Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Paying coho members for professional services

[melanie griffin (melgrif]

As an attorney who knows pretty much nothing about land use law, I
haven't felt the need to weigh in on the decisions with my developing
community on legal matters. But if I had an expertise, i might feel
different, and I'm wondering how those with that issue (and their
communities) deal. Do professionals and craftspeople living in
community (architects, plumbers, realtors, lawyers, etc) with relevant
skills think their contributions are overvalued or undervalued, or is
it ok to just express an opinion and not have it taken as "the word"
on a subject or dismissed if it doesn't match the paid professional's?
 Do you step back from those decisions, or lend your expertise? I have
enough trouble avoiding giving legal advice in social situations.
Melanie

On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 8:38 AM, Fred H Olson <fholson [at] cohousing.org> 
wrote:
>
> Susan Coberly <susandgeorge [at] gmail.com>
> is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
> Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
> after deleting quoted digest.
> --------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------
>
> In response to question about paying professioals, e.g., attorneys,
> accountants, who are members of your cohousing community. LaQuerencia /
> Fresno Cohousing doesn't employ its members for professional expertise.  I
> am an attorney. Sometimes the group or the officers might seek my "take" on
> something, including a legal issue affecting our community (organized under
> CA law as a condominium). I may give my off the cuff opinion but then
> advise expert advice might be needed by an attorney who is not a community
> member and who practices in that area of law..Agree with Sharon V about
> problems in hiring - and firing - such advisors, if he/she is a member of
> the community.
>
> Susan C, LaQuerencia
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"Wall Street owns the country...Money rules... Our laws are the output
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parties lie to us and the political speakers mislead us."  MARY
ELIZABETH LEASE 1890