Engagement/Participation Issues

Category:

Other/General

Updated March 2017 

It should be noted that Athol Green Co-op hired a part-time Cleaner, in Ken's view, started work on November 16, 2016. Prior to that, the Co-op hired a Cleaner, in Ken's view, started work on October 19, 2016. The Co-op informed the Membership on November 1, 2016 that the Co-op no longer had a Cleaner as of October 27, 2016.

Ken Hummel's ("Ken") essay published prior to the Co-op hiring a part-time Cleaner is dedicated to the Membership and General Manager of Athol Green Co-operative Homes Incorporated.

CO-OP HOUSING GONE TERRIBLY WRONG

You can get a better understanding of some issues raised below by reading about some matters and issues raised in links A, B, C... and Video in the following link: CLICK HERE :: You can also return to this blog by clicking the blogs "Link G" that will return you here and may help you to better understand or relate to this information below:

Ken reviewed some issues about engagement/participation and its failures at Athol Green Co-op, based on Ken's observations over a period of years at the Co-op Project. Ken is deeply offended in regards too all the sic nonsense supported by the Board, Membership, and General Manager that has been going on for far too many years. There appears to be a 'Project Mentality' at the Co-op because there is an absence of leadership!

The Co-op Project Board of Directors and General Manager has retained the same building maintenance company (Drycon Building Services) on a regular on-call basis for about 16 years. Co-op Project Common Areas are NOT being maintained in Good Order and CLEAN on a regular or consistent basis for at least the past 16 years!!

Imagine common area locations with burned-out light bulbs not being replaced, filthy floors and walls, items stored in fire hallways etc. sometimes for weeks!

It is alleged that for some 15 years, Drycon's owner and/or his one or two associate workers can often be seen on the project premises with the above noted problems.

Ken offered the only viable solution; Voluntary Participation, and hire outside help to spot-clean, clean the inside building common areas, and help maintain outside common area grounds at a minimal cost to the Co-op. Example: up to $15 per hour, and up to 20 hours every 2 weeks or up to a cost of $300. every 2 weeks that amounts up to $7,500 per year.

Ken suggest the Co-op conduct a 3 month pilot project that would contract outside help for 3 months. Review the persons performance, and then consider extending the contract every 6 or 12 months should the contracted persons quality of work appears to be satisfactory or better.

In Ken's view, the Membership and Co-ordinator support a failed status quo in regards to Member involvement because CHF Canada's New View of Participation was rejected. It is nonsensical and ridiculous to support a failed status quo that clearly has proven over many years not to work.

The Membership needs to get its priorities in order, and allocate or approve some funding to maintain Co-op common areas. CHF Canada's New View on Member involvement must be adopted by the Membership to help ensure that common areas of the Co-op are maintained in Good Order And CLEAN every week that supports some Members who perform the cleaning & yard work that consider the Co-op as their Home And Not A Project. The majority of the Co-op Membership are Demoralized because of poor leadership that maintain the Status Quo!!!

Examples:

Co-op Members and/or Board of Directors refusal to Amend Co-op Participation By-law #2005-08 and Adopt into the By-law #2005-08, CHF Canada's recommendation for voluntary participation at its Member Housing Co-ops. By-law #2005-08 was last Amended and Adopted by the Membership on January 27, 2009.

Ken and perhaps other Members are insulted and angry to be compelled or forced to perform Cleaning and/or Yard duties with inadequate or no tools/supplies. Example: Cleaning duties tools that may not be stored in the garbage chute rooms located on the resident floor(s) of each hallway. Co-op supplied mop, pail, and wringer, if any, can be seen as inadequate or not efficient to clean such a large area of hallways and stairwells. Examples: The red pail/wringer and yott mop can be considered inadequate tools, but suitable to clean a member unit kitchen or bathroom floor. The larger yellow pail & wringer, and larger mop can be considered commercial cleaning supply equipment that are efficient time saving tools that can help make the work get done with less strain or exertion in cleaning common area hallways and stairwells. Example: Hallway floors should be supplied with a commercial grade pail, wringer and mop, and any other needed commercial grade equipment. The Board and Coordinator demonstrate a total lack of respect toward Volunteer Members by not supplying all Members with all the necessary tools that are efficient for assigned work in and around common areas of the Co-op.

