Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: common meal signup and $ tracking software available

[Judy Lightstone (jlightstone]

I'm certainly curious to know more.  For one, does it only measure financial
exchanges or does it include "credits" for doing the actual work of cooking,
cleaning, shopping etc.? Also, how much does it cost to purchase and
maintain?

Judy from Earthsong


-----Original Message-----

Subject: Fw: [C-L]_ common meal signup and $ tracking software available


Dear everyone,

I thought you might be interested to see how one community manages its meals

and costs system.

Cheers
Cathy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stuart Joseph" <stuart [at] caercoburn.org>
To: "Cohousing-L" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 7:45 AM
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ common meal signup and $ tracking software available


> Ken,
> The software sounds great and I would like to see it in action.
>
> I think it might have value to other folks besides co-housers.
>
> Ken Lewis wrote:
>> I have developed an online meal signup and financial tracking system 
>> for
>> my
>> community (Nevada City Cohousing - California). It has been in use since
>> January 2007 and works very well for us. It has greatly simplified the
>> financial aspect of meals for cooks and diners alike.
>>
>> I have received lots of positive feedback and many suggestions that I 
>> advertise it to other cohousing communities. This email contains an 
>> overview of the system I've developed. For those who are interested, 
>> I can customize
>> the system to the needs of the particular community.
>>
>> Brief Overview:
>>
>> It's basically a web-based system that allows cooks and diners to 
>> sign up for meals online. The system tracks the amount cooks spend on 
>> meals (treated as a credit) and the amount diners "spend" by eating 
>> (treated as a debit).
>> Based on these transactions a household's balance fluctuates as its 
>> members
>> cook and eat. Households can track their balance through online reports,
>> only ever writing or receiving a check if their balance goes too far in
>> either direction. Most households simply let their balance ride, 
>> fluctuating
>> with their participation in meals.
>>
>> Some Highlights:
>>
>>     - Calendar based navigation (so it's very intuitive)
>>     - Cashless (almost) transaction system
>>     - Minimal actual check transactions
>>     - Reports for tracking household balances
>>     - Online system so it can be accessed from anywhere, anytime
>>     - Hosted off site so no system maintenance required
>>     - No need for community techie for installation, maintenance
>>     - Organized by household to streamline signing up
>>
>> I can give a lot more details about how this system works but I 
>> wanted to keep this email short. This initial email is mainly to 
>> gauge the interest/need for a meal system like this. I'll be putting 
>> together a demo site soon so people can try it out for themselves.
>>
>> Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
>>
>> Ken
>>
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: 
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Stuart Joseph, 802-463-1954
> Project Director
> Caer Coburn, a traditional village based upon cohousing  and intentional 
> communities in
> Rockingham, Vermont, USA
> http://www.caercoburn.org
> Mail to:
> 36 Front St.
> Bellows Falls, VT 05101 USA
>
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>
>
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> 5:43 p.m.
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