Co-Housing/Elder Co-Housing Discussion Group 11 March ’07

Notes taken by Jerry Friedman, Recorder for the group
Optimum group size ~ 20 persons/couples/families

Privacy vs. Community-It’s important to set boundaries--physical, e.g., fences and verbal--”don’t cut through the back yards”.  The physical design must incorporate an attention to privacy

Shared Meals-There should be an agreement/ability to set the amount of mealtime togetherness

Kids- Even in an elder-only community, there are frequently (visiting grand children & great grand children) kids present.

In an Elder-rich community, there must be attention paid by/consensus among younger parents on control of their children in dining room; there should be a cultural commitment by younger parents to the harmony of the group  (It's the disciplining-behavior of the parents, not the behavior of the children, that the younger parents have to agree on)

Maybe have two communities––Elder-rich & Intergenerational––side-by-side?

Consider purchasing some services, e.g., landscaping, repairs, instead of residents doing it all.

All residents should have the same property insurer, to avoid time-consuming litigation between insurers.

No matter what course is taken, there will always be unintended consequences.

Consensual Decision Making Discussion Group

Notes taken by (new woman from Brevard who came to Introductory)

Consensus doesn’t necessarily call for 100% agreement.
Everyone buys into decisions – after open discussion where each person has an opportunity to speak and to be listened to.  Group may modify original proposal based upon arriving at a decision everyone can live with.

Sociocracy is governed by consent where circles gather to make policy, set goals, delegate and maintain ongoing development.  Circles are connected by double-links with leader and 2 or more representative from other circles.  Possible pitfall – sociocracy seems more hierarchical with danger of power groups becoming rulers of entire group.

The group favored consensus decision-making because we didn’t understand sociocracy as well.  Altura Group is having a training April 28 on both forms of consensual decision-making – consensus and sociocracy. 

*Whichever form of consensual decision-making a group chooses, the group will need training and practice because of the habits instilled by “majority rule voting