Buddy Guidelines
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Membership Team
12/06/19
The purpose of the Buddy system is to provide a prospective member with whatever assistance they may need while exploring and integrating into the Heartwood. The Buddy also keeps the community updated on the prospective member .
When a prospective member indicates their readiness to officially begin the membership process, a Heartwood member is assigned as their Buddy to help them navigate the Prospective Member Checklist. If the prospective member decides to move to Heartwood, the Buddy assists them with the transition of moving and orientation and integration into the community. The Buddy follows up as needed during the first six months that they live at Heartwood. Throughout the process, the Buddy keeps the Heartwood community and the Membership team informed about the prospective member’s progress.
Buddy Responsibilities
12/06/19
The purpose of the Buddy system is to provide a prospective member with whatever assistance they may need while exploring and integrating into the Heartwood. The Buddy also keeps the community updated on the prospective member .
When a prospective member indicates their readiness to officially begin the membership process, a Heartwood member is assigned as their Buddy to help them navigate the Prospective Member Checklist. If the prospective member decides to move to Heartwood, the Buddy assists them with the transition of moving and orientation and integration into the community. The Buddy follows up as needed during the first six months that they live at Heartwood. Throughout the process, the Buddy keeps the Heartwood community and the Membership team informed about the prospective member’s progress.
Buddy Responsibilities
- Make contact with the prospective member and inform them about your role as their Buddy.
- Inform the community via the chat that you are the prospective member’s Buddy. Regularly update the Membership team and the community (via chat or otherwise) of the status of the prospective member.
- Make sure the prospective member has a copy of the Prospective Member Checklist and Membership Questionnaire and answer any questions they may have about this process.
- Answer any questions the prospective member may have about Heartwood and the surrounding area, and/or direct them to contact others who may have more detailed information.
- Help the prospective member make contact with current Heartwood members who may share common interests or in some way be a useful connection.
- Engage them in discussion about community. Share your enthusiasm about Heartwood Cohousing and also share honestly about the challenges of living at Heartwood. Listen to and help them address whatever concerns they may have about living and participating at Heartwood.
- Look for and encourage ways to build trust between the prospective member and the community, such as encouraging frequent and open communication in both directions.
- When the prospective member is ready to have their Membership Discussion, arrange the discussion with the Membership team. Attend the discussion with the prospective member and provide feedback to the Membership team.
- In conjunction with the Welcome Wagon coordinator, assist with the transition of moving to Heartwood. If at all possible be present and organize helpers to unload when the new member(s) arrive. Check-in frequently with the new member throughout the initial six-month period of orientation, provide support for integration into the community, and help them find support elsewhere in the community.
- Within one week of move-in, print out the Orientation & Integration Checklist and give to new resident. Give introductory tour. Within a month of move-in, review all of the Buddy sections of the Orientation & Integration Checklist with the new resident to help ensure they have a positive integration into the community.
- Within 3 weeks of move-in, schedule Getting to Know You Happy Hour for new members. If possible, attend Getting to Know You Happy Hour and act as host. The Getting to Know You Happy Hour is an opportunity for new members to tell about their history and what brought them to Heartwood.