Official BKWSU internal reform efforts
Posted: 09 Mar 2008
The following note is a copy of a current official BKWSU discussion paper aiming at reform within the organisation. It has been reproduced faithfully with only the omission of contact details, if anyone wishes to contact individuals, please either request addresses from an Admin or via the BKWSU.
It should be noted that the BKWSU has not provided this to us directly nor requested this forum's involvement but that it was received independently from a center-in-charge.
Individual BK followers that wish to document discussion and developments within their local centre or zone are welcome to post here, as are the responsible individuals listed below. Any issues members wish to suggest the BKWSU address are also welcome.
It should be noted that the BKWSU has not provided this to us directly nor requested this forum's involvement but that it was received independently from a center-in-charge.
Individual BK followers that wish to document discussion and developments within their local centre or zone are welcome to post here, as are the responsible individuals listed below. Any issues members wish to suggest the BKWSU address are also welcome.
BKWSU wrote:Review Process on Global Functioning
NCO Meeting Feb 3 - 7 2008
TITLE OF TOPIC 1 - Upholding Our Spiritual Principles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CORE WORK OF GROUP
The aim is to once again return to our roots, our spiritual principles, and strengthen them. Our spiritual principles make our organization unique. This is what strengthens our life and enables us to successfully reach our destination.
KEY ISSUES• Purity & divinity
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• Daily timetable
• Atmosphere in the center
• Visits to Madhuban
• Creating ethics committees at different levels (center, national, regional)
[Discuss this question in relation to each of the 5 key issue areas]• How do we recreate the awareness, strengthen our will, & generate the enthusiasm to become an image of divinity?
AREAS IN WHICH THE GROUP WOULD LIKE MORE INPUT• How do we deal with situations in which these principles are not followed?
MEMBERS OF GROUP & CONTACT INFORMATION• Chair: Sudhabehn - Moscow
• Co-chair: Brother Anthony Strano
• Designated RCO - Chakradharibehn
TITLE OF TOPIC 2 - Caring for the Family
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CORE WORK GROUP• To enhance the culture of care within the BK family and to encourage and allow it to be expressed in a natural and easy way.
KEY ISSUES
• To consider overall policies and ways of working which can be applied internationally that help, clarify, and support the enhancement of the culture of care in a way that will lead to the greater well being of the BK family
• To support the implementation of those policies and ways of working in a way that will be easy and nonstressful through facilitating individual and family learning.1. Enhancing a culture of care within the BK family
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
2. Caring for the extended BK family (keeping BKs of all generations clsoe)
3. Care of the sick and elderly
4. Child welfare
5. Managing mental health
6. Health and safety at BK centers
7. Conducting BK funerals
8. Disaster response• How do we develop a culture of care in the BK family? (Please consdier this question in light of the above 8 key issue areas and cultural differences.)
AREAS IN WHICH THE GROUP WOULD LIKE MORE INPUT• How do we involve more BK professionals in these areas from different regions of the world?
MEMBERS OF GROUP & CONTACT INFORMATION• Chair - Brother Charlie Hogg
• Co-chair - Sister Maureen Goodman
• RCO - Sudesh Didi
TITLE OF TOPIC 3 - Managing Human and Financial Resources
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CORE WORK OF GROUP
The objective is to provide a scaleable, efficient, and effective, legal, financial, and administrative framework for sound governance of the Brahma Kumaris as an organization anywhere in the world.
KEY ISSUES• Degrees of compliance with present documents related to financial resources and legal policies:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS• BKWSU procedures manual for center coordinators March 2003, covering such areas as renting, purchasing, bank accounts, contributions, insurance, taxes and literature.
• Proposal for the creation of a scaleable management model that can be applicable from the smallest center level to the most complex at the level of a country with many centers.
• BKIVV constitution and by-laws, schedule II, guidelines of financial policy (July 2007)• How do we develop a culture where the desire to contribute and participate in service activities is a natural response to what is being received?
AREAS IN WHICH THE GROUP WOULD LIKE MORE INPUT
• How do you inspire people to contribute and participate?• What might it look like if there were a global resources team?
MEMBERS OF GROUP & CONTACT INFORMATION• Chair - Brother Ken O'Donell
• Co-chair - Brother Sanjay Tulsidas
• RCO - Nirmala Didi
TITLE OF TOPIC 4 - PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR RECONCILIATION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CORE WORK OF GROUP
A specialist conflict resolution group whose particular focus could be the resolution of long running and difficult situations. This group emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment, training, and cultural awareness in conflict resolution - most significantly in the processes of mediation and reconciliation.
KEY ISSUES• Recognize the importance of conflict resolving attitudes and behaviors in our spiritual environment.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• Develop conflict resolving skills and practises across all parts of the BK family
• Select, train, and support conflict resolution specialists at local, national, and regional levels
• Bring together, train, resource, and use a specialist team (the "O" team)
• Establish ongoing processes for learning from conflict resolution experience across the BK family and from general community• What are the areas that could benefit be conflict resolution expertise?
AREAS IN WHICH THE GROUP WOULD LIKE MORE INPUT
• How do we make conflict resolution processes easy, appropriate and natural to use? Any examples?• Who can we identify who may want to contribute to ongoing conversation and process development for this topic?
MEMBERS OF GROUP & CONTACT INFORMATION• Chair & RCO - Sister Jayanti Kirpalani
• Co-chair - Sister Margaret Newton (worthwhileprojects.com)
TITLE OF TOPIC 5 - BETTER PREPARATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND NEWNESS IN TRAINING
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CORE WORK OF GROUP
Proposal of a new form of training which enables Baba's instruments around the globe to assimilate Baba's teachings in the context of the present world and situations.
KEY ISSUES• Creation of a global training committee (GTC) which will create and implement policies under the supervision of the RCs, and consisting of experienced BKs and professionals in adult education, coaching and/or facilitation.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• To ensure that the essence, consciousness, and actions, which are part of the Brahmin culture, remain no matter the pace of expansion.
• To create a standardized training that can be adapted to every culture.• What do you see as your most urgent training needs?
AREAS IN WHICH THE GROUP WOULD LIKE MORE INPUT
• How do you approach training in your country?• What might the GTC look like if it were to best serve the needs of your country?
MEMBERS OF GROUP & CONTACT INFORMATION• Chair - Brother Marcelo Bulk
• Co-chair - Brother Ken O'Donell
• RCO - Nirmala Didi
TITLE OF TOPIC 6 - COMMUNICATION & DECISION MAKING
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CORE WORK OF GROUP
What makes communication effective, the spiritual principles in our communication, and the systems for allowing decisions to be made at the appropriate level - also new means and technology in our methods of communication?
KEY ISSUES• Spiritual basis for good communication
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• Structures for communication
• Functioning with international documents, procedures manual, etc.
• Areas of communication: service plans, different channels, in the center, about personal situations, travel, etc.
• Communication with the world
• Means of communication using technology
• Challenges: cultural differences, conflict of opinions, need of education• In what context do you find communication most challenging?
AREAS IN WHICH THE GROUP WOULD LIKE MORE INPUT• What are the areas of decision making in which your country could benefit from guidance?
MEMBERS OF GROUP & CONTACT INFORMATION• Chair - Sister Luciana Ferraz
• Co-chair - Erik Larsen
• RCO - Vedantibehn