Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Getting the work done

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Nov 15, 2012, at 5:20 AM, R Philip Dowds <rpdowds [at] comcast.net> wrote:

> BUT AND HOWEVER, if you are having serious financial problems, ones which 
> might even force you to leave the community, then you can self-excuse from 
> participation in optional expenditures like a swing set or a garden shed or 
> remodeling a community space.  Just notify the Treasurer, and you're off the 
> hook.  It's strictly honor system, no submittal or review of household 
> financial records is desired or required.
> 
> So where Takoma presumes you're out unless you choose to buy in, we presume 
> you're in unless you choose to opt out.

Not exactly. We have several reserve funds. Replacement, Maintenance, and 
Capital Improvements.

Maintenance is savings for maintenance that happens every two years or more.  
Dryer vent cleaning, every ~2-3 years. Storm sewer cleaning, ~5-10 years. 
Painting the exterior, ~7 years. Etc.

Replacement is savings for things like "refurbishing" rooms which is what our 
current reserve specialist calls "remodeling." It is for replacement or major 
repairs on items and systems that we already have. The dishwasher, the HVAC 
system, roof replacement, etc.

Capital Improvement is savings for things we don't have and are adding. A new 
play structure is planned for $12,000. As soon as we decide what we need under 
it, it will be paid for as a capital improvement. We just added two antennas so 
each unit can get broadcast TV using Capital Improvement savings. The fence 
around part of our property was a capital improvement.

For Capital Improvements we have allowed and sometimes requested donations. 
Donations not only help with the cost, they can indicate how important the item 
is to the members who are donating. Members are not contacted individually for 
donations and names are not published or announced, though we often know who 
they are.

The only item I remember that was completely paid for with donations was the 
Universal Gym. That was done shortly after we moved in and it was not something 
that many people understood, much less would use. It was also much faster for 
them to just buy it. If community funds had been used, there would have been a 
long process of research and answering questions as each person figured out 
what it was and whether this was a good purchase or not. 

For the antennas, the first group started doing research several years ago, 
almost had a contract to bring forward, and the person who was going to install 
it moved to Texas (or some such thing). Then the antenna was no longer made. 
Then a new group started research about 2 years ago, started getting bids last 
winter, negotiated their preferred provider down, brought the proposal to the 
community in two meetings that were a couple of months apart.  Between the two 
meetings, donations were solicited. No person to person solicitations on any 
organized basis. No names mentioned when the final amount was given. 

Members of the community had 3 hours of questions about the antennas in 2 
membership meetings before they approved it. The antenna connection is 
incompatible with cable service so the ~50% who have cable will have to choose. 
And believe it or not if you are over 60, some had never seen a rooftop antenna 
or understood what it did!

So no one can "opt out." Some people can just support the idea more helpfully. 
Wouldn't even say more "aggressively" because campaigning would be frowned on. 
It would rub people the wrong way. Too much Daddy Warbucks.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines, Washington DC 
Where all roads lead to Casablanca