Cohousing-L Mailing List: Encouraging associate members to make the plunge

[Fred H. Olson (fholson]

On: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 18:10:20 -0600
TCCCOHO [at] aol.com wrote
Subject: Re: COHOUSING-L digest 15
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  Please remember that the Subject 
line is the most read part of your message and should get 
proportionately much more attention than the rest of the message.
The digest number refererence is not very useful...

On to the question at hand.
 
>Hi Coho Friends,  We are encountering a problem - how to incentivize asso.
>members to convert to full.  Current policy says they can stay as long as
>they want as assos, participate at gen. mtgs. serve on committees, come to
>workshops and social events and express their views as any full member.  The
>only thing they can't do is block consensus.  They pay $50 quarterly dues,
>that's it.  Problem - we love them but we need to grow to 24 full members for
>our developer to start building & we only have 18 mos to do it.  If new
>prospects see so many asso members, they may conclude that they'll just wait
>'till there is less risk before they make the $1,500 Initial Commitment and
>$500/mo payment that fulls do. How do others incetivize people to take the
>financial risk to join as fulls?  Choice of home location is only current
>incentive we have.    Thanks, Mino Sullivan, Commonweal Village


It seems to me that the core group should take the responsibility and
initiative to persuade reluctant associates to make a bigger 
committment.  The heart of the arguement that needs to be made is 
contained in your message above.  Something to the effect that, 'in 
order to succeed the group needs them to make the committment'.  Their
investment will be more secure if they all their investment in full!

WRT to "they all" it might be useful to get the group of associates
to reach an agreement to invest as a group.  An ideal case to 
illustrate:  Suppose you have 18 full members, need 24 and have 6 
associate members who could become full members but each is reluctant 
to be number 19 but would be willing to be number 24.  Get all 6 to 
agree that if the other 5 will become full members they will become a 
full member.  Presto 6 new full members making 24.  Obviously 
easier said than done but I think it illustrates the idea.  

On a slightly different track, I think your post is looking for the 
policy that will change the balance to facilitate things.  Appropriate
policies can and do influence people's actions.  As an example ( tho 
the logic of being a 'policy' may not follow exactly):  If you can do 
it, the way New View did (I think), namely getting serious about money 
from the very beginning makes realistic options to invest when the 
opportunity arises much easier and builds committment (people have a 
real stake).

But there doesn't always exist reasonable policy options to influence 
behavior.  Cohousing is largely about groups collectively acting.
Persuading members (carefully, realistically, considering 
individual's situation etc etc.) is a major option.

Mino, thanks for your message.  I'd love to hear more from you.
I think that "TCC" in your email  address ( TCCCOHO [at] aol.com) 
stands for "The Cohousing Center"  the 
consulting group of which  you are a principal.  I don't recall
seeing much on cohousing-L or the WWW explaining TCC's efforts
and approach to organizing cohousing (including at Commonweal
where you are a member). **  I suspect many folks on cohousing-L
found your references to the structure of financial commitments
that TCC uses a bit out of context.  Any chance of getting something 
like an overview of your great presentation at the October conference
posted?  I'm sure Stuart could find a place on the WWW for such info
(tho of course it should be informative rather than promotional in 
tone and style.)

** I could be wrong, I dont get everything on the list read...

Fred 
(who's expounding without having succeeded at developing cohousing)  

BTW (US Senator) Paul Wellstone was impressed with the
60 people that turned out for our house party last Sat and so was I.
We had about 20% African-American's in attendance.  Not the 50%
that live in our neighborhood but still pretty good.  
WRT Racism (and Newt and other scourges):  This too shall pass.  
Tho it's going to take some time and lots of organizing.

--
ADDRESS CHANGE   ADDRESS CHANGE   ADDRESS CHANGE   1/25/96
Use this address: fholson [at] tc.umn.edu    NOT: fholson [at] uci.com   
Fred H. Olson (612)588-9532  Amateur radio: WB0YQM 
List manager of  Cohousing-L  See http://www.cohousing.org/    and
Twin Cities Neighborhood issues list. see http://freenet.msp.mn.us/
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