Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: Work Sharing

[Berrins (Berrins]

In a message dated 8/23/03 9:41:20 AM, sharon [at] sharonvillines.us writes:

<< One of the consistent problems I see with meetings is that people do not
come prepared and do no work between meetings.  >>
<< Too often those most fond of meetings use them as substitutes for work
between meetings. >>
<< the problem is still people arriving unprepared, not consensus. >>

This happens at several levels.  At committee meetings, it may take some 
staring at each other until someone volunteers to do a certain task.  Some 
volunteers either do a half vast job or none at all (most do fine, BTW, but 
that's 
not the problem).  But one of the biggest problems is poor publicity on issues 
for general meetings and then expecting the general meeting to rubber stamp 
committee decisions.  

Part of good prep for general meetings is plenty of early warning of the 
upcoming issue; a slew of paper in people's cubbies and posted next to the 
mailboxes outlining the issue way ahead of time, along with a few emails.  
Committee 
members can also talk up the issue ahead of time.  It's not enough to zip out 
an email or just post it on a bulletin board with two days lead.  I find that 
good advance publicity cuts way back on people coming unprepared to general 
meetings.  It also helps if the general meeting has had some discussion on the 
topic prior to the decision-making meeting.  Good advance warning gives the 
committee time to get feedback before they make their pitch.

As for meetings, you'll always get people who arrive unprepared and without a 
clue.  These are the folks who arrive late reading the handout on their way 
in (or saying "What handout?  Where can I get one?").  They think they've done 
well enough just showing up at the meeting.  

But while just going to meetings, IMHO, is not enough to pull your share of 
work, it's still necessary and time out of your life.  Meetings are just 
another form of community involvement.  Other people hate meetings and are 
willing 
to do the physical labor or planning work, and let others make decisions.  But 
those folks get to plan their work around their schedules, while going to 
meetings requires working your schedule around the meeting times, which is much 
less convenient.  So just as it's not fair to just go to meetings and not do 
any 
work in between, it's also not fair to just do work in between and ignore 
meetings.  While I'd rather see people doing a blend of volunteer work and 
meetings, I'll be satisfied if we achieve a balance of folks who just go to 
meetings 
and other folks who just do work, so long as the work gets done and the 
decisions get made, and nobody gripes about what the others did (woof!). 

Roger
Pathways Cohousing
Northampton, MA

Where the heat and rain have temporarily tapered off and its just a gorgeous 
day outside.   


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