Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: values and missions - RW goal draft

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

One way to determine what your group's de facto values and missions are 
is to look at where you put your energy and money. At RoseWind, we had a 
task force draft a set of "broad goals" which were derived, backwards one 
might say, from what we habitually funded, what committees and task 
forces existed, and what otherwise seemed to be our assumptions. We have 
yet to actually adopt this list, but it seems it will be useful at budget 
time, and if we evolve our goals, as a point of reference. 
If this list is of any use to anyone, feel free to use or evolve it. 

BROAD GOALS (DRAFT)
(1) BUSINESS: Operate as a responsible business entity. 
Subcategories- imagine these in outline form- 
LEGAL meet obligations re taxes, reporting to State, our PUDA contract 
with the City.
INSURANCE - have requiredor prudent insurance
CONSULTATIONS- get prudent professional input (accounting, legal, etc)
PLAN AHEAD- build and maintain prudent reserves (repair and replacement 
of common assets, mediation, arbitration, other legal contingencies, 
overall contingency fund); manage money with sound placements
PAY BILLS- document, fund, pay bills on time (utilities, taxes, etc); 
fund administrative basics (copying, postage, supplies)
DOCUMENTS, RECORDS - governing documents in order, good financial 
records, minutes
BE REALISTIC- keep costs in line with prudence and resources, noting 
limits to volunteerism and member money

(2) SOCIAL: Maintain and enhance sense of community.
MEETINGS- positive and productive, well facilitated
COMMITTEES- well staffed, good balance between committee work and 
whole-group input
COMMON HOUSE works as a social hub: functional and attractive; systems 
that are fair, inclusive, easy to administer
POSITIVE INTERPERSONAL CONNECTIONS Learn more about each other, 
atmosphere of respect, support, encouragement, mutual assistance, caring.
PARTICIPATION AND MOTIVATION: make participation accessible, rewarding, 
productive; support members, include all ages and abilities; get new 
members who want to participate and contribute; attend to the integration 
of new members. 

(3) RESPONSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICES
Encourage sharing, grow some food, consider impacts, plantings, encourage 
less car use. 
(4) MAINTENANCE: Maintain common property
Liability and safety- address concerns, take precautions
Legal and access-maintain rights of way, utility access, parking lot, 
paths, manage noxious weeds.
General landscape- maintain plantings, outbuildings, irrigation system; 
repair, replace equipment
Common house- maintain building and contents; repair, replace furniture, 
appliances, equipment

(5) ENHANCEMENTS
When resources allow, improve resources and amenities, with community 
consent. 
(This would cover more-optional items like adding to our land, buildings, 
extra stuff for landscape or common house, disaster preparedness items 
like a generator, and any other "extras" we decided we wanted and could 
afford, on a case by case basis.)


Lynn Nadeau, RoseWind Cohousing
Port Townsend Washington (Victorian seaport, music, art, nature)
http://www.rosewind.org
http://www.ptguide.com
http://www.ptforpeace.info (very active peace movement here- see our 
photo)

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