Common House minutes: 2013-01-19

Minutes:

Minutes January, 19th, 2013
Present: Paddy, Sari, Sarah, Syndallas, Julie, Heather, Mary

LAUNDRY ROOM
After asking for suggestions from the community, the committee discussed
the laundry room policies. Major problem is that laundry is left for a
long time without baskets, instructions, or contact info. This can happen
at either end of the process, so sometime unwashed laundry is in the way,
sometimes the counter is filled with finished laundry. Another problem is
that our original system of moving others' laundry through the cycle of
washing and drying no longer works (Myth of the Laundry Fairies); many
folks feel that they are taken advantage of and end up doing others'
laundry as well as their own. Currently people expect their laundry to get
moved thru, but don't come back to check and contribute. Our laundry room
culture is complicated.

How do we encourage compliance? What do we do if someone doesn't comply?
Laundry room document that hangs in laundry room - users sign it and it
remains.
We need a laundry holding area for laundry not in the queue, and baskets
need to be labeled - can we replace the hanging rack with some shelving
that could hold baskets, or does this just mean more laundry will pile up?
Education and enforcement. Need to give folks permission to remove laundry
that has hung around too long (Put it on patio, in bike sheds, in garage?)

Let's start with including contact info and having updated policy about
leaving laundry. Need to refresh both communities on laundry etiquette,
etc. Change expectation that laundry can be left unattended for long
periods - folks need to check back and move their laundry through. Contact
info will let us notify each other if it's time to start a load, pick up
laundry, ask questions, etc. If all machines are full and someone wants to
leave their laundry until their turn, that's fine, but they need to leave
their contact info too or check back regularly. Encourage people to have
'laundry buddies' if they can't be around for the entire process - folks
who have agreed to help each other out. If something comes up and you can't
get your laundry, don't just leave it, ask a neighbor for help!

Syndallas will send out updated policy to CH committee for feedback.

Refreshed policy:

- As of Feb. 1, 2013 ONLY Free and Clear laundry products may be used in
the CH washers and dryers. Free and Clear means the product does not
contain any dyes or scents.
- Must have contact info and instructions and with each laundry load.
- Users must provide a laundry basket labeled with their name so that
laundry removed from the dryers has a place to go.
- Users are responsible for making sure their own laundry gets into the
washer. Drying instructions are required so that other users can move
laundry from the washer to the dryer.
- Laundry should not be left for more than 12 hours. Laundry left past
this limit may be removed from the laundry room

Syndallas and Sari will create new instruction cards for laundry loads -
these will be laminated for use with dry erase markers. Folks will fill in
their contact info along with washing and drying instructions. We will
also have cards available for folks who want to make their own permanent
instruction cards and not bother with filling them out each time.

Syndallas will create a LARGE poster (Laundry Covenant) with updated
policies and expectations to be hung in a prominent place in the laundry
room. We will ask laundry room users to sign this poster and follow the
policies.

KEYS AND CODES
Many guest room keys have gone walkabout over the last 9 years - it's time
for a new lock. New keys or pass code lock?. Also need slide lock on
inside so that others cannot enter with key or code when the room is in
use. Sarah will change lock on guestroom.
Time to change code on CH outside doors. Sarah will change code on
Saturday, Feb 2 (Ground hog day) - Syndallas will distribute new code to
community.

EXERCISE ROOM
Elliptical update - Syndallas talked to Katie. People like Precors and arm
function, forward and reverse. Place in A2 (All Pro Exercise) that sells
used equipment from Gyms - one year warranty, they do maintenance. Used
commercial grade refurbished ellipticals start around $3000 - would people
be willing to chip in extra money to afford one? Home use ellipticals are
around $1500. A stationary bike refurbished is around $1500. Syndallas
will see how much a refurbished commercial treadmill costs.

FEBRUARY MEETINGS
Heather will be gone for both meetings in Feb (2nd and 16th) - Syndallas
will send out meeting notices. Sari will take minutes :-)
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