Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Dynamic Governance-Sociocracy workshop June 15-16 in Boston MA

[R Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

I cannot represent that I am expert on any of this, but I'm feeling like our 
vocabulary and concepts may be getting a bit scrambled, at least in my mind.  
My emerging understanding of all this material is ...

CONSENSUS is a process of engagement that involves carefully delineated steps 
of proposing, discussing, listening, expressing concerns and objections, and 
then, hopefully, finding ways to resolve them, and finally arriving at a 
decision. Some versions of Sociocracy emphasize experimentation and evaluation: 
all new proposals have a built-in sunset clause, at which point they are 
evaluated, and then renewed, or reformed, or abandoned.

But as DLC explains with some vigor, the validity and value of the consensus 
process is not tied to perfect unanimity as the only affirmative outcome.  She 
argues that good consensus can be divorced from the "DECISION RULE" of 
unanimous approval, and in fact, should be, especially for cohos.  Many cohos 
are now experimenting with DECISION RULE alternatives to unanimity, such as 
requiring more than one person to validate the objection, or super-majority 
rule after the group has made a good faith effort to address objections.

CONSENSUS is a process used by groups to make decisions.  SOCIOCRACY employs 
and relies on CONSENSUS, and is not intended as an alternative to it.  One of 
the things Sociocracy adds to the mix is a vitally important consideration that 
C T Butler rarely speaks to:  Where did the group come from?  Where did it get 
its authority to make a decision?  Is it really the right, or the best, set of 
people for making such decisions?  What if the group is not operating in a 
vacuum, but instead must have permanent relations with other groups?  These are 
critical organizational questions for which Sociocracy tries to provide some 
answers.

My personal view is that one of Sociocracy's strengths is that it authenticates 
and empowers coho committees or circles because the whole community takes part 
in defining these groups and their legitimacy.  This leads to trust.  Which 
leads to delegation.  Which leads to fewer meetings.  Which is good.

R Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Cohousing
175 Harvey Street, Unit 5
Cambridge, MA 02140
617.354.6094

On May 4, 2012, at 3:59 PM, Jerry Koch-Gonzalez wrote:

> 
> If you are not getting to the Cohousing Conference this June 15-16 you
> could go to the Jamaica Plain Cohousing Community for a two-day Dynamic
> Governance/Sociocracy workshop. To be presented by Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, 18
> year resident of Pioneer Valley Cohousing in Massachusetts,  and a member
> of The Sociocracy Consulting Group.
> 
> A number of cohousing communities in formation (sucha s green haven in
> Commecticut and Cohabitat Quebec in eastern Canada) have adopted sociocracy
> and some already existing communities like Pioneer Valley Cohousing are
> considering the shift from consensus to sociocracy for their decision
> making process and organizational structure. Diana Leafe Christian who
> wrote  *Creating A Life Together *and Ann Zabaldo, Takoma Village cohousing
> resident and organizer
> of the Mid-Atlantic Cohousing network both previously advocated consensus
> now are encouraging communities to organize on the basis of Dynamic
> Governance.
> 
> Sociocracy/dynamic self-governance
> 
> A New Way to Organize How We Live and Work
> 
> Sociocracy: governance by the “socios” – those who work together. Dynamic
> Self-Governance is an effective participatory decision making process based
> on equivalence of power of all participants regardless of their position in
> an organization’s managerial hierarchy. Sociocracy redesigns traditional
> organizational decision making, transforms ownership structure, and offers
> a vision of society based on power-with!
> 
> An Experiential Workshop with Jerry Koch-Gonzalez of The Sociocracy
> Consulting Group
> 
> *June 15-16, 2012 9:30am-5:00pm*
> 
> in Boston, MA 02130
> at the Jamaica Plain Cohousing Community
> 
> Requested contribution: sliding scale $150-100
> Lunch and snacks included. All are welcome regardless of ability to
> contribute financially.
> 
> A limited amount of low-cost local housing available.
> 
> Information and Registration online at Both-And.Net, NewEnglandNVC.org or
> call (413) 549-1747
> 
> PS: there will also be a one day pre-cohousingconference workshop on June
> 14 led by John Schinnerer and another 2-day session on July 15-16 at World
> Fellowship retreat center in Conway NH with Jerry Koch-Gonzalez.
> 
> -- 
> Jerry Koch-Gonzalez
> 413-549-1747
> Both-And Consulting
> Dynamic Governance/Sociocracy
> Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication
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