So, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that we've all decided that we want to have single rooms, which now presents us with the issue of how we decide who gets which room. We can basically just draw straws or something like that I guess, which might be the most fair thing. Then again, we might be able to handle it more systematically without really pissing anyone off. I don't know. If every room is going to be a single, do people care about being upstairs/downstairs? I'd rather be downstairs I know, and I don't at all mind having the small room there.
I have no idea. Someone needs to come up with a plan for this.
peace
-d
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Stuff from Pamela
Kitchen
Microwave
George Foreman Grill (only for vegan stuff)
Rice Cooker
Smoothie Maker
Popcorn Bowl
Some Kenny's Cajun Popcorn (whilst it last . . .)
Kitchen Towels
Tools
Box Cutter
(May have some garden, idk yet)
We need things like hammer, nails, spade, etc., but we may be able to use DASCO funds for that since we may start a community garden.
Garden
The whiskey barrels
Seeds
Other
Chair (prob for room)
Framed opera poster from Tristan and Isolde
(I have lots of poster-y things, but this framed one is lovely if we wanted to put it in the main house. I got it free from the PAC last semester)
Humidifier
Incense (I will buy more before I come, I just need to go to the hippie store)
Microwave
George Foreman Grill (only for vegan stuff)
Rice Cooker
Smoothie Maker
Popcorn Bowl
Some Kenny's Cajun Popcorn (whilst it last . . .)
Kitchen Towels
Tools
Box Cutter
(May have some garden, idk yet)
We need things like hammer, nails, spade, etc., but we may be able to use DASCO funds for that since we may start a community garden.
Garden
The whiskey barrels
Seeds
Other
Chair (prob for room)
Framed opera poster from Tristan and Isolde
(I have lots of poster-y things, but this framed one is lovely if we wanted to put it in the main house. I got it free from the PAC last semester)
Humidifier
Incense (I will buy more before I come, I just need to go to the hippie store)
What I Got
I may end up putting some of my furniture into one of the bedrooms, but here's what I have so far:
a sectional couch
a love seat
a poof chair
a recliner
a hammock chair
a coffee table
a lamp or 2 or 3
and basically all of that stuff is already stored in the Mason cellar, so we just need to bring it over.
also, i have things i can bring if need be, including:
bookshelves
card table
tv
audio equipment/speakers
for the kitchen, it addition to a vast array of small amounts of random spices left over from my house at the end of last year, i have:
plates
bowls
cups (can always use more)
silverware (dont need any more)
mixing bowls
knives
chopping boards
a lot of various pots, pans, and baking dishes
a food processor
i think i have a blender, but its not very good
a small rice cooker
i have a stove top wok and can bring an electric wok as well if we need it
i think i have a coffee maker, and i may be able to bring an espresso machine if we want it
2 mini fridges, one with a freezer
i also have some cleaning supplies and stuff, though im not really sure what yet
we really need a vacuum
i probably have more things too, but this is the list of what i'll most likely be bringing (assuming it didnt all get stolen from the mason cellar)
a sectional couch
a love seat
a poof chair
a recliner
a hammock chair
a coffee table
a lamp or 2 or 3
and basically all of that stuff is already stored in the Mason cellar, so we just need to bring it over.
also, i have things i can bring if need be, including:
bookshelves
card table
tv
audio equipment/speakers
for the kitchen, it addition to a vast array of small amounts of random spices left over from my house at the end of last year, i have:
plates
bowls
cups (can always use more)
silverware (dont need any more)
mixing bowls
knives
chopping boards
a lot of various pots, pans, and baking dishes
a food processor
i think i have a blender, but its not very good
a small rice cooker
i have a stove top wok and can bring an electric wok as well if we need it
i think i have a coffee maker, and i may be able to bring an espresso machine if we want it
2 mini fridges, one with a freezer
i also have some cleaning supplies and stuff, though im not really sure what yet
we really need a vacuum
i probably have more things too, but this is the list of what i'll most likely be bringing (assuming it didnt all get stolen from the mason cellar)
Consider then post the appliances, accessories you can bring
We'll need furniture, appliances that you can bring, but also cleaning supplies or any extra stuff you can bring.
