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Local Governance
Purpose: create simple, fair rules so decisions stay clear under pressure and conflict does not break the group.
Do This First (Today)
- Write a one page community charter draft.
- Define 5 non-negotiable safety rules.
- Assign temporary roles for 30 days, then review.
- Publish a conflict process that everyone can explain back.
Minimum Governance Kit
- Printed charter and role chart
- Meeting log notebook + attendance sheet
- Incident report forms
- Visible notice board for decisions
- Simple ballot slips for anonymous votes
- Timekeeper and facilitator cards
Role Structure That Works for Small Groups
| Role | Primary Duty | Term Length | Removal Trigger |
|---|
| Coordinator | Runs meetings, tracks actions | 30 days | 2 missed critical duties |
| Safety Lead | Hazard checks, incident response | 30 days | Unsafe decisions, repeated |
| Log Keeper | Records decisions and disputes | 30 days | Incomplete records twice |
| Supply Lead | Inventory and distribution queue | 30 days | Unlogged stock movement |
| Mediation Pair | Handles interpersonal conflict | 30 days | Bias or breach of privacy |
Rotate roles monthly to prevent power concentration.
Decision Method by Situation
| Situation | Method | Time Limit | Pass Condition |
|---|
| Immediate safety risk | Delegated authority (Safety Lead) | 2 minutes | Action taken and logged |
| Routine planning | Majority vote | 20 minutes | 50% + 1 with quorum |
| Values/ethics issue | Consensus attempt, then supermajority | 45 minutes | 75% approval |
| Resource allocation dispute | Structured scoring matrix | 30 minutes | Score and rationale published |
Conflict Process (No Guessing)
- Report: incident form submitted within 24 hours.
- Review: mediation pair gathers both sides separately.
- Joint session: each side gets 5 minutes uninterrupted.
- Resolution options: apology, restitution, work duty, temporary limits.
- Appeal: one appeal allowed within 72 hours to full group vote.
Keep behavior rules specific. "No theft" is enforceable. "Be respectful" needs clear examples.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- Mistake: informal leadership only. Fix: publish named roles and backup roles.
- Mistake: no quorum rule. Fix: require 60 percent attendance for non-emergency votes.
- Mistake: hidden decisions. Fix: all decisions posted within 2 hours.
- Mistake: permanent leaders. Fix: fixed term + rotation + recall vote option.
- Mistake: conflict ignored. Fix: mandatory written process with deadlines.
Scenario Drills
Drill 1: Supply Theft Allegation
- Run a mock incident report.
- Execute mediation process start to finish.
- Publish decision and appeal window.
- Goal: complete process in under 90 minutes with full documentation.
Drill 2: Emergency Evacuation Vote
- Trigger simulated flood warning at random time.
- Safety Lead makes immediate call.
- Group reviews action after drill for 15 minutes.
- Goal: decision in under 2 minutes, review completed in same day.
Printable Governance Checklist
- [ ] Charter printed and visible
- [ ] Roles assigned with end dates
- [ ] Quorum and vote thresholds defined
- [ ] Incident report form available
- [ ] Conflict process posted publicly
- [ ] Recall/removal process defined
- [ ] Last decision log reviewed this week
Safety note: governance is for stability, not control. Keep authority narrow, reviewable, and time limited.
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