Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Students, Intern idea

[Rob Sandelin (floriferous]

We advertised for an intern on the FIC reachboard, www.IC.org. Got 6
applications, choose one.  We hosted her room and most of her food, although
she (her parents) kicked in $200 which was unexpected but great. She ate
community dinner with us, helped out around the community in the garden
project especially.

One thing we learned is that our intern required a lot of supervision and
direction, much more so than we are used to doing. So this became a bit of a
chore to line up people to do the mentoring, but it worked out mostly just
fine.

We also choose less from qualifications and more for personality, and so we
got a literature major instead of a horticulture major, which I am not sure
was optimum. But again, her energy helped out a great deal, and she was very
enthusiastic, which touched several people and got them going as well.

The School was not officially involved, nor was there any school credit,
just personal life experience. Since it was over the summer, many students
are looking for something interesting to do, and those that replied all were
willing to work for experience, room and most their board. A good deal all
around.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood