Working Together

The uncomfortable truth

After survival basics are met, groups don't fail from scarcity — they fail from resentment. Uneven work, invisible decisions, and grudges left to ferment sink more communities than any storm. This page is maintenance manual for the human machine.

At a glance

Meetings weekly, 30 minutes, fixed agenda, assignments said out loud — who, what, by when
Supermajority only for membership and rule changes; simple majority covers the rest
Posted rotas prevent 80% of fairness arguments; effort counts relative to ability
Slackers get conversations, not ambushes: private word → facilitator → group decision
Keep a ledger, skills roster, one-page meeting notes, and a group medical log

Meetings that stay short

Same time weekly, 30 minutes, standing up if needed. Length breeds wandering; brevity breeds preparation.
Fixed agenda: numbers review (water/fuel/food boards), task check-in, new business, gripes window.
One facilitator, one note-taker, rotating weekly — leadership is a chore, not a throne.
End with assignments out loud: who, does what, by when. Unassigned tasks are wishes.

Deciding things

Match the decision weight to the process
Decision size	Process
Daily work (chores, repairs)	Whoever owns the area just decides; report it Sunday
Spending shared supplies, schedule changes	Quick show of hands at the weekly
New members, rules, big purchases, risk calls	Sleep on it — vote at next weekly after discussion
Safety-critical emergencies	Designated lead acts first, explains after; pick leads in advance

Simple majority works for most groups; require supermajority only for membership and rule changes — the two decisions worth protecting from a bad week.

Fair work without scorekeeping wars

Rota, not memory: posted weekly rotation for cooking, dishes, latrine duty, watch. Visible charts prevent 80% of fairness arguments.
Capacity counts: a recovering elder's dish-washing equals a logger's firewood — effort relative to ability, agreed openly.
Trade openly: "I'll take your watch Tuesday for your flour ration Friday," said in front of others, written in the ledger.
Slackers get conversations, not ambushes: private word first, facilitator second, group decision last. Skip steps and you get a foe; follow them and you usually get a worker back.

Records worth keeping

Ledger: shared-supply additions and draws, signed initials
Skills roster, updated as people learn
Meeting notes: decisions + assignments only, one page
Debts/trades between members, dated
Medical log for the group (who's sick, treated with what) — see Fever & Sick Care

Keeping the peace

Air gripes early and small; the weekly gripe window exists so annoyance dies in daylight instead of growing in the dark.
Disagree with proposals, never persons; the facilitator's job to redirect when it slips.
Kids and elders get real roles — egg collection, story-keeping, mending. People who contribute don't sour.
Outsiders welcome by process: sponsor, trial period, group vote. Kindness plus paperwork keeps both safety and reputation intact.

Original BreakGlass content, informed by public-domain community organization practice. Educational only.