Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Coho without work expectations?

[Fred-List manager (fholson]

Rick Gravrok <rick.gravrok [at] gmail.com>
is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
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The fun photo is at http://l.cohousing.org/committee.jpg

--------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------
A fun photo for folks on, or not on, any committees

With the right attitude, and some skills, committees can be fun too.

Rick

Rick Gravrok
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Monterey Cohousing Community
http://www.montereycohousing.com
2925 Monterey Ave
St. Louis Park, MN  55416
Map: http://tinyurl.com/RickGCohousingHome
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"The Opposite of Play is Not Work, it is Depression"
          - Brian Sutton-Smith



























> On Jul 3, 2018, at 9:50 AM, Alice Alexander <aliceanne4 [at] gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Durham Cohousing has a policy on member expectations, but it pretty much
> mirrors what we display on our website <http://www.durhamcoho.com>.
>
> We have the benefit of members who do share their diverse and considerable
> talents to create a very successful community. We have a database of
> responsibilities, with folks taking the lead and making sure the tasks get
> done. We have a weekly tickler for tasks that still need doing, e.g.,
> sweeping the dining floor, or monitoring the contracted cleaning folks, and
> folks sign up. We have a WIT (working it together) hub that oversees our
> work responsibilities, and also organizes community work days every 6
> months. This system works well for us!
>
> To specifically address your questions Joyce:
> The guidelines are spelled out in our member expectations, previously
> shared. We do suggest folks serve on at least two hubs or task circles. But
> no hrs per month are suggested or required. We do have a sign up chart,
> primarily to ensure tasks get done. We don't use this to ascertain if folks
> are doing their fair share. There are no consequences for not working, but
> then we don't have that issue, although it can't be denied that some work
> far more than others. We are more concerned that folks can contribute to
> tasks that make sense for them, that align with their skills and interest,
> and this keeps folks engaged. We also no longer assume, e.g., one of our
> members, a very busy lawyer by day, is quite proud as he should be with
> taking charge in putting out our trash and recycling, and has done since
> move in four years ago. That was a job we originally assumed would rotate,
> since nobody would want to do it!
>
> This isn't to say we don't pay attention. We annually have interviews with
> members of WIT to talk about our engagement, and how we could improve our
> system. And we do have shifting in who is doing what, primarily
> organically, e.g., "I'm stepping back from this job, here's what it
> involves, talk to me if you are interested...."
>
> Alice Alexander
> Durham Central Park Cohousing
> Durham, NC
>
> On Tue, Jul 3, 2018 at 9:09 AM, Joyce Cheney <jcheneyjc [at] gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Alice,
>> Is that document the extent of Durham Central Park's work expectations -
>> no guidelines as to what "doing one's share is" such as hrs. per month, #s
>> of committees to be on, no sign-up charts? Are there consequences for not
>> working on community stuff? If yes, what are they? How's this approach
>> working for your community? Thanks for responding. Joyce Cheney
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 3, 2018 at 6:13 AM, Alice Alexander <aliceanne4 [at] gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Durham Cohousing publishes this "member expectations" page on our
>> website,
>>> outlining the benefits and responsibilities of living in our cohousing.
>>>
>>> https://www.durhamcoho.com/member-expectations
>>>
>>> Note the 3rd section, "how we build community," which was modified from
>>> "work expectations." Isn't that a more inviting way to profile?
>>>
>>> Alice Alexander
>>> Durham Central Park Cohousing
>>> Durham, NC
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jul 3, 2018 at 4:49 AM, Philip Dowds via Cohousing-L <
>>> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am guessing that maybe some cohousing communities like to picture
>>>> themselves as cultures of many opportunities and few duties.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Philip Dowds
>>>> Cornerstone Village Cohousing
>>>> Cambridge, MA
>>>>
>>>> mobile: 617.460.4549
>>>> email:   rpdowds [at] comcast.net
>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 2, 2018, at 10:47 PM, Elizabeth Magill <pastorlizm [at] gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> A few
>>>>> people (myself included) said you couldn't list benefits without
>>>>> listing responsibilities too. Thus the chart. I'd guess half the
>>>>> community knows that there is a chart.
>>>>
>>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>>> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
>>>> http://l.cohousing.org/info
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Alice Alexander
>>> _________________________________________________________________
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>>> http://l.cohousing.org/info
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Alice Alexander
> _________________________________________________________________
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> http://l.cohousing.org/info
>
>
>