Cohousing-L Mailing List: Revisiting Consensus

[Fred H Olson (fholson]

Joel Plotkin <joel.plotkin [at] sunyit.edu>
is the author of the message below.
It was posted by Fred the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
since it was sent in html only which the list does not handle. We are
working on finding a way for Joel to send plain text.  Fred
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COHOrts:

A question regarding consensus--Our community uses consensus as our
decision-making process, with CT Butler's essay as a guideline. A
question arose yesterday about revisiting an issue on which consensus
had been reached several years ago. The more procedurally-oriented of us
(still hearing crackles, perhaps, from remaining synapses of Roberts'
Rules of Order) wanted first to reach consensus on a proposal to revisit
the earlier consensus. Others said that simply reopening discussion was
an implicit agreement to revisit the earlier consensus, but that without
a new consensus, the old decision stands. This last is what Butler
writes in his essay.

It seems to me, in the light of the morning, that trying to arrive at a
consensus to revisit an earlier consensus is inherently virtually
impossible, given that some members have already expressed some
disaffection with the earlier decision; that not agreeing to revisit the
issue undemocratically silences those who wish to reopen the discussion.

Our group has decided to continue work on the issue in a smaller group
(a traditional consensus next-step), implicitly acknowledging that the
earlier consensus IS being revisited, without a formal proposal to
revisit.

So here's where I'd like input: Do any of the consensus-based or
sociocracy groups have language about revisiting earlier consensi
(consensuses? consensim?) or experience that may help a group with very
varied backgrounds in consensus better understand this issue.

A further question: the issue at question is that our current Rules and
Regulations require members of the Community Owners Association to be
partners in our tree farm business venture, a separately-incorporated
LLC. Those Coho groups with attached or covalent businesses--how do you
handle the issue of a COA member not wishing to be joined legally to
that business?

Joel Plotkin
Hundredfold Farm
Orrtanna, PA