Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Looking for examples of guidelines for neighbors to become coho member

[Elizabeth Magill (pastorlizm]

We have affiliate members. They are just like members--pay dues, can
attend meetings, be on teams, be on our email lists.
(for this to work we have a separate thing called HOA members that
consensus on money/building issues, and HOA and coho dues are 2
separate things.)

The policy is here https://mosaic-commons.org/affiliates

We've had a long history--starting with associates who, before
move-in, were people who might want to join, later we called them
friends (bad idea, gave the impression that all friends should join)
and now is called associates.
This has included over time divorced spouses, people who live nearby,
people who wanted to buy but didn't, people who want to buy if a house
becomes available. One family joined after walking their dog through
our neighborhood for quite some time.
We have some conflicts around it--what if homeowner doesn't *want*
divorced spouse on our email list? What if homeowner *does* want
divorced spouse on email, but there is conflict with other members?

However, the most difficult problem is that some affiliates just stop
showing up, and we aren't good at tracking them down and getting them
to either say I'm in or not. Since our sliding scale budgeting process
requires we don't include associate dues in the math it doesn't cause
us any financial problems.

I think it works pretty well, at least for people who are willing to
hold the idea lightly.

-Liz
(The Rev. Dr.) Elizabeth Mae Magill
Pastor, Ashburnham Community Church
Minister to the Affiliates, Ecclesia Ministries
www.elizabethmaemagill.com
508-450-0431

On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 10:27 AM Julie R <jewel_3649 [at] hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello cohos
>
> I'm a neighbor opposite the Woodard cohousing community in Olympia, WA. I 
> have been part of their meal plan for 2 years and frequently get invited to 
> the bookclub and other events. We are jjust starting a discussion to explore 
> other ways I could contribute to the community and share my resources.
>
> I'm looking for contacts in co-housing communities who may have already 
> created some guidelines for neighbors to become coho members.
>
> THANK YOU!
>
> Julie Ratner
>
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