====== Consensus Process ====== - **DEFINITIONS** - __Member__ - A current member of La Reunion Cooperative, as defined by applicable house policy. - __House__ - All current members of La Reunion Cooperative. - __Proposal__ - A topic presented to the house for discussion, change to house policy, the allocation of funds, or general approval. - __Sponsor__ - The member who represents a proposal. - __Facilitator__ - The member who insures the “Ground Rules”. - __Minutes Taker__ - The member who takes the meeting minutes. - __Minority__ - At least 1/4 of the members present at the meeting. - __Simple majority__ - At least 1/2 of the members present at the meeting. - __Super majority__ - At least 2/3 of members present at the meeting. - __Consensus Check__ - A step of the consensus process when members have the option of making a described twinkle motion to indicate their level of consent. - __The Floor__ - Speaking rights to address the meeting. - __The Stack__ - A list of members who wish to speak. - __Relevant__ - Discussion that conforms to the current step of the meeting. - __Move-On__ - A general circular motion. - __Up-Twinkle__ - A general upward motion to show approval. - __Middle-Twinkle__ - A general outward motion to show neutrality. - __Down-Twinkle__ - A general downward motion to show disapproval. - __Block-Twinkle__ - A general motion of guarding oneself from attack. - __Quorum__ - Seven members are required to be in attendance at a house meeting to meet quorum. - **GROUND RULES** - Proposals are introduced in any order determined by the present members - Members must convey their request to be on the stack to the facilitator without disrupting any member who currently has the floor. - All members who wish to be on the stack must be added to the stack. - All members on the stack must be given a chance to speak. - The facilitator determines who has the floor using the stack. - Should the minutes taker request time to make notes the floor should be held by the facilitator until the minutes taker indicates that they are ready to proceed. - When a member has the floor they should keep their comments relevant. - __If members who do not have the floor indicate move-on, the facilitator should assess if the member with the floor is speaking with relevance.__ - If the member is relevant they should be allowed to keep the floor. - If the member is not relevant they will be asked to concede the floor and must request to be added to the stack again. - __During a consensus check the facilitator will observe the twinkles made by the house to determine how to proceed with a proposal.__ - //If there are at least two block-twinkles:// - //__The facilitator will ask the blocking members for a reason why they are blocking.__// - If at least two of the blocks are found to be relevant the facilitator will table the proposal. - If less than two blocks are found to not be relevant the facilitator will continue to **2.i.II**. - If at least 90% of the non-blocking members present affirmatively decide that a block is not relevant, then the block is overridden. - If not **2.i.I** then, if there is at least a super majority of up-twinkles the proposal continues. - If not **2.i.II ** then, if there is at least a minority of down-tinkles the proposal is tabled. - If not **2.i.III** then, if there is at least a simple majority of up-twinkles the proposal continues. - At any time the sponsor can table their proposal. - **INTRODUCING A PROPOSAL** - A proposal is introduced by being read from the meeting agenda by the facilitator. - The sponsor elaborates on the proposal as they feel is appropriate - **POINTS OF INFORMATION AND CLARIFYING QUESTIONS** - The facilitator will introduce this phase as “Points of Information and Clarifying Questions” and advertise that members can now join the stack for this phase. - __Conversation that is relevant:__ - Members may offer information which they believe is relevant. - Members may ask a direct question about the proposal. - Any member with the answer to a question may override the stack in order to provide a direct response. - When the stack is closed the facilitator will call for a consensus check by asking if the house wishes to move on to “Concerns and Friendly Amendments”. - **CONCERNS, FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS, AND FINAL CALL** - The facilitator will introduce this phase as “Concerns and Friendly Amendments” and advertise that members can not join the stack for this phase. - __Conversation that is relevant:__ - Members may voice concerns - Members may offer friendly amendments to address concerns that they or another member has expressed - __When a friendly amendment has been proposed the facilitator should ask the sponsor if they accept the amendment.__ - If the friendly amendment is rejected the facilitator will return to the stack. - //If the friendly amendment is accepted by the sponsor the facilitator will start a stack for the friendly amendment allowing members present to voice any points of information, clarifying questions, or concerns, to the proposed friendly amendment.// - Once the friendly amendment stack is clear the facilitator will ask for a consensus check on the friendly amendment. - When the stack is closed the facilitator will ask the minutes taker to read the final wording of the proposal. - After the final proposal has been read a final consensus check for the proposal will be called. Quorum must be met for a consensus check to be called. - At the discretion of the facilitator, previous amendments may be revisited before the proposal is finally tabled. [[meetings:archive:2015-04-05#agenda_item_5|[HM 4-5-15]]]