July 19, 2019
Next Introductory Meeting: Sunday, July 28
Just Two Homes Left!
Cohousing.org gets a Makeover
coho pic
Cohousing.org, the website of the Cohousing Association of the United States, has always been a great resource for cohousing communities throughout the country, with a wealth of information on planning, creating, and living in cohousing. Now the website is getting a makeover that should make it even more useful and easier to navigate.

One immediately obvious change: there are more-and larger- photos. For example, the page on “Lifestyle” displays a slideshow of large colorful photos from cohousing communities all over the country. Below the photos, several short paragraphs elaborate on cohousing as ”a lifestyle choice that promotes connection, community, sharing, and togetherness. ” This theme is further illustrated by a row of smaller photographs below: “Sidewalk Moments, Eating Together, ” etc. Together, photos and text present a rich and varied picture of cohousing lifestyle.
The organization of the new site also makes it MUCH easier to find information. 

In the past, if I wanted to find out how other cohousing communities organize their common meals, I would search the policy database for “shared meal policy.” If I was lucky, I would find one or two examples from other communities. If not, I would search the Cohousing-L (List-serv) archives where I might or might not come across some tidbits of useful information. 

On the new site, key topics about different aspects of cohousing are easily found under the “More” menu, organized by subheadings of “Find It, Create It, Live It,” and “Run It”. Under “Run it,” for example, I found a beautifully presented page devoted to “Common Meals,” with many photos and a roundup of different communities’ approaches to scheduling, sharing costs, and parsing out the work of cooking and cleaning. An additional section on Recipes is promised. At the bottom of the page, the headings “Articles, Stories, and Resources” provide the reader with links to further reading. I especially enjoyed this article:


Asked about the goals of the makeover, Karen Gimnig, Associate Director of the Association, commented:

“There has always been great information available, it was just that it could be really hard to find on the old site. So goals were - easier access to more information, updated look, and adding the explicit sections on What (which was sort of there before) and Why (which is a new idea in terms of a highlighted focus). We're hoping that the new site will be more useful to communities, both forming and established, and that it will result in more people using it. My personal goal is that when a cohouser has a question about cohousing, their first thought will be, "I'm going to go look on the website!" 
FREE WebChats from the National Association of Cohousing in the U.S.

Each webchat is a Zoom call available to all. If you haven't already, you will need to download and install Zoom on your computer. It is extremely easy to use. The presenter shares for 15-30 minutes on a topic, then takes questions from the audience. These are a wonderful resource!

Upcoming WebChats:

Thu, July 25, 5pm
Laird Schaub
Delegate or Die: Why Larger Groups Must Delegate and How to Do It Well 
While all power in consensus groups is rooted in the plenary, it’s a mistake to insist that all decisions be made there. A good deal of what people experience as meeting fatigue is due to plenaries being unwilling (or unknowledgeable about how) to effectively delegate decision-making power to managers and committees, and members feeling trapped in conversations they don’t want to be in. The result is endless meetings and demoralized committees. Yuck. In this webinar I’ll lay out why this doesn’t work and the ingredients necessary to turn it around. An essential part of the answer is groups getting clear about what constitutes appropriate uses of plenary time and then getting religion about not coloring outside the lines.

Mon, July 29, 5pm
Karen Gimnig
Embracing Conflict as Growth Trying to Happen 
Conflict can be a good thing, even, or perhaps especially, when it is hard. Using positive approaches and strategies won’t always bring resolution, but it will make growth and learning much more likely. Learn how curiosity, deep listening and structured conversations can help conflict to strengthen your community.
Introduction to Fair Oaks EcoHousing
Sunday, July 28, at 10:30am

Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a neighborhood of 30 homes on 3.7 acres in Fair Oaks, CA, 18 miles east of downtown Sacramento. Come see the site and our architectural plans, and meet members at an upcoming cohousing informational meeting. Kids are welcome.

Act now! Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only one home left but we are taking names for our waiting list for all other floor plans. If you are interested, please come to the informational meeting and site overlook. Other h omes do become available on occasion. If you like what you hear at the meeting, please join our interest list to be notified of new availability.

To attend the Introduction to Fair Oaks EcoHousing, meet at 10:30 am at the Fair Oaks Coffeehouse in Fair Oaks Village, at 10223 Fair Oaks Blvd , at the intersection with Park Drive. Look for us on the side of the Coffeehouse, in the patio area or in the building at the back. We will introduce you to the project and then we can carpool to the site, where we will be able to overlook the construction of our new community.

The event will last about an hour and a half, with an optional lunch afterwards at the Siam Patio Restaurant or the Smokey Oaks Tavern. If you can't make it on the 11th, the next meeting is Saturday, August 10. Please RSVP below. Thanks!
Be Part of Our Community:
Just Two Homes Left!
As construction progresses on our project, Fair Oaks EcoHousing has just two homes left. Call now to learn about cohousing, observe the site and reserve a 2 bedroom downstairs flat or a spacious 2-story 4 bedroom townhome. Note: I f you are interested in a different floor plan, please contact us so we can add you to the Waitlist and call you when your preferred size home is available.    We recommend that you come to an Introductory Meeting, if you haven’t done that already.

The 2 bedroom downstairs flat includes:

• Wide doors and open space in the unit
• Spacious bedrooms with large windows
• Easy access to the porch, pool and Common House

The 4 bedroom townhome includes:

• Spacious upstairs master bedroom with a full master bath and walk-through closet
• First-floor bedroom, perfect for a home office, an aging family member, or single-floor downstairs living
• Large windows, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the home and make rooms feel light and spacious
• Open design for living and dining areas, providing flexibility in use
• Modern kitchen with ample storage and counter space
• Large wrap-around porch providing roomy outdoor living space

All homes in Fair Oaks EcoHousing are designed for energy efficient living, with eco-friendly construction and high-quality fixtures and finishes.

Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a pedestrian-friendly village for residents of all ages, with a centrally-located clubhouse, pool and spa, and garden. 

The location is close to Fair Oaks Village and the American River Parkway, with many nearby dining and entertainment options, plus easy access to the freeway.
Want to Learn More About Fair Oaks & Sacramento?