Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Concensus and Lenders

[Peter Scott (ps]

Here at Earthsong our legal stuff refers to a two step process, of firstly that 
the group "shall be consulted" using the group decisionmaking process (defined 
as 2 attempts at a consensus etc) and secondly failing that a 75% majority vote 
of financial interests. While we see the latter as a backstop, the banks etc 
see the latter and dont really care about the former. You can  read the fine 
print on our website at http://www.ecohousing.pl.net/resource/ca.html

Peter Scott
Earthsong

jonathan ogren wrote:

> We are in the beginning stages of forming a cohousing group in Austin, 
> TX.  Like many cohousing groups, we are going to use concensus as 
> our decision making process.  In  one of our very helpful 
> sources of information,The Co-Housing Resource Guide compiled by Rob 
> Sandelin, it says you should not state you are using concensus as your 
> decision making process in incorparation documents because it is not a 
> recognized decision making process for many lenders.  Is this something 
> to be concerned about? Has anyone put concensus in their bylaws and majority 
> vote in their incorparation documents and had a conflict?  Is it 
> possible to create both documents so they do not conflict?