Be creative in thinking what we might need. Some things I thought of but can't bring are:
artwork, posters
white board
folding chairs
coolers
tents
public candles
Look at the stuff we take for granted in our given homes!
I'm bringing:
a small bulletin board (we could use a bigger one)
windex
and albert einstein poster (pending coop approval)
Be creative in thinking what we might need. Some things I thought of but can't bring are:
artwork, posters
white board
folding chairs
coolers
tents
public candles
Look at the stuff we take for granted in our given homes!
I'm bringing:
a small bulletin board (we could use a bigger one)
windex
and albert einstein poster (pending coop approval)
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Meal Plan Victory!
Hey everybody! After three months of hard work, I got off the meal plan. So I'll be eating with you all! Below is the email Dick Speller sent to me, but first, don't forget to check out Pam's post below mine for tomorrow's conference call . . . Here's Dick:
Dick Speller
Well, well. There are certainly more details to tell. If you're interested in all the process I've got about twenty more emails between people like me, Dick Speller, Cindy Babington, Pam, Lara, and Deb Salman. I apologize to all those I cced for my last email to Dick. I was slowly involving more people as it got down to August 1- when I would have to pay for the meal plan. Thanks to everybody, especially Pam and Lara, for your patience while I went through this!
There are a lot of valuable lessons to be learned from my experience for the coop, so we can improve administration relations for the future. In the end, I think that Dick and Cindy have been very helpful and that there's a stronger foundation for us to work with them. I get back to DePauw on August 6. If maybe Miles or anybody else in town wants to help me, I was going to take vegan brownies or something to take over to Dick's and Cindy's offices.
Peace bonobos!
Tim,
Thanks again for your patience. Following further review and discussion with colleagues, I have determined that your situation warrants an exception to the policy that would ordinarily require you to be on the campus dining plan. Ordinarily my recommendation would be for you to seek a living arrangement that better accommodate your preferences, but that solution disturbs residence life staff immensely as they greatly value your contribution to their program. Further your extensive involvement in the Coop for your dining needs satisfies my concern that you have a realistic, safe dining alternative.
By copy of this message to the Accounting Office, your account will be credited for the board charge. Also, know that you will not be subject to interest charges of any kind if it takes a few days for the posting to take place.
Best wishes for a great school year.
Well, well. There are certainly more details to tell. If you're interested in all the process I've got about twenty more emails between people like me, Dick Speller, Cindy Babington, Pam, Lara, and Deb Salman. I apologize to all those I cced for my last email to Dick. I was slowly involving more people as it got down to August 1- when I would have to pay for the meal plan. Thanks to everybody, especially Pam and Lara, for your patience while I went through this!
There are a lot of valuable lessons to be learned from my experience for the coop, so we can improve administration relations for the future. In the end, I think that Dick and Cindy have been very helpful and that there's a stronger foundation for us to work with them. I get back to DePauw on August 6. If maybe Miles or anybody else in town wants to help me, I was going to take vegan brownies or something to take over to Dick's and Cindy's offices.
Peace bonobos!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Hey BBs
Can you believe we're less than a month away from moving in??? Crazy!!
Anyway, that's why I think it is important that we should have a house conference call soon. Perhaps this Saturday at noon or 11:30am? It would be a conference call in the sense that we can start on my cell phone and add calls. I am pretty sure I can add everyone, or each person can add a few people on their phone.
Our other option is Skype, but not everyone has a microphone on their computer. I would prefer to have a voice conference, especially with people who need to have major stuff organized by the start of school (Finance, Food, Furniture/Cleaning/Labor, Garden). So at a minimum, I definitely need Doug, Tim and Miles (who's labor now?), but I really want everyone to make it. Also, this can be your chance to claim a room so you know where to move in!
