It's in the Book

The book is our By-laws - a binder three inches thick. And just in case you think you'll be able to find what you're looking for - you might not. Our by-laws are neither up-to-date, nor consistent throughout the co-op. They conflict with each other and written in such a way that they favour the Board of Directors as a whole and not individual members. Nevertheless, at All Members Meetings certain members conveniently espouse that, 'It's in the by-laws'. No one disputes that fact, because no one knows if it's in the by-laws or not and the discussion promptly ends there. This tactic has worked in the past and continues to work in the present. Not all members have a copy of the by-laws in their possession, but are supposed to follow the rules. The confusion which arises over the by-laws allows them to be used selectively and as sledgehammers. Two neighbours of mine were told by a Board member that they could not store a boat in their yard or driveway, until the Board member herself acquired a boat and stored it in her yard. She then promptly knocked on my neighbour's door and told them that it was now alright to park their boat in their driveway. And this is how we came to acquire satellite dishes on our roofs - same Director, same manipulation. Miracles do happen . . .