Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: help on new member guidelines

[Marci Malinowycz (SoDance]

I didn't like the (thankfully brief) period in our history when we closed our 
membership to those who weren't already parents, in order to increase the 
percentage of kids in the mix. I have since heard from a friend of one such 
rejected couple, now having become parents, who harbor some ill feelings 
toward cohousing as a result. Nasty stuff, this choosing.

Apply your selectivity to where and how widely you cast your net initially. 
Promote yourselves in communities that reflect the mix you'd like to have, or 
that are weighted towards the categories you feel you are deficient in. Look 
also at things that make it easier or harder for parents to participate: Is 
child care provided at all meetings and work parties?

Then, welcome all who make it past your door, giving them enough information 
to support self-selection.

-- Marci, Puget Ridge Cohousing

----------
From:  cohousing-l [at] freedom.mtn.org on behalf of BIGONY [at] aol.com
Sent:  Monday, October 20, 1997 12:35 PM
Subject:  Re:  help on new member guidelines

OUr group is having similar questions come up about our group's mew member
admittance procedures.  Up until now we have always gone by self selection
and have not had any criteria for new members to join.  We are now facing
issues of how to have a well balanced community (eg. age diversity, even
mixture of families with children and household without children.) , some
members are also having fears that someone could join that the group would
strongly object to for some reason.  I don't feel the latter will occur, but
the fear is real for several of our members.  I also would like to hear some
responses from other groups that have dealt with these issues.

Thanks

Glenn Bigony
Suburban Boston Cohousing Group