Ken and perhaps other Members are insulted and angry that Directors, Officers and their supporters appear to have the audacity and expect Members perform Cleaning and Yard duties of other Members that don't perform or complete their own scheduled work duties or cleaning the mess created by Members/Guests and their Children at the Co-op. Examples but not limited to some of the following: Spitting on walls and floors, discarding their cigarette butts on floors and steps, sticking bubble gum on walls and/or floor or steps. Spilling drinks and other liquids on the stairwells and hallway floors, persons discarding food/snacks/candy and/or its packaging on the stairwells and hallway floors. Sometimes contract workers not cleaning-up after work was done.

It demonstrates a total lack of respect towards Members who may choose to perform some of these duties. In Ken's view, the Project Board of Directors and General Manager can be seen as 'SADISTIC' towards some of the Membership, and their misconduct is reprehensible and disgusting.

Ken and perhaps other Members that perform some Cleaning and Yard duties are insulted and angry because their efforts are undermined by Directors, Officers and their supporters because of their refusal to allocate some Co-op funds to pay outside help to ensure that All Common Areas are maintained in Good Order And CLEAN each and every week. Some Common Areas are not cleaned or maintained sometimes for months over a period of years, due to poor co-ordination by the General Manager. In Ken's view, it demonstrates a tremendous lack of respect towards some Members who make some effort to perform various work duties.

Ken and perhaps other Members are angry and have justifiable reasons or may have proof to suspect favouritism exist, and that not all Members are treated with the same due consideration and fairness. Ken has experienced intimidation, bullying or harassment from Directors and Officers in regards to Participation.

Ken had noted the intentions of Directors and Officers to fine Members for not cleaning-up parking spaces and/or not removing vehicle(s). It would violate current Parking By-Law #2011-10 for Directors and Officers to issue and collect Parking By-Law fines from Members not performing these obligations after April 26, 2011. The 50.00 fine was removed from Parking By-law #2011-10. Perhaps some of the Membership may think that Directors and Officers are attempting to Scam some of the Members out of their money for their own individual personal self-interest or maybe Directors and Officers have an excuse for indicating that fines would be issued to Members.

Ken had noted the intentions of Directors and Officers to fine Members for not performing Cleaning and Yard duties. It would violate current Participation By-law #2005-08 for Directors and Officers to issue and collect Cleaning and Yard duties fines from Members not performing these duties after January 27, 2009. Perhaps some of the Membership may think that Directors and Officers are attempting to Scam some of the Members out of their money for their own individual personal self-interest or maybe Directors and Officers have an excuse for their self-described so-called mistake?

Ken noted Lori Wheeler's Coordinator report in the Athol Green Co-op Newsletter ("The Chatterbox") 2013 Holiday Edition that relate to participation. In her report, Ms. Wheeler stated in part, and I quote:..."There have been a few things on my mind lately, and unfortunately they are not nice. The Cleaning Duties are not being done properly, or should I say for the most part NOT AT ALL. Less than half the Co-op are doing their cleaning duties or do the cleaning duties twice on their week. This is a real shame. Even less are doing Yard duties"...

Ken noted the Maintenance/Landscape Committee Report published in the Chatterbox 2013 Holiday Edition that relate to participation and fines. In the report, it is stated in part, and I quote:..."The biggie for us, is the lack of participation by members regarding their cleaning and yard duties."..."and if we don't do them, the re-introducing of the fining system is gonna take place - sheesh -"...

In Ken's view, the Board of Directors and Coordinator want to reinstate a fining system for cleaning and yard duties. The fining system in place prior to January 28, 2009 had not been an effective measure to have Membership comply with the obligation to perform regularly scheduled unit assigned cleaning and yard duties dating back over some 15 years.

In Ken's view, The Board of Directors and Management are Deceitful, Dishonest, and Corrupt, and the Co-op has been placed at a high risk to Fraud and Theft by them.

Ken noted Linda Thornton's President's Report in the release of the Athol Green Co-op Newsletter ("The Chatterbox") 2009 Spring Edition that relate to fines. In her report, Ms. Thornton stated in part, and I quote:..."members are reminded to do their cleaning duties. Some members have been lax in doing their duties since the fines were removed,"...

