The Cells of Tejas Web
The work of Tejas Web takes place in small working groups that we call "Cells". The Cells make up the Body that is Tejas Web. Participation in the various Cells is open to anyone who has attended a class, workshop, ritual, or Witch Camp sponsored by Tejas Web, except for the Teaching Cell, for whom attendance and membership is by invitation/consensus of the members of the Cell.
All decision-making within the Cells, and within the Web as a whole, is by consensus of the members. For more information about how consensus works, the books Dreaming the Dark and Truth or Dare by Starhawk have useful information. Also, the Reclaiming website contains documents relating to consensus here.
Current Tejas Web Cells consist of the following:
The Communication Cell: Is responsible for this web site, the Newsletter, the email announcment list, and any other means of binding our community together and getting it out there via the written word.
The Ritual Cell: Schedules and plans each of the eight annual Sabbat rituals sponsored by Tejas Web.
The Teaching Cell: Plans classes and workshop offerings.
The Witch Camp Cell: Plans the Tejas/Southwest Reclaiming Witch Camp.
If you are interested in participating and have attended a Tejas Web event or class, subscribe to the email list to receive announcements of upcoming meetings.
Communications Cell Agreements
(approved Feb. 25, 2003, latest revision 7/05)
Objective: to support effective and timely Tejas Web communications in print and electronic media.
Cell operations: Members of this cell maintain the Tejas Web web page and e-mail list, and manage the logistics of Tejas Web print mailings and distribution. The cell communicates by e-mail or phone as needed, with rare and occasional in-person meetings. The cell is open to anyone who is willing to become actively involved in doing communications support work. A new member may self-select into the cell or may be invited by an existing member.
The cell has no income and does not tithe. Expenses incurred by the cell are covered in some cases by the general fund (for example, PO Box rental, web hosting fees) and in other cases by the cell for whom the communication service is provided (for example, the Teaching cell covers expenses for a mailing of class flyers; a Camp cell covers expenses for a Camp mailing).
Current active members: Deanna, Kira, Lionheart, Midnight, Mike, Suzanne
Liaison to Quarterly meeting: Suzanne
Ritual Cell Agreements
(approved 5/18/03, latest revision 6/07)
Statement of objectives: to schedule and coordinate the public rituals offered by Tejas Web
Operations: The Ritual cell normally meets twice a year, after Beltane and after Samhain, with special meetings called as needed. The meetings are announced to Tejas Web, and anyone who has attended a Tejas Web event and wants to help create the ritual calendar is invited to attend. Those who attend a cell meeting form the cell consensus body for the six-month period after the meeting: they should be consulted should any change be needed in the plans set by the cell (for example, changing the date, time or location of a ritual). Each cell meeting sets the date of the next cell meeting; the date of that next meeting may be changed by e-mail or phone agreement of all those who attended the meeting at which it was set.
The Ritual cell is not the body that plans specific rituals. The cell sets dates, times, locations and coordinators for the rituals in the calendar. The coordinators are then responsible for the planning process for specific rituals.
Active membership in the cell: Active members in the cell include those who have attended either or both of the twice-yearly cell meetings; and the designated coordinators for the year's cycle of rituals.
Finances: The Ritual cell's income consists of donations at rituals. These donations are used to cover the cost of space and other ritual expenses incurred by planners. The Ritual cell does not tithe to the Tejas Web general fund. A shortfall would be covered by the Tejas Web general fund.
Cell consensus body from January 2007 meeting: Julia, Miriam, Morgana, StarRose Cell consensus body from May 2007 meeting: unknown Active members as of June 2007: unknown
Liaison to Quarterly meeting: Julia
Teaching Cell Agreements
(approved 11/02, latest revision 6/07)
The Tejas Web Teaching cell grew out of community classes offered by Tejas Web members in the late 90Õs, when these early teachers decided to form a cell along the model used in other Reclaiming communities, and according to provisions of the Tejas Web bylaws.
Our teaching model is to work in teams of two or three teachers for each class. We normally expect that someone will Òstudent teachÓ a specific class at least twice before becoming a lead teacher for the class, but this is flexible. When new work is being offered, or work new to the community, the expectation about student teaching may not apply.
ÓStudent teacherÓ in the context of teaching community classes for Tejas Web simply means that the person is new to teaching a class, or to Reclaiming-style teaching: a Òstudent teacherÓ may be someone with lots of other community teaching experience, little experience, or none.
By agreement, a Tejas Web class must include at least one member of the Teaching cell on the teaching team. The teaching team plans the class collaboratively. The Reclaiming core classes--Elements of Magic, Iron Pentacle, Pearl Pentacle, Rites of Passage (Dream Magic)--have some standard material that is normally covered, but there is a lot of room for creativity and new approaches.
