PEOPLE

• Self Selecting Membership
  Anyone is welcome to join that meets membership requirements, which are designed to fully introduce the prospective member to the community. (See our Prospective Member Checklist.)
  
  
• Self-Management
We will create and maintain our community ourselves through self-management by all member households.


• Keeping it Easy
While we recognize that living in community places some additional demands on the members, we also recognize that we choose community because of the benefits it offers. We strive to minimize the demands placed on members, in terms of time, money, infringement on personal freedoms, and otherwise.


• Voluntary Participation
We create an environment giving all of us an abundance of opportunities for group interaction and activities, but we allow participation in those activities to be voluntary wherever possible.


• Rules
Because of the trust we have for each other to act responsibly, we enact minimal rules and instead rely upon open communication and the spirit of cooperation to ensure that we treat each other and the community fairly and respectfully. When we do enact rules, we will rely on the following for enforcement (in the order presented):
1. Self - Members follow rules because of our shared mutual responsibility.
2. Neighbor to Neighbor - Direct feedback given from any neighbor.
3. Team - Direct feedback given from team having responsibility.
4. Steering Team - Direct feedback given from Steering Team.
5. Community - Right of any Member to appeal enforcement of a rule to the community at a Community Meeting.
   
   
• Children's Representation
Although children may not have the same rights and responsibilities as adults, as equally valued members of the community, their interests are represented in all decision making.


• On Site Employment
On site employment will be supported which has minimal adverse impact on the community. Members will provide the community with fair compensation for professional use of community resources.


• Parenting
Parents are free to raise their children as they see fit keeping in mind that parents are responsible for their children's actions, health, safety, and welfare. Any form of shared parenting is voluntary.


• Activity-Specific and Skill-Specific Guidelines
Creating guidelines for use of community places and resources may sometimes be necessary, but these guidelines will be kept to a minimum. The purpose of the guidelines will be to maintain safety, protect our natural environment, protect personal and common property, and protect all members' right to peaceful enjoyment of community life. If created, such guidelines will be Activity-specific or Skill-specific rather than Age-specific as often as possible. That is, the guidelines will define activities appropriate or inappropriate for a place or resource, or will define a skill level necessary to use a resource. In either case, the guidelines will be applicable to both adults and children.

Situations which may require guidelines to be Age-specific are those where sufficient maturity is required and where there are significant safety or property damage issues. Parents of community children especially should have input into Age-specific guidelines.

• Absentee Owners
  Absentee owners are required to have an on-site member manage their property (both land and building) and to communicate to the community who the on-site property manager is.




 

• Financial Independence
Each household is a financially independent entity, responsible for paying their own expenses and free from any obligation to pay others'. Financial assistance given from one household to another is a private matter.


• Cost Allocation
  Where practical, costs are equitably allocated based on who derives the benefits from them, which may be on a per household, per person, or some other basis.

LAND

• Recreational Use of Motorized Vehicles
No motorized vehicles may be used for recreation on our land.

 Return to Heartwood Cohousing Home Page.