Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: consensus

[John Sechrest (sechrest]

        Let me recommend the book:
        
        "Democracy in Small Groups"
        By John  Gastil
        ISBN USA 0-86571-274-3
        
        New society publishers
        
        It really can help set a foundation for when 
        what kinds of decisions need to use different
        methods for deciding.
        
        


Stephanie Fassnacht <fassnach [at] ssc.wisc.edu> writes:

 % Dear list,
 %   When the committee trying to put together our consensus document
 % presented their initial draft to the group as a whole, several issues
 % generated quite a discussion.  One of these was: When consensus is
 % appropriate?  I felt that consensus is not appropriate for all
 % decisions the group must make, but when asked to come up with
 % examples, I came up pretty empty-handed.  Others in the group felt
 % that consensus is one of the things that defines a cohousing group,
 % and that only in extreme emergencies should any other means of
 % deciding be used.  I would appreciate any words of wisdom any of you
 % have on this topic, with examples if possible.
 %   Another topic that generated a lot of debate was who can participate
 % in the consensus process and at what levels.  Our condo docs define a
 % member as a unit-owner, i.e. the person(s) who legally own the
 % property.  The group pretty much agrees that discussion should
 % involve all (adult) individuals.   But who should be able to
 % participate in decisions that are binding on the group?   Membership
 % categories that could be considered here are:  unit-owners, adult
 % members of unit-owners' families, those persons formally accepted by
 % the group but waiting for a unit to become available, and those
 % participating in the group on a trial basis (and not owners).  Again,
 % any words of wisdom here would be greatly appreciated.
 % 
 % Stephanie Fassnacht
 % Village Cohousing
 % Madison, Wisconsin

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