Types of Meetings/Gatherings

In the course of developing a cohousing community, there are a number a different purposes that need to be resolved: social, business, exploring values, research, etc. If you try to accomplish all of these at the same meeting, you are unlikely to succeed and will frustrate a lot of people. To avoid this, we find it useful to have several different types of meetings.

All Community Meetings (ACM's)

ACM's are conducted twice a month. They are well organized with a clear agenda and a designated facilitator. We try to always begin and end on time. An agenda of the topics to be discussed is circulated a day or two before the meeting, and all proposals must be available a week prior to the meeting, unless it is an emergency.

Committee Meetings

A lot of work is best done in small committees where there is time to discuss issues in greater detail. Committees meet as needed. A committee may research a topic and formulate proposals to be decided on at the ACM. Decisions that affect the entire community are made at the ACM.

Social Events

With all the work to be done, it is important to allow time for playing together. Informal social events allow a place for people to be together, share ideas, bring their families, and just have a good time. This might be a common dinner or a potluck, a poetry night, a picnic, an afternoon hike, or a party.

Clearing Meetings

From time to time there is a need for another type of meeting which allows more time for open-ended discussion than the business meetings and is more structured than the social events, in order to get to know more about each other's values and priorities, and in order to give and receive support.

Back to the Home Page