<Updated 28 Nov 2011> 

For more detailed information about Spokescouncil and the YOUNGO Decision Making Process, please visit this page:
https://sites.google.com/site/unfcccyoungo/archives/cop-16---cancun-2010/spokescouncil-info

In case you missed the explanation in this morning's Spokescouncil meeting, here are the basics of what Spokescouncil is and how it works:

Every morning at COP (Saturday, too! - and maybe Sunday) we will have a YOUNGO meeting. It will be at 08:30 in room Levubu River.

We have a special format that we use for these meetings called Spokescouncil. Spokescouncil is designed to let us share information and make decisions as a constituency, so that we can both give everyone a voice but also get things done quickly.

There are 5 important types of people in Spokescouncil, and all of us who come to Spokescouncil each day are one of these:

Spokes - Each Spoke is one person who represents a particular collection of youth in YOUNGO - this might be a working group (for example Finance policy), a regional or identity youth movement (for example Latin American youth or Indigenous), or a special project (maybe a particular action that is being planned by 5 or 6 youth). The role of the Spoke is to represent his or her Group (see below) and communicate with all of the other Spokes. Spokes do not have any more power than any other person in the Group they represent - they are simply the representative for that Group. Whenever possible, a Spoke should only be speaking for and representing one group within YOUNGO during Spokescouncil, even if they are active in several groups outside of Spokescouncil. The group that the Spoke represents decides who from their group will be the Spoke at Spokescouncil each day - it can be a different person every day.

Group - Groups are all of the other people in the same collection of youth as the Hub. They are there to ensure that the Hubs communicate the information of their Spoke accurately to the rest of Spokescouncil, and are equal partners in deciding how their Spoke will vote or speak on an issue if there is a decision that needs to be made. Groups do not speak within the Spokescouncil - that's the role of the Spoke, but they can speak (quietly!) to each other within their Spoke, and to their Group members, to decide on their views and provide information to the Spoke that the Spoke may not know. Ideally, each person should only be representing one group as a Spoke, even if they are active in multiple groups within YOUNGO, outside of Spokescouncil.

Facilitators - Facilitators do not represent an organization. Their job is to manage the Spokescouncil meeting and facilitate the dialogue among Spokes. They develop the agenda for the meeting, based on past decisions and new agenda items submitted to them each day. They keep the conversation moving, ensure Hubs have a chance to speak, or Spokes have a chance to talk to their Hubs, and also ensure that the meeting moves efficiently and finishes on time, and that notes are taken and circulated to YOUNGO. Anyone can become a Facilitator, as long as they are willing to undergo some training from current Facilitators and facilitate at least one Spokescouncil as a Facilitator-in-training alongside an experienced Facilitator. Facilitators must be able to speak one of the languages being used for Spokescouncil that day, which is usually English and possibly Spanish and French.

Minute Taker - The Minute Taker's job is to record the major points of the conversation at Spokescouncil, and send this information out to UNFCCC_youth as soon after the meeting as possible.

Translators - Translators provide translation if groups in the room request it. The translators will try to sit or stand near the people who have requested 

Spokescouncil Minute - by - minute
1.) By 20:00 the night before, youth must have submitted agenda items toyoungo_agenda@googlegroups.com or Tweeted it to #youngoagenda

2.) The meeting starts at 08:30 in Levubu River room in the Durban Convention Center

3.) The Spokes sit in a circle on the floor in the front of the room. The Groups sit behind their Spoke, outside of the circle. The Facilitator stands in the center of the Spokes.

4.) The Facilitator asks each Spoke to identify himself or herself and group that Spoke is representing

5.) The Facilitator reminds everyone of the agenda and asks if any other agenda items need to be added to the end of the agenda. These agenda items might not be covered if there is not enough time

6.) The Facilitator then works through all items that require a decision, using a consensus-based decision making procedure. Please see the Decision Making Procedures discussed in the website link at the top of this email.

7.) The Facilitator then takes announcements from the Spokes that are not events happening that day

8.) The Facilitator finally takes announcements from the Spokes that will happen that day, starting from times right after Spokescouncil and moving progressively later in the day

<Updated 28 Nov 2011> 

YOUNGO Spokescouncil meets at 8:30am - 9.30am, every morning in Cancunmesse, Hall C, Room Mayme, throughout COP16.

Attached, you will find:

1. The current decision-making procedures, which are in unfortunately only in English.  (A great translation project!)

2.  The current governance model, which is in English, French, and Spanish.

3.  A Powerpoint tutorial that provides several visual aids for understanding Spokescouncil.  (Also only in English, another great translation project!)

Thank you!

Best,
Marcie Smith