or challenges they've experienced since the last meeting, and their focus for the meeting.
- Skill-building or Educational Activity (20-30 minutes):
- Introduce the activity and its purpose
- Scouts and circle members participate in the activity
- Debrief and discuss the key takeaways
- Circle Discussion (30-45 minutes):
- Begin with a brief overview of the topic(s) to be discussed
- Facilitator leads a round where each participant shares their thoughts or ideas on the topic without interruption
- After the round, open the floor for further discussion, questions, or clarifications
- Decision-Making and Action Steps (15-30 minutes):
- If decisions need to be made, use the sociocratic consent decision-making process
- Discuss and assign action steps to specific circle members
- Determine deadlines and accountability measures
- Check-out Round (10-15 minutes):
- Each participant shares their thoughts on the meeting, any highlights or concerns, and their focus moving forward
- Closing (5 minutes):
- Recap any key decisions or action steps
- Thank everyone for their participation and set the date for the next meeting
By integrating sociocratic rounds into the meeting, you encourage every member to have an equal opportunity to speak, fostering a sense of inclusion and collaboration. This format also helps to ensure that all voices are heard and valued, ultimately leading to better decision-making and problem-solving within the Cloud Scouts organization.
The meeting duration in the suggested format is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. You can adjust the duration to fit your needs by shortening or lengthening each section as necessary.
As for the frequency, it would be best to tailor the schedule based on the needs and preferences of each circle. Weekly meetings might be ideal for circles that have ongoing projects or require close collaboration. Alternatively, biweekly or monthly meetings may be more suitable for circles with less time-sensitive tasks or those that can manage their responsibilities with less frequent check-ins. It is crucial to strike a balance between maintaining regular communication and avoiding unnecessary meetings that may strain the participants' schedules.