Cohousing-L Mailing List: Consensus and voting as back up

[Cathy Angell (CathyAngell]

>I recommend something like the following. Attempt consensus at two
meetings,
>with a third meeting automatically a vote is taken unless the group chooses
>by consensus, not to hold the vote. It takes 67% (2/3rd) to approve.

I believe that Earthsong members would thoroughly endorse Rob's comments.
As New Zealand's first ever Cohousing neighbourhood, we used the existing
overseas wisdom in developing our structure, but had no local experience of
how it would work.

We make  two attempts at reaching consensus, we use the colour cards very
fully, and we have a fall back to a vote if an issue cannot be resolved.  A
decision can be made if 3/4 approve it.  Our votes are allocated in relation
to the amount of capital a member has contributed to the project, which is
quite varied.

I am very proud to say that in the seven years that this project has been
under way, we have had to use a vote on only two occasions!   In both cases
this was followed very closely by the retirement of a member/household.

I believe that a fundamental part of our success is that we do use the cards
fully, and that we have some clear communication agreements about how we
will relate together :

-   "I will use "I" statements, and speak for myself, not others
-    I will speak succinctly (short and to the point)
-    I will take responsibility for owning and naming my own feelings
-    I will respect others rights to speak without interruption
-    I undertake to respect other's privacy by not discussing outside the
group other people's personal issues which may arise within the group
process
-    I undertake to value and respect different contributions and
perspectives of al individuals
-    I undertake to keep my relationships within the group clear by dealing
with my problematic issues directly with the persons concerned.
-    I recognise that we work best together when we remember to have fun!"

Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood is New Zealand's *very first* cohousing
neighbourhood, with 16 of the first 17 homes sold, 9 households already in
residence, 3 more due to occupy in the next 2-3 weeks ! (including my
own!!!)

We do not yet have our designed common house built - that will happen when
the
last of the 32 units is built - but we do have a small 1940's  cottage
which is now our temporary common house.   Within days of this being vacated
we had our first common house dinner together there, and this evening an
Easter Egg hunt and sing along is planned around an open fire on our common
green!

Some of you have already found our website, and made some very affirming
comments about it - thank you - every little bit helps keep us going,
especially when the going is tough.

Cathy

Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood
Ranui
West Auckland
New Zealand
www.cohousing.pl.net









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