Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Common House Use

[Dave and Diane (daveanddee]

Hi all,
We are having a big discussion about this in our community now. There is
a debate going back and forth about whether or not it's OK to ask for a
donation for use of the common space in terms of its affect on 
insurance.
One member asked our insurance agent if asking for a donation made CH 
use
effectively into a "contract" and increased our exposure to liability. 
The
answer was yes, and we would be safer not to have any money change 
hands.
Then another member asked the same question (board changed) and the 
answer
was no, it doesn't affect our liability.

How have other communities handled this issue?

--Diane(:^|
outreach facilitator
jp cohousing  617-522-2209
Box 300420 boston ma
http://www.jpcohousing.
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
"The people who surround you define the quality of your life."



On Wed, 21 Feb 2007, at 10:35:49 -0800, Rob Sandelin wrote:

> <snip>
>
> We allow for private use but charge a fee for such use. And all 
> private use
> has to have a member sponsor, who is responsible for the cleanup and
> theoretically damages (we have never had any damages from an event) 
> Members
> have used the commonhouse for private paid workshops, in a couple of 
> cases
> we have also done this as a fundraiser for community needs. I hosted a
> facilitators retreat that raised $1,000 to pay for some improvements 
> in the
> community. So private use for money can also benefit the community.