Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: consensus vote question

[Stearns Construction (builder]

I have only recently come to this list and do not bring with me much
practical experience in Cohousing (college cooperatives a million years
ago.)  I live in a very provincial part of the country.  Actually we are
only 80 miles (and about two centuries) from Austin.  Though I have always
spoken idealistically about more intentional ways of living, most (including
myself) never put it into the realm of the possible, given the conservative
nature of where we live.  However, a recent issue of Fine Homebuilding
magazine had a wonderful article about Island Cohousing in Martha's Vineyard
and as I excitedly showed it around, people have been asking when we can
start a similar project here.  So I am in the process of determining if it
is feasible, and, if so, how best to proceed.

Obviously, in an open ended sort of way, I would be grateful for all the
advice any of you want to share.  But more specifically I would like to
tentatively join these discussions with questions from a neophyte's
prospective.  I say tentatively because I realize that you may not want this
resource diluted.

As for the question of consensus, what measures, if any, do you employ to
keep from getting bogged down in decision-making?  My limited experience
with this type of decision-making is that it can be disenfranchising of the
hardest working people, who are not necessarily interested in taking time
and energy to negotiate with those not involved in the effort of getting
something done.  I know there has been a lot of evolution in these processes
in the twenty years since I last participated them.  Is there a bottom up
style of consensus? - Hugh


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