Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: common house use

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

RoseWind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA
Our common house has been in full use for six years now. We give priority to 
RoseWind events, knowing that Monday evenings, second Saturdays etc are 
usually for certain RW functions. 

We don't rent the CH to outsiders; however our members are part of a great 
many local organizations, and may book "sponsored events" for a group a 
member is part of. Conditions: Sponsor is present from start to finish, 
responsible for clean up, house rules*, and so forth. Payment is a minimum 
of $10, or a dollar per person, if over 10. A form is filled in and left in 
the coordinator's box, and the event is put on the bulletin board calendar, 
with times and sponsor name. (*rules include leaving no alcohol in the CH, 
no incense or fragrant stuff, no shoes, or use shoe covers, deal with trash, 
compost, recycling) 

Another category of event is a Personal Social, at $10. This would be a 
birthday party, potluck for a social group, cast party, or such. 

Privacy: We are clear that no group can be guaranteed total privacy, so it's 
not appropriate for, say, 12 Step meetings. Members may come into the foyer 
to pick up mail,  for instance, or the kitchen to pick up or drop off 
something. That said, we are sometimes alerted that someone is having a 
meditation retreat, or women's group, or such, and people tiptoe if they 
need to enter. 

Money making: Our typical events aren't about producing income for anyone. 
The small fees go towards utility costs. A musician might have a donation 
jar; some events are fundraisers for nonprofits. We haven't a clear policy 
about the situation, if a workshop leader, say, wanted to run a class there 
and get paid by the participants. 

Quantity of use: Community events are the majority of uses. And we still 
have many non-RW sponsored and social events. It hasn't been a problem, most 
of the time. 

Lynn Nadeau, RoseWind
where the crocus are up and the trees in bud