ACM minutes Feb 27, 2022

Topics: Pay or work agreement
Minutes, All-Community Meeting, WCCA, Sunday, February 27, 2022
3:00-5:05 p.m.  Hybrid in-person and on-line.
 
Present: Linda, Kay (notes), Lynda, Thomas and Isabel #4, Laura, Alex, Joe, Myste, Maxine, Mike (fac), 
Jessie, Megan, Bryan Hoechner, Vicky, Diana, Susan, Scott, Vicky, Coleen, Ben, Anne, Jesse, Laraine, 
Beth, Carol
 
Kay provided a background summary on the history of the pay-or-play policy.  The goals were to spread 
out the workload somewhat rather than all of it falling on the more willing people, to give people an 
option to contribute in a different way if they can’t or prefer not to do community work, and to let 
people know what others are doing and know that everybody is meeting the commitment.
 
To report hours, you can access the reporting site directly at https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/
1bY05peYFhhut2fqZuX5UiqYoR8jpXx4cLhZQb4wSMCo/edit?usp=sharing or follow the link at the bottom 
of every community listserv email.  This is a new link, replacing the previous one.  The reason for 
replacing it is so it is owned by the community not by a single person.
 
If you forget to report during a month, (1) you will be reminded, (2) you will have a grace period in 
which to report the previous month’s work, then (3) you will be invoiced.
 
We have a paper form for those who don’t want to use the online reporting form.  We can also hold 
training sessions on how to use the online reporting. For now, Coleen will track the reporting, and Beth 
will do the invoicing.
 
Break-out session to discuss how this pay-or-work system might benefit the community. Reconvene and 
report.
 
- Transparency, equity, togetherness, sense of accomplishment, visibility.  
- Re-energizing as we come out of covid.  
- Not step on each other’s toes taking over a project someone else thought they were doing.  
 
- Lists of everything that needs doing are scattered and out of date. 
- Many communities have Management put together a list of what needs to be done. 
- Currently the rule is that everyone decides for themselves what is community work; that could change.
- Opportunity to feel good about still contributing when can’t or haven’t done something that month.
- Continuous involvement – what can I do for the community this month?
- Working together can be more fun than working singly.
- Can participate either in a group or by oneself.
- Accountability or even pressure to do the right thing.
- Organize, coordinate
- Flexibility 
 
Five-minute break.
 
Break-out.  Discuss – If someone doesn’t do their share, then what?  What should the pay options be? 
 
Opportunity to connect with people who aren’t active.
Be supportive – how can we help you be active?
Invite people to help when you plan to do something.
Be inclusive.
Bill automatically if there’s been no report.
Hold down condo fees by encouraging people to do the needed work instead of it being hired.
Can help people when they have difficulties by contributing hours on their behalf.
Need communication when someone needs help.
Get momentum, get this underway.
 
Breakout:  When should fees for unworked hours begin?
 
If anything counts, could start very soon.  If we are being more descriptive about what counts, we need 
to have a list together before we start charging.  
Don’t want to wait for a list.  The list will evolve.
Have a signup so people have an idea what other people are planning on and have already done.
The committee list has been used for people to sign up for on-going tasks.
Keep the list current.
Consolidate all the various places where people are signing up into just two, online and paper.
 
Committee Reports
 
Maintenance.  The maintenance committee is re-forming.  Scott is the convener and inviter.  First 
meeting Thursday night.  Email Scott if you are interested.  Committee does the planning.  People not on 
the committee can do the work. Members Laraine, Thomas, Kay, Jesse, Mary, Meagan, Scott.
 
Welcoming.  Doing a series of three one-hour meetings for orientation.  Tomorrow night with Caleb 
7:30. Annual cohousing open house Saturday April 23 from 10 a.m.  to 12 p.m., will be announced on 
FaceBook. 
 
North Field.  Started seedlings in the common house.  Please respond to poll Cheryl emailed on what 
people are interested in having grown.
 
Workshop.  Alex and Beth will be drafting a proposal on inventory of the tools in the garage.  Jesse and 
Caleb want to work on the woodshop.  Please remember to return community tools to the garage.
 
Safety.  Reminder that smoke and carbon dioxide detectors should be replaced every ten years.  Check 
that fire extinguishers are fully charged.  CCR requires each unit to have detectors and extinguishers.
 
Announcements
 
March 6 zoom meeting of national committee exploring cohousing house swaps.  
 
We agreed to follow CDC guidelines, which now say vaccinated people don’t need to mask inside unless 
they have other health issues.
 
Emailed 3/5.