Overview
The Affiliates Policy outlines two categories of affiliation with CoHo Ecovillage--Friends of CoHo and Associate Members. These categories are open to non-owners/non-residents who want to maintain ongoing connections with CoHo through regular involvement in community life. The vision is to create and maintain meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with those outside our on-site community. In accordance with CoHo policy, a general overview is provided in the policy document and specific details are listed in these Affiliates Guidelines.
See...
Policy Database
Policies on the cohousing.org website come from two major places: The collection of Useful Documents done by Laura Fitch and others in December of 2011, and the Cohousing / Intentional Community policy database which was created and is maintained by Daniel Lindenberger. To submit a policy for inclusion on this site, contact our webmaster.
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CoHo Ecovillage |
Meadow Wood Cohousing Meadow Wood Declaration of Covenants:
Section 10.1 Residential Use: Timesharing and
Business Use Prohibited. The Condominium is intended for and
restricted to use as single family residences only, on an
ownership, rental, or lease basis, and for social,
recreational, or other reasonable activities normally
incident to such use, except as provided in Article 11. The
Timesharing of Units, as defined in RCW 64.36, is
prohibited.
10.1.1 Any business, trade, garage sale, moving
sale, rummage sale, or similar activity is prohibited,
except that an Owner or... |
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Meadow Wood Cohousing
PETS. We decided to include our county animal regulations verbatim.
They include:
Infractions: Animal Noise: For any person(s) to own
any animal which by its barking, howling, baying, squealing,
crowing, crying, bleating, screeching, or making any other
noise by its volume or frequency unreasonably disturbs or
interferes with the peace of any person(s) for more than
fifteen minutes in any one-hour period of any day, and is
documented by three or more separate episodes of such noise
in a sequential seven-day period. The burden is upon the
owner of such animal(s) to... |
Arboretum Cohousing Plenary Meeting Expectations and Roles
September 2015
(Includes member input from September 13, 2015 Plenary Meeting)
To make our community meetings, known as plenaries, as productive and
civil as possible, we embrace the following “living document” of
expectations and roles:
Decorum – While emotions might run high over certain issues, those
attending need to be respectful of others and not resort to personal
attacks in order to make their point.
Proposals - New proposals come through a sponsoring committee that
will develop the idea until it is ripe for discussion and a... |
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Pioneer Valley Cohousing Part 1. Abandoned motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.) are not allowed on the Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community Site. An abandoned vehicle is one that is unregistered and uninsured for two consecutive months. The Buildings and Grounds Committee will attempt to notify the vehicle owner to determine if a vehicle is abandoned. Homeowners are responsible for any vehicles abandoned by renters or guests. At the end of two months the homeowner will be notified that they will have one week to remove the vehicle. At the end of the week, B... |
Pioneer Valley
AFFORDABILITY FUND (10/1/95; policies & procedures 2/3/96-Finance Committee)
Policy and Procedure for the Affordability Fund are set by the Finance Committee. Any decision of the Finance Committee may be appealed first to the Finance Committee and secondly to the General Meeting.
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
Any source determined by the community.
Specifically: Development Fees
USES OF FUNDS: LONG TERM... |
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Pioneer Valley by Annex committee fall 2002
1. No children under 18 unsupervised in the annex.
2. Individuals unfamiliar with the use of power tools need to get training from someone on the annex committee on the use of the power tools.
3. Lights off and power off on leaving Sign in for all work performed in the annex on the sheet on the wall.
4. No storage of materials or tools in or around the annex without prior approval.
5. Materials left unlabeled in or around the annex are for public consumption or can be disposed of after notice is given.
6. Projects left unlabeled and dated for... |
Twin Oaks Incorporating those changes made 21 July 1989, 3 October 1986, and December 1996.
ARTICLE I
The name of the Corporation is TWIN OAKS COMMUNITY, INCORPORATED.
ARTICLE II
In order that the residents of Twin Oaks may achieve and preserve a clearer perception of community and realize a more pure and unfettered unity of spirit, the Corporation is organized for the following apostolic and communal purposes: the Corporation shall form and become a self-contained intentional community, having a common treasury and providing for its members and... |
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Columbia Ecovillage
A team job description is the working mandate of the team approved by the community. Job descriptions are written by the members of the start-up team, proposed as agenda items at the general business meeting, and discussed by the entire community.
If the Job Description is approved the Start-Up team becomes an Authorized Team.
Membership: Teams are open to any member of the community to join. If the team has too few or too many members or does not have the appropriate resources (time, information and skills) to accomplish their work the team should notify the Coordination Team... |
Pioneer Valley 1 No unit owner shall do or permit to be done anything in or about his or her unit or in common areas which will interfere with the rights, comfort or convenience of other unit owners, it being the intent that the Cherry Hill Condominium shall be a residential community wherein all residents shall live in a peaceful and tranquil environment.
