INTRODUCTION:
S.T.O.P. uses consensus as its method of making group decisions. Consensus promotes group collaboration, cooperation, compromise, harmony and unity, along with commitment to group decisions, all of which is important in a coalition of diverse organizations and individuals. Consensus ensures that decisions reached reflect the desires, ideas and opinions of as many group members as possible while avoiding the majority-minority power dynamics and competition, resentment, divisiveness and alienation that can result from traditional decision-making processes based solely on voting.

CONSENSUS PROCESS:
a) Discussion of an agenda item to elicit opinions and information from all group members. May begin with someone offering a potential PROPOSAL for action. PROPOSALS may be changed as a result of discussion.

b) After the group feels it has had sufficient discussion of the item so that all opinions and concerns have been aired (or if it has used up all the time alloted for discussion of the item)*, the PROPOSAL may be restated, either by the FACILITATOR or the person who originally offered the PROPOSAL. The original PROPOSAL may be modifed as a result of the discussion; alternatively, the FACILITATOR or another meeting participant may offer a PROPOSAL based upon the discussion, or the group may end discussion of the item without a PROPOSAL being offered. Final PROPOSALS should reflect the desires, opinions and concerns of all group members.
*The group may choose to allot extra time for discussion of an item at the end of the time previously allotted for its discussion.

c) After (re)statement of the proposal, the FACILITATOR calls for consensus on the PROPOSAL. The facilitator may ask if anyone has any further questions, comments, concerns or suggestions on the PROPOSAL; if no one does, then the FACILITATOR calls for ACTIVE CONSENSUS–meeting participants should actively signify their consent to the proposal by "twinkling" (wiggling) their fingers, making a "C" symbol with their fingers, raising their hands, etc.

d) Group members may state that they choose to STAND ASIDE (not participate in consensing to the proposal) if they so desire. This can be done if the person opposes the measure, but does not have strong enough reservations about it to BLOCK it, or if for any other reason the person does not wish to actively consense to the PROPOSAL. Those who choose to STAND ASIDE may STATE THEIR RESERVATIONS about the PROPOSAL.

BLOCKING:
On rare occasions a group member may choose to BLOCK a PROPOSAL–stop it from being consensed to by the group–if the BLOCKER feels the proposal conflicts with the group's mission, goals or values. (A BLOCK may be stated verbally or through the use of crossed forearms with clenched fists as a BLOCKing gesture.) Two BLOCKs are required for a PROPOSAL to be considered BLOCKed and not consensed to by the group. In that case, the group may decide to:

a) have more discussion to allow the BLOCKERs to explain their concerns and to allow the group to craft a new PROPOSAL that everyone potentially can consense to or to modify an existing PROPOSAL to address the concerns of the BLOCKERs (the group may also, if it chooses, re-open discussion of a PROPOSAL even if there is only one BLOCK); or
b) table discussion of the item until another meeting. If following further discussion on the PROPOSAL and another attempt to reach consensus on a new or modified PROPOSAL, two or more group members still BLOCK it, the group may choose to use voting as a means of reaching a decision on the PROPOSAL, particularly if the matter is of great urgency. A super-majority–75 percent of the votes cast–will be required for a measure to be approved. Voting only should be used when absolutely necessary as it can lead to the negative power dynamics and alienation that consensus seeks to avoid.

ROLES IN THE CONSENSUS PROCESS:
The following are the roles in the consensus process and the responsibilities they entail. These roles should, if possible rotate at every meeting, based upon the abilities, experience, comfort level and desires of meeting participants. Rotation diffuses power and allows everyone to gain skills and experience, and actively participate in all aspects of the group.

FACILITATOR:

• Calls for meeting participants to offer agenda items and compiles them (the facilitator may be assisted in this by another meeting participant).
• Should be able to explain consensus process to meeting participants.
• Helps to keep the group on track to achieve its meeting goals in the time allotted by urging the group to stick to the agreed-to agenda and to avoid distractions (such as extraneous discussion, for instance of items not on the agenda or comments that are not germane to the issue being discussed or to a PROPOSAL before the group) so that there is an orderly, productive discussion of all agenda items.
• Calls upon individuals who wish to participate in discussion on an item in the order in which they have raised their hands (see STACK-KEEPER). Also, reminds meeting participants who attempt to speak without having been put on the stack to raise their hand to be added to the stack and then to wait to be called upon to speak .
• Encourages everyone to participate in discussions and, if necessary, urges meeting participants to listen respectfully to everyone's input.
• May restate PROPOSALS, summarize discussion into a PROPOSAL or call for a PROPOSAL from meeting participants or ask a meeting participant who earlier had offered a PROPOSAL to restate it (including any changes to it resulting from the discussion).
• Calls for consensus on PROPOSALS.
• If the group is unable to reach consensus on a proposal, the facilitator should a) suggest that the group end discussion of the proposal/agenda item; b )table it until another meeting; c) suggest to the group that it extend discussion of the item for an allotted period of time; or d) suggest to the group that it use the super-majority voting process--75 percent voting in favor of a PROPOSAL in order for it to be approved--if the PROPOSAL is of great urgency
• The facilitator should focus on the meeting process and if possible avoid becoming too involved in discussions. If the facilitator wishes to participate actively in discussion of a particular item, the facilitator should ask someone to take over facilitation during discussion of that item, or the group may choose a co-facilitator for instances like those.

STACK-KEEPER/STACKER:

• Compiles a list of the meeting participants who have raised their hands in order to offer their input in a group discussion. They are called upon to speak in the order in which they have raised their hands. The stack-keeper may call upon them, or the facilitator may do this (at their discretion). At her or his discretion, the facilitator may also act as stack-keeper. The stack-keeper may be designated co-facilitator by the group for the purpose of taking over facilitation should the facilitator choose to temporarily step aside from facilitation (for instance to participate actively in discussion).

SCRIBE (NOTETAKER/SECRETARY):

• Takes notes (minutes) on the discussions of agenda items and the proposals consensed to by the group. Notes should be as detailed as possible and should reflect the full range of viewpoints that may be expressed in a discussion. Notes should also detail any commitments meeting participants have made to perform tasks for the group.
• The scribe should post the meeting minutes to the group's e-mail list as soon as possible and, if possible, should make paper copies of the minutes available to group members who may desire them.