Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: sample document library: laying the groundwork

[Stuart Joseph (stuart]

Andrew,
Thanks for taking this on.
Please see below for my comments and suggestions.

Andrew Netherton wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> On 2/12/07, in a thread formerly known as "how can a new group use
> existing knowledge?", Tree Bressen <tree [at] ic.org> wrote:
>   
> > 6. Over the years there has been talk, and even some initial attempts made,
> > at compiling a library of sample documents.  Policies on specific subjects,
> > and so on.  I have the impression that this project has never been
> > completed into a usable form, and that's very unfortunate.
> >     
>
> Knowing this may absolutely bury me in e-mail for a good couple of
> months, I would like to step forward and volunteer to compile such a
> library.  I'm not sure how (or how quickly), but I'll figure that out
> as I get submissions.  Before I put out a call for submissions, I'd
> like to get some feedback on the submission guidelines I've drafted:
>
> 1) File format: text or PDF only.  Please don't send Word files,
> scanned images, PowerPoint presentations, just plain text or PDF.
> This is to make sure the result is as neutral and accessible as
> possible.
>
> 2) No copyrighted documents.  The purpose of this is to share, and to
> allow other groups to borrow liberally to form their own
> documentation.  I'm not sure if this would ever be an issue, but may
> as well addresss it up front.
>   
That would actually be any documents written after 1923. Under copyright 
law anything that is published in any for is automatically copyrighted.

I think it would be safer to:
1. say that if a work is submitted, it is understood that it could be 
used by other people and they have permission to do so.
2. Folks can only use the items in the library with the owner's permission
3. The submitter has the authority to submit the works.

An alternative would be for the Submitters to put the works under a 
Creative Commons License, which has different classifications.


   Share, reuse, and remix — legally.

Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, 
artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms 
they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms 
from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."

We're a nonprofit organization. Everything we do — including the 
software we create — is free.

Information about CCL can be found here:
http://creativecommons.org/

> 3) Each document must have a Title (so we know what we're looking at
> and how to organize it in the sample catalogue), and contain the
> submitting group's name, location, and contact information (minimum
> one of e-mail address, phone number, postal address).
>
> Any other guidelines that would be helpful?
>
> One thought I had was to ask that only groups that are 2 years or more
> past move-in submit,
I believe it depends on what documents you are talking about. The Caer 
Coburn Vision and Values Statement and Membership Rules was based upon 
those of Wild Onion, which dissolved before it was built. BTW, I did 
have permission from the group to do so.

Perhaps a disclaimer about the status of the group could be added.
>  as they will be the groups that have fully
> exercised all their policies, from first forming through to actual
> operation.  Yes, groups that are formed but haven't moved in may have
> something to contribute, but I can't think of a better way to make
> sure the documents we're sampling have actually been tested through
> use and change.
>   
I think that the disclaimer would inform the folks that look at the 
document can decide for themselves if they want to use it or not.

Here is a hypothetical scenario:
A new group has their HOA drawn up by a lawyer and a group that has 
built wrote their own HOA without legal advice, which would be more 
likely to stand up in court?

My preference would be to use both- at least to pick out some of the 
good stuff from the self-written HOA that would apply to our situation. 
Of course, I would have our HOA looked over by our lawyer to make sure 
it was legal and binding in our state.
> Lastly, once it's all compiled, is there anyone out there that would
> be willing to make this sample library available online?
>   
I would be willing to host it, my hosting company is very good and 
inexpensive.
If anyone would like information about my hosting company, 1&1, you can 
find it here:
http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=11182019

If yo use that link, I will get a commission if you sign up.
> Regards,
> Andrew Netherton
> Laurel Creek Commons (looking for documents ourselves)
> Waterloo, ON, Canada
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--
Stuart Joseph, 802-463-1954
Project Director
Caer Coburn, a traditional village based upon  and intentional communities
Rockingham, Vermont, USA
http://www.caercoburn.org