(Adopted October 26, 2001)

HAWAII TOGETHER GROUND RULES

Hawaii Together committee members were invited to participate because of their wisdom, expertise, skills, ability to produce results, connection to the community, and experience. Although virtually all the committee members work for organizations, not all of the committee members are participating in Hawaii Together as representatives of those organizations. For those that are participating as a representative of an organization, it is important to remember that the agency has provided the resource of time. In light of their commitment to the focus of Hawaii Together, the Hawaii Together committee members agree to abide by and work with each other to comply with these ground rules.

• Time is of the essence. Therefore, meetings will start and finish on time. If a member arrives late to the meeting, the committee does not need to restart the meeting.
• Everyone has an equal voice.
• Listen for understanding.
• It's okay to disagree.
• Be courteous; be hard on issues, easy on people.
• Focus on solutions, not fault.
• Everyone participates, no one dominates/monopolizes the time or topic.
• Express your own views, not the views of others.
• Challenge traditional assumptions -- ask why?
• Look at the big picture. Think about what works for everyone, not just your organization or subject area.
• Be open to new ideas or suggestions.
• Express your ideas and concerns, and raise all issues;
  don't hold back and complain later. Don't talk stink
  after a decision is made.
• Barring extraordinary circumstances, decisions cannot be
  reopened once they are made.
• If you cannot be present at a meeting and want to have input, let one of the co-chairs or your sub-committee chair know your position before the meeting.
• If a committee member cannot attend a meeting, s/he may ask someone to attend in his/her place. It is the responsibility of the committee member to bring that person up to date, and if any decisions are made, the absent committee member agrees to be bound by the decisions of his/her representative.
• If Hawaii Together requests support from an organization, which has an employee who, serves on Hawaii Together, sufficient time will be given to get an authorized response (in other words, "don't put other committee members on the spot").
• Organizations (individuals) may have statutory or other duties and priorities that may preclude being bound by some decisions made by Hawaii Together.
• Committee members expect each other to follow through on assignments. If a committee member volunteers for an assignment, and cannot follow through, then s/he should let Susan, Dan, or another committee member know as soon as possible.
• Susan and Dan can take action on behalf of Hawaii Together. All media and inquires external to Hawaii Together should be directed to Susan and Dan. Sub-committee chairs may take action on internal inquiries and details of implementation in their area.
• The committee will try to make all decisions by consensus (where consensus means that everyone is at a level of agreement 1 ­ 4 as defined below). If the committee is not able to making will be by consensus, then decision making will be by vote of the majority of members present at the meeting at which the vote is taken.

Levels of Agreement/Disagreement

1. Agree (unqualified _Yes _No)
2. Agree, but . . . (Decision perfectly acceptable)
3. Ok, but not happy (Can live with the decision)
4. Not ok, but won't block decision (Do not fully agree with decision)
5. Do not agree with decision (Cannot live with it)