Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing Association

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

I've had many discussions about the cohousing association but not 
posted on this subject because I respect the people who have worked to 
make the cohousing movement a "go" in this country. People have tried 
very hard in many ways but I think the basic assumptions are wrong.

The cohousing association as a membership organization should be either 
a professional membership association or a single member association. 
Cohousing communities as communities receive no benefit from joining.

The benefits of the association are to individuals who are either 
interested in cohousing as a movement, looking for cohousing, or 
providing services to cohousing. For most people this list is the most 
valuable and it isn't even run by the association!

I think the association should be run more professionally and charge 
for the services it provides. And those services should be directed 
toward specific supports for communities -- understanding materials and 
the building process, how to manage a condo in cohousing terms, how to 
manage finances responsibly, etc.

With two membership levels and benefits attached to both -- 
professional and individual -- if it can't bring in enough income to 
support its efforts, it should join forces with the Fellowship for 
Intentional Communities or the Communities Association Institute.

While most of those who live in cohousing are not members of this list, 
those who are most active in supporting the movement probably are. This 
makes the absence of the association on this list very strange. Why 
wasn't the name change floated on this list for comment, for example. I 
thought that was really out in left field.

Is there some other forum of active discussion that I know nothing 
about?

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Building Community: A Newsletter on Coops, Condos, Cohousing, and Other 
New Neighborhoods
http://www.buildingcommunitynews.org