Purposes and Principles: DRAFT 25.6.08

Feldenkrais International Organisational Structure

Preamble

“Before we change anything of our current structures or even implement a new one we should be very clear about the purposes and goals of any international structures. As with any policy governance there is a need for high level statements from where further specifications can be developed.”IWG Report Part A, 7.5.1. Purpose and Goals of an International Structure

Following the completion and dissemination of the International Working Group Report and discussions on this subject at the 2007 IFF Assembly in Bordeaux, a motion was passed to form a planning committee to “facilitate the process of moving towards change of international structure and decision making processes”, including:

- “That the planning committee collect all the material around the purposes and principles developed to date and find the greatest common denominator in these. The committee will use these to establish the purposes of a new international umbrella body.

- The planning committee consider engaging an international corporate design advisor to using the purposes, functions and various proposed models, provide a realisable and understandable options for an international structure,

- distribute the results of this engagement to all parties for feedback, comment and to form a position on the change of structure and decision making processes,…”

In the 2008 IFF Assembly, a further motion was passed for the Structural Review Committee 2008 to complete the task of “Locating and consulting with suitable expert(s) to determine the options and implications of changing or reorganising our international structure and functions.”

Definitions

From - Compact Oxford English Dictionary

Purpose

the reason for which something is done or for which something exists.

Principle 

a fundamental truth or proposition serving as the foundation for belief or action.

Reference Documents

1 IWG Report Part B – (Including IWG Questionnaire responses)

2 Response documents from IWG report

3 2007 IFF Assembly Working Groups and Pre Assembly documents

4 IFF Statement of Purposes

5 IFF Academy (Purposes)

The Mission Statement “To realise the full potential of the Feldenkrais Method throughout the world” was accepted by the IFF Assembly in 2003 as part of its revised statement of purposes and is reflected in all other reference documents.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose for our international organisation is:

1. To foster the integrity of the Feldenkrais Method(1,2,3)
2. To support the spreading and acknowledgement of the Feldenkrais Method(1,2,3)
3. To support the development of the Feldenkrais Method(1,2,3)
4. To support the learning of practitioners independently of their role and function within the community. (1,2)
5. To reflect the diversity of learning styles, teaching styles as well as the diversity of different contexts in which the Feldenkrais Method is used. (1,2,3)
6. To support the communication and cooperation between different cultures amongst national associations, working groups and individuals. (1,2,3,4)
7. To support mutual recognition of Feldenkrais practitioners across international boundaries.(1,2,3)
8. To establish a recognizable and agreed to definition of a Feldenkrais Practitioner Identity. (2,5)
9. To facilitate the sharing of tasks, resources and ideas( )2
10. To collect and archive the legacy of educational materials developed by Moshe Feldenkrais and make this heritage available to all teachers of the Method.(3,4)
11. To support research and development in the Feldenkrais Method, and collect and disseminate information about the development of the Feldenkrais Method and its practice.(3,)4
12. To develop International Training Policy (1,2,3)

International Training Policy – Statements of Intentions

• To provide baseline training standards and baseline uniformity of training outcomes, whilst accommodating national circumstances and conditions.(1,2,3)

• To ensure emergent practitioners reach a level of competence in the Feldenkrais Method that enables them to present the Feldenkrais Method in a significant and professional way. (1,2,3)

• To ensure the quality of Feldenkrais Professional Training Programs both supporting and promoting the learning of all involved. (1,2,3)

.

- Training Accreditation Policy

• To create a learning environment in which the method of learning the Feldenkrais Method is the Method itself. (1)

• To prepare trainees to be competent in the practice of both “Awareness Through Movement” (ATM) and “Functional Integration” (FI).(1,2)

• To provide an appropriately stimulating and safe environment for staff and enrolees(1,2)

• To provide a sufficiently flexible policy to accommodate the intention of enrolees in following personal development and or professional pathways when undertaking a training program. (1,3)

• To provide sufficient flexibility within the policy to make possible a variety of models and styles of training program(1,2,3)

- Trainer Certification Policy

• Provide high quality facilitation through which trainees in training programs may realise their potential to learn The Method.(1,2)

• Provide the opportunity for Practitioners with the potential to become facilitators of learning in training programs to realise their potential. (1,2)

• Sustain the continuance of the Feldenkrais Method and Feldenkrais training programs by ensuring there are succeeding generations of trainers and practitioners. (1,2,3)

• Ensure transmission of acquired pedagogical expertise. (1,3)

• To provide an equitable and transparent system for certifying staff (1,2,3)

Guiding Principles

In all its efforts to implement these purposes our international organisation is guided by the following principles:

1. Equal Representation, laying the groundwork for recognizable and responsible Authority.(1,2,3)
2. Democratic decision-making processes with a value towards the consensus model( 2,3)
3. Clear lines of communication and timely decision making processes (2).
4. Accountability and Transparency in all processes. (1,2)
5. Efficiency and effectiveness through a streamlined organization that frees expertise and avoids redundancy and duplication.(1,2)
6. Affordability of both financial and human resources to ensure sustainability (3)
7. Respect for differences between International and national identity of the Feldenkrais Method worldwide including language and cultural differences(1,2,4) Allowing cross-pollination , for development of the method to occur on a larger platform that can include wider perspectives and consequently a greater range of directions and applications to be shared (1,2,3).
8. Acknowledgement that Guilds and Associations provide a localised container for the work and International structures are not necessarily the most workable solutions for national issues. 3
9. Inclusion of all parts of the system in coordinated action, including Trainers, practitioners and trainees. (3)
10. Equity (principle of fairness) (3)
11. Integrity, being free of conflicts of interest and inspiring trust (1,2,3)
12. Accommodation of different purposes for end use of the Feldenkrais Method (3)

Working Notes

It is necessary to keep in mind that no system, however new and innovative, will prevent the feelings of insecurity of its practitioners and teachers or guarantee an economic security for anyone involved. (Parable – FB survey Int struct response)