[Oe List ...] Order Polity document

[Marilyn R Crocker]

Dear Shelley,

Your inquiry is not silly at all.  You always prompt such a refreshing
perspective with your honest questions and probes.

But before you chuck the copies I would like to advocate for their value
(not just because I was one of the authors "on-behalf-of".)

In 1976 Joe Mathews asked those of us so assigned as the Global Panchayat
(an experimental construct with ever-changing folk over its many decades'
duration ) to write this document describing the polity of our Order.  We
began in the spring and had a final draft by August.  The team consisted
of Lynn Mathews, David Morton, Faith Vance, John Epps, Isobel Bishop and
me. When we completed our assignment Joe looked us in the eye and said,
"Can I present and defend this to the Orders in Rome?" to which we
assured him, "Yes!"  As always, he asked for our 3 good reasons, and we
had them ready. :)  I don't know if he ever did take this to Rome, as he
died the next year.  I was always struck that the theme of Joe's last
"spins" with the centrum priors, during the days before he died, had to
do with our polity.

I believe this is one of the most important documents in our archives, as
it captures, as well as we were able at the time, the ground-breaking
polity of our Order.  I found this assignment -- to be part of
formulating this document -- one of the most life giving experiences I
ever had -- second only to participating in writing the first HDP Consult
Handbook Document after the 1975-76 launch of the first 8 projects.  My
reasons for admiring this corporate writing effort has nothing to do with
its style, as we had yet much to learn about how to communicate well the
powerful insights we had come upon to the world beyond our own fold. 
However, it attempts to capture in its own often abstruse style, what we
and many beyond us have recognized was "genius" relative to our
global/local polity.
  
As I approach semi-retirement I have on my list of "writing projects"
rendering that document into something that the 21st century
organizational development professionals might find of benefit.  I know I
have consistently drawn upon so much of our corporate wisdom that is
reflected therein as I have guided my client organizations over the past
several decades.  It is good stuff!

In these days when even the Chicago archives seem to be endangered by
what appears to be a clean sweep of all that we knew, respected and loved
, I deeply appreciate your model, Shelly, of consulting with colleagues
before "chucking" stuff from our past.  Perhaps there soon will be
something like a virtual colleague archive -- a technology that connects
the several file cabinets and umpteen file boxes in the Crockers' garage
with someone else's comparable basement or attic collections of
treasures. 

With appreciation and affection,

Marilyn


Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
(207) 793-3711
 
On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 20:32:55 -0500 "Shelley Hahn" <shahn at iquest.net>
writes:
This may be a very silly inquiry ... but I was cleaning out my files
today and came across 2 copies of "A Collection of Brief Essays on the
Dynamics of Order Polity."  I thought before I threw it out I'd see if
it's something someone else might like to have for any reason.  If not,
the recycling center will be happy to take it. :)

Shelley Hahn


Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
(207) 793-3711
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