Chamber of Commoners
Celebrating community involvement
By David Parkinson
If you stop and think about the amazing happenings in our region as the result of volunteer efforts, you'll realize how much we owe to all of the people and organizations who work to preserve and strengthen the things we hold in common: our rivers and streams, our forests, our water, air, and soil, our community services, and our cultural spaces. Think about all of the people who organize the events we enjoy, who show up for board meetings and get the work done, and who do all kinds of work for the benefit of the community. Passion to change things for the better is a huge force in the world.
Now there is a place to recognize and honour the people and groups who strengthen the common places and things which are precious to us all: the Chamber of Commoners. Since February 2010 there have been two events which brought people together to network, get to know one another, share information about who they are and what they do, and above all, have a good time.
As Murray Dobbin, one of the initial organizers, says, "We look at the commons in Powell River as what we all share: the land, air and water and now broadened in today's world to include arts, media, sports and public services. The Chamber of Commoners is everyone who looks after the commons in Powell River."
One of the best parts of the two events so far is 'organizational speed-dating', a clever and fun way to get people to share information and create connections in a short time. The room is set up with participants sitting in lines on either side of the tables. One person has two minutes to tell the person opposite about his or her activities before they switch roles for two minutes. Then, everyone on one side of the table moves down one seat and the new pairs start over again. At the June event, the room was buzzing with the sound of ice breaking and connections being formed as people talked about how they help create a strong community. It's a fantastic way for people to get their message out in a pretty short period of time, without having to make a formal presentation. The one-on-one style of speed-dating is very natural and people-friendly.
Along with structured activities, there is always plenty of unstructured time, which allows people to catch up, to share news and gossip, and to spark some creative collaborations. And at the June event there was a section of the evening in which people worked together in groups to come up with new lyrics to the John Prine song, "In a Town This Size", a tongue-in-cheek song about the pluses and minuses of living in a small town where everyone knows everything that goes onÉ or at least they think they do. Karin Westland and Ryan Barfoot, two talented local residents, provided musical accompaniment and got the crowd singing and laughing. By the end of the evening, you could feel the positive energy, and everyone left smiling.
The Chamber of Commoners is not an organization but an ever-changing group of people who get together to plan the next event and provide others with a space for socializing. Paul Schachter, another organizer, says, "The hope is to have three or four of these events a year: an upbeat venue for involved people to be able to mingle and share for some time. Each event takes on its own identity and anyone who is a "commoner" can be involved in the planning."
The next Chamber of Commoners is planned for sometime in October, and organizers hope that everyone who believes in a strong community will help with the planning or just show up for a great evening of talking, listening, singingÉ who knows what might happen next time?
If you would like to get involved, please contact the organizers at chamberofcommoners@gmail.com.
The Chamber of Commoners is not anorganization but an ever-changing group of people who get together to plan the next event and provide others with a space for socializing.
