Cohousing-L Mailing List: Consensus Models for larger groups

[Becky Schaller (bschaller]

We have 36 households in our community and lately I've realized that we are
governing ourselves with basically the same method that much smaller
communities are.  Basically, large group concensus.  We do have committees
that also make varying degrees of decisions.  Many of us believe we need to
clarify the mandates of the committees including their decision making
powers.   However, simply getting this item on the agenda has been a real
challenge.  Because of the above reasons and others, I am beginning to think
it woul be in our best interest to begin investigating other forms of
governance that are compatible with cohousing.  I would like to learn more
about  sociocracy.  Also, Rob mentioned having a group like a Board of
Directors who makes certain kinds of decisions.  Based on what little I know
of both of these, they both sound like they have possiblities.   I'm
wondering if other large cohousing communities have other governing forms
that we should also be aware of.   I'm sure I've missed some that have been
mentioned in previous posts.  But I don't remember any discussion of group
governance that includes size as an important criteria.   I welcome ideas as
to how other larger cohousing groups actually govern themselves and
references for other places to look.
Thanks,
Becky 

_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L