Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Need "Work Group" how-to guidance - help homeless veterans

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Dec 19, 2016, at 3:18 PM, Katie Henry <katie-henry [at] att.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> Sharon has a lot of good suggestions. I would add one thing: Make it 
> reasonably easy for workers to get cash for purchases, or else reimburse 
> quickly without excess paperwork. It's really easy to lose interest in a 
> project if you have to wait three months for the community to come to 
> consensus on spending a few bucks for cleaning supplies or a can of touch-up 
> paint, then another two months for reimbursement.

I agree. A problem we have not solved. A property manager told us other condos 
don’t have a  problem. They have a credit card that is used for small 
purchases. We have some people (maybe one) who believes credit cards are the 
cause of the fall of Rome so our rules are too stringent to be useful. 

The paperwork requires filling out a form and attaching copies of the receipts 
— even if it does appear on the credit card — or as they say “debit” card. We 
do have a more efficient management company that gets out payments faster but 
I’ve been waiting for a $500+ reimbursement since Oct 20. The limit on the 
debit card is $500. So the only way to make the purchase was ,,,,, I don’t even 
know. One member just bought our new dishwasher on her own card.

This problem falls heavily on the leaders. The people who are organizing and 
know what is needed. If you want team leaders, figure out how reimburse them 
quickly and easily. After 25 years of working for a college in the state of NY 
system. I dig my feet in about forms. They pollute my brains no matter how much 
others think they are the solution to everything.

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