Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus, Majority Vote, "Blocks" [was Report on Survey of Cohousing Communities 2011. Just released. A must read!

[bonnie Fergusson (fergyb2]

      Well sort of--we recently had a problem with raccoons (in downtown 
Oakland yet) and with much angst over a two month period we finally reached 
consensus to call Trapper Dave in to trap and euthanize the raccoons.  But one 
lady who had been hospitalized and therefore unable to participate in the 
process came home the day the first one was trapped and freaked out.  She 
abducted the trapped raccoon effectively "blocking" our decision with her 
actions.  We had to have yet another emotional meeting including her and go 
through it all again before she reluctantly got on board with the decision.  
Never a dull moment. But the raccoons are now gone and we are all happy with no 
lingering resentments so I guess it's worth it.
                                          Bonnie Fergusson
                                          Swans Market Cohousing
                                          Oakland, CA
                
Sent from my iPad

On Sep 25, 2011, at 8:04 AM, R Philip Dowds <rpdowds [at] comcast.net> wrote:

> 
> I would go further:  Members who did not actually participate in the crafting 
> of a proposal should think really hard — like, I mean, really, really hard — 
> before they block it in a community-wide meeting.  Weak participation = 
> diminished rights. (Yes?)
> 
> RPD
> 
> On Sep 24, 2011, at 9:26 PM, Sharon Villines wrote:
> 
>> Any person who has an objection must explain it so it can be addressed and 
>> must participate in the process of resolving it. 
> 
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