Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Managing the Common House

[Robert Heinich (robert]

Quoting Norm Gauss "My community manages the common house similar to  
how one would manage one's home."
One would not be too far off the mark to say that is the way we do it  
here.  For example, as I was preparing for last night's community  
meal, I thought the large room was a bit warm.  I mention this to  
other members of my cooking team and we agree that perhaps it would be  
a good idea to turn on the a/c.  Just like for me at home except my  
opinion has greater weight with my neighbors in the Common House ;-}

Answers to your questions IN CAPS.

1. The heating and cooling system is fully adjustable to any  
individual's preference.  MOSTLY TRUE.  WHEN YOU LEAVE, BE SURE TO  
LEAVE THE TEMPERATURE ACCORDING TO THE NOTE ON THE THERMOSTAT.

2. The doors are left open all day and a few hours after dark.
IF HOWIE IS IN THE OFFICE, YOU MAY LEAVE THE COMMON HOUSE UNLOCKED.   
OTHERWISE, IT SHOULD BE LOCKED.

3. Kids are allowed to use the common house unsupervised.
KIDS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE COMMON HOUSE UNSUPERVISED. THE EXCEPTION TO  
THIS RULE IS FOR THE TEENAGERS WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED THEIR OWN KEYS.

4. Any food in the refrigerator is free for the taking.
FOOD FOR THE COMMON MEAL IS RESERVED FOR THE COOKING TEAM.  OTHERWISE,  
IT IS FREE FOR TAKING.  AS WE DISCOURAGE FOOD TO BE LEFT IN THE  
REFRIGERATOR, THERE IS USUALLY NOT NOT MUCH FOR THE TAKING.

5. We have two guest rooms and charge nothing to guests.  At
present we have a temporary resident who is a professional
musician  on an engagement lasting more than a week.
WE GENERALLY CHARGE AS PER THE RATES OF OUR THE COMMON HOUSE GUEST  
ROOM POLICY.  HOWEVER, EXCEPTIONS TO THE SUGGESTED DONATION CAN BE  
MADE IN THE CASE OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.  ONE WOULD TALK TO THE  
COMMON HOUSE COMMITTEE.

6. We have frequent public meetings and private social events and
charge nothing to the sponsors.
THERE IS NO CHARGE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR USAGE OF THE COMMONS HOUSE  
FOR COMMUNITY-SPONSORED EVENTS.

WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE USE OF THE COMMONS HOUSE BY EC MEMBERS FOR  
ACTIVITIES THAT MEET THEIR UNIQUE INTERESTS AND NEEDS SO LONG AS THE  
USE DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH REGULAR OR PREVIOUSLY-SCHEDULED COMMUNITY  
ACTIVITIES.   ALTHOUGH NO CHARGE IS FORMALLY REQUIRED OF EC MEMBERS  
FOR THESE TYPES OF EVENTS, IN ORDER TO DEFRAY THE COST OF ONGOING  
MAINTENANCE AND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COMMON  
HOUSE, DONATIONS ARE WELCOME IN THE RANGE OF $10-50. IN DECIDING  
WHETHER TO MAKE A DONATION AND IN WHAT AMOUNT, THE COMMON HOUSE  
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FACTORS SUCH AS THE  
FOLLOWING:
1 THE NUMBER OF NON-EC MEMBERS ATTENDING THE EVENT
2 THE LENGTH OF THE EVENT OR THE FREQUENCY OF USE BY THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD
3 THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE COMMON HOUSE TO OTHER EC MEMBERS DURING THE EVENT
4 THE IMPACT OF THE EVENT ON COMMON HOUSE RESOURCES SUCH AS SUPPLIES  
AND UTILITIES

-Robert Heinich
 Eno Commons Cohousing Neighborhood
 www.enocommons.org
 Durham, NC
 where this Friday before EnoWeen is Movie Night.