Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: governance

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Sep 13, 2005, at 10:38 PM, Elana Kann wrote:

> I'm curious how other communities have handled this dual aspect of your
> affairs? And most importantly, how do you handle them both SKILLFULLY, 
> and
> what are the results?

The total separation is practically impossible. We have a board and 
three teams: Community Life, Facilities, and Legal and Administration, 
The idea is that the three teams handle the actual work with the board 
sort of coordinating. We do not in general view the board in the same 
sense that the condo docs do but having one makes the banks happy and 
does serve as a back up if things got tough. Legally they are 
enfranchised to make decisions.

To some extent anything that is "trouble" in the community can end up 
being a legal issue that the board will have to deal with. That's why 
it's better, perhaps, to have a more integrated and hierarchical 
relationship between the two. That also gives credence to both -- the 
Board isn't seen as heartless and the community team as unrealistic and 
unofficial. But change in a community takes time.

Even in our community which was intended to be a cohousing community 
from the start we still, after 5 years moved in have people who see 
things the same way they saw them in their old condos. The Board 
Decides!

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org