Common House minutes: 2003-04-26

Minutes:

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Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 15:13:18 -0400
To: Common House Cmtee <ch@gocoho.org>
From: Michael [[Elph]] Morgan <elph@gocoho.org>
Subject: [go-ch] GO CH Meet 26Apr - ROUGH

Great Oak Common House meeting 26Apr, 11:00
[[Elph]], Melissa, Melisa, [[Rod]], Annaliese, Alicia, Ted
Crappy minutes by [[Rod]]

1. Check-ins from the previous week (everyone's busy and stressed out).

2. Review of Common House decision
Compliments to [[Elph]] and Ted for helping us get thorugh that

Paperwork for the CH has been signed, process started

When do we have to do the loan? CDC will let us know when it makes sense from a cash flow point of view. [[Elph]] is working with them on that. May be done for now as part of the construction loan, where we take responsibility for our portion at the end. CH cmtee and F&L will work on how the loan should be structured. Things seems to be moving ahead on that front.

3. Kids' Room survey (Melisa)
Melisa sent out results on half the survey
People are very open to a donation policy--starting with donations and using purchases to round things out, at least as far as toys go. Melisa suggests financing the larger items (loft, etc.) and going on donations for the smaller issues for the first year or so.

Suggest low light switches, fluourescent lighting, recessed or shielded; easy to clean surfaces (see survey for more).

Question about what our deadline is for contingency proposal? Pretty soon, but it's still a game until we really know the contigency funds.

Discussion about how to approach the contingency requests. We agree in principle to aim for one overal CH request and not separate room-by-room requests.

Alicia reported on her half of the kids room survey

Several things ranked fairly high overall: loft, indoor climbing ranked very high, tumbling mat, table and chairs

Mixed results (high on some lists, not on others): couch and chairs, reading corner, fort/hiding place

Built-in shelves--people like idea of shelving but not necessarily built-in

Other suggestions: science project table, "lounging snake" instead of couch

Question about whether we want a "classroom" feel or a "playroom" feel.
Fun, light, airy, uncluttered, kid-owned, engaging, imaginative.

Concerns about pets from some people.
Materials: natural, durable, open-ended, child-produced (artwork etc.)

Plastic is OK if it "serves a purpose" but shouldn't be overwhelomingly plastic.

MONKEY: Melisa and Alicia will (try to) come with an estimate by next week!

Question about window treatments, rugs, etc. How much to budget for that?

Next steps: get better pricing, dimensions, work out possible furniture configurations.

3. Exercise room
Email from Becky with prices:
Universal machine (23 people liked): new, $500-1500
Treadmill (17): used, good quality, $300
Yoga mat/block/straps (15): new, $60
Exercise Bike (14): used, good quality $100-200
Elliptical trainer (12): new $200-500

Becky feels that we have a MAX amount of under $3000, probably much less with donations.

4. Other room reports

Dishes (Melissa)
Melissa has found some great prices for things on the web
Concerns: replaceability, durability, withstand 180 degrees in Hobart, colorfulness, stackability

Question: how to balance price against more desirable but more expensive. How much should we be driven by price? [[Elph]] suggests getting 3 prices: low-end, desired, best, and going from there.

List of dishes needed

(72)
dinner plates
small plate
pasta bowls
cereal bowl
dessert dish
mugs instead of cups and saucers
glassware: drinking glasses, wine glasses
flatware

smaller number
serving dishes (2 qt. size)
standard crap: butter dishes, salt and pepper shakers etc.

Amy and Mel are taking their trip to Toledo on Monday to look at tables and chairs.

[[Elph]] and Amy are working on a meal-plan plan (starting with 6 meals, on advice of couhousers who say to start with as many meals as possible and work back from there).

MONKEY: [[Elph]] will throw up big room plans. (He seems to know what that means.)

Mailboxes: lose the big package boxes, have at least 42 boxes and 42 cubbies.

MONKEY: Ted will communicate some design changes to JD/Kirk: mailboxes, lower lights in the kids' room.

Question about whether we could itemize costs in the sitting room. Kirk would like to get us in the room with whoever is bidding on it to work through the details.

[[Meeting]] adjourned at 12:09.