General Assembly Guidelines & Hand Signals
Principles of Process
1. All decisions are made by the General Assembly. No decisions that effect or represent the whole are made by working groups. WGs focus proposals to bring to the assembly and they coordinate the work.
2. Yelling really loud does not put you on stack. Come to the front and get on stack if you have a proposal or an announcement. Never repeat what someone else already said.
3. Assembly time is precious. Think 3 times before you speak. “Does this really help the assembly make a better decision?”
4. Nothing is more precious than the thoughts of the quiet. Nothing is more precious than the words of the silenced. Speak Up. Please. Especially when it’s really hard.
5. Facilitators make space and move the process . Facilitators never present content or represent someone else’s thoughts. The assembly is responsible for keeping the facilitators in line.
6. The assembly is responsible for signing to the facilitator. If the assembly doesn’t sign the facilitators do not have anything to facilitate.
7. No one else can speak for you. That’s why we need you here.
Basic Hand Signals:
1. Twinkling: I like this! I support what this person is saying! I agree!
2. De-Twinkling: I don’t like this! I disagree!
5. Direct Response ‘Gun Fingers': It means only I have a correction, a fact, or a clarifying question. Do not use this to state a different idea or to argue values or to make a counter-proposal.
4. Ears (hand to ear): I can’t hear what’s being said!
4. Wrap it up (Wagon Wheel): This is taking too much time. I get your point, please finish.
3. Point of Process (triangle): Process is not being followed/Off topic.
6. Block: I believe the vote we have just taken is against the foundational principles of why we’re here.
It is the role of the facilitators to see these signs from the General Assembly and call on them.