The Gardens Cohousing

Minutes 11/28/98

Dec 02, 1998

Minutes from November 28
Meeting # 5
Nuts & Bolts Workshop
Topic: Process
Consensus: Under process we discussed consensus. Zev passed out a handout on making consensus. Several members said they had experience working with consensus in a variety of committee situations.
Facilitation: It was suggested that all of the meetings are facilitated in order to keep the meetings moving in a specific direction. The facilitator should be able to stand back and not have a strong feeling on the topic being discussed in order to give all voices an opportunity to reach consensus.
Agenda Setting: Zev suggested that during a meeting we offer information and discussion during one meeting and hold off on making decision until the next meeting in order to fully process the information. Some of the members voiced concern about not getting any decisions made.
Minutes: the minutes are to record all decisions made. This should facilitate giving new members a history of the process and the work already accomplished. Decision: Process Team formed Nancy Fox is the contact member on the process team. Any agenda items should be given to Nancy for inclusion in the next meeting.
Topic: Marketing and Membership.
Linda presented several ideas of gaining members. Local events, flyers, telling all friends. By filling the cohousing development ourselves the early joiners can receive some rebate on price. All marketing material generated should go through Marilyn at Wonderland Hill for approval. Decision: Membership Team formed Linda Worsick is the contact person for the membership team.
Topic: Design Process.
A site design workshop will be held during the last weekend in January. This will be a seminar that requires a financial investment which will be applied to the built home.The money will earn interest. Some senarios suggested included doubling the investment to the cost of the house or at least 150% If the Cohousing units are not built or if the family decides not to join the money will not be refunded. The seminar will be explained in more depth at the next meeting. Decision: Design Team Formed
The job of the design team is to work between the cohousing community and the building professionals. The design team will communicate the needs of the cohousing community to the builders and to communicate the builders concerns back to the community. The design team can also research building techniques and materials.
Topic: Ideal Cohousing
Jim Leach suggested an exercise for envisioning the ideal cohousing community. Each member was asked to think about how to add the most value to the cohousing community in regards to location, community activities, and structures. Decision: Put in writing your ideal cohousing community This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

The next meeting will be December 10th at the All Saints Episcopal Church at 37th & Yates, in the upstairs room at 7 p.m. Any one interested in being on one of the above teams can come at 6 o?’clock when the teams will meet for one hour.