Expenses of a class are covered by the income for the class, except that some publicity may be paid for by the Teaching cell fund. Of the net class income after expenses, 5% is tithed to the Teaching cell fund, 15% to the Tejas Web general fund, and 80% is available to be shared by the members of the teaching team as they decide. Shortfalls are covered by the Teaching cell fund, but teaching teams are expected to set fee rates and manage expenses in ways that reduce the likelihood of shortfalls. It is important to us to make our classes as affordable as possible while also covering expenses and offering reasonable compensation to the teaching team for its work.
If you are interested in teaching classes for Tejas Web, here are some things that you may want to know. You need not be a member of the Teaching cell in order to teach a Tejas Web class, but you will team with someone who is a member. If you would like to step into community teaching for Tejas Web, we strongly suggest--
- take a Tejas Web class or two, to get a sense of our teaching culture, if you have not already done this;
- tell one of your teachers, or a member of the Teaching cell, that you are interested in teaching in the community;
- if you have specific ideas about something you would like to teach, and/or someone you would like to teach with, approach that person with your ideas.
As of now (June 2007), here is what we are saying to people who tell us they are interested in beginning to teach in the community for Tejas Web:
- we are glad to hear from people with interest in community teaching and will keep you in mind as openings are available on teaching teams;
- you may expect to wait for a while before being placed on a class team--don't get discouraged;
- your initiative is very important: if you have an idea for a class, or want to team up with a Tejas Web teacher to offer a core class, take your idea to the teacher or someone on the Teaching cell.
You are your own authority, and initiative and creativity are important qualities for taking active leadership roles in the community.
Here are other agreements by which the Teaching cell works:
The Teaching cell agrees to
- work in accordance with the Principles of Unity;
- use consensus process on meetings and decision-making;
- tithe 15% of its income minus expenses to the Tejas Web general fund (5% of the net income to the cell is retained in the Teaching cell fund; 80% goes to teaching teams);
- report to each Quarterly meeting.
Our objective is: To nurture ourselves and our community by teaching and offering classes.
We operate as follows: The cell is closed. Membership is by invitation of the cell, with a current member proposing a new member, and consensus of the members of the cell who are present at the meeting at which the new member is proposed. Dates and locations of meetings are set at in-person meetings or by e-mail to the cell e-mail list. The cell usually meets three or four times a year.
When a decision needs to be made before the next scheduled cell meeting, a cell member can e-mail the cell about the issue, using "DECISION" in the subject line and specifying a reasonable reply-by date. Concerns from any members may be posted. If they cannot be remedied, either the decision is postponed or a special meeting may be set. A cell member who does not reply by the specified reply-by date is assumed either to stand aside, or affirm.
The cell does not anticipate any shortfall in funds that would require us to draw on Tejas Web funds beyond the balance in our account.
Teaching cell members as of June 2007 are Birch, Cat Dancing, Cedar, Changing Tide, Crow, Dale, Deanna, Eclipse, Goody, Julia, Juniper, Laura Lea, Lionheart, Midnight, Mike, Miriam, MoonCrone, Morgana, Rain, Suzanne, Traci, WildCat, Z-Helene, Zann.
Current active membership in the Teaching cell, for Tejas Web purposes, is defined as follows:
To be an active member of the Tejas Web Teaching cell, you must have shown an energetic commitment to the work of the cell during the period of the current calendar year plus one as of June 2007, that would mean since January 2006 through 2007. At the beginning of each new calendar year the time period is redefined. Energetic commitment is defined as
Having attended at least three face to face meetings of the cell (local, or all-cell) within the specified period; OR
Having offered a Tejas Web class within the specified period.
"Offering a Tejas Web class" means that the class was scheduled under Teaching cell auspices with specific dates and a teaching team; was advertised in the Tejas Web calendar or on the e-mail list; and either made and was taught, or had to be canceled due to low registration.
Under this definition, active members of the Teaching cell as of June 2007 include: Cat Dancing, Cedar, Crow, Goody, Julia, Juniper, Miriam, Midnight, MoonCrone, Morgana, Suzanne, Traci, WildCat, and Zann.
Because the Teaching cell concerns itself specifically with community classes, teaching at witch camp does not by itself make someone an active member of the Teaching cell.
Juniper, Morgana, and Suzanne are designated as liaisons to the Quarterly meeting.
Witch Camp Cell Agreements
(approved 3/16/03, latest revision 6/07)
Objective: to make Tejas Web Witch Camp/Intensive happen
Planning for Tejas Web Witch Camps/Intensives is in major transition. A 13-year cycle of camps, in the traditional Reclaiming model of the seven-day sequestered intensive, has been honored and returned to the earth to compost into new possibilities. The camp cell intends to explore new and more sustainable approaches, and to facilitate the evolution of a new vision for Tejas Web community intensives.
The cell's income is derived from Camp/Intensive registrations and donations. It tithes to the Tejas Web general fund from any net income generated by a specific Intensive. Positive net income balances beyond this tithe become part of the Tejas Witch Camp equity fund and are available as seed money for the next Intensive. The cell anticipates that a shortfall for a given Camp will be covered by seed money from the Intensive equity fund.
Current Camp cell members: Dama, Goody, Julia
Liaison from the cell to the Quarterly meeting is: Goody