Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Alternatives to consensus decision making

[ann zabaldo (zabaldo]

Hi all!  I realized after I got Joani's reply that my request about cohousing
groups which do NOT use consensus was sorta like a disembodied head floating
around.  (O.K.  leftover Halloween..)

Here's the background for my question:

I'm working on a developer-driven cohousing community in D.C. (the area's 1st
URBAN coho community!) and there are some people who believe that cohousing
implies consensus decision-making as a process.  In other words, consensus is 
one
of the PRINCIPLES of cohousing.   Hand in glove:  you do cohousing you use
consensus.  Well I thought so too and in Liberty Village I don't think we ever
considered not using SOME form of consensus decision making.  But when I checked
both the CoHousing book and The Cohousing Handbook, consensus was clearly NOT
included as one of the principles of cohousing.  Altho both sources acknowledge
the consensus process.

So this started me thinking that maybe a number of our communities have adoped
consensus decision making because it seems like a natural fit in creating
community.  BUT there might be some groups somewhere not using this model.  And
if consensus in not a principle of cohousing and not a model for some
communities, what is it they're using?

And a larger question:  should consensus -- some form of it -- be listed as one
of the principles of cohousing communities much like intentional site design,
resident participation in design, etc.   Or should there be a broader category 
of
something along the lines of "some form of cooperative decision-making?"

I don't know what Pandora's Box I'm opening but I'd sure like to see what pops
out!

Best -- Ann Z.

Joani Blank wrote:

> Ann,
>
> You asked:
>
> >Have any of you heard if there are any cohousing communities in any
> >stage of development which do NOT use some form of consensus decision
> >making? If you belong to a cohousing community which does NOT use consensus,
> >what kind of decision making do you use?
>
> I'm curious why you are asking (although, knowing you, I think I can
> guess). What is also interesting to know is how many times have groups
> which DO use consensus had to go to fall-back voting. I'm pleased to say
> that in 8+ years (including 6+  years living in our community), we have
> only had to resort to a vote on one occaision.
>
> I believe virtually all groups have fall-back provisions that trigger a
> vote if consensus cannot be reached after a prescribed amount of time or
> number of meetings. It would be interesting to learn what those provisions
> are in different groups, how many times the group has had to resort to a
> vote, and eventually, what were the issues that triggered the votes.
>
> Joani Blank
> Doyle Street CoHousing (currently) and Old Oakland CoHousing / Swan's
> Market (future)



--
_______________________
Best -- Ann Zabaldo
My human form still lives in Maryland but
my astral projection has a new email address:
Please make changes to lists & address books.
ZABALDO [at] EARTHLINK.NET