Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Accountability for doing community work or workshare

[Martie Weatherly (mhweatherly]

I n Liberty Village, all our work is done totally by volunteering and 
trust. We specifically came to agreement that we were not having any 
rules about doing the work.

There are several discussions that we had before coming to this agreement:
We expect that there will be times when any member will have less time 
to give to the community. We agreed that this was okay with all of us, 
including if we were that person, and that we would not feel guilty 
about it. We figure it will all come out even in this life or the next.

If there is something we think should get done, and no one wants to do 
it, then we figure there is no energy around it and let it go. Or we 
hire someone. So we have some land that is growing wild grass and some 
that we pay to get mowed.

We have had no problem with slackers. Every one contributes in some way, 
some more than others.

If it changes and we have a problem, then we will deal with that then. 
Our community has 18 families, regularly scheduled work days, an active 
dinner program (also with no money changing hands), active teams and 
regular community meetings.

Martie Weatherly
Liberty Village
Frederick MD

Joani Blank wrote:

> Listserve Friends,
>
> Over the years, I've read here a number of threads dealing with 
> systems that cohousing communities have for ensuring accountability 
> for members doing their share of the community work.
>
> I know that some communities have a person who agrees to monitor the 
> work system (both regular tasks and community work day 
> contributions), and to speak with anyone who fails to do the work 
> they've agreed to, as well as assuring that no one person does way 
> more than his or her share, all the while becoming increasingly resentful.
>
> I also know that some communities have an option for buying out of 
> both regular jobs and work days, the idea being that the money 
> thereby collected could , at least theoretically, wholely or 
> partially pay for the community to hire an another community member, 
> or more likely an outside contractor to do that piece of the work.
>
> My question today, is as follows: Can anyone tell us what OTHER ways 
> in which community members are (or could be) held accountable for 
> doing their share of the work.
>
> Joani Blank
> land line (preferred): 510-834-7399
> cell: 510-387-1315
> joani [at] swansway.com
> <http://www.joaniblank.com>www.joaniblank.<http://www.joaniblank.com>com  
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