2 No unit owner shall cause or permit to be caused any excessively loud noise which shall cause unreasonable disturbance to any other unit owner. Noises penetrating beyond the private property of the unit owner shall not be permitted between the hours of... |
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Prairie Sky Prairie Sky Car Sharing Agreement, 2011
This agreement, made between the members of the Prairie Sky Car Sharing Group “the Group”, documents how the Group will function.
Rules and Regulations
4. The shared cars will actually belong to Prairie Sky Cohousing Co-operative Ltd., but all decisions as to the purchase, operation, maintenance and replacement of the vehicles will be made by the Group. Prairie Sky Cohousing Co-operative Ltd. will hold the insurance on the vehicles, but the Group will pay the insurance premiums.
5. All costs, liabilities and responsibilities rest with the... |
EcoReality Responsibilities of the child care steward include:
• Maintaining an awareness of the value and importance of childcare, education and play within the EcoReality community.
• Access to and knowledge of all previous formal and informal agreements regarding childcare made by EcoReality members.
• Thorough research and evaluation of how childcare at EcoReality correlates to the values agreed upon by the members.
• Research of how childcare is incorporated into other intentional communities and ongoing sharing of these findings on the Wiki.
• Gathering of ideas, thoughts,... |
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Pioneer Valley 1 Committees and work teams make decisions by consensus. Any decision of a committee/work team may be appealed by any member, first to that committee/work team and, if no resolution is achieved, to the General Meeting.
2 Committees: (The community has not approved any general statement about the responsibilities and powers of committees except that implied by their budgets).
Annex Building: development and use of the wood shop/arts & crafts building
Buildings & Grounds: maintenance, repair and improvement of our buildings and grounds, and to contract with vendors to meet those... |
Columbia Ecovillage Teams - Definitions
Teams: Long standing sub-group of the community authorized by the community to make and implement decisions covered in the scope of their job descriptions.
Nimble squads: Short-term task forces authorized by the community to perform tasks that have an immediate need of implementation. Once these tasks are completed, Nimble Squads are dissolved.
Formation of Teams
Initiation: Any member of the community can propose to the community formation of a new team.
Person(s) with the idea writes a general description of the new team including a name and the... |
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Pioneer Valley Committees and work teams make decisions by consensus. Any decision of a committee/work team may be appealed by any member, first to that committee/work team and, if no resolution is achieved, to the General Meeting.
Committees: (The community has not approved any general statement about the responsibilities and powers of committees except that implied by their budgets).
Annex Building: development and use of the wood shop/arts & crafts building
Buildings & Grounds: maintenance, repair and improvement of our buildings and grounds, and to contract with vendors to meet those needs;... |
Pioneer Valley
COMMON HOUSE USE (2/28/98) (last CH Committee revision 1/03)
Common House Committee has authority to revise the Common House Use Policy without General Meeting approval. (2/28/98)
The following guidelines are for use of the Common House by Members, Associate members and Renters having a community or non-community function. All are responsible for guidelines being carefully followed and should ask for instruction or clarification if there is any uncertainty or doubt.
The CH is a no... |
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Pioneer Valley Cohousing (2/28/98) (last CH Committee revision 1/03)
Common House Committee has authority to revise the Common House Use Policy without General Meeting approval. (2/28/98)
The following guidelines are for use of the Common House by Members, Associate members and Renters having a community or non-community function. All are responsible for guidelines being carefully followed and should ask for instruction or clarification if there is any uncertainty or doubt.
• The CH is a no pets, no smoking building, including the guest rooms.
• Use of the kitchen and masonry heater (fireplace) require... |
Pioneer Valley
COMMON HOUSE: GUEST ROOM POLICY
Our Community maintains two guest rooms for the free use of members' family and friends. To reserve a room call Ginny Elkin.
Before your guest arrives it's a good idea to check the room to be sure it's ready. If your friend will not arrive until late it suggested that the door to the room they will be using be closed and a "reserved" sign be hung on it.
There are two signs that say “Guest Rooms are occupied, please be quiet”... |
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Pioneer Valley Cohousing Our Community maintains two guest rooms for the free use of members' family and friends. To reserve a room call ______________.
• Before your guest arrives it's a good idea to check the room to be sure it's ready. If your friend will not arrive until late it’s suggested that the door to the room they will be using be closed and a "reserved" sign be hung on it.
• There are two signs that say “Guest Rooms are occupied, please be quiet.” They can be hung on the railing of the stairs to the library and on the entrance to the guest room wing.
