Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing-L Digest, Vol 226, Issue 22

[Sandy Thomson (sandykthomson]

I’m very interested in this article but can’t read it without a subscription.  😞
Sandy

> On Nov 19, 2022, at 3:04 PM, cohousing-l-request [at] cohousing.org wrote:
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. LIVE NOW! :: Sat Nov 19 :: Sociocracy in Intentional
>      Communities conference 2022 (Neil Planchon)
>   2. Accountant recommendations for Cohousing? (Jim Bob)
>   3. Re: Accountant recommendations for Cohousing? (Sharon Villines)
>   4. Lawyers [ was  Accountant recommendations for Cohousing?
>      (Sharon Villines)
>   5. The escalating cost of construction (Ann Zabaldo)
>   6. Building Cost Index (Sharon Villines)
>   7. who does these tasks? (Susan HEDGPETH)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 08:20:27 -0800
> From: Neil Planchon <neil [at] swansway.com>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: [C-L]_ LIVE NOW! :: Sat Nov 19 :: Sociocracy in Intentional
>    Communities conference 2022
> Message-ID: <BDBBC521-3F70-4C0A-8732-74A124F8AB5B [at] swansway.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
> LIVE NOW! :: Sat Nov 19 :: Sociocracy in Intentional Communities conference 
> 2022 
> And until 1:30 PM Pacific :: Come join us!
> 
> Learn more and register here
> https://www.sociocracyforall.org/intentional-communities-conference-2022/
> 
> 
> 
> Cordially,
> Neil
> 
> Head of Ads, Development, Help Desk and Partnerships
> Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) neil [at] ic.org 
> Click / Tap here >> https://www.ic.org/together-we-can/ 
> <https://www.ic.org/together-we-can/>
> 
> Intentional Communities Circle. Sociocracy For All (SoFA)
> Steering Committee. Cohousing Research Network (CRN)
> Events Team Volunteer. Cohousing Association (Coho/US)
> Co-Developer and Co-Founder. Swan?s Market Cohousing, Oakland CA
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 16:52:33 +0000
> From: Jim Bob <jimjoebob456 [at] hotmail.com>
> To: "cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: [C-L]_ Accountant recommendations for Cohousing?
> Message-ID:
>    <MN0PR11MB60858BC8183B1A41C9A3C5FD99089 [at] 
> MN0PR11MB6085.namprd11.prod.outlook.com>
>    
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I queried the group before but didn't see any responses -- anyone have 
> accountants familiar with cohousing to recommend?  We are a starting 
> community in Cheney, WA and just looking for recommendations.  Thanks!
> 
> Justin Mager
> Cheney Cohousing
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:06:33 -0500
> From: Sharon Villines <sharon [at] sharonvillines.com>
> To: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Accountant recommendations for Cohousing?
> Message-ID: <14B47E83-A4FC-4A5B-BC6C-20493F7938C0 [at] sharonvillines.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
>> On Nov 19, 2022, at 11:52 AM, Jim Bob <jimjoebob456 [at] hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I queried the group before but didn't see any responses -- anyone have 
>> accountants familiar with cohousing to recommend?  We are a starting 
>> community in Cheney, WA and just looking for recommendations.  Thanks!
> 
> Real estate law is so locally determined that you need someone local. They 
> don?t have to live right down the street but should be in your state and 
> usually in your county or closest urban area.
> 
> The category of law that cohousing falls into is ?common interest? law. They 
> would know the law related to commonly owned assets. So cohousing would be 
> commonly owned housing. Someone who knows condominium law might be a good 
> start. Or someone who handles cooperatives in your area.
> 
> One theory of finding the best person is to ask for recommendations from a 
> wide number of people and sources. When they all begin including the same 
> person(s) you know that is probably your best provider.
> 
> Sharon
> ----
> Sharon Villines
> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
> http://www.takomavillage.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:10:31 -0500
> From: Sharon Villines <sharon [at] sharonvillines.com>
> To: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: [C-L]_ Lawyers [ was  Accountant recommendations for
>    Cohousing?
> Message-ID: <C695606A-6FBE-4188-B485-683A811D884A [at] sharonvillines.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
> You can see I had lawyers on my mind this morning. We are just beginning a 
> full review of our bylaws and engaging with our lawyer. All I could see when 
> reading this was ?lawyer.? But the same applies to accountants. Someone who 
> works with non-profits and associations would be your best bet but accounting 
> standards are more often not local except for any local tax issues.
> 
> Sharon.
> 
>>> On Nov 19, 2022, at 2:06 PM, Sharon Villines via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l 
>>> [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On Nov 19, 2022, at 11:52 AM, Jim Bob <jimjoebob456 [at] hotmail.com> 
>>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I queried the group before but didn't see any responses -- anyone have 
>>> accountants familiar with cohousing to recommend?  We are a starting 
>>> community in Cheney, WA and just looking for recommendations.  Thanks!
>> 
>> Real estate law is so locally determined that you need someone local. They 
>> don?t have to live right down the street but should be in your state and 
>> usually in your county or closest urban area.
>> 
>> The category of law that cohousing falls into is ?common interest? law. They 
>> would know the law related to commonly owned assets. So cohousing would be 
>> commonly owned housing. Someone who knows condominium law might be a good 
>> start. Or someone who handles cooperatives in your area.
>> 
>> One theory of finding the best person is to ask for recommendations from a 
>> wide number of people and sources. When they all begin including the same 
>> person(s) you know that is probably your best provider.
>> 
>> Sharon
>> ----
>> Sharon Villines
>> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
>> http://www.takomavillage.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
>> http://L.cohousing.org/info
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:47:11 -0500
> From: Ann Zabaldo <zabaldo [at] earthlink.net>
> To: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: [C-L]_ The escalating cost of construction
> Message-ID: <2E5DC24C-3F11-4A2E-911C-B901D3C8A26C [at] earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
> Hello all ?
> 
> For those of you who are pausing on your construction start date because of 
> the increasing cost of construction ? here is an article which might have 
> some insight into what the development/housing segment of our economy is 
> facing:
> 
> Tiny URL
> 
> https://tinyurl.com/mvj4hyb9
> 
> Standard URL
> 
> https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2022/08/25/construction-costs-increase-this-year.html?csrc=6378&cpncd=&utm_source=mk&utm_medium=re&utm_campaign=sb&utm_content=1-re-article1-p&mkt_tok=NjczLVVXWS0yMjkAAAGIMCi8B0oeGqd4ASEmO_I8GIlr8RrBlB4ffTdHx45IrhOs-_gLPaBmkzBy_x9ADBKE2uqjplOORzfcpJVr1d0H6eejyVnQo7nPaNgU0axRHNhzoNsf4l0
> 
> With cost escalation expected to rise by as much as 14.1% by the end of 2022 
> ? mercifully short time period now ? one possible solution that Trammel Crow, 
> a subsidiary of CBRE is instituting:
> 
> "I think it?s really important now more than ever to bring the general 
> contractor and subcontractors into the fold and design as early as possible, 
> so we?re really digesting all of the factors that impact the construction, 
> and help us think about the design and what we?re proposing and what we?re 
> presenting for our project, in order to mitigate the issues we see,? 
> (Nancy)Moses continued.
> 
> CBRE expects construction increases of 4.3% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024.  
> 
> This document may be behind a paywall.  If you are unable to open it let me 
> know ? will try to summarize more of the article.
> 
> Best ?
> 
> Ann Zabaldo
> Takoma Village Cohousing
> Washington, DC
> Ex. Dir. & Mbr. Board of Directors
> Mid Atlantic Cohousing
> Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
> Falls Church, VA
> 202.546.4654
> zabaldo [at] earthlink.net
> 
> I?ve been watching my weight...
> It?s still there.
> 
> NOTE:  Please use zabaldo [at] earthlink.net for email.
> 
> 
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 15:45:46 -0500
> From: Sharon Villines <sharon [at] sharonvillines.com>
> To: Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: [C-L]_ Building Cost Index
> Message-ID: <F9DF5687-3C4B-472B-9FDE-9E391B463E09 [at] sharonvillines.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8
> 
> In addition to the article Ann just mentioned is the Turner Turner Building 
> Cost Index. It was started and is kept by a huge international construction 
> company that needs it for its own projects and shares it with the world. It 
> predicts the next quarter and also includes decades historical figures. Maybe 
> useful for discussing prices.
> 
>> Turner has prepared the construction cost forecast for more than 80 years. 
>> Used widely by the construction industry and Federal and State governments, 
>> the building costs and price trends tracked by The Turner Building Cost 
>> Index may or may not reflect regional conditions in any given quarter. The 
>> Cost Index is determined by several factors considered on a nationwide 
>> basis, including labor rates and productivity, material prices and the 
>> competitive condition of the marketplace. This index does not necessarily 
>> conform to other published indices because others do not generally take all 
>> of these factors into account. 
> 
> https://www.turnerconstruction.com/cost-index
> 
> One reason I think it would be more trustworthy than an index by a 
> (self-serving trade association or not quite with it government agency) is 
> that it is used by the company itself in their own bidding process. If it 
> were wrong, they would be shooting themselves in the foot.
> 
> For reserve studies, the construction cost index is more relevant for some 
> parts than the inflation rate. Construction is a unique category of goods and 
> labor that is affected by technology, skilled worker availability, and 
> resources depletion.
> 
> Sharon
> ??
> Sharon Villines
> Strong Neighborhoods
> https://www.strongneighborhoods.info/
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:03:09 -0800
> From: Susan HEDGPETH <hedgpeth [at] berkeley.edu>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: [C-L]_ who does these tasks?
> Message-ID:
>    <CA+7X=N1kmmo-39VN13q5JjsAfZPWamAchTE=uw5cA7X8O1My5w [at] mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> Here at Pleasant Hill Cohousing we have one person who does most of the
> bookkeeping tasks using QuickBooks, as well as many other tasks that are
> not really bookkeeping, such as:
> 
> -monitor our business email account and handle or route emails
> -check our mailbox and distribute mail as needed
> -maintain our computer and printer (e.g. Window updates)
> -buy supplies (printer cartridges, checks, deposit slips, paper, envelopes,
> stamps, etc)
> -assist community members who need a reimbursement or have a vendor invoice
> to be paid (i.e., getting the right information together so it can be
> approved by the Treasurer)
> -each year, work with our bank and the new officers to set them up to sign
> checks
> -each year, set up new files (folders and labels), archive/move the old.
> -every other year, prepare and submit forms to Secty of State
> 
> It's really too big of a job for one person to do that plus bookkeeping, so
> we are thinking about splitting it up and wondering how other communities
> handle these tasks.
> 
> Thanks for any info/advice.
> 
> Susan
> Pleasant Hill Cohousing
> Pleasant Hill, CA  (SF Bay Area)
> http://phch.org
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Digest Footer
> 
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> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> End of Cohousing-L Digest, Vol 226, Issue 22
> ********************************************