There are two ways for a group to arrive at a group conscience. One is the competitive way, the other is the cooperative way. In the competitive, you push your ideas across, take a vote, and the majority carry the decision. This leaves behind a disgruntled minority that feel that its truths are lost sight of in the decision.

In the cooperative way, the group gathers together with the idea of harmonious and mutual trust leading to a group decision. This leaves no disgruntled minority.

The following guidelines have helped our group to make decisions in the cooperative way:

• Members are disciplined to the thought of a group decision rather than someone’s personal triumph. This brings the group together in a receptive mood and the will to find agreement is present.

• A period of silence is maintained for the group to focus on the issue at hand. This is done in the spirit of wanting a solution, not a snap judgement.

• The chairperson goes around the room and asks each individual his or her views. The meeting is not thrown open for a general discussion that would allow the more vocal ones to set the debate. This method gives the least vocal an equal chance to be heard. The chairperson expresses a view only after others have expressed themselves.

• If there is clearly a practical unanimity, there is a period of silence to see if a vote should be taken.

• If there is not sufficient unanimity, the vote is postponed until next meeting. This is done so that a Higher Power may speak to us in the interim.

• If at the next meeting we are still not of a common mind, we take a majority vote if a decision is imperative.

Using the cooperative method we get through twice the amount of work we could with the competitive method. The cooperative method is the way we try to live — it is written in our Traditions.