Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Rules (was Play/toy weapons)

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Jul 22, 2016, at 2:29 PM, Muriel Kranowski <murielk [at] vt.edu> wrote:
> 
> The dilemma for us, still unresolved, is not so much "what rules do we
> want?" but "what to do about non-compliance?”

We’ve been very lucky in having people who will speak to the offender privately 
and resolve it. It’s a different person depending on the issue. Someone just 
does it. Sometimes I ask a person I know is friends with the person to speak to 
them privately.

Some times people will go to a team and say, for example, "I think the clutter 
outside doors is getting out of hand. Do you think it is a good idea if I just 
talk to people about it.” Then she went around and spoke to each person and 
explained the problem. One person took several talks, another never quite 
agreed on what was reasonable. But on the whole it works. No policy or big 
deal. 

Governance includes enforcing the governance agreements. Since cohousing 
started as a DIY project, however, it is built on an altruistic idea that left 
to themselves, people do the right thing. And even do it better without “condo 
commandos.” It’s one of those ideas that is super liberal and super 
conservative at the same time. Get government out. Live free.

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