Our Self-Management System

Our current self-management system is founded on the concept of five task clusters linked to the Board of Trustees, all of which ultimately report to the General Membership. All tasks, as well as committees, teams, and ad hoc task forces, are associated with one of five clusters: Administration, Process & Communication, Grounds, Common Facilities, and Maintenance.

Every resident is a member of one of these clusters (or of the Board of Trustees if elected at our annual membership meeting), even if life circumstances causes us to be inactive for a period of time. It is the responsibility of the cluster to accomplish the work needed in its area. The clusters are expected to do this by dividing into subgroups or teams and dividing up the tasks among the members. Within each cluster there is a certain amount of autonomy about how to accomplish the work. The variety of tasks associated with each cluster allows for rotation or sharing of tasks within the cluster.

The clusters are fundamentally task-oriented, with human interaction built into the teamwork character of most tasks. Clusters and their teams are expected to meet only to the extent that this facilitates the accomplishment of their tasks. Meetings can be as regular or irregular, as formal or as informal, as the cluster or team chooses as long as the tasks are getting accomplished. The clusters will provide a clear format in which the people doing the tasks can meet to deal with essential policy issues such as prioritizing tasks and developing budgets. The Cluster Coordinator Coordinator works with the coordinator of each cluster to support the clusters in their process and procedures and in developing budgets.

Copyright © 2003 Winslow Cohousing Group