Guest Opinion: Consensus Group Formed in Response to Newtown Revisited

— by Fred Klein —

On the subject of children being gunned down while in school…after getting beyond the immediate grief for those intimately affected, and the sorrow that it’s an apparent on-going condition in our society…I’m increasingly troubled by a sense that I’m becoming desensitized…that school shootings are part of a “new-normal”. If so, heaven help us. Hashtag, “#MeNext” seems to be getting some well-deserved traction.

After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, a group of Orcas Islanders gathered “To reach a consensus on what changes to local practices and attitudes we can make in order to lower the risk of the tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut occurring on Orcas Island; and to draft a statement of that consensus to be published and shared with the Orcas community.”

The diverse group included fire arms advocates, law enforcement, mental health professionals, teachers and parents…I’ve always thought of the group’s consensus as a reasonably accurate datapoint on how our community addresses this still-pressing issue…and I can’t help but wonder to what extent the recommendations have been acted upon.

Strengthening Community on Orcas Island
A Response to the Tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut
Preamble

This document has been created by a group of concerned citizens of Orcas Island. We met to reach a consensus on what improvements to local practices and attitudes we can make in order to lower the risk of an event occurring here such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

We recognize the responsibility, as members of this great nation, to address on a local level, attitudes and social practices which we determine to be both complementary to our island culture and essential for the health and well-being of our citizens.

We commit ourselves to promote and support the continued development of principles, attitudes, and practices which will permit our children and community at large to live and learn in a safe, caring and cooperative community.

These principles and attitudes are:
• Concern and compassionate action for the wellbeing of all members of our community
• Respect for one another’s beliefs and opinions
• The nurturing and maintenance of a safe environment
• The responsible stewardship of firearms
The development and improvement of the following practices will serve these principles:
• Public and interpersonal communication
• Identification and support of community spaces and venues which promote healthy social
interaction
• Educational programs that lead to a clear understanding of how to reduce threats to
personal and public safety
• The promotion and support of emotional and mental health in our community

Our process categorized discussion as follows:
• Gun Issues
• Individual Responsibility
• Community Caring
• Wellbeing

Gun Issues
• We acknowledge the Second Amendment Rights for individuals to keep and bear arms subject to legal regulation.
• We support government enforcement of existing laws, including Washington State laws making schools gun-free zones.
• We promote gun safety and security, public awareness, and individual, parental, and community responsibility. We recommend gun safety through age-appropriate firearm education, privately-owned gun safes, and the Sheriff’s free gun-lock program.
• We recommend that all community-based organizations which provide family services be trained to recognize the threat of inappropriate access to firearms and ammunition, and that staff be trained to recognize and deal with such a threat.
• We recommend that our teachers be provided similar training in threat assessment and methods for crisis intervention.
• We encourage individuals to be active politically to influence legislation locally and nationally on these issues.

Individual Responsibility
We believe that every member of the Orcas community has a personal responsibility to lower the risk of violence in our community. We ask that every individual in the community:
• Strive to strengthen your family
• Treat others with honesty, caring and respect
• Notice community members in need and facilitate their assistance
• Reach out to community members who appear isolated, marginalized, or distressed
• Be mindful of your own health and well-being
• Embrace diversity of opinions and lifestyles
• Commit to being an ongoing, active part of our community
• Seek opportunities to be a mentor or to be mentored
• Recognize personally and publicly the “small deeds” of others
• Educate yourself and actively engage with your health care provider on the side effects of prescribed medication for you and your family • Participate in community events and gatherings
• Support funding for school, mental health, and recreation programs
• Initiate activities in your neighborhood to develop and nurture community
• Be mindful of the culture of violence your child and the community’s children are exposed to through video games, media, internet, literature, etc.
• Actively discourage and report physical or emotional bullying
• Be aware of the immediate and long-term impacts of legal and illegal drug use (including
alcohol) on yourself, your family, and our community

Community Caring
Community caring is clearly evident on Orcas Island, and it can always be improved.
Expressions of caring can be an important way to build relationships among all islanders. It is the
basis for the following suggestions and ideas.
We must address the needs of the children, youth, and young adults as well as those of adults and
elders. Some concrete ways to show this change include:
• Recognizing a child’s accomplishments through community-organized, appropriate rites of passage
• Acknowledging good deeds, large or small, either verbally or through publication
• Encouraging young adults, adults and elders to become mentors for all levels of youth (for example—island grandmothers and grandfathers)
• Asking what it is that people need
• Encouraging student-led initiatives such as “The Happiness Initiative”
• Providing internship opportunities with local businesses for young adults
Better communications concerning services available can be accomplished through flyers, town
hall meetings and service fairs.

