Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: How does work get done?

[Judy Baxter (BAXTER]

(from Judy Baxter)
Marty Roberts wrote:
<We are working on revising our work system here at Two Acre Wood.  We are
close to proposing a new system where people sign up for what they like to
do out of an exhaustive list of everything that gets done here - from
cooking and cleaning to landscape maintenance to committee time, etc.>

At Monterey Cohousing, Minneapolis MN, we have tried a lot of systems
over the last  9 years. Our current one sounds similar to what you are
proposing. 

We are on the small side - 15 homes, currently about 23 participating
member adults plus 2 associate non-residents plus two participating
renters plus renters, not participating, in the townhouse.

Our System: A huge list of all the chores (about 300?).  There was a
chore fair ( alas, I was out of town, missed the wonderful Japanese
dinner held after the fair.)  People were encouraged to sign up for
several high/med/low chores (I don't know the numbers). Almost
everyone was there. Some signed up for a lot, some for a little. 
Seems to be working pretty well.  It has only been 2 months. We were
inspired by someone's story on the list (Rob Sandelin? Lynn Nadeau).
Thank you.

Is there a participation requirement?  NO
Is there a minimum # of hours expected? NO 
        There was a suggestion at the fair - from what I saw, the
usual people signed up for at least the suggested amounts, and vice
versa.  
        And, there seems to be a trend among the least participating
to participate a little more.

Is there an exemption for those who are unable to do physical work easily?
        We don't distinguish between physical and other work.
Is there a pay or work option? NO
Does someone track whether the work gets done? NO
Etc.

After many years, I have come to terms with the fact that everyone is
a volunteer, very difficult to supervise, mostly what works is peer
pressure.  And if you really want something non-essential done, like
PR (say) (I think it IS essential, myself), you have to get involved
and do your best to convince others. 

Essentials may get neglected for a while, and then we may have to pay
more in time or $$ to take care of them, but that's the way it goes. 
We have varying levels of comfort with that, and varying levels of
attention to different things. The joys of differences among us.

Judy

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Judy Baxter, Monterey Cohousing Community,(MoCoCo) Twin Cities Area, Mpls.,MN
A studio-size coop apt may be for sale in a year,
 a 3 BR townhouse is for sale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-- e-mail:      baxter [at] epi.umn.edu
15 homes - 7 new townhomes plus 
        8 coop apartments       in the Mansion (a rehab Georgian building)
(built as a retirement home in 1924 -) which also serves as our Common House
coops moved in in 1993, townhomes in 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Voice Mail for Monterey Cohousing - 952-930-7554
 web page: http://www.jimn.org/mococo/ 

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