Cohousing-L Mailing List: Cohousing Association mailing

[Rick Mockler (rick]

Thanks, Tom, for bringing up the Cohousing Association's recent request
to cohousing communities.  I'd love to take this opportunity to
underscore the purpose of the mailing, and to assure you all that
contributions of any amount are most appreciated.

 

This mailing was an all volunteer effort.  I wrote the letter (and board
member Neil Planchon and honorary board member Arthur Okner did the
yeoman's work in getting it produced and sent out).  It could have been
more personalized to various cohousing groups, but given limited time
and resources, I was frankly happy to get it out as is.

 

Regarding contribution levels, we tend to group together completed
cohousing groups and groups in construction (once a group reaches the
construction phase, they are generally capable of contributing at the
$250+  level).  But for early stage groups like yours, we absolutely
understand that money is tight and we gratefully accept whatever you can
contribute (we also want to be flexible with especially small built
communities, for whom the $250 might be a hardship).

 

Please also allow me to also make a pitch for volunteering.  Next month
we're launching a major overhaul of our web site.  We are in the process
of upgrading our member database, and are beginning to plan for the July
21-23, 2006 national cohousing conference to be held in Chapel Hill, NC.
In short, we're stepping up the reach of the organization and would
welcome volunteer assistance, for anything from writing an article, to
assisting with the national conference, to helping on our fund
development and membership committee.  Interested individuals, please
drop me an email.

 

Thanks for your vote of confidence about the Association's work.  As a
volunteer, I really am proud to be part of the organization, and it is a
privilege to be associated with the burning souls who are working to
advance the cohousing cause.

 

Best regards,

 

Rick Mockler

Board President

Cohousing Association of the U.S.

 

  

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Tom Hammer [mailto:thammer302 [at] yahoo.com]

Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 4:10 PM

To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org

Subject: [C-L]_ Joining the National 

 

We received a letter this month asking our group to join The Coho
Association of the US, renewing our membership as a Community Partner.

They suggested $12 per household or a minimum of $250.

 

I am very supportive of the organization, very much appreciate its
resources and the hard work of the volunteers and want to see it grow
and prosper, but I wonder about the pricing structure.

 

$250 per household is a lot for our 5 equity households.  I do not
understand the rationale for the requested fee and wonder if anyone can
explain why our fledgling community should pay $50 per household while
others pay as little as $12.  Our members may not be willing to pay,
especially given the apparent unfairness and our having to pinch every
dollar at this point when all of our funds are at risk.  I have been
asked by the group to inquire both about the fee structure so that they
can make a reasoned decision. 

 

It seems to me that the structure should be reversed, with completed
communities paying more than others, or at least a flat fee per
household.

Such a structure would encourage newer, forming communities to join.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

Tom Hammer