Lesson Plan for Teaching the Consensus Process

6:05pm Shawn - Quick check-ins, intros, announcements

OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE’RE DOING TONIGHT Agenda Groundrules Hold on to your questions until the end -- you may get your answer later on in the presentation Anything else?

6:15pm Shawn WHAT IS CONSENSUS? Decision-making process whereby everyone in the group either agrees with or is neutral on a decision. It is more than a 100% vote -- it is a decision that everyone in the group can live with, and the majority of the group feels good about and invested in. For it to happen right, we follow a certain structure of proposing ideas, running meetings, discussing proposals and deciding on proposals that helps make sure the decisions we make are solid, smart, and reflective of the group’s will. A group using consensus requires a culture of cooperation, openness and involvement.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT CONSENSUS, ANYWAY? Decisions are made that everyone feels invested in. Sometimes everybody is wrong on something, but one person has a key insight or feeling that leads to the right decision; that lone voice is usually silent in Majority-Rules decisions. Quaker saying “Everyone has a piece of the truth”. Everyone can be wrong; everyone can be the watchdog. It’s great of intense/intimate groups (like co-housing!) because it forces us to work better together, respect everyone’s needs, and keep everyone involved.

EVERYONE READ KATHEY SUTTER’S FOLDOUT, “13 Steps to Consensus and Solidarity”

6:30pm SF & DL Open for clarifying questions

6:35pm Daniel HOW DO WE DO CONSENSUS? Meeting Structure (Proposal - Discussion - Decision: different forms, long and short) Basis for decisions: membership structure and quorum Kinds of PROPOSALS and DECISIONS small issues & big issues strawpolls and ‘testing for consensus’ Formal Consensus: Assents, Stand-Asides, Blocks Kinds of DISCUSSIONS (and basic guidelines) Formal Discussion and Guided Discussion Freeform; Quick Discussion Brainstorm; creative stuff Other tools Committees: ad hoc and standing; decision-making authority should be defined by whole group ??? Facilitation and Interaction Role of the Facilitator, Scribe, Participant, etc. Hand signals

6:55pm SF & DL Open for clarifying questions

7:00pm ??? OK, HOW DOES THIS *REALLY* WORK IN PRACTICE? Impediments to Consensus lack of participation possible solution: ask for individuals' opinions during meeting; talk with them after meeting if bigger problem dissatisfaction with the process / poor facilitation possible solution: speak up! everyone in group can play a role in helping facilitate and move things along individuals not willing to compromise possible solution: require good reasons for witholding support: it shouldn't be personal power imbalance in the group out of hand possible solution: bring it up to trusted friend; bring it to group in a balanced way – others probably agree overriding lack of trust within the group possible solution: often caused by something else and needs to be addressed outside of meeting lack of openness about feelings & assumptions individuals not committed to Consensus process possible solution: group needs to discuss reasons why and address them lack of common vision in the group

Different forms of Consensus: Consensus Minus One (you must have at least 2 to block) Try for Consensus, settle for 2/3 or ¾ Notas: these alternative forms of consensus can be used all the time, used for only specific, defined decisions, or as a consistent fallback plan. These alternatives are often used for groups of 20 and larger (on tougher decisions, consensus can be hard for this many to reach). Working hard on including everyone can be difficult but rewarding.

07:10:00 pm SF & DL Open for questions

07:20:00 pm SF & DL PRACTICE CONSENSUS DECISION

Shawn presents a fake proposal; Daniel will facilitate. (20 minutes)

7:35pm ??? DISCUSSION: OK, what process do we want to use for OUR group? 7:50pm ??? Remaining Co-housing Group business.