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| Key | Value |
| --- | ----- |
| **id** | OCL-protocol-governance-meeting |
| **name** | Governance Meeting Protocol |
| **description** | The official process for convening, facilitating, and recording governance meetings. |
| **initializationEvent** | A facilitator schedules a [[Governance Meeting]] to address proposals, tensions, and circle coordination needs. |
| **associatedRoles** | [[Labs Member]], [[Labs Manager]] |
| **relatedMembranes** | [[Labs Manager Council]], [[Labs Members]] |
| **stages** | Scheduled, Active, Reported |
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This protocol provides a structured and equitable method for collective governance decisions. It is adapted from sociocracy, emphasizing distributed authority, equivalence, and effectiveness.
**Governance Meeting Metadata**
Meeting Name: …
Meeting Date: …
Facilitator: …
Secretary: ...
Participants: …
**Process**
|Stage|Description|
|---|---|
|**Call**|A facilitator schedules a governance meeting, announces purpose, and circulates proposed agenda items.|
|**Opening**|Facilitator names purpose of the circle and confirms roles (facilitator, secretary, timekeeper, etc.).|
|**Check-In**|Short round where each member shares their present state to foster presence and relational attunement.|
|**Agenda Building**|Collect proposals, tensions, or topics from participants. Prioritize collectively.|
|**Proposal & Clarifying Questions**|A proposer presents a tension or proposal. Members ask clarifying questions only.|
|**Reaction Round**|Each member responds in turn with reflections, concerns, or appreciations (no interruptions).|
|**Consent Round**|Members state consent or objection. Valid objections must identify why proposal is “not safe enough to try” or would cause harm.|
|**Integration**|Facilitator works with proposer and objectors to integrate adjustments until consent is reached or tabled.|
|**Closing & Check-Out**|Each member shares a short reflection on the process and state of closure. Secretary records decisions.|
**Evaluation Criteria**
A Governance Meeting is considered valid when:
- Called and facilitated by a recognized Facilitator.
- Recorded by a Secretary in a transparent, accessible format.
- Follows the sociocratic pattern of check-in, proposal, reaction, consent, and check-out.
- All valid objections are addressed or integrated.
- Decisions and accountabilities are documented for the relevant [[Labs Member]]s.