On stuff:
I have whiskey barrels for the garden, so that we aren't digging, but we can still grow stuff. Yay! I have also been told that I can claim pretty much any furniture from my grandmother's basement, so we may want to discuss living room layout on a second conference call, after this first one. We also need to decide when people are moving into the house, and we will get housing's approval for you.
And I definitely appreciate Miles and Olivia getting me their deposit!! I have been meaning (okay, forever) to send everyone the routing and acct number so they can send stuff from their account online directly into the coop account. So I will try to do that today when I'm not at work.
LOVE!!!
Anyway, that's why I think it is important that we should have a house conference call soon. Perhaps this Saturday at noon or 11:30am? It would be a conference call in the sense that we can start on my cell phone and add calls. I am pretty sure I can add everyone, or each person can add a few people on their phone.
Our other option is Skype, but not everyone has a microphone on their computer. I would prefer to have a voice conference, especially with people who need to have major stuff organized by the start of school (Finance, Food, Furniture/Cleaning/Labor, Garden). So at a minimum, I definitely need Doug, Tim and Miles (who's labor now?), but I really want everyone to make it. Also, this can be your chance to claim a room so you know where to move in!
On stuff:
I have whiskey barrels for the garden, so that we aren't digging, but we can still grow stuff. Yay! I have also been told that I can claim pretty much any furniture from my grandmother's basement, so we may want to discuss living room layout on a second conference call, after this first one. We also need to decide when people are moving into the house, and we will get housing's approval for you.
And I definitely appreciate Miles and Olivia getting me their deposit!! I have been meaning (okay, forever) to send everyone the routing and acct number so they can send stuff from their account online directly into the coop account. So I will try to do that today when I'm not at work.
LOVE!!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Fun with Furnishings (and other suprises)
Hail bonobo kin!
Hope everyone's summers are generally pleasant - mine is asi asi.
So my grandparents are moving, and basically they want to know if I want a couple pieces of furniture. A love seat, and a couchy thing that folds out into a queen size bed. If I remember the two pieces correctly, neither are amazing, but both are quite usable, though would likely require the removal of some pet hair. What say we? Should I reserve them for us? I'll give everyone a couple days to say something - blog, email, or tin can - and then I'll just go with what's been asserted at that point. I say we take them, unless we're already all set for furniture, which... I don't know if we are.
Also, as supreme monarch... I mean president, of the house, I contacted NASCO to set up a connection - so should any of you have any NASCO questions you want answered, contact Daniel Miller at Daniel@nasco.coop. I asked him about any upcoming cool stuff, and he just mentioned the Institute gig, which we're already on top of. So not much to report here really. But I will keep everyone updated if updating is ever necessary.
Coolness,
miles
Hope everyone's summers are generally pleasant - mine is asi asi.
So my grandparents are moving, and basically they want to know if I want a couple pieces of furniture. A love seat, and a couchy thing that folds out into a queen size bed. If I remember the two pieces correctly, neither are amazing, but both are quite usable, though would likely require the removal of some pet hair. What say we? Should I reserve them for us? I'll give everyone a couple days to say something - blog, email, or tin can - and then I'll just go with what's been asserted at that point. I say we take them, unless we're already all set for furniture, which... I don't know if we are.
Also, as supreme monarch... I mean president, of the house, I contacted NASCO to set up a connection - so should any of you have any NASCO questions you want answered, contact Daniel Miller at Daniel@nasco.coop. I asked him about any upcoming cool stuff, and he just mentioned the Institute gig, which we're already on top of. So not much to report here really. But I will keep everyone updated if updating is ever necessary.
Coolness,
miles
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Who's In?
