Co-ops, and Cheques

[callistra]

Co-op!
Thinking co-op-y thoughts! Some friends have mentioned that they would love to get back into a food coop sort of thing, and so i thought I would see if there is any one else who has comments/suggestions/stories/history/ideas/would like to join in/help out/whatever while we talk this thing through. Chesh and I had a great time in the last co-op, and were very sad when everything went pear shapes, but such was the nature of these things.

Cheques!
Yesterday I got three letters, and all three were cheques. Today I get three letters, one of which was a cheque, one of which was a statement, and the last of which was a letter from the gov'mint offering to pay 1.5 times X into my super, where X is my own contributions. Wow. I don't remember asking the universe to send me money, but hey, I'm grateful! Thanks heaps, universe!!

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Coops are good assuming that you have one or two people who are prepared to do most of the work and another three or four who will do some of the work. Apart from that they're a great idea.

Well done on the letters. I wish some of my clients would hurry up and send me a cheque...

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Well, the past couple of my days have been terribly exciting ones writing a monthly shopping list/inventory, so that basically once a month we can go through the house and cross out the things we have and buy the things left over that we need. I hate shopping. And then we buy fresh froot and veg as needed.

So yeah, I am expecting to be one of the ones doing a lot of the work. *grin*

[caitlen.livejournal.com]

Re: Co-op, are you thinking of a group that pitches in every week and someone goes to Canning Vale markets and buys a heap of veges and fruit in boxes, type of co-op?

Right?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I used to like shopping, but I've kinda gone off it.

So I use Coles online instead. I mean, they deliver booze, for god's sake... With the inter-crack you really don't need to leave the house.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Yes, that sort of co-op.
;-)

We'd need a lot of people to make it worth our while to go to the canning vale markets though. And it depends on whether people are worried about quality, quantity or price.

Would you like to come to our initial exploratory discussion when we get there??
:-)

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Nice for people what live in big cities.
*grin*

[radiumlabs.livejournal.com]

Very interesting and tempting although geographically it would be a stretch.

[numbat.livejournal.com]

I suspect the government will put money into my super too if I ask them. This means talking to my super fund though and who knows when I'll get around to that.

[caitlen.livejournal.com]

Mebbe :)

hehe - when is it?

[callistra.livejournal.com]

When it happens I will let you know.
:-)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Letter in today's Age: FYI

Co-op housing empowers disadvantaged

Date: April 12 2005

Re the Victorian Government's plan for low-cost housing (The Age, 11/4). Some years ago I was involved with about 12 friends in an exciting new venture in Geelong: home ownership. We had all been on welfare payments or in low-paying, menial or part-time employment. We discovered the housing co-operative scheme set up under the Cain/Kirner government. Through the Commonwealth Bank, properties were purchased, ultimate ownership being maintained by the bank with 99-year head leases. They were rented to members at 25 per cent of household income. The head leases could be inherited by the next generation, who would become the new members of the co-operative, thus instilling continuity.

First we purchased former ministry properties in Norlane, Corio and Whittington; eventually we purchased privately owned homes in other areas, with groups of homes in some neighbourhoods where we had extended families living within 500 metres of each other - great social support and security of tenure for all involved. We also instituted a food co-op. Bulk purchases of staple goods were made using the Campbells Cash and Carry card, which meant wholesale prices for many tinned, dried and packed goods. A few members had market gardens, sharing the produce with others. (One member even started a permaculture garden in the backyard of a standard block that fed her household, and two others, with fresh vegetables and fruit.)

The co-op flourished, expanded and split into two smaller co-ops, which also expanded and split into smaller ones (the size being limited to 20 members). Each was responsible for having annual general meetings, submitting budgets for maintenance and asset purchase, renegotiating terms of leases etc. The co-op had a constitution, elected office-bearers and a board of management. The greatest aspect was that all positions were filled by people living in the co-op properties; this empowered the disadvantaged and gave them control over their own destinies.

The proposed housing associations sound like a return to this structure with some variations on who runs and owns what. Any mix of private and public housing that does not involve the people living in the properties will be a privatised housing ministry. Bring back the co-ops.
Simon Coyle, St Kilda