Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: work-or-pay system - legalities? general advice?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

Thanks to Kay for such a detailed description of the workshare problems. I 
think it describes the problems in most communities.

I wonder if the problems are greater in larger communities where people can 
effectively hide. It takes a lot more effort to keep up with 60 adults than it 
does 40. Oddly the effect of more people is exponential, like having children. 
With one child there is the relationship with the child and one or two parents. 
With a second child there is the relation hip with one or two parents plus the 
relationship between the two children and each child's reaction to the other's 
relationship with the two parents, and on and on.

If I were starting a new community, from the outset it would be pay or play, 
with workdays established every month with people expected to attend who don't 
have other ongoing jobs like secretary, treasurer, etc. And those with other 
jobs would be welcome at lunch.

I would like to try the schedule one community has of people gathering for 
coffee and bagels and listening to the jobs of the day, working for 4 hours, 
then gathering for a big late celebratory lunch after which people linger and 
talk. I proposed this here but our workdays work so well, they didn't want to 
change. We have a full day every other month with lots of pleas for someone to 
do lunch which is very simple, minuscule budget so people will get back to 
work. Some people leave after lunch anyway.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org