• Please ask guests to return used... |
Creekside Commons Explanatory Notes and Basic Principles:
• The intent of this document is to outline communication skills that nurture respectful and harmonious communications in day-to-day conversation, meetings, and in circumstances of disagreement or conflict.
• As a community we encourage direct, face-to-face communication based on the belief that this builds connection and enlivens community.
• We acknowledge the diversity of communication styles – such as: assertive, hesitant, passionate emotional display, flat emotional display, detail-focused, emotion-focused. We commit to deepening our... |
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Creekside Commons Creekside Commons Proposal
Proposal Name: Communications Model
Proposal Number: 35A
Distribution Date: September 28, 2008
Group: Community Group Team or subgroup:
Contact Name: Mary Lang
Phone: 250-331-0151
Email: croslang@intergate.ca
Decision Type (circle): short term long term
low impact moderate impact high impact
required/emergency non-urgent
Background: Launching off from the... |
WindSong Community Agreements Team (CAT) Proposal
Intent:
This is a general proposal, meant to cover all situations involving conflicts and breaches of community agreements amongst neighbours at Windsong CoHousing. The following 2-part proposal is intended to create an agreed upon Windsong process that supports community members to resolve conflicts and uphold agreements that nurture and protect the community fabric , as recommended and described by Diana Leafe Christian at Windsong's community building workshop in Feb 08:
It's especially painful for community groups when someone... |
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Windsong Intent:
This is a general proposal, meant to cover all situations involving conflicts and breaches of community agreements amongst neighbours at Windsong CoHousing. The following 2-part proposal is intended to create an agreed upon Windsong process that supports community members to resolve conflicts and uphold agreements that nurture and protect the community fabric , as recommended and described by Diana Leafe Christian at Windsong's community building workshop in Feb 08:
It's especially painful for community groups when someone consistently violates agreements or... |
Arboretum Cohousing
Compensation for Use of Common Space
Mission Statement
Being a member of cohousing means accepting a smaller footprint on the earth for our homes, and in exchange having an extension of our living space in the form of common areas that we can also call our home. Arbco understands that each member of our community will use our common holdings to varying degrees and in unique ways. Living in community means sharing the commons freely, carefully, respectfully and inclusively. When a member is enriched by its use, we are all enriched.
From time to time a member may ask for a portion... |
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Arboretum Cohousing Mission Statement
Being a member of cohousing means accepting a smaller footprint on the earth for our homes, and in exchange having an extension of our living space in the form of common areas that we can also call our home. Arbco understands that each member of our community will use our common holdings to varying degrees and in unique ways. Living in community means sharing the commons freely, carefully, respectfully and inclusively. When a member is enriched by its use, we are all enriched.
From time to time a member may ask for a portion of the commons to be used in a manner that... |
Pioneer Valley All membership meetings shall operate using a consensus decision making process, except, upon a vote of 75% of the voting interests present at the meeting to break consensus, decision may be made by an affirmative vote of 75% of the voting interests of the Association. No decision to break consensus may be made until the group has attempted to reach consensus by all reasonable means, including the hiring of an outside consultant to assist the group in reaching consensus. |
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Ecoreality
Definitions
vote is used in The Cooperative Association Act to indicate a decision making process, or the act of individuals participating in that process. Wherever The Cooperative Association Act refers to "vote" or "voting," we may use "consensus," "unity," "concurrence," or "unanimity."
consensus all decisions requiring a "vote" of members, investors, directors, officers, or other bodies under The Cooperative Association Act will be achieved via consensus, or unanimous consent of those entitled to a "vote... |
Quayside Village • Those submitting proposals needing consensus approval will be encouraged to circulate the proposal prior to a scheduled meeting.
• A time limit may be set for consideration of a proposal.
• At subsequent meetings, the previous discussion shall be summarized, and discussion shall be opened only for new information.
• If possible, the summary of the previous discussion(s) will be written and circulated prior to the next meeting.
• The formation of a committee to explore creative alternatives to issues that have not yet been decided by consensus will be encouraged.
• If deemed... |
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Yarrow EcoVillage CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING
Consensus is different from most other kinds of decision making because it stresses group members working together to co-operatively develop a decision. Since the goal is group unity rather than winning a majority of votes, every member is considered important and the group tries to listen to and respond to each person's needs and opinions. Because of this process of incorporating all members' wisdom, consensus can create better decisions.
A consensus decision has 3 essential ingredients:
- it is made with the community's best interest in mind,
- everyone... |
Windsong Current members of community have joined without having had to agree to a clear mission statement and common goal. Some have not undergone a well-organized, incoming membership process, and some do not have an interest in the training workshops offered within Windsong.
There are often no clear steps of the consensus process being followed with a proposal or issue.
