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From: CONSENSUS
Category: Category 1
Date: 16 Apr 2002
Time: 16:06:40
Remote Name: ool-182c94c9.dyn.optonline.net
Gayle wrote: <<”Our region has gone to the "famous/infamous" consensus method of doing business. While this certainly allows for faster decisions,”>>
This puzzles me. Maybe I am just missing something. Perhaps someone can explain to me how this would allow for faster decisions? In my experience, when the service committees I am involved in use the consensus method of doing business, this certainly SLOWS UP the process!! Decisions are anything but faster. Using the old system of let’s vote, majority rules, this takes about a minute or two after about 5 minutes of discussion. Using consensus based decision making, we slow down, listen to all sides, and listen especially hard to the minority view point, even if it is only one person. We discuss it more, trying to better understand each others viewpoint, we work out comprises, we look for the things we can agree on. Yes this takes longer, at least it does where I do service, but it is so worth it to give the lone voice a chance to change his mind through explanation and discussion, not merely discounting him because ‘majority rules’ or to give all the rest of us a chance to hear the minority again and perhaps change our minds. And I have seen that happen.
Gayle wrote: <<“it is a concern because the only input that home groups are asked to participate in are 1) election of trusted servants [once a year, only though; all others are dealt with on-site by consensus]; 2) approval of budgets [expecting the average member to decide whether or not to spend thousands of dollars on positions when some groups are>struggling to pay rent or buy literature]; and 3) changes to regional policy [like most home group members understand or really care how the RSC does business], the rest of the time our representatives feel quite content and empowered to make decisions on our behalf without our input.>>
Gayle, In my region, our RCMs or RDs only make parliamentary decisions without input from the groups. Any matters before the Region that will affect the Areas or the Groups are sent back to the Areas and Groups for discussion and input and specific ways to vote. If it doesn’t work like that where you live, ask the TSs why not. Peace and Huggs, Richie