Community Life

Community Expectations

Community members are expected to do the following, to the best of their ability:

1. Actively serve on at least one committee (attend meetings and work on committee projects).
2. Attend community meetings.
3. Fulfill work commitment (work 3 hours per month for 11 months of the year). There are work parties scheduled monthly, or members can work individually from a list of tasks that need to get done, mostly landscaping, cleaning the Common House, or doing minor repairs. There is a buyout system at the rate of $25 per hour.
4. Participate in the common meal system by cooking or cleaning once per rotation (a rotation is approximately 3 weeks).
5. Commit to using consensus as a decision-making process (when appropriate).
6. Commit to addressing community disputes through mediation.

Common Meals

Thanksgiving dinner

We usually have common meals twice a week, using a 2 person cook team and 2-3 person cleanup team for each meal. The menu and day is cook's choice, with always a vegetarian option, and always some child-friendly food. We have enjoyed meals ranging from a Nepalese curry dinner to make-your-own burritos. We also have a potluck on Sunday evening. Additionally, we have had special common meals or potlucks to celebrate seasonal festivals such as Cinco de Mayo, Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Day of the Dead, Deepavali (Indian festival of lights), Christmas, and others.

Committees

We've learned that it makes sense to delegate some work to committees rather than have the whole group involved. Committee work is also an opportunity to get to know others in the community. Standing committees include: Architectural Resource (ARC), Connection and Conflict Resolution Team (CCRT), Common House, Craft Room, Emergency Preparedness, Facilitation and Decision Making (FacDec), Financial Advisory Team (FAT), Food/Common Meals, Garden, Green (resource for environmentally friendly alternatives), Home Buyers and Sellers (HomeBASE), Landscape, Maintenance, Outreach, Risk Management Team (RMT), Social, and Workshop. There is also an Executive Committee (ExCom) which is elected each year and includes the legally mandated HOA officers plus a few additional positions. When needed, we create ad-hoc committees to do particular tasks such as getting the second bike shed built or researching new lights for the pathways.

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Business Meetings

Business Meeting

We have business meetings twice a month. We vary the day and time in an effort to accommodate people's work and family schedules, either a weekday evening or a weekend morning or afternoon. The schedule and agenda are set by the Executive Committee. Meetings go for 2 hours and rarely go overtime. Each meeting has a facilitator. Other jobs during the meeting are: notetaker, card coordinator, timer, child care coordinator, and vibes watcher.

Consensus Decision-Making

Like most other cohousing communities, we decided early on that we wanted to make our decisions by consensus. Consensus is based on the belief that each person has some part of the truth and that no one has all of it. It is based on a respect for all persons involved in the decision being considered. If a proposal makes a few people, even one person, deeply unhappy, then there is a valid reason for that unhappiness, and if we ignore it, we are likely to make a mistake. Making decisions by consensus means that all members either agree to the proposal or agree not to contest moving forward with the proposal. We also have an alternative decision-making procedure that would come into play if consensus cannot be reached after a number of attempts and/or there is a crucial deadline, but we have used it only rarely. Read more about consensus: "Basics of Consensus" by Rob Sandelin

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Use of Colored Cards

During our meetings, we use colored cards. Each member has a set of five different-colored cards. The cards are a useful way for members to communicate their stance when we are in the process of seeking consensus. The reverse side of each card is used during discussions. Before speaking on an issue one must first put up a colored card and wait to be called on. We've found that this system really helps keep the meeting flowing smoothly.

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Having Fun Together

Memorial Day Camping Trip

Fun! Isn't that why we're here? Yes, we do find time to have fun together. Some activities we enjoy are: birthday parties, dances, barbeques, yoga classes, video nights, Friday night discussion forums, bridge/game nights, camping trips, soaking in the hot tub, swimming and playing in the pool (the kids are especially fond of that one), and lots of impromptu get togethers.

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