What exactly is the final roster of our house? Are we up to 8 people or still at 7? To my knowledge, the list is:
Femi
Lara
Doug
Greg
Olivia
Pam
Miles
If its still at 7, that means we each can have singles, in which case I think we should just decide rooms by seniority (keep in mind that both Femi and Greg are gone 2nd semester, so both of their rooms will open up). If we have 8, one of the downstairs doubles will have to be used as a double, and I think we should promise the choice of a single to whoever is living in the double when it comes time to choose rooms for 2nd semester. I know that for me, I would really prefer a single room, and after having moved after the 1st semester this year, I never want to do that again, so I want a room I can stay in all year.
Also, I think it's important to talk about how we're actually going to be living in the house. I sincerely hope that everyone does choose to be in the house a great deal, but that's obvioulsy nothing we can enforce. I know how I work and choose to live, and I will be at the house pretty much anytime I'm not in class, at a meeting, or at work. I plan to study in my room and socialize primarily at the house, so... my room will be getting a great deal of use, in other words. I just know that there are those people who use their rooms more as a place to sleep and store their shit than an actual place to live, and I think we should all personally assess what we really need our rooms for before any of us complain as to needing a room to ourselves or needing a huge room or whatever else. And just remember, we could be in Mason or something.
I love you guys.
Femi
Lara
Doug
Greg
Olivia
Pam
Miles
If its still at 7, that means we each can have singles, in which case I think we should just decide rooms by seniority (keep in mind that both Femi and Greg are gone 2nd semester, so both of their rooms will open up). If we have 8, one of the downstairs doubles will have to be used as a double, and I think we should promise the choice of a single to whoever is living in the double when it comes time to choose rooms for 2nd semester. I know that for me, I would really prefer a single room, and after having moved after the 1st semester this year, I never want to do that again, so I want a room I can stay in all year.
Also, I think it's important to talk about how we're actually going to be living in the house. I sincerely hope that everyone does choose to be in the house a great deal, but that's obvioulsy nothing we can enforce. I know how I work and choose to live, and I will be at the house pretty much anytime I'm not in class, at a meeting, or at work. I plan to study in my room and socialize primarily at the house, so... my room will be getting a great deal of use, in other words. I just know that there are those people who use their rooms more as a place to sleep and store their shit than an actual place to live, and I think we should all personally assess what we really need our rooms for before any of us complain as to needing a room to ourselves or needing a huge room or whatever else. And just remember, we could be in Mason or something.
I love you guys.
Rooms
Since the persons in the house has changed over time, it seems like a good idea to start thinking about house layout. Keep in mind that certain activities are to remain on the second floor, as we talked about at the community meeting.Comment!
The Floorplan of the House (.pdf)
Yay Environment!
http://www.seql.org/100ways.cfm
I hope everyone is having an awesome summer. The development of the co-operative business-wise is going *quite* well.
How would you all like to build the account?
There is the deposit, of course, but what about the rest? Would people be willing to hand me a check to deposit (of the remaining amount) when you move in? (However, how will this effect the people who come early (August 11th) who need to have the funds in the account so they can organize the house before school?)
Comment!
I hope everyone is having an awesome summer. The development of the co-operative business-wise is going *quite* well.
How would you all like to build the account?
There is the deposit, of course, but what about the rest? Would people be willing to hand me a check to deposit (of the remaining amount) when you move in? (However, how will this effect the people who come early (August 11th) who need to have the funds in the account so they can organize the house before school?)
Comment!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
$$$ Part II
I can set up a PayPal acct, because they have the lowest processing fees of all the (many) online transaction groups I looked at. While it is old school, it will be better (read: less expensive) to mail a check made out to DePauw Cooperative Association to my home address (I will send that via email).
Here is info on funds:
Community Funds:
It has been decided, by a unanimous vote, that each co-op member will contribute a total of $530 by date X to cover general housing supplies and bulk / weekly community food purchases.
