Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Selection Process

[S (scowley]

Liz, your anecdote about strange members is a great opening for our stories. 
Thanks!
We have 3 extreme people to date.  (out of 36 adults).  One  is pretty clearly 
not in 
control of her moods.  Another is a negativist with ego problems.  The third 
demanded a 
business space (which has subsequently and continually increased in size) as 
the price 
for his willingness to become a member. 
 The group took these people on out of fear of not being able to sell all the 
homes we 
were building.
        The interesting thing is that we all seem to be evolving.  A cohousing 
group has a 
very short feedback loop.
Case #1 experienced a community-wide "clearing" during our general
community meeting (at her request, after a formal conflict process was 
initiated).  
Although not solved, the problem has become manageable.
Case #2 has experienced a public confrontation over her individualism and 
control 
issues, and was then offered assistance based on a clear understanding of the 
goals 
and tasks mutually agreed upon by the community.
Case #3 is establishing his credibility, or lack thereof, by his works, or lack 
thereof.
Fascinating how a group can establish a realistic system of accountability when 
it has 
actually got some control over itself.