March 23, 2011: Online Work Bee

Agenda

Shelley ... pretty tired, but delivered diabetes lecture today ... just have to do charting, then can go to bed
Ben ... checked in some code at work ... twice in one day ... feeling more tired than usual
Sequoia ... had a rough day ... got whacked on the head by a branch, then hit his mouth on a pole
Brandon ... old and dispirited

~~Brandon ... contact TypeWith.Me about lost SeedVillage page ... by next call~~ (they haven't gotten back to him)
~~Brandon ... let Gus, Andrew, Ted, Arthur, Mickki,~~ and Mercer ~~know about lack of Kindred 2011 plans ... by next call~~
~~Shelley ... work on ritual for Equinox~~ and share a draft with Brandon and Ben ... by Sunday
~~Shelley ... send out an invitation reminder ... tonight~~
Ben ... read the Daybreak bylaws ... by next call

We have a contract document
- Cost of the first two phases, getting us to concept plans, is about $4500
Shelley is reading Creating a Life Together
- Doesn't talk a lot about values, spiritual practice, warm fuzzy things ... mainly about financial structure, land use, decision-making process
- 90% of communities fail (75% of cohousing groups)
- Maybe we should all read the book before starting with the architects?
  - We wouldn't have drawings for Earth Day in that case
  - Maybe check to make sure they could even get those drawings done in time if we started now
- If we want to do consensus, we should all get training in it
  - Tree Bressen might be a good choice for training
- Do a book club call Sunday April 3 at 2:30
Other options to consider
- All moving to an existing intentional community?
  - Trying to take it over from within would cause lots of bitterness
  - There is a similar issue with Buckman neighborhood, but not as bad probably
- Renting the house next door
- Buying Mel's house
  - Would be more expensive than the ADU when including repairs, but would make more long-term financial sense

Ben makes a deposit now for after condo-conversion ... $15k ... basically 10% of total budgeted costs
- Might not actually be a condo association, but something along those lines
Estimated Soft Costs: $20-25k
Estimated Hard Costs: $110-130k
Shelley and Brandon get loan for all construction costs
We build the ADU
Convert entire property into condo association ... can we?
Ben's deposit converts into down-payment on the ADU condo
Ben gets a mortage for the ADU condo ... about $1100 per month?
- By paying back the mortgage, Ben will effectively pay back all costs associated with the ADU design and construction

"Star Tram" article suggests that building a full-scale working device would be around $20 billion
- Probably limits the possibilities for this as a SolSeed business venture

Brandon ... contact the TypeWith.Me people one more time ... by next call
Shelley ... invite Jerry to do the service ... by tomorrow
Shelley ... obtain and peruse the Daybreak bylaws to see if they have stuff we can use ... by next call
Ben ... find a contact for Sabin Green ... by next call
Ben ... buy a copy of Creating a Life Together ... by next call
Brandon, Shelley, and Ben ... think more about whether to start down the ADU path ... by next call