Cohousing-L Mailing List: Managing "board"

[Mac & Sandy Thomson (ganesh]

We're a new community so we've had a Steering team for only a year.  I
served on that first Steering team and I'm not sure how well I'd say it
worked.  I definitely think there's some benefit of having someone
responsible for planning and oversight, but the reality of it was that
I'm not sure that we did as good of a job as we could have in providing
the leadership to help the community in setting direction and dealing
with current issues.  We'll see howthings evolve over the years . . . .

Below is the Steering team section from our "Teams" agreement.

Good luck,
Mac

========================
STEERING

Purpose
To facilitate the community in living in accord with its Vision, Values,
and Interpersonal Agreements and in accomplishing its Goals.

Number of Members
3 to 5

Qualifications of Members
Team members must be resident members of Heartwood.

Selection Process
By January 31 of each year, the Steering team solicits at least 3
volunteers for a Nominating task force. By February 28, based on
community input and their own judgement, the Nominating task force
proposes a slate of from 3 to 5 member candidates along with their
selection criteria and rationale for the proposed slate. The slate
cannot include any members of the Nominating task force. To ensure
continuity, ideally at least half of the candidates included on the
slate are current members of the Steering team. A member may only serve
up to 4 consecutive one year terms. The community decides how many
members (3 to 5) will serve on the Steering team and who the members
will be. If a member resigns during their term, the community may choose
to replace that member or leave the spot vacant.

Responsibility & Authority

Overall responsibility for long term community planning and day to day
community embodiment of our Agreements.

Specific Responsibilities and Authorities

Community Goals and Objectives
Lead the community in establishing community Goals. - Full Authority
(community decides on Goals)
In collaboration with the other teams, establish community Objectives to
accomplish community Goals. - Proposal Authority
Ensure that community Goals and Objectives are met. - Full Authority

Community Issues and Decisions
Schedule Business Meetings, Retreats, and Special Meetings. Prepare
agendas. - Full Authority (in collaboration with Process & Communication
team)
Update Agreements based on community decisions. - Full Authority
Ensure that community decisions and agreements are followed. - Full
Authority
Ensure that covenants are followed. - Full Authority (consistent with
covenants)

Team Oversight
Create and dissolve teams. Create their responsibilities and
authorities. - Proposal Authority
Create and dissolve task forces. Create their responsibilities and
authorities. - Full Authority
Allocate responsibilities and authorities amongst teams and task forces.
- Full Authority (with agreement from affected teams and task forces)
Ensure that teams and task forces are fulfilling their responsibilities.
- Full Authority

Financial
Spend community money (sign checks) within budget limits. - Full
Authority
Manage community contingency budget. - Full Authority

Other
Maintain community calendar. - Full Authority
Serve as members of the Heartwood Ranch HOA Board of Directors - Full
Authority
Create and administer Community Jobs Rotation - Full Authority (except
when a new conceptual rotation plan is created which requires a
community decision)
Create Nominating task force by January 31 of each year. - Full
Authority
Coordinate with Mac & Sandy on development of the Outback. - Full
Authority


========================

Cheryl of Harmony Village wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I am currently searching the archive, but wanted to ask for up-to-date
> information from any built communities who have a managing board or
> executive committee or something similar.
> 
> We are working on a proposal (after five years, it seems like an idea
> whose time has come) but would deeply appreciate any real life
> experience with same.
> 
> Thanks, Cheryl
-- 
           Mac & Sandy Thomson           Heartwood Cohousing
           ganesh [at] rmi.net                Durango, Colorado
        Web Site:   http://www.heartwoodcohousing.com


"When we remember that we're all mad, the mysteries disolve and life
stands explained."
            - Mark Twain
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