Meetings & Decisions
At WindSong, we work together to make decisions about everything from cleaning and maintenance to security, strata fees and social events. At monthly community meetings we use a consensus decision making process, rather than the majority vote model used in most stratas.
A person or group brings a written proposal to the meeting for discussion, questions and concerns to determine if we have enough agreement to "call for consensus". We aim for total agreement through reworking proposals so they "work" for everyone in the community.
In the consensus decision making model, sometimes decisions take longer to make, but we end up with better decisions, and more of a sense of connection. Everyone is heard by the rest of the group, and we have found that we have become much better listeners and more understanding of each other as a result of using this model for 12 years. With practice, we are also becoming adept at using this model to make clear, empowering decisions which benefit all members of our community.
We value this process here at WindSong. Consensus is a critical distinguishing aspect of cohousing, and it requires the support and participation of all members. If you are considering becoming part of our community, we invite you to come to a community meeting and observe the consentheus process. You should also be aware that if you buy a home at WindSong, you will be expected to attend monthly meetings and be an active part of this decision-making process.
