Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Online course for community seekers, "Finding Your Community Home, " and Sociocracy Course

[Martie Weatherly (mhweatherly]

I am replying to Chris Herndon's post where I have removed portions not 
pertinent to what I am commenting on. 

It is great for your community to try sociocracy for two years. However, I want 
to correct the statement 
"it addresses power/control dynamics that can exist when someone blocks a 
proposal
>through the consensus method. Sociocracy is about getting things done in an
>effective manner whilst maintaining good vibes amongst the community."

Consensus is a decision making process. I suggest that our communities that 
struggle with consensus have lost connection with the basics of consensus - 
that everyone comes into the room ready to work out their issues for what is 
best for the community at that time. That includes being able to set aside a 
block from a member based on purely personal values, not what is best for the 
community. Consensus takes work and attention and energy. It is all about 
enhancing our relationships with each other which is why it appeals to 
cohousers. And it isnt all good vibes as consensus welcomes conflict which is 
not easy for us in this culture. By bringing out the conflict, creative 
solutions can come forth. 

But when you harness the power and excitement of listening to each other and 
coming up with a solution that has 100% implementation, that is what cohousing 
and consensus are all about. 

Martie Weatherly
Liberty Village, Frederick MD

Health and Wellness Coach
Consensus Coach
coachmartie.com


-----Original Message-----
>From: Fred-List manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
>Sent: Jan 1, 2021 9:22 AM
>To: Cohousing-L mailing list <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
>Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Online course for community seekers, "Finding Your 
>Community Home, " and Sociocracy Course
>
>Christopher Herndon <cherndon85 [at] gmail.com>
>is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
>Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
>after restoring subject line.
>
>
>
>--------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------
>
>Hello Everyone ~
>
>This is my first time posting so I hope it goes through okay!
>
>I was excited to see Diana Leafe Christian's invitation to her online
>course on Sociocracy for Intentional Communities. I lived in an intentional
>community in Oakland, CA and am starting a village-style intentional
>community in the Pacific Northwest (USA) with 9 others. Two of us from this
>new group took the course. Based on our lived experience and research on
>governance and decision making methods, we decided to move forward with
>learning Sociocracy. Our group has decided to try Sociocracy for the next 2
>years which came out of the proposal forming process we learned from Diana.
>It's likely the remaining folks in our group attend the upcoming course in
>February! Very excited!
>
>I highly recommend it for multiple reasons, but mainly it addresses
>power/control dynamics that can exist when someone blocks a proposal
>through the consensus method. Sociocracy is about getting things done in an
>effective manner whilst maintaining good vibes amongst the community. The
>other reason is because of how thoughtful Diana's approach to teaching is -
>she tends to the various learning styles, shares many stories and the group
>had the opportunity to practice real-time. All of this resulting in what I
>would consider a highly effective training.
>
>I'll be participating again in the upcoming course to continue to deepen my
>knowledge base and understanding of Sociocracy. Hope to see you in February!
>
>--
>
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