Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: RE: Consensus: late blocks (TR Ruddick)

[Dahako (Dahako]

Hi all -

I've actually been through a "blocking" situation using a Butler-variation 
consensus model.  In this case, a member participated in all the 
decision-making meetings, came to a conclusion about the merits of the 
proposal, presented his viewpoint, which was discussed by the group (a lot).  
After consideration, no one else agreed with his position that acceptance of 
the proposal represented the group stepping away from an agreed-on group value 
or a previous decision about the scope of the project.  He agreed that he had 
been listened to and his input and position discussed and respected.  
Ultimately, the group decided to go ahead with the proposal, noting his extreme 
reservations.

The facilitator did a fantastic job throughout the process to maintain a group 
"tone" of respect, openness, curiousity, and commitment to becoming stronger as 
a community by taking on this challenging discussion process. I can't say 
enough, no matter what model a community chooses, for using qualified, trained, 
able faciliators, especially in areas of disagreement.

-Jessie Handforth Kome
Eastern Village Cohousing
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
"Where we're working on coming to consensus on a consensus process."
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