Wellbeing
We recognize that our existing individual, familial, educational and mental health systems share the primary responsibility for the emotional development and support of many of our children, our families and our organizations.
We strive to create an environment which offers and improves resources that empower children and their families. These resources include information, collaboration, intervention or assistance in improving social and mental wellbeing and stability.
We recognize the following issues need to be addressed and appropriate educational materials created or provided:
• Prescription drug information
• Danger assessment
• Intergenerational cycles of violence
• Discussion groups about scary topics
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related special needs categories such as ADD and ADHD
• Anti-Bullying programs
• Child and youth participation in community services
• Leadership classes
We recognize the sensitive balance between intervention and intrusion.

The Consensus Process
As our group struggled to reach consensus, our process demonstrated integrity, inclusion, openness, and dedication to exploring and developing a plan to address a complex and contentious community issue. The participants represented a diversity of experience and opinion, but were mindful of those opinions not in the room as well. Through patient listening and, for the most part, the expression of mutual respect, participants freely spoke their truth.

Moving Forward (written after the consensus process ended)
This consensus statement represents a sincere effort at beginning a community process whereby these practices and attitudes may be implemented, enhanced, and embedded in our island culture…some of them exist at present…some as memories when times were simpler. The group of 36 who arrived at this consensus recognizes the need for and welcomes the ideas, resources, and energy of our entire community. In our deliberations, someone coined the phrase…“Code of the Rock”…an idea not yet defined, but offered as a yet-to-be-created means by which we express our attitudes and aspirations for a safe, vibrant, sustainable, and connected community.

In short, the work has just begun. It needs awareness, recognition, tempering, conversation, experimentation, dedication and resources in order to realize its mission. Some members of this consensus group have committed to participate in ongoing, open forum meetings on the topics outlined above. We welcome all Orcas Islanders to consider, support, and enrich these initiatives. Imagine the impact if you choose to step forward, participate, and provide leadership to strengthen our community.

Background
This Statement of Consensus was created by 36 Orcas Islanders who responded to an island-wide invitation to gather and “To reach a consensus on what changes to local practices and attitudes we can make in order to lower the risk of the tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut occurring on Orcas Island; and to draft a statement of that consensus to be published and shared with the Orcas community.”

The agreed-upon definition for consensus was, “a decision by two or more people…a decision which everyone may not feel is the best decision…but is a decision which everyone can live with, and commit themselves not to undermine”.

Participants committed to attending fifteen hours of deliberations spread over four meetings. These gatherings took place from January 26th thru February 2nd, 2013 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre of December 14, 2012.

Participants:
Marta Branch
Adam Farish
Lin McNulty
James Scheib
Phil Branch
Kyle Freeman
Morgan Meadows
Norm Stamper
Josh Bronn
(1) Douglas Gainor
(4) Barry Neville
Chris Sutton
Anita Castle
Bill Griswold
Kevin O’Brien
(3) Ed Sutton
(2) (5)Bruce Distler
Andrea Hendrick
(2) Nancy O’Brien
Joe Symons
Don Drozd
Paul Kamin
Don Pencil
Judy Turksel
(4) Dave Dunlap
Fred Klein
Nancy Reas
Dave Turnoy
Jenifer Dunlap
Ladd Lindholm
(2) Tina Rose
(4) Bob Vietzke
Margie Doyle
Jim McKeon
Harvey Rossiter
Denise Wolf
(1) attended first meeting only
(2) missed second meeting
(3) excused from second meeting
(4) missed fourth meeting
(5) participated and fully-endorsed the consensus of Feb. 2nd and asked to withdraw a week
later.
Facilitators:
Fred Klein
Marta Branch