Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus vs. Executive meetings

[Sharon Villines (sharonvillines]

> Having each committee represented helps a lot.  Committees get feedback from
> the other committees and questions and issues from the board can get back to
> any committee.   If the rep from a committee can't go to a meeting, they get
> someone from their committee to go.

We also have team reps -- three teams: Facilities, Admin (legal and
finance), and Community. These people come and go as the teams shift and
change responsibilities, they aren't "elected" or chosen by the full
membership. 

Team reps are very important because it isn't always clear when the board
needs to consult with a team and the time isn't always there to wait for the
next team meeting or the next time you can contact the team point person on
an issue. And the team doesn't always know when the Board has been
discussing something or doesn't understand the full ramifications of an
action. With a team rep in the room at board meetings and the same person
present at team meetings, communications is MUCH easier and faster.

One thing I've learned about inclusive decision-making in cohousing is that
it adds a lot of wait-time for everyone to connect. A simple request for
everyone to send me their approximate working hours (away from the village)
would take at least a week and in the case of people who travel, up to a
month. I have to wait for everyone to read their email or check their
folders (we don't have cubbies yet) and everyone does this on a different
schedule. Then I have to follow up with those who assume that if it is
really important it will knock on their door or trip them in the
commonhouse.

Without team reps, the board would be constantly tabling discussions pending
team consultation and the teams would be frustrated over not understanding
what the board was or was not doing. We also have cross team reps when it
seems important -- Admin has a person who attends Facilities team meetings,
etc. Only so much communication can be done via posted agendas and minutes.

Sharon
-- 
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
Where our resident population just hit 66 plus approx. 3 regular overnight
"guests" and 3 babies incubating. My estimate is that when everyone has all
their children, renters, and SOs in place, we will hit 85 in 43 units.


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