PARTICIPATION ISSUES

• The process should allow for meaningful participation from the constant inflow of new members.
• The process should include new ideas as much as possible and still allow adequate time for discussion and evaluation. Member surveys are used for the evaluation process.
• The surveys should stand on their own as indicators of the overall preferences of Society members.
  

The approach outlined below attempts to accommodate these issues by using cut-off dates for discussions and specific participation dates for the surveys. 

This proposed approach is a starting point that is open to discussion and improvement by ES members. Comments and suggestions can be made in the ES Projects forum.

THE PARTICIPATIVE PROCESS

Step One:  Discuss Issues, Strategies and Project Ideas

• Issues, strategies and project ideas for the SHIP areas (sustainable living, help the poor, influence powerholders and preserve the planet) are discussed in the forums in months 1, 2 and 3.
  
• A list of the top 6 to 10 strategies and project ideas, and an accompanying overview document are finalized for the survey at the end of month 3.
• The survey runs in months 4 and 5. The top-rated project ideas are further developed into project plans in Step Two.
  

• Project plans are created and discussed in the forums in months 6, 7 and 8. The Project Charter template is used to outline project plans. Members may form teams to work on specific project plans.
• A list of the top 6 to 10 project plans and an accompanying overview document are finalized for the survey.
• The project plan survey runs in months 9 and 10.
  
  

Step Three:  Create ES Project Charter, Project Details and Task List

•  A formal ES Project Charter, ES Project Details and ES Task List are created by the Project Team in months 11 and 12 and submitted to Facilitator Council for final approval.
  

Note: There is a yearly reset of the entire process at the beginning of each year.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

• Project Initiation -- The Project Charter
• Detailed Project Planning -- Project Details and Task List
• Implementation, Monitoring and Controlling -- Project Updates, Progress Review Meetings, Issues List and Change Requests
• Completion -- Project Completion Review, Project Hand-off Procedures and Documentation, On-going costs and/or maintenance requirements
  
  More detailed information on ES Projects and the Project Charter template can be found here.