Cohousing-L Mailing List: CONCENSUS: A TIME TO RETH

[Jake Morrison (jake.morrison]

Subject: RE:  Consensus-A Time To Rethink

Tom said:

 > Building on Rob's ideas I share some key points about consensus and c
 > building for your reflection:
 > 1.  The process assures that each individual has the opportunity to s
 > be heard.
 > 2.  There is a procedure through which an individual can indicate to
 > group that he/she does not feel heard (e.g., facilitator check, the o
 > card in The Colors of Clarification).
 > 3.  The process of "standing aside" be used to express and acknowledg
 > INDIVIDUAL concerns rather than blocking
 > 4.  Has some criteria as to which circumstances warrant a consensus d
 > 5.  Consensus delegation to an individual or smaller group to act is
 > consensual.
 > 6.  Having the opportunity to participate does not mean that everyone
 > participate and if they don't avail them of the opportunity then they
 > obligated to trust and support the group as if they had--the tough on

   I learned from what you said, especially #6, but I have to disagree with 
your take on 'standing aside'. I've stood aside on one issue so far. I 
took it to mean that, while I disagreed with the decision as it stood, 
and others did not take my point to be important to the decision, I 
still felt that it would turn out to be important for THE GROUP and I 
wanted it noted. Because we write such disagreements down as part of the 
decision I knew that it would be there next time the issue came up and 
would be evaluated along with the course that was taken. (A sort of 'I 
told you so' embedded in the record of decisions).
   Because I didn't feel that the course taken was really dangerous for the 
group I was able to just stand aside but I still felt that it would prove 
to be the wrong (read: disfunctional) course.

take care
   Jake


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<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
<Jake Morrison   Jake.Morrison [at] bbs.Synapse.net   Terra Firma Housing>
<769 Bayview Dr.; Constance Bay, Ont, K0A 3M0  voice: (613) 832-1458>
<BBS: MindBender's BBS       FidoNet 1:163/112        (613) 832-4097>
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