Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Steering Committees

[Berrins (Berrins]

In a message dated 5/6/01 9:24:19 AM, jeannegoodman [at] yahoo.com writes:

<< It sounds to me as though most of these steering committees are

post-construction committees. Is a pre-construction steering committee

appropriate as well?


Jeanne Goodman

Jamaica Plain Cohousing, Boston MA >>

Sure.  We called ours the development committee.  Essentially it was a 
steering committee, with no real powers but plenty of advisory roles.  Our 
development coordinator (a hired professional, from nearby Pioneer Cohousing- 
thank you, John Ryan!) attended meetings and kept the committee up to date on 
any and all dealings with professionals and construction and what not (John 
was the primary negociator with the professionals, along with many other 
duties).  Like any committee, our main job (I was on it towards the end) was 
to research and condense information and make proposals for the general 
meeting.  We had about 7 people on it, and tried to get someone from each 
committee on it; the building and design committee had a lot of members on 
it. 

This committee was tremendously helpful in getting things done.  Committees 
have the luxury of being able to take the time to brainstorm and talk around 
a subject until coherent ideas and maybe a proposal emerges.  This means that 
the general meeting can be a lot more focused and efficient.   Just be 
careful to present all sides, not just the one the committee may agree on.  
(Oops, I'm beginning to ramble...)

Although it is about a year after move-in, we are still dealing with some 
development issues.  However, now all that stuff is being handled by the 
board of trustees (BOT).  It is organized more formally, the format having 
been set in the by-laws.  Each committee has a representative (6 committees) 
and there are either 1 or 3 at-large members (we wanted or needed an odd 
number for some reason I can't recall).  Right now we're meeting every other 
week; hopefully, we'll meet only once a month when all the development issues 
are put to rest (I'm on the board- I was only one on my committee to 
volunteer.  Actually, most of the present board members were on the 
development committee...).

Board members will serve three years.  However, to start, two members are 
serving one year, two or three are serving two years and the rest will serve 
the full three years.  This way, we'll always have experienced people on the 
board.  We now work at coordinating the work of the community, including 
setting the agendas for general meetings, and still deal with legal issues.  
The BOT is empowered, on specific issues, to extent that the general meeting 
allows.  For example, recently we had the basic concepts and  pricing for a 
development issue we are dealing with discussed at a general meeting; the 
board in being allowed to finish the negociations, wrangle with the details 
and have the officers sign the contract, as long as we stay within the 
parameters of the group decision.

That be about it..

    Roger Berman
    Pathways Cohousing
    Northampton, MA

    Where we just had, finally, a perfect spring day.  The gardeners were out 
in full force and the kids riding on virtually anything that rolls...
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