This is the New Member Orientation outline for Winter 2009. It includes the tri-house meeting and the Lorax Manner overview. Cooperative history and information on consensus and communication can be found at the NASCO website. <http://www.nasco.coop/>. There are also a number of documents in the SCA archive room and Lorax Manner office closet. Members signed up for specific subjects to talk about before the end of the previous term and we adjusted accordingly with who was available and willing to take active roles. Everyone sat in a big circle and we tried to make the orientation a discussion involving asking new members questions rather than a presentation. New Member Orientation for Lorax Manner
11:00 – 11:30 Intro, what makes a cooperative? Get to know you, Two truths and a lie game, why did you move into the co-ops? 11:30 -12:00 - Coop History and Principles
Brief run down on co-op history -First ask new members what they know before you tell them what you know: -what is a co-op? whose crazy idea was this in the first place? -First Co-op started in England: Rochdale Cooperative 1844 by impoverished weavers. The mills that employed these weavers had their own general stores that they demanded their employees shopped at or they would lose their jobs. The stores sold necessary items at unfair prices, trying to make as much profit as possible. Thirty-three poor, unemployed weavers pooled together the last of their money and saved until they were able to buy their own shop. The money made from the shop was split equally among the members. Soon they started helping the larger community by using surplus to fix up houses, giving people jobs at the store, and providing the necessities at reasonable prices. In the next 10 years 1000 more co-ops were formed in the UK. - Different types of co-ops: housing, food, business Umbrella organization helping form student cooperatives Our History Group sharing about what we know about our history as the SCA. Who is Wally Campbell, Janet Smith and the Lorax, why are our houses named after them? Wally Campbell / Cambell Club Janet Smith The Lorax / The Lorax Manner – Previously Parr Tower Why do we live like this? -The principles of student co-ops 2. Each member has equal voting and decision making power 3. Surplus funds are rolled back to the co-op so that all may benefit from the money not just one. 4. We run independently and are not controlled by a parent organization. 5. We develop better ways to train new members how to live cooperatively and provide information about how other co-ops run. 6. To support the general co-operative movement we network with other co-ops and form a strong network. Ask the group: Why do we live like this? What are the benefits of co-operative living? Is this a form of activism/resistance? 12:00 – 12:30 Tri-house Lunch 12:30 – 1:30 Consensus training Theory – speaking for the community, not yourself. Non-hierarchical. Hand Signals – Comment, twinkle fingers, point of information, question, direct response, point of process, non-violent fist, stand aside, thumbs up, thumbs down Stack
Meetings – House and Corporate Key roles in the meeting – Facilitator, secretary (note taker),
you Agenda, proposals, etc Meeting tips - Facilitation game
1:30-2:00 House Culture and Expectations Coming to meetings or proxy, missing 3 meetings leads to a membership review Job responsibilities - Otherwise fine / membership review Reading new member applications Non-violent communication, do not be passive-aggressive Voice your feelings and opinions. We often provide a place for travelers, we're not obligated to give them a space – 3 days, if you feel uncomfortable with someone, you can ask them to go. Always talk with people you don't know to see who they're a guest of or what. Things unfortunately can get stolen! On the record, we are drug and alcohol free houses, if a stranger from the outside asks for these things, tell them that. Consent! We do a lot of things, don't make assumptions about what people are comfortable with nudity/sex/drugs/alcohol, ask! Be open, understanding. The houses break a lot of cultural norms We own it!!!! With the consent of the community you can do just about whatever you want with the house. All it takes is some thinking, a proposal at a meeting, and maybe advertising to do some really cool things. Not only that, but you can also inspire people to do things with you to learn, have fun, or whatever - watch a movie, have a meeting about a controversial topic, garden, ride bikes, or whatever. Membership Responsibilities- take care of the house, clean up after yourself, do your jobs, make sure the house is safe, pay your fees, attend house meetings, contribute labor, be open to others' ideas, listen, respect privacy and space, work towards creative solutions, support anyone who needs help, work party hours. *divide into house groups*
2:00 - finish How the cooperatives operate smoothly Elected Jobs Hand Jobs Job Lottery Point system
-House tour General house tour (sorta quick to give a rundown of where things are) Specific house tour (specific operations of this and that) -Kitchen Rinse your dish! No oil down sink! How to use sanitizer Square pans for eggs and cheese! Cook meat at the Campbell Club in pans with red handle. -House security Attic/rooftop Do not leave doors open! Talk with people you don't know, ask them who they're a guest of or if you can help find the co-oper in question. -Fire alarm tutorial, do not use LM fireplace. -Free pile, not a junk pile! -Nerd Den public computers -Showers, bathroom location -bike room and tool room tour, put tools back! -Location of new member applications
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