THE ISI DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE

The ISI Declaration of Interdependence - a Statement of Ideals which will continue to evolve We the members of the ISI who share interest and care for one another and for the education and development of the communities in which we live, do hereby declare and pledge to honour our interdependence. DECLARATION OF COMPASSION Equality begins here, with me. I will treat everybody else in the Group in the way I would like to be treated. I will actively practice compassion with everyone, including those who are not like me. I will seek, first, to understand, then to be understood. DECLARATION OF DIVERSITY We are as one. Our diversity serves the ISI. We learn from each other. We need and encourage diversity. We support, and are supported by, each other. Our strength and power comes from our differences. I will respect each person's right to be different from me, whether or not I understand or like the difference. I will not discriminate against members of the Group because their ideas, beliefs, and behaviours are different from mine.

DECLARATION OF DEVELOPMENT Change begins with me. I will respect each individual and support his or her development. We will delight in the prospect of new members joining us and we will work to incorporate their views in this Statement of Ideals. I will take responsibility for the shaping of the culture within the ISI. I will make a conscious effort to encourage positive, constructive development in the Group. I will support an environment which is free of hostility. I will make a conscious effort to intervene in behaviour that I find inappropriate by supporting open communication and by establishing common goals and common ground. DECLARATION OF EXCELLENCE We strive for excellence I am proud of the contributions that all of us make to the ISI and to my own community. The ISI and I are valuable assets to the community. I realise that I will not always be able to live up to this Declaration of Interdependence. However, all of us, working together through mutual inquiry and conversation, can contribute to make the ISI better, now and in the future, and to make a significant contribution to the larger community.