Ken noted Lori Wheeler's Coordinator report in the Athol Green Co-op Newsletter ("The Chatterbox") 2010 Spring Edition that relate to fines. In her report, Ms. Wheeler stated in part, and I quote: "Members are reminded to do their cleaning duties. It seems that ever since the fines were taken away, members are not doing their part."

In Ken's view, Ms. Thornton's and Ms. Wheeler's statements above are utter nonsense. Lack of Member participation in regards to cleaning and yard duties has always been a ongoing problem. Scroll down to the first comment to access Member Participation background information as noted in the Co-op Housing Project Newsletter link.

Ken noted Lori Wheeler's Coordinator report in the release of the Athol Green Co-op Chatterbox 2010 Fall Edition that relate to fines. In her report, Ms. Wheeler stated in part, and I quote: ...", but the halls are still lacking as far as cleaning goes. Ahhh, but don't worry, I understand that our by-laws are still in place that allows fining, so maybe that will get a few people to take notice of what they should be doing."

Ken noted additional information stated in the 2010 Fall Edition of The Chatterbox, and I quote: "IMPORTANT INFO:" AND "CLEANING AND YARD DUTIES:"---"It is very noticeable that members have been neglecting their duties over the past year. Please be advised that members who have not completed their duties can and will be charged a fine for not completing the duties. As per the last 3 General Members Meetings, the members did not overturn the present By-law that members be charged. Therefore, the fining system is still in place. Guess those that didn't submit Participation forms will be seeing a hefty charge at year end????"

Ken noted Linda Thornton's President's report in the release of the Athol Green Co-op Chatterbox 2010 Winter Edition that relate to members support and participation. In her report, Ms. Thornton stated in part, and I quote: "The Board has been covering for lack of members support and participation. We hope that the upcoming year we will be able to get to each and every unit and crack down on participation."

In Ken's view, Ms. Thornton's statement that the Board has been covering for lack of Member participation is utter nonsense if she is referring to cleaning and yard duties. The fact of the matter is that the Board, and General Manager have failed to maintain Co-op common areas.

Ken noted the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes dated on October 19, 2010, in relation to fines, and I quote: "f) Cleaning duties not done"---"M/S/C Linda/Kathy THAT $75.00 fine be issued against unit for not doing their cleaning duty as required."

Ken noted Lori Wheeler's Coordinator's report in the release of the Athol Green Co-op Chatterbox 2010 Holiday Edition that relate to fines. In her report, Ms. Wheeler, stated in part, and I quote: "Please remember to do your duties. I know with the work project there is quite a bit of mess, but IT would be nice to have clean halls. Besides that, members can still be fined for not doing their duties. IT would be a shame for Christmas money to go on a fine."

Ken noted the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes dated December 7, 2010, in relation to Member participation and fines, and I quote: "c) Member participation update/Clean-up day"---"Further review was held on past GMM minutes. It was noted that although the new participation by-law was not approved, there was a separate motion for the fines. The fines were withdrawn from the by-laws. Notice will go out in the newsletter to members with correction. No fines letters were actually sent out, only attempts at trying to get the members to realize the importance of doing their duties."

Ken noted important Member information on December 15, 2010 in the release of the Athol Green Co-op Chatterbox 2010 Holiday Edition #2 that relate to Cleaning and Yard duties fines, and I quote: "IMPORTANT CLEANING AND YARD DUTY INFORMATION:"--- "Over the past few months the Board of Directors has been under the impression that a loophole was found in the by-laws that allowed us to fine for members not doing their duties. Recently, we were made aware that in fact the fines were indeed removed from the by-laws and members were at their honor to do the duties."

Are YOU buying the excuse that the Board of Directors and Co-ordinator are trying to sell too you?... And what about all the other so-called excuses?

Will anyone view some of the information stated in the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes and Chatterbox Newsletter as being deceitful or a fraudulent misrepresentation, and a falsehood? - The answer should be yes.