To break it all down:
General House Fund: $30 / person
$ 240 total / semester *
Cleaning supplies
Toilet Paper
Light bulbs
Start up supplies: storage bins, broom, mop, buckets, hand towels etc.
Grub Fund: $500 / person
$4000 total / semester *
Breakdown:
Bulk Food: $100 / Person
Beans/Peas: pinto, black, chick, lentil
Rice
Flour
Macaroni
Oats
Tea
Coffee
Salt
Molasses
Honey
Weekly Purchases: $400 / Person (this is stuff like produce, etc.)
Therefore, if everyone could send me a $50 deposit check (made out to the Cooperative Association) to my home address by July First, that will reserve your spot in the plan. Should you leave the cooperative, some of that $50 and any further payments may be refunded, but some of the deposit will be kept to cover costs (I have to make ID cards, etc. Complicated).
$50. July 1. Check made out to DePauw Cooperative Association. Mail to Pam's Louisville House. Reserves your spot in the plan.
Here is info on funds:
Community Funds:
It has been decided, by a unanimous vote, that each co-op member will contribute a total of $530 by date X to cover general housing supplies and bulk / weekly community food purchases.
To break it all down:
General House Fund: $30 / person
$ 240 total / semester *
Cleaning supplies
Toilet Paper
Light bulbs
Start up supplies: storage bins, broom, mop, buckets, hand towels etc.
Grub Fund: $500 / person
$4000 total / semester *
Breakdown:
Bulk Food: $100 / Person
Beans/Peas: pinto, black, chick, lentil
Rice
Flour
Macaroni
Oats
Tea
Coffee
Salt
Molasses
Honey
Weekly Purchases: $400 / Person (this is stuff like produce, etc.)
Therefore, if everyone could send me a $50 deposit check (made out to the Cooperative Association) to my home address by July First, that will reserve your spot in the plan. Should you leave the cooperative, some of that $50 and any further payments may be refunded, but some of the deposit will be kept to cover costs (I have to make ID cards, etc. Complicated).
$50. July 1. Check made out to DePauw Cooperative Association. Mail to Pam's Louisville House. Reserves your spot in the plan.
$$$$$
Hey Bonobos,
Our cooperative is now financially official. It took some work, but we now have a business account at Old National. Over the summer, I will make our account PayPal enabled so that you can pay your deposit online rather than mailing me a check. The name of our business is "DePauw Cooperative Association." We have our own tax ID number and everything. SNAP.
Our cooperative is now financially official. It took some work, but we now have a business account at Old National. Over the summer, I will make our account PayPal enabled so that you can pay your deposit online rather than mailing me a check. The name of our business is "DePauw Cooperative Association." We have our own tax ID number and everything. SNAP.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Bonobo bo bo bobidi bo
I'd like to propose "Bonobo House" as our title.
Bonobos are primates with the same degree of ancestral relationship to us as chimpanzees. Generally, studies of bonobos have come to contrast the once assumed human/other primate (well, still assumed) characteristics of aggression and male dominance as observed in chimpanzees. Bonobo behaviors of altruism, compassion, empathy, kindness, patience and sensitivity toward one another help to shatter misconceptions in fields like primatology. Their communities are distinguished by remarkable amounts of sexual behavior not to mention social stratifications centered around the status of mothers (not dominant males). The researcher Frans de Waal is the major figure in championing the study of these creatures, but it's been catching on in influence with other fields, especially evolutionary psychology (which should be suspect for other reasons). Check out bonobos at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo
http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/sexorient/bonobos.html
I'm not big into anthropomorphizing and limiting our understanding of other animals, but I think that bonobos are definitely worth associating ourselves with. I like how it sounds too.
Thoughts?
