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.