Process

Training will be offered as part of the Skills & Thrills process to help increase the number of facilitators in the community

Aligns the Master deed with our current practices around blocking

We propose to alternate in-person and virtual community meetings instead of being all virtual.

A clearer process for revising previous community or empowered-committee decisions. The agreement removes the previous requirement of a minimum of six households to re-open discussion of an agreement, and outlines steps for seeking reconsideration of a decision, including meeting with the Process committee and relevant committee, and writing a new proposal incorporating feedback from the community.

A revised Committee Effectiveness agreement to strengthen the Great Oak committee system by giving specific direction to committees on how to effectively function and fulfill their mandates. This is intended to institute best practices for committees to follow in three major areas, namely Committee Mandates, Roles and Responsibilities, and Questions, Concerns, and Controversial Decisions.

The proposal suggests pre-approving five community meetings a year, when the annual budget is discussed, to extend up to 120 minutes instead of 90 minutes, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, when needed. This is intended to allow for more in-depth discussions, finishing the budget in fewer meetings, and reducing tension around rushed agenda items.

Alternative meetings primarily serve as a platform for community building rather than decision-making. However, they can be used to discuss and reach consensus on proposals if they follow the same decision-making requirements as regular meetings.

The Process committee supports the community's commitment to consensus decision-making, conflict resolution, and communication. They are responsible for ensuring the safe storage and accessibility of community historical information and actively supporting learning but not enforcing specific community decisions or endorsing proposals.

Email Etiquette Agreement which includes guidelines for using email for business on GO-Talk, within the committee, between community members and committees, and basic guidelines for all email.

The Great Oak community is proposing to change the current quorum agreement to 15 households and count quorum at the beginning of each decision item in order to address frustrations with decision-making difficulties due to low attendance.

Updated meeting guidelines which include separate facilitator and participant guidelines, as well as a four-step method for working through emotional charge. Additionally, the proposal outlines an Input in Absentia agreement for community members who are unable to attend a meeting.

A proposal defining alternative meeting formats to alternate with standard meetings. These meetings will be less formal, and allow for a variety of community gathering designs. This is under an 8 month evaluation period, due to be revisited in May 2008.

This document outlines a communication pathway to follow when there is a perception that a community agreement has been broken, with the goal of resolving the issue without formal consequences. The pathway includes steps such as handling the situation alone, talking to the neighbor directly, seeking out a third person's help, engaging the Conflict Resolution Committee, and addressing the issue with the whole group.

How GO committees should operate, to ensure good functioning and communication.

Lakestone (Eagle Point) Relationship Proposal, Paired with the Cohousing Council Proposal

The minute taker is responsible for recording the highlights of the discussion during meetings, reflecting the nature and detail of the meeting. Afterwards, responsible for emailing out to the group the draft minutes, integrating feedback and publishing via email not as an attachment in a way that can be easily archived.

A committee's convener ensures that committee meetings happen on a planned schedule, track agenda, tracks the budget and ensures that minutes are taken and shared and communicated with the community.

The proposal suggests forming a Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC) in the community to help with conflict resolution between individuals or households. The CRC will be a community resource and maintain confidentiality while providing guidance and mediation services, although certain types of conflict may require outside resources.

When a participant wishes to block, this prevents the decision from going forward for the time being. A person stands aside when he or she cannot personally support the proposal but feels that it would be acceptable for the rest of the group to adopt it.

Proposals should be drafted according to a specific template which provides for certain categories of information.

Outline of how GO meeting agendas should be done.

We will use consensus decision making unless we consense not to do so.