ACM minutes Jan 23, 2022

Topics: cohousing & consensus, fitting in vs. belonging, 5G EMF
Minutes, All-Community Meeting, Sunday, January 23, 2022
3:00-5:00 p.m.  On-line.

Present: Mike (co-fac/timekeeper), Kay (notes), Maxine, Lynda, Linda (fac), Vicky, visitors 
Thomas & Isabel, Laura, Mary, Scott & Marina, Cheryl, Beth, Emilie

Presentation on What Is Cohousing?

Sharing about life in the community. 

Asked for questions from guests and new residents.
Q. How does gardening work in the community?  Communal, individual?
A. Each household is expected to maintain the area around their unit. One garden area is 
available for people to have individual beds, and another is worked communally. The rest is 
maintained through volunteer labor and a very small amount of hired labor.

Q. What about participation and meetings?  
A. Residents are expected to attend at least one of the two community meetings each 
month.  One factor in today’s attendance might be that our last meeting was the Annual 
Meeting, which had higher than average attendance.  Another factor is likely zoom-burnout.

Q. How are changes made? 
A. Residents have a lot more say in how things are run than in a condo run by a board* and 
professional management. [*While we have a board, it has limited powers which it uses 
gingerly.] If you want to do something, the first step is to talk to people, particularly your 
neighbors, or to discuss it in community gatherings.  For small things, that may be all that is 
needed.

Changes to rules or use of the property are changed through written proposals presented, 
discussed, and approved at community meetings.  To change agreed-upon processes, start by 
asking for background – why is it done the way it is?  What are the advantages and 
disadvantages? If you have an idea for a change, explain it.  You may be told we already tried 
that, and here is why it wasn’t satisfactory.  Or you may be told it sounds interesting and may 
be worth pursuing.  After discussions, a formal proposal is written, discussed, and approved or 
not.

Q. Are quorums required at meetings?
A. Not for most business.  The schedule of meetings is published well ahead of time. Agendas 
are sent out.  Proposals must be distributed at least a week before the meeting at which a 
decision is made. Non-attendees can send a message to be read at a meeting, although they 
can’t block. You can say you have a concern but will be unable to attend and request a 
discussion be rescheduled for a time you can attend.

Did a practice on consensus, using a proposal to fill cracks in the central path with chocolate 
chip cookies. Clarifying questions, concerns, discussion.  Amended to use cookies for 
eating.  Consensus.  (Cookies will be at potluck.)

If a proposal is being discussed and you aren’t at a meeting, it is important that you read the 
minutes to know what happened, because proposals can be amended or altered at a meeting.

Fitting in vs. Belonging

Two questions from the work of Brene Brown [“bre-nay”] – 
Do you feel that you have to try to fit in or do you feel a sense of belonging in the community?
How do we encourage more belonging?

... where "fitting in" means changing yourself to get along and belonging is being able to be 
yourself. 

5G Tower on West Berm

The tower is next to our property but not on it.  Much of the west berm is public right of way.  

EMF bands 1G through 4G are at capacity.  Shorter wavelength higher frequency 5G doesn’t 
reach as far and requires more towers. Some peer-reviewed studies show that electromagnetic 
waves open the calcium channels of cells, letting in free radicals. The higher the frequency the 
more potentially harmful. Best remediation is avoidance. Locate router far from 
bedroom.  Limit time spent with items that emit wifi or radio frequencies. 

Committee Reports

The gym is very close to being finished.  One more work party should do it.  If you are interested 
in moving it forward, let Marina know when you are available.

Welcoming has had a couple of orientation sessions with Laura.

Members of Naomi’s family will be coming, Two sisters to empty the house February 4th.  A 
pod will be in the west parking lot, would like it to be on the north end close to the 
dumpster.  Cousin in California is handling sale of house.

Let Kay know if you will be using your garden bed this year or if you would like a bed. Kay will put out a doodle poll to schedule a meeting.  

Be cautious in east garden until Mary can get branches she has been trimming in dumpster.

Emilie offering yoga classes Thursday 6:30-7:30. Capping size at three people.  She has two 
medical-grade air filtration systems she uses.

Emailed 5/11.