The majority of decisions arising in our community have limited effect on the overall community and therefore generate limited interest. Many of these decisions are made in committees, subject to review by the wider community. The Decision Board allows a small group of interested people to frame a decision while allowing review by the wider community before the decision is actually made. There are two major benefits of this approach. First, having this form of decision-making allows decisions to be made outside the General Meeting, thereby saving General Meeting time for major decisions. Secondly, the Decision Board allows decisions to be made faster.
Procedure:
Issue Notification. A committee writes up an issue about which a decision will be made and posts this description on the Decision Board. The notice should include the date, a description of the issue, the committee’s current position (if it has one), and the date and place that the meeting will be held to make the decision. The notice should be posted at least 7 days before the meeting.
Feedback Solicited. Comments and concerns from the community are registered by writing on the posted sheet. All comments should be classified by the author of the comment into the areas defined by the colored card system we use for discussion (e.g. information, minor concern, major concern, etc.).
Preliminary Decision. At the committee meeting, the feedback on the sheet will be considered as the committee members discuss the issue and work towards a decision. A preliminary decision is reached when the text of the decision has been written and everyone present has heard and agreed to the decision
Community Review. The text of the decision should be posted on the Decision Board along with the date the meeting occurred and who attended.
Final Decision. The decision is considered made 3 days after it is posted on the Decision Board unless a “red note” blocks it.
Serious Objections. Any member of the community may block the process at any time by placing a “red note” in the committee’s mailbox. The note should be signed and dated and state the grounds for the serious objection. If such a note is received, the committee convener should contact the member and discuss the concern. If the concern can be addressed through a minor change, then the reworded issue or preliminary decision can be reposted (for the necessary time period). If the concern cannot be addressed, the Decision Board Procedure can be repeated or the regular General Meeting Decision-Making process can be used.
(Ben Benjamin, Bill Huber)