NEW SOCIAL VEHICLE

CORPORATE READING RESEARCH PROJECT

1. INCLUSIVE CONSTRUCT

The Corporate Reading Research Project is an unique experiment in corporate mission on behalf of the whole Order and the Movement. It is a construct through which many minds, though spatially separated can do pure research together in a specific problem area. If the experiment proves effective this Spring, it will no doubt be a long range research design in our mission. The immediate aim of the reading project is to provide data for the Summer ' 71 Research Assembly. In addition it will create the paramount instrument for the work of the Assembly itself.

The design calls for 400 or more Order members at Base, in Religious Houses and Overseas Houses and Outposts, to each read, or what we call "screen'), some two books on the New Social Vehicle per month during this Spring Quarter. Each book screening will be reported on a common form geared toward the needs of the Research Assembly. The total number of books read will be between one and two thousand. Hopefully, at least 500 of these will be of real significance to, and for, the Summer Program.

This work will guide the Experimental and Permeation Divisions at Base in devising the dynamics of the Research Assembly. Furthermore, this project will provide a portfolio of 500 book screenings relating to the New Social Vehicle which will serve as a common "workbook'', for the participants in Summer '71. This portfolio will assist in developing the common mind necessary for the corporate effort, as well as make available to all, organized data relating to the NSV.

11. SUMMER FORMAT

At this point the design of the Summer Research Assembly is being held by four overall categories which are reflected in the present model for the Reading Research Project and are indicated in the following chart:

SUMMER '71: RESEARCH ASSEMBLY ­ NSV

Forging the New Social Vision for our Times



WEEK I

Foundational

Social

Dynamics

Eco-Cul-Pol



WEEK II

Major

Human

Contradictions

Eco-Cul-PolWEEK III

Futuric

Practical

Proposals

Eco-Cul-PolWEEK IV

Inclusive

Utopian

Manifesto

Eco-Cul-Pol

The first category (Foundational Social Dynamics) relates to the inner dynamic, or structure of the economic, cultural, and political aspects of the social process. The social triangles are being taken down to the 243 level and sentences are being written on each. This work will be used in the basic training of the Research Assembly during the first week.

The second category (Major Human Contradictions) points to work that will be done on what we are now calling a "global problemmat". It will be an effort to organize in inclusive matrixes the problems or failures of the established social machinery of the present world.

The third category (Futuric Practical Proposals) is concerned with possible concrete solutions and ways of attacking the inclusive problem areas. We call these ''proposals", after Jean­Jacques Servan­Schreiber in The Radical Alternative. These are not tactics but more like planks in the vision of the NSV.

The fourth category (Inclusive Utopian Manifesto) indicates the images which paint a somewhat inclusive vision of the world of tomorrow. These represent the new kind of Utopian thinking that is going on today and will serve as background for the writing of a manifesto on the NSV during the Research Assembly.

111. READING SELECTION

The reading list for the project will be collected by the Order at large. Each member is responsible for sending in to the Research Division at Base, the title, author, publisher and publication date of any book or periodical article that they now know about or discover during the quarter, that relates to the New Social Vehicle. It is important to include a sentence or so indicating what the book is about or how you see it as helpful. Forms for forwarding this information will be distributed. It is imperative that we all participate in this and begin immediately. We need over 3000 such listings in all. This will not be an easy task. It will mean disciplined effort. Look for top flight bibliographies or interview acknowledged experts concerning the best writing in their field.

The criteria for selection first of all has to do with the above summer format: theory, problems, proposals, and the vision. Secondly the criteria is organized by the basic categories in the Fifth City model: Economic, Cultural, and Political. The following chart shows the 4 X 4 that will catalogue the reading list and hence determine book assignments. It will also organize the NSV data and serve as the layout for the Portfolio.

CORPORATE READING RESEARCH PROJECT

CATALOGUING CHART

CULTURAL 

ECO

EDUC

SYM

STYLE

POL

GEN102030405060SOCIAL 01

DYNAMICS



11

21

31

41

51

61PRESENT 02

CONTRADN



12

22

32

42

52

62PRACTICL 03

PROPOSAL



13

23

33

43

53

63FUTURIC 04

MANIFESTO

14

24

34

44

54

64

The twenty major categories will control the reading list. They­of course can be broken down further in many ways. Already there are books and articles that can be divided into terms such as contemporary or historical, fiction or non­fiction, Western or Non­Western, etc. Obviously each box can be sub­divided in terms of the next level down in relation to the theoretical construct. At the moment this is not necessary. The important thing is that the books be either classical or edge presentations with the stress on the latter. Here articles in technical or popular periodicals may be our richest resource.

When filling out the book selection form classify as best possible the book or article according to the designation system on the chart. It may cover one category or several. It would be most helpful when recommending an article, to send a copy of it to the Research Division. From these forms the master reading list will be devised from which the reading assignments will be made. Furthermore these recommendations will be the beginning of an extensive bibliography on the new society which can be at the disposal of the whole Movement as it moves into the task ahead.

