Work in Progress proposals

Proposals that are in development/ not ready for vote

Renaming Tech & Comms; Creating Comms Admin
RC Points of Unity

Renaming Tech & Comms; Creating Comms Admin

Person or group submitting

Katelyn

Proposal History

Submission Date: 10/31
Vote date: 11/13
Vote result:

Motivation (why are you proposing this?)

There is a clear need for a dedicated communications group. Tech has set up some nice infrastructure, now we need designers, social media ppl - someone to run Instagram, people make fliers, etc.
More roles needs:
- - Collection and confirmation of events from disparate groups and individuals
  - Very regular social posting: week schedule, day-of stories/posts
    - Using submitted posters, bespoke graphics work, or using existing tools (with feedback/improvement cycle)
    - IG, bluesky, withfriends, nonsense, cal.red, etc.
  - Social question/comment/message followup
  - More standardized copy for various calls to action re: in-space signage, membership calls, socials, lists, etc.

Proposal summary

to rename tech & comms to tech and to create a comms admin committee + signal group + charter

Details

Background info

we dont have people dedicated to comms so it is fragmented and mostly falling on a few over stretched folks

we would love for new people who dont already hold admin roles (ie not katelyn, lp, vanessa) to bottom line this fun new group

Group(s) this proposal will affect

tech & comms, the admin collective, all other groups who need to use rc socials

Labor required

bottom liners to gather a group, group to write a charter, group to agree on roles that would include but maybe not be limited to:

Finalizing RC branding and establishing workflows/ tools so it is used
Sunday
- checking in with the admin collective & all working gorups via the spokescouncil chat on events coming up that week
- updating the weekly calendar post ... and posting sunday night
Additional very regular social posting:
- posting fliers for events in advance and day of
- posting to nonsense, cal.red, etc.
- .... I (katelyn) dont think we should be on twitter or bluesky
responding to people who message on instagram
writting the newsletter that could be sent out weekly or monthly
....etc

Individual or group doing labor

Self-elected comms admin members

Money required

not at this time

RC Points of Unity

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Title proposal pages like so:

Proposal Title

Creating a Point of Unity document for RC

Person or group submitting

Katelyn + [tbd]

Proposal History

This proposal builds on the Points of Unity Research Group that emerged during the Emergency Council process. It reflects some learnings from that moment and a desire to establish a longer-term, community-generated articulation of our shared commitments.
Vote date: 11 September 2025
Vote result:

Motivation (why are you proposing this?)

To provide a collectively authored statement of our shared values, practices, and political commitments that can guide decision-making and help resolve tensions.
To support onboarding, orientation, and alignment across Ridgewood Commons working groups by creating a document that reflects the ethos of the space.
To create a living framework that can evolve, be amended, and serve as a reference in moments of growth, conflict, or confusion.
To give us a helpful roadmap for navigating future interpersonal and structural conflicts by grounding participation in clearly defined, collectively shaped expectations.

Proposal summary

To establish a participatory process that will result in a collectively drafted and spokescouncil-ratified Points of Unity document that reflects the shared commitments, mission, and political character of Ridgewood Commons.

Details

Background info

The Emergency Council process identified the need for shared values and political clarity across working groups. Many members voiced a desire for an agreed-upon set of “Points of Unity” to ensure that Ridgewood Commons remains a politically principled and autonomous space. While the current Mission Statement offers broad goals, a Points of Unity document would operationalize and contextualize those values in practice.

This process will be inspired by other autonomous spaces but rooted in our particular context in Ridgewood, draw from existing documents such as working group charters, and capture collective experience.

Group(s) this proposal will affect

All current and future working groups & admin collective
New participants and potential members

Labor required

Initial Labor (3–4 months)

Recruit community members interested in the process (6–10 people?)
Develop survey for all working groups
Facilitate 1 public assembly/ discussion session
Draft and refine the Points of Unity document
Circulate draft for open comment
Revise and prepare final version for Spokescouncil proposal/ vote
Define a process to review/amend

Individual or group doing labor

- community members interested in the process (6–10 people?) plus individuals from working groups to complete survey and attend discussions as interested; support from tech & comms to circulate, support from conflict support group ?

Money required

none

Proposal Description (and variations)

This is a proposal to initiate a collaborative writing process open to anyone in the Ridgewood Commons community who wants to co-create a Points of Unity document that will be a tool for shared orientation, clarity, and collective accountability -- to anchor our work in shared purpose.

The process will include:

Gathering reflections from each working group through short surveys or conversations.
Hosting a few open writing sessions (probably virtually) where community members can contribute thoughts, language, and questions.
Drafting a living document that draws from earlier efforts (like the Emergency Council Points of Unity work or the WB Mission Statement), but speaks to our current moment.
Circulating the draft for community comment and revision.
Bringing a final version to Spokescouncil for ratification, with a process for future amendment.