Fears around the following concerns continue to create anxiety and disharmony within meetings and certain community interactions:
not being heard and/or validated when sharing openly with... |
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Columbia Ecovillage
General Rules
The following rules are in addition to any requirements for construction or alterations set forth in the Declaration of Condominium Ownership for Columbia Ecovillage Condominium, Bylaws of Columbia Ecovillage Condominium Owners’ Association, or any other Rules and Regulations of the Association.
Attachment of shelving and closet systems to studs are permitted so long as the owner submits a sketch to the Board showing where the systems are intended to be attached at least 24 hours prior to commencement of the work.
Prior to any construction activities taking place within a... |
Columbia Ecovillage Construction Rules - Columbia Ecovillage 2009
General Rules
The following rules are in addition to any requirements for construction or alterations set forth in the Declaration of Condominium Ownership for Columbia Ecovillage Condominium, Bylaws of Columbia Ecovillage Condominium Owners’ Association, or any other Rules and Regulations of the Association.
Interior
• Prior to any construction activities taking place within a unit, the owner of the unit will obtain any permits required by the City of Portland for such work and deliver a copy of those permits to the Board prior to... |
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Columbia Ecovillage When a factually inaccurate statement is made at a meeting but noted for correction at a later meeting, the minutes of the meeting will reflect what was said at the meeting, and any correction will be recorded at the meeting where the correction is discussed. |
Pioneer Valley 1 USE THE DECISION BOARD FOR:
1 Changes or additions to routine procedures
2 Committee recommendations not complex enough to bring to a GM
3 New ideas brought by individuals or an ad hoc committee outside scope of standing committees and not complex enough to bring to a GM
2 DON’T USE THE DECISION BOARD FOR:
1 Spending money outside committee budgets
2 Issues that generate opposing opinions and/or heated emotions.
3 Decisions that alter common areas or infringe on individuals’ property.
4 Gathering opinions for a more complicated proposal.
3 STEPS TO FOLLOW IN... |
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O.U.R. Ecovillage Cooperative decision-making
Decisions are made on a consensus basis. Within the framework of the Cooperative Association Act, which gives members the right to vote, directors work to consensus at meetings of the board of directors, and general meetings work to consensus except where the Act requires a vote with a specific majority. At any time, however, a member may require a vote, at which point a vote is taken at any meeting. The group values its consensus decision making, and members are trained in the process and value of consensus decision-making.
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Pioneer Valley Consensus
All membership meetings shall operate using a consensus decision making process, except, upon a vote of 75% of the voting interests present at the meeting to break consensus, decision may be made by an affirmative vote of 75% of the voting interests of the Association. No decision to break consensus may be made until the group has attempted to reach consensus by all reasonable means, including the hiring of an outside consultant to assist the group in reaching consensus.
General Meetings
The highest decision-making power in our community is the General Meeting. The Meeting... |
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Creekside Commons DECISION-MAKING AT CREEKSIDE
The organizational structure that has been designed assumes that we are using the following decision-making process. We include them here for review:
1) Teams use the Decision-Making Criteria Questions:
1. Does this proposed action conform to existing agreements and team mandates?
{ Does this proposed action conform to existing agreements for the operation of Creekside Commons: including team mandates for care and maintenance, living in community guidelines, and by-laws (Strata Act of... |
Columbia Ecovillage
The following policy will apply to all consensus decisions made by the community and the Board of Directors.
Participation: From Bylaws section 2
Members of the Association or the Board physically present or present via telephone at a meeting may participate in consensus polling during the course of such meeting.
Decision Options
There are four positions a member may take during a consensus decision.
Agree
Abstain
Stand Aside
Block
Agree: Member agrees with the proposal
Abstaining:
Abstaining from a decision indicates that the member has no opinion or an... |
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Pioneer Valley Design Review Manual – Pioneer Valley Cohousing - 2004
INTRODUCTION
Purpose of Design Review
• To assist Homeowners in improving and changing their property.
• To ensure that the community is informed about potential design changes in a timely manner and through a consistently applied set of procedures.
• To ensure that adequate drawings are provided upon which a design can be fully understood, evaluated and built.
• Recognizing that our community is not very accessible (wheelchair, aging in place, etc.), the Committee will look for and encourage opportunities to improve... |
Pioneer Valley
DEVELOPMENT FEES
Development fees are charged when any owner expands the finished space of their unit. Development fees are set at attic spaces $15/sq ft; basement $5 (10/1/95) [Main floor space development fee set at $25 by Master Deed]
Rationale: The core reason for maintaining development fees is fairness to those who paid development fees during construction. On the other hand we wanted to create enough flexibility in the fee payment to ease the financial burden on people finishing space after construction.... |