Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Agenda Planning

[Rowenahc (rowenahc]

We have a facilitator's group that meets to plan the meetings and calls
those who submitted items, to discuss their time needs, etc.   Since we have
instituted a "decision board" and delegated less significant decision-making
to smaller groups we rarely have a major conflict.   Most significant
matters are discussed in smaller groups or committees, the proposals posted
and comments solicited, revisions made, discussed on our intranet, and so on
before they come to a large meeting.  Committees also post minutes and
proposals to allow for general comment.  By the time something comes to a
general meeting, those with serious disagreements have generally been heard
and their issues dealt with either by modifications to the proposals or by
the objecting individual agreeing to stand aside - a VERY important part of
the consensus process by the way and one that tends to be overlooked.  This
means that we can usually get through most business quite rapidly leaving
time for issues that need indepth discussion - usually matters that are just
beginning to take shape, "hopes and concerns" sessions, and such like.

 Although we use the classic "card" system for both discussion purposes and
decision-making, the days when the cards showing "serious disagreement" were
often displayed have gone and I don't remember when anything was last
red-carded.  (By the way, I think cards are preferable to fingers and
thumbs.  We have a box of card sets which are held together by a large ring.
On each side of the colored card are instructions on its use in either
discussion or decision-making so that there is no confusion.  We also have
the instructions on a large poster which gets dragged out for the annual
meeting and other potentially fraught meetings.)

Rowena
Cambridge Cohousing




-----Original Message-----
From: cohousing-l-admin [at] cohousing.org
[mailto:cohousing-l-admin [at] cohousing.org]On Behalf Of Becky Schaller
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2001 2:24 PM
To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
Subject: [C-L]_Agenda Planning


I'm wondering how other communities decide what items get on the agenda for
each meeting.  Here at Sonora Cohousing, people submit items and the
approximate times needed to the facilitator. Hopefully, when it's all added
up, there is more time than is requested. That has seldom been the case so
often times items get delayed to the next meeting.  And perhaps to the next
meeting.  I'm wondering how other communities decide what gets on the agenda
and what gets put off.  I understand there is a group in Rob's community
which does this along with supporting the groups meeting in other ways.  I
rather like this idea and I'm wondering about other ways of deciding.  Would
you be willing to say how your community makes these decisions.  Who decides
what gets on the agenda?

Becky Schaller
Sonora Cohousing
Tucson,Arizona
Where the pool opened yesterday

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