IV. READING METHOD

The aim of reading the selected books is to find the substantial insights of an author relative to the summer's intent and to record these for the data bank. This we call "Screening" a book. Screening means taking a missional four-by­four and combing a book with it. As one works on the book, his only interest, and his only passion, is determined by his screen. In screening a book ignore the ideas which the screen does not catch. On the other hand record for the whole Movement what the screen catches in the book. It's like fishing with a specially designed net, or doing basic research for the writing of a thesis. The research project is like writing a massive corporate term paper or a common doctoral dissertation.

The summer intent and format comprises the screen through which we will read our books. The screen of the first level is given in the chart: 1. Social Dynamics, 2. Major Contradictions, 3. Practical Proposals, and 4. Inclusive Vision. On the second level the screen is delineated by social categories in the 5th City Model: Economic, Cultural, (Image, Symbol, Style and Political. An additional category is labeled general which holds the more comprehensive, visionary, utopian insights being forged in our time.

In dealing with a book, one needs first to roughly chart it. This can be done either through studying the table of contents, or through sensitively feeling through the book. The chart is the compass by which the reader is oriented. Then the reader meditates on the screen until it is sharply in mind. Next, always looking through the screen, he attempts to seek out the crucial insights, that is, discerning the illuminating chapters, sections or paragraphs. This will indicate where he will focus both his attention and time.

Next, with the report form before him, he reads the book: either intensively, if the book seems crucial and alive in relation to the screen, or more superficially if the book is not so directly related to the summer. Once again, he places special emphasis on the crucial passages he has located. As the reader goes through he makes notes relative to his report form and he marks further key passages recording the page numbers. From these passages he will sort out the quotations he wishes to include in the final report.

V. REPORTING PROCEDURE

A common reporting system is necessary if such a data bank and workbook is to be created . The reporting form must obviously reflect the screen used in reading. Attached is a sample of the form that will be sent in quantity to you in a future mailing. A general guide sheet is also enclosed. Before reading a book or article, fill in box I of the reporting form. It is especially important to note the date you are preparing it, and to record your name. Next classify the book according to the above cataloguing chart. Then rate the book as: very important, important, fair, or poor, according to our stated purposes. Do not hesitate to send in reports on books rated "poor'', as we need to know these were screened.

In box number 2 write a sentence on the basic thesis or intent of the book. Then locate the key chapter, section, page, or paragraph, indicating what they deal with in a sentence. What is to go into boxes 3, 4, 5 and 6 ought to be fairly clear. Write a paragraph of 100 words or more for each selecting the key ideas of the author and presenting them specifically and concretely. As you write, however, remember that you are out to persuade your reader that these ideas are either crucial for the New Social Vehicle or are to be guarded against at any cost. The margin categories which comprise the screen suggest the content of each paragraph. If, in some cases, the categories are not quite relevant to what you think needs to be said, they may be changed. In every case be specific and concrete, remembering that your audience probably has not read the book.

Box 7 is the back of the page. Here put the simple chart of the book, covering, in most instances, not more than a third of the page. The rest of the page is for crucial quotations from the book. In each case be sure to note the page number. Either type these out or Xerox them. These quotations are extremely important. They provide the concretion for your statements on the front page. In some cases additional pages for the quotation will be needed. From these reports the data bank to enable the summer will be created. Very likely the portfolio or workbook for the summer will contain something like the 300 to 500 most useful of the reports.

VI. ASSIGNMENT PLAN

The work of assigning the books is a bit complex. It is a matter of personal interest and skill, plus the necessity of group assignments, plus a defined body of books that need to be read. First of all let it be clear that if you have already read a book that adds something to our objectives, look it over again and fill out a report on it.

Secondly, if you come upon a book that deals with the subject and it appeals to you, read and report on it. The fact that there will be several reports on the same book is a positive value. Such a selection will supersede the following assignment format. But, Base needs to be notified of such changes.

Third, the 8 Base seminaries, the 20 Religious Houses, and the 14 Intercontinental Houses and Outposts will be assigned areas of reading along with suggested book lists. The assignment of units to specific reading areas has been made somewhat arbitrarily About the only criteria considered was spread, in order that we may receive a broad base of reporting from across the world. The following chart indicates the assignments.

CRRP - UNIT ASSIGNMENT CHART

ECO

DYNAMICEDUC

or IMAGERELIG

or SYMBOLSOCIAL

or STYLEPOL

DYNAMICGEN'L

VISIONBASE

SEM.SEM 1

SEM 7SEM 2SEM 3SEM 4SEM 5

SEM 8SEM 6

CONT

R.H.



NEW O

SEAT'L

CLEVD

MONTR

ATLNT

DETRT

SANFR

LOSAN

WASHN

CHICG

DENVR

N.Y.C.

