Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Meeting Tools

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

Entibbe board is sold in 4X8 sheets. It is about $32 for a sheet, last time
I priced it. It is used often in shower installations by contractors. It
takes a dry erase pen wonderfully. Our scullery wall is made of the stuff
and we have used a length of it for a white board for several years.

We also use a flip chart on occasion, a LCD computer  projector on occasion,
a talking stick on occasion. We rejected the card system as it has some
subtle but not good effects on communication, especially the whole notion of
the blocking card. Now instead we use a fingers method and ask that anyone
that has further issues, concerns or questions to hold up two fingers, or,
if you are content that the proposal serves the needs of the community as it
exists, show one finger. This type of question is MUCH friendlier to
dissenting voices and bringing out issues than the notion of RED CARD I
BLOCK THE WHOLE GROUP.  And by encouraging dissenting voices to bring up
their issues, we seem to come up with much better solutions. Also by framing
the assent as, does this proposal serve the needs of the community, rather
than, do you personally like it?, we tend to get better discussions that
move us to where we need to go, rather than manipulations by individuals to
get what they personally want.

Consensus, as you all know, does not mean I agree. It means I give my
consent, which means I give permission. Experienced consensus folks
understand that it can be in the best interest  of the group to give
permission to something you disagree with. Humility is foundation for
consensus to be able to function.

Rob Sandelin
Sky Valley Environments  <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous [at] msn.com



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