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Getting the Work Done

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These pages and articles are tagged "Getting the Work Done":

  • “Getting the Work Done” Webinar
    October, 2008

    A second Coho/US webinar by architect Laura Fitch will examine the philosophy and practice of “Getting the Work Done” in community life. Issues of equity, setting expectations, and implementation will be reviewed, including a close look at what has been put into practice successfully in one cohousing community.

  • How 67 tons of brick connected a community
    by Saoirse Charis-Graves, Harmony Village Cohousing
    July, 2004

    oe picks up the top brick from the pile on his left and adjusts it into position on the sliding tray of the tile saw. He braces the brick with one hand while flipping a switch with the other. ZZZZZZZZZ! The brick eases forward into the diamond-edge saw blade and soon becomes a custom-fit brick paver. He wears safety glasses, earplugs and rubber gloves to protect him from the intense noise, tiny chips of brick and cold water spraying from the whirling blade. The saw stands near the center of a grove of young aspen trees that commemorate the arrival of four babies in the first year of our village. The leaves of the aspens and the pea gravel under the trees are covered with a fine red film - water mixed with pulverized brick dust.

  • Work: Guilt-Free Workshare

    Kevin Oliveau & Brigitte Wazans

    Come hear how Workshare has evolved over time into a system that is fun, fair and easy-going, with valuable lessons learned along the way. Workshare is part of the contentious issues for communities, involving money, labor, fairness. Members will have different opinions about what should be done, how much work to require, what counts as work, and how to enforce agreements. A second community will share a different approach to all those questions. Can we promote a sustainable process for common grounds and spaces without a carefully structured system? Can we expect accountability and commitment by invitation only, and can we help to create motivation and pride with a good breakfast? Seven years of this = some results to share.

  • Work: "Fair Share" - Getting the Work Done

    Norma Wassel & Lyons Witten

    This workshop will examine the philosophy and practice of “sharing the load” of community work, both physical and non-physical—those ever-present committees! Issues of equity, setting expectations, and implementation will be reviewed, including what has worked and not worked in different cohousing communities.

    Lyons Witten has lived at Pioneer Valley Cohousing in Amherst, MA since it was built in 1994. He has been Chair of the Buildings & Grounds Committee for most of the last 14 years, and is married to cohousing architect Laura Fitch. Lyons' focus is on the practical methods of keeping systems running, knowing when to ask for help, and finding ways to include everyone in the work of keeping community running. Lyons likes to cook and plow snow.

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