Ken noted information stated in the Athol Green Co-op Chatterbox 2011 Spring Edition, that relate to cleaning duties, and I quote in part: "IMPORTANT INFO:"---"CLEANING DUTIES: Some Members have chosen not to do their Cleaning duties for various absurd reasons. "The person before me didn't do it, so I won't be doing mine either," "It's so dirty from the work project, that I don't think I should have to clean it up," "I don't have time, I might do it, but not 2 days, maybe once and not on the days that the Co-op says."...

Ken noted Linda Thornton's Board report, in the release of the Athol Green Co-op Chatterbox 2011 Summer Edition, that relate to members support and participation. In her report, Ms. Thornton, stated in part, and I quote: "BOARD REPORT by Linda Thornton"---"Firstly, I would like to Thank (hmmm.) all members who DO NOT help out, with things such as the dirt and flowers, cutting grass, etc. All those ABLE bodied Members, who can sit back and enjoy the scenery. You know who you are. It's always the same handful of members who do most everything around here. It sure is sad, when we all benefit from living in a Co-op."

Ms. Thornton stated on behalf of the Board, and I quote: "all members who DO NOT help out, with things such as the dirt and flowers, cutting grass, etc. All those ABLE bodied Members, who can sit back and enjoy the scenery."

In Ken's view, the statement quoted above shows how insincere the Board is about wanting to have a clean and well maintained Co-op. The fact of the matter is all the Board has accomplished is to punish the Co-op, and Members who help with some cleaning and yard duties.

In Ken's view, Ms. Thornton and Ms. Wheeler's claim that only the same members are performing Cleaning and Yard Duties. It appears some of those members are burned out and have chosen not to participate as much because of poor leadership demonstrated by the Board of Directors and General Manager.

Fraud and/or theft at not-for-profit organizations are most frequently swept under the rug because of the negative impact it can have on volunteer donors. Non-Profit Co-op Housing is in the same category. Simply stated, merely suspicion that a fraud and/or theft may have occurred or could occur will likely negatively impact on Member engagement/participation. Co-op housing Directors and Officers and/or their resident relatives and friends that may reside at a Co-op that raise 'Red Flags' and/or set a Bad example for the rest of the Co-op membership can often explain the lack of Member engagement/participation. Ken has noted many RED FLAGS, and Bad examples set by the misguided leaders of the Co-op **Project**

If you want to understand why the lack of Co-op member engagement/participation in Co-op housing, you should then observe what's going on at your home Co-op, as it should not be seen as a complicated matter to understand.

In Ken's view, the Co-op, in many ways can be described as an Autocracy. Project Directors and Officers, in many ways appear to be following an inadequate management structure and improper exercise of leadership that include abuses of power, favoritism, and instead boss around some Members by treating some of their peers as peons that need to obey rules that don't seem to apply always to them, and their loyal supporters. Its as if they own the Co-op in some ways as their personal entitlement along with their various Cliques and/or close inner-circle that provide staunch support for the Board of Directors and General Manager. Some Members may choose to perform menial labor, while Directors, Officers, and their close Confidant(s) oversee most of the housing Co-op finances in covert.

Ken is of the opinion that the vast majority of the Membership can be viewed as the servile followers or minions of the Board of Directors, and General Manager by prostituting or pandering to these people. In Ken's view, the Membership is acting in a dysfunctional manor, and the Board of Directors and General Manager have failed to maintain the Co-op in Good Order. In Ken's view, this is not serving in the best interest of the entire Membership and the Co-op.

Starting October 2012, the Board of Directors began a Participation Rewards Program where a monthly draw would be held, and a small cash prize or gift certificate would be awarded to some of the few remaining participating co-op members.

In Ken's view, there is NOTHING REWARDING about doing the Cleaning and Yard Duties for the vast majority of Membership that don't do these duties!

Are these Participation Rewards or just a Carrot on a String trying to lead the few participating members' that carry the burden on their own shoulders and back for the majority membership that do little or don't participate in Cleaning and Yard Duties!!

In Ken's opinion, the Board of Directors, and General Manager should stop treating the few Members' that do Cleaning and Yard Duties as if they were Donkey/Mules that follow a Carrot that offer little or no rewards or satisfaction!!!

In Ken's humble opinion, he must award the grade of 'F' to the Project Board of Directors and General Manager that fail on a regular basis for not providing any leadership and failing to maintain the Co-op in Good Order And CLEAN...

Shame on