Fourth week on to the end of the march

• Advanced mechanics -- these are the policies and staffing information which live in the Green Docs (Job Descriptions). They are usually not well written, but rather some notes on collective decision.

You should be in consensus with them: e.g. say you think that carrying party periodicals is the most important thing we can do, then you should struggle that out before coming into the collective. You don't have to have them wired, just know of their existence and be able to look them up in a discussion.

• Red Docs -- You should be well into the Red Docs by now. If you're not getting through them, you should discuss that with your DC.

• Consider expanding your work

Although it may look like everything's getting done, It's not!! Work constantly centralizes, i.e. moves toward those people already doing the most (you might think about this fundamental collective problem). People in the core must prioritize their work and slough much off if there is no one else to do it.

The Work Board (where the staffing schedule is) has the list of Who's Responsible for What, and all sorts of short term and long term jobs which need doing. Many things which need doing don't get up there because people don't have time to write them. Feel encouraged to take on a one-time job or to become the DPR (designated person responsible) for some area of the store. If there's already a DPR listed, talk to them about how to get started. There's also things you can do each time without a commitment. See the note on the desk for easy work or ask someone. Also see discussion on Taking RR for GW in Red Docs Structure

• Develop your criticism skills

Solicit criticism of your work and make self criticism whenever it's needed. Are you developing the ability to make and receive criticisms? Make and receive praise? If you really want to take yourself seriously, consider keeping a log of your criticisms but especially of your self-criticisms. How are you trying to change? Reread C/SC in the Red Docs or ask people for advise if you're having trouble with criticism.

• To the forlorn staffer

It helps to be a little aggressive in GW, i.e. to take responsibility for making your wants and needs known. If everything works smoothly there's no need but people are intertwined in their own problems, overloaded with work (or not) and may not give you the attention you should have. So ask for it!! Make it a collective problem. Take responsibility for GW.

• Join a collective? (the end of the march nears...)

So where are you now? Reread the collective agreements in the Red Docs and discuss with your DC or whoever about joining the collective. Do you have any reservations? Are there any unresolved criticisms (either of you or by you) which need to be worked out first? You might also read the `Backing Off' in the Long March Introduction

take me Beyond the Long March!

return to Groundwork Collective: Who are we?

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