ACM September 25, 2022

Topics: [topic1, topic2, topic3, topic4]

Wasatch Commons All-Community Meeting

Sunday, September 25, 2022, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Attendees: Vicky, Mike, Beth, Cheryl, Linda, Laura, Laraine, Alex, Kay, Ben, Myste, Marina

Note Taker: Kay

Consensed Decisions: [decision]

We have an agreement to refrain from angry exchanges over email.  Beth would like to have something similar for in-person communication, an agreement that we are not going to communicate by yelling and insults.  Recognize it may happen anyway.  Ask bystanders to cool situations off, not to escalate. Would a proposal be appropriate? Would it be possible or practical? It's impossible to legislate emotion. Put it in terms of what can be done, not what can't.

Our values have a statement about safety.

Linda and Laraine have been researching ideas for a conflict process, including what other communities do.  Resolution isn't always possible or feasible.  Maybe "conflict support," to support people who are having a conflict.  (Not supporting conflict.) 

It has to be an important rule of the team not to take sides.  Conflict is not always verbal -- often something someone has done is an underlying factor.

Marshall Rosenberg's "Nonviolent Communication":  When _ happens, I feel _.  To not feel _, I need _.  It can seem mechanical, but can be very effective.  Many other methods, but underlying similarities among them. Liz McGill's model.  Silver Sage's model.

It's not uncommon in cohousing communities to have a budget for outside mediation.