ROCKF

OKLAN

BOSTN

MILWK

WINNG

HOUST

ROCHR

KANSC

100N

G.P.

MRSHI

TOKYO

SINGP

DJAKR

OSAKA

DERBY

TAIWN

PERTH

HONGK

MANLA

SYDNY

INDIA

KU.L.

SAMOA

EURPE



The various Outposts, Houses, and seminaries have been assigned to read in certain areas in order that more specific dialogue can take place within them. These units thereby can develop a certain degree of expertise that can be used this summer. PSU's might be considered toward the end of the Quarter in which the general wisdom can be drawn together and forwarded to the Experimental Division at Base. The units will assume responsibility of assigning the particular books to its members and to hold them accountable for the reading and reporting. The Prior, or someone appointed by the Prior, should check the reports to see that they are well written and adequately fill the assignment before sending them to Base. All reports ought to be in by the third week in June in order that the staff who lead the summer program may use this in their preparation.

The overseas units will not be sent reading lists in the hope that they will search out and read books and articles that reflect thought beyond the North American or Western mind. Hence even the column in which they appear is not to be taken too seriously. They must also feel free to depart from the suggestion. The important thing is that they send in their bibliographical lists and indicate what they are reading and reporting on to the Experimental Division.

VII. TIME DESIGN

Two weeks have been allotted to read and report on one book. There are 10 reading weeks left in the Spring Quarter. This means that each person will read five books. The important matter is not that all of us read five books; it is rather that we all participate. In the case of some individuals, fewer books can be read; in other cases more than 5 can be covered. These details can be worked out in the particular units.

To repeat above emphases, the bibliography suggestions need to be forwarded to the Research Office immediately. Also, throughout the quarter, whenever a new source is uncovered, it needs to be turned in promptly. As for the screening reports, they can be submitted weekly. For reasons given in the following paragraph, each Wednesday would be a most appropriate time. This kind of promptness is urgent because of the shortness of time to get ready for the summer program. All reports ought to be in by Sunday, June 21.

This Corporate Reading Research Program will be the study program for the Order during the '71 Spring Quarter. At Base every Tuesday, the whole body gathers at 5:00 A.M. in the Great Hall for a study period. Each Tuesday evening they meet at 6:00 P.M. in eight seminary units, to deal with and to account for the reading. During this time, Base is also getting on top of Servan­Schreiber's book, The Radical Alternative, which is important relative to NSV methodology. It is in the seminary meeting that assignments are handed out and reports collected. Base has also done experimenting with book reading in a PSU format where each member reads and reports a book in one weekend. In some cases this approach might prove most useful.

VIII. GESTALTING PROCEDURES

The Permeation and Experimental Divisions and the Research Sector at Base will corporately assume responsibility for gestalting and organizing the material collected from across the Order. As indicated earlier the Research Sector will, continuously throughout the quarter, refine the classification of the reading suggestions gathered, aiming at a master reading list on the New Social Vehicle for the Movement at large.

Relative to the screening reports, the Research Sector will log them when they are submitted and pass them on immediately to the Educational Sector of the Permeation Division. This sector will first review the reports, check their classification, and evaluate their relevance in relation to the Summer Assembly. They will then glean from them information for the data bank for use by the whole Permeation Division and the Experimental Division. Lastly, they will edit the reports and, if there are several on the same book weave them together in preparation for the summer portfolio on the New Social Vehicle.

The Experimental Division has the responsibility of coordinating the various groups involved in enabling the Research Assembly. Relative to the reading program, it will make use of the data bank in forging the theoretical formats for the summer, as well as the operational models. Experimental will also use the bank in designing the training program for the summer leadership to be held during the last 2 weeks in June. Finally, their assignment involves thinking through how the data and the bibliography and the work can be of service to the Movement beyond Summer '71.

IX. CONCLUDING POSTSCRIPT:

It is obvious that this project has much broader significance than getting ready for Summer '71. It is forging a corporate methodology for pure research that has massive potential for the Order and the Movement at large. Religious Houses, colleagues, local congregations or any other smaller unit can use it, as well as its being employable in principle upon a global scale.

The areas of knowledge to which it can be applied in the future are almost unlimited. First of all, it will be extremely useful in dealing with future work relating to the New Social Vehicle, both on the level of the local church and the level of world wide movement. But even more, it can be of crucial significance for all our pioneering work in the future, whether it be the historical order or whatever.

Since this quarter is given to designing the basic methodological machinery, we expect that there will be many bugs and mistakes. Our discipline will enable us not only to anticipate these, but to embrace them. Since this is a corporate venture, all of us ought to be sensitive to the flaws and concerned about sharpening the procedures. Such insights should be forwarded to the Permeation and Experimental Divisions at Base.

Finally, this instrument having been forged on the discipline we have learned in the past, can of itself be a radical step forward in corporateness. Not only can it be of service in carrying out our mission but it may well be a means of furthering our own local and global polity as well as influencing more subtle arenas of our common life.