Cohousing-L Mailing List: Populating Committees (Circles)

[R Philip Dowds (rphilipdowds]

Cohousing Friends —

Like most cohos, Cornerstone in Cambridge MA is self-managed, and organizes its 
volunteers into “committees” (circles).  All our committee meetings operate 
according to published agendas and minutes, and are open to anyone who wants to 
attend.  Where we may be atypical is that, while our committees do have 
meetings with attendees, they mostly don’t have selected or appointed members 
with delegated powers or duties.  In the interests of full equivalence and 
maximum participation, anyone who shows up for a meeting is equally empowered 
to participate in the decision-making of the group.  For meetings committed to 
consensus (unanimity), making decisions is sometimes arduous and unpleasant, 
even impossible.

So my questions to each and all are …
      (1) How do you populate your committees (circles) with members?  What 
kind of election / selection / ratification process do you use?  And …
      (2) In general, is your approach to committee membership working well for 
you?  Or are you still struggling with some unresolved controversies of 
selection, empowerment, exclusivity, trust, or whatever?

Thanks,
Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Cohousing