Bonobos are primates with the same degree of ancestral relationship to us as chimpanzees. Generally, studies of bonobos have come to contrast the once assumed human/other primate (well, still assumed) characteristics of aggression and male dominance as observed in chimpanzees. Bonobo behaviors of altruism, compassion, empathy, kindness, patience and sensitivity toward one another help to shatter misconceptions in fields like primatology. Their communities are distinguished by remarkable amounts of sexual behavior not to mention social stratifications centered around the status of mothers (not dominant males). The researcher Frans de Waal is the major figure in championing the study of these creatures, but it's been catching on in influence with other fields, especially evolutionary psychology (which should be suspect for other reasons). Check out bonobos at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo
http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/sexorient/bonobos.html
I'm not big into anthropomorphizing and limiting our understanding of other animals, but I think that bonobos are definitely worth associating ourselves with. I like how it sounds too.
Thoughts?
House Name
Very Important! Suggestions for the house name. Comment!
- Catalyst
- Belonging
- Hobe (House of Belonging)
- Salam (peace in arabic)
House Work and Operations
What chores need to be covered?
*Dishes, dusting, garden
How will chores be allocated? Monthly? Semester? Trading is allowed? Do people who live outside the house but are in the house cooperative do chores?
When are House Meetings? What DAY + TIME?
Punishment for failure to do chores? How so?
Also, we need a Housing Liason to meet monthly with Julia to update her on the progress of the house. Volunteers?
Keep in mind the cooperative values when thinking about these and all house decisions.
*Dishes, dusting, garden
How will chores be allocated? Monthly? Semester? Trading is allowed? Do people who live outside the house but are in the house cooperative do chores?
When are House Meetings? What DAY + TIME?
Punishment for failure to do chores? How so?
Also, we need a Housing Liason to meet monthly with Julia to update her on the progress of the house. Volunteers?
Keep in mind the cooperative values when thinking about these and all house decisions.
Thoughts Wanted: Nudity, Sex, Quiet
When is nudity okay/appropriate for you?
Is sexiling okay? Is sexing okat unless it causes someone discomfort, in which case it it brought before the house to figure it out?
What are our quiet hours? Is one floor quieter than the other? What are the quiet hours for the week vs. the weekent.
Comment!
Is sexiling okay? Is sexing okat unless it causes someone discomfort, in which case it it brought before the house to figure it out?
What are our quiet hours? Is one floor quieter than the other? What are the quiet hours for the week vs. the weekent.
Comment!
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Furniture and Possible Meeting
This was a great idea Doug! Thanks a lot for setting it up.
I was thinking that Friday might be a good day to meet and go over the stuff that we've accumulated from this blog. Comment if that works/doesn't work for you.
Something of note that should definitely be discussed:
Should we ask ResLife to remove common area furniture? That way we can have furniture owned by the cooperative house. Would people be willing to put in like $100 at the beginning of the semester to be used to buy group furniture?
I would like some suggestions on how we would deal with splitting group stuff up at the end of the year if the cooperative gets shutdown (please no!). It sucks to think about that, but we don't want to get to that day and have no idea what to do and end up fighting.
I was thinking that Friday might be a good day to meet and go over the stuff that we've accumulated from this blog. Comment if that works/doesn't work for you.
Something of note that should definitely be discussed:
Should we ask ResLife to remove common area furniture? That way we can have furniture owned by the cooperative house. Would people be willing to put in like $100 at the beginning of the semester to be used to buy group furniture?
I would like some suggestions on how we would deal with splitting group stuff up at the end of the year if the cooperative gets shutdown (please no!). It sucks to think about that, but we don't want to get to that day and have no idea what to do and end up fighting.
Why?
Because we have busy schedules, finals and summer are on the way, and I still haven't seen a meeting where we had more than like 75% attendance. As became evident in the meeting Saturday, it's going to take hours to pound out all the rules and guidelines we're going to need for next year, so I doubt we're really going to be able to finish it all. And this way, we won't have to send one another a thousand emails talking about it, and it will be ordered chronologically. I would have used facebook, but I know at least two of our members refuse to go on that devil, so... here we go.
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