Reef Retreat

The Reef
1

Hello @reeflings,

Now that we have completed this important (and super difficult) phase of our project, I was wondering what it would be like if we would consciously set apart some time to reconnect with each other and recharge our batteries for the next stage of our project (which will also be difficult).

This led me to the idea of what I would call a “Reef Retreat”. The way I picture it, to make things easy, we would stay in Brussels and sleep in our own beds, but we would be spending a fair share of a weekend together - all on an optional basis though - to play, connect, organise our internal training courses and make time for important discussions.

The way I picture it, we would co-create the agenda. What I am proposing is that we all put our ideas in the document linked below, and that at some point we make a draft agenda in the Coordination Group. Ideally that draft agenda would include a couple of empty time slots, so we can fill them in on the day, and we can of course always reshuffle things in the moment in function of what feels good.

If you have a moment, can you please give it some thought, and fill in the document what you would like to do - maybe talk about the contingency plans? maybe have a salsa workshop? …? - and what you would like to offer, or what you could offer? No wrong answers of course and no such things as silly ideas!

This is the link: Login – Nextcloud

Thoughts on the entire concept are of course also very welcome. Maybe put them in this thread?

In terms of timing I would say we’d start on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm, with sessions until 7 pm and then an optional dinner. The next day, on Sunday, we would then have a full day together. What will be important is that everybody will be free to come and go as they like, so no need to be available all the time if that’s what it takes to make it work. And even when you are there, I think it should always be optional to participate in the sessions that are being organised!

That leads me to set up a poll to see whether we can make this happen.

Here we go …

  • 26-27/09
  • 3-4/10
  • 10-11/10
  • None of these dates work for me
  • I’m not super interested, so no need to take my availability into account
0 voters
5 Likes
Plenary meeting - 25/08/2026
Team Governance & Working Methods: general communication
2

Hi Lee, thanks for the initiative, but does this not overlap to some extent with the weekend away? And is it not more or less the same concept?

2 Likes
3

Hi Maria,

I think both events are quite different, sorry if that wasn’t clear from the way I explained it.

For me weekend is for both adults and children. The purpose is relaxation and connection, and most of the time we are doing different things at the same moment (hiking, napping, board games etc).

The retreat I picture as a very long full members meeting (except that it will be open for associate members). The purpose is make space for the important things (as opposed to the urgent things, for which we usually gather). Making time for our governance trainings for example, whether as an onboarding activity or a refresher, I believe would do us all good to facilitate our working together in the future. Likewise I think it would be valuable if we could have sessions of 45-90 minutes to talk about important topics, like e.g. the contingency plan, how we intend to manage conflicts in the future, how self-management is working out for us etc.

Does that clarify it a bit?

5 Likes
4

hi Lee,

thanks for the initiative, i really like the idea, but not sure I fully understand..Some questions/remarks:

  • can you only propose things related to the teams/HC’s you are in?

  • i guess this is pure discussions, collecting feedback, and maybe moments to connect/have fun.. So noo decisions will be taken, everything will still come to a PM where consent will be asked to all FM, correct?

  • i am a bit exhausted right now, so if that is ok, i would like to have some weeks to reflect on this. Is that ok?

2 Likes
5

No, everybody can propose anything they would like to discuss.

Probably yes.

Of course! I don’t think we’ll start working on the agenda before the end of August.

2 Likes
6

Hi,
I think it is a nice idea and hope to be able to attend.
I took the option “none of the dates work” because it is very difficult to commit a full weekend so much in advance. I prefer to indicate that the dates don’t work at this time so that the group does not chose a date I might have to cancel in the end anyway.

2 Likes
7

I’m interested. I’ve always found governance and working methods training/refreshers very useful. Due to work and tea events, I can’t really commit to any of the proposed dates just yet.

1 Like
8

Hello @reeflings,

Let’s say the poll has spoken and make it 10-11 October. More details will follow after the summer break.

In the meantime to hesitate to add your ideas to the document in the first post!

9

I am also interested. I may have to choose between this and the weekend though.

1 Like
10

Hi Lie, thanks for proposing this.

We talked about it in community life, and we thing we would like to try and propose something for 1 or 2 slots. We’ve been meaning to try out a different format of being together, it might be a good opportunity for testing it!
(And just to clarify, it would only be one of the slot, and maybe a mini activity at another point, not all the “social” slots)

3 Likes
11

Hi,
Dropping by a line on this post to say that while I do not think I can offer something in a slot, I would like to coordinate/help with the logistics of the events (outside of Community Life though) : baby sitting and food/drinks, and anything else than can help you attend the session without stress or worry.

3 Likes
12

Heads up: our preferred weekend overlaps with the next climate march in Brussels. After a summer like this, and with our government clearly not giving a damn, I would feel bad missing it.

I propose we allocate a (perforce large) slot of the retreat to participating in the march. We could also spend some time making colorful and goofy placards, bring the children along etc. We could even invite other cohousings to march together! I made an addition to the agenda document.

Actually, would there be any interest in becoming a member of KlimaatCoalitie - Coalition Climat? It seems to me that we are already doing what member organizations are supposd to do. Here is their membership page: https://klimaatcoalitie-coalitionclimat.be/en/become-a-member-steps-to-follow/

7 Likes
Climate March 11October2026 2PM
13

Hi @alberto,

The coinciding with the climate march is unfortunate indeed. We discussed it in the Coordination Group and decided to do another poll to see whether we can find a better date.

For the Climate Coaltion: can you please take this up with Team External in a different thread?

And finally for the agenda, would you possibly be willing to give your presentations on how buildings learn and on risk management?

1 Like
14

Hello @reeflings,

We discussed the retreat in the Coordination Group, and one of the conclusions was that most of us are enthusiastic about the concept. There was some doubt about whether I managed to clearly convey what the purpose is of the event, which is why there was a short item on this at the plenary yesterday.

For those who missed it: the idea is that we would make time in our agenda to spend some quality time together. Throughout a mix of activities - games, discussions, workshops, training courses etc - we create a space to connect with what The Reef means to us, and more importantly we foster our group’s cohesion and everybody’s sense of ownership of the project.

The underlying idea is that we are gonna go back into a very intense phase of the project once the appel d’offre gets to full speed (November-December or so). Spending time to build our group’s foundation and resilience will pay back double. (@reef-coordination: can you please complement my text if I’m still not explaining it well?)

The agenda is still a work-in-progress, but a first look at the possible items include Alberto offering a workshop on the freedoms we acquire when living in a cohousing, Team Conflict Management offering a workshop on the conflict management mechanism they are working on, maybe we can do a brainstorming session about some sort of “interpersonal agreement” (see Conflict management resources from Heartwood Cohousing), we could play the anthropologists game (which is about what it means to enter in a new group / welcome new people in group), do an open space session (i.e. everybody is free to propose a discussion topic) etc etc.

The document where you can propose things you’d like to do or offer is still open to your suggestions. Please don’t hold back! => Login – Nextcloud

Participation is fully optional, so please only join if you feel like joining. With those present we’ll approach the event with lightness (nothing has to happen), adjusting the agenda if we feel like it.

The timing would be Saturday from 15:00 until 19:00 (followed by a dinner), and Sunday a full day (10:30 until 17:00). Coming later or leaving early will always be possible. We will also make sure that there is child care, so that everybody can participate.

Finding a time slot seems more difficult than I thought, so we figured we launch another poll to see which would be the best time. Would it please be possible to fill it in by Saturday 29/08 COB?

(note: it is possible to tick "I can’t commit yet AND indicate the dates that are nevertheless likely to work for you)

  • 26-27/09
  • 3-4/10
  • 10-11/10
  • 17-18/10
  • 24-25/10
  • 31/10-01/11
  • I can’t commit yet but I’d happily join if my calendar allows for it
  • None of these options work for me
  • I will probably take a pass this time
0 voters
Climate March 11October2026 2PM
Onboarding of new and not so new reeflings
15

31/10 - 01/11

16

Yes and yes. However, the risk bit is currently covered by the plenary of 15 September. See: Plenary meeting 15 September 2026

1 Like
17

Shall we decide on a definite date?
We could do the FM brunch followed by the Climate march on the 11th of October and do the Reef Retreat two weekends after (24-25/10)?

Or we do the full combo FM brunch + climate march + reef retreat in the weekend of 11-12/10?
Do we decide in a poll? @Lee happy to hear your input, and all the other @reeflings

2 Likes
18

The way the poll stands now it’s the weekend of 17-18 October that would get the most participants. I would maybe give it one more day, and then I would make this a doer decides issue (because I don’t believe this is something we can decide collectively).

1 Like
19

Hello @reeflings,

The dates with the most votes are 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18. Noting that the 11th there is the climate march and that 3-4/10 doesn’t leave the Coordination Group the possibility to still meet ahead of the retreat, I’m proposing to move the retreat to the weekend of 17-18/10. I’ll move it on the Nextcloud calendar.

7 Likes
20

@Lee thank you for the initiative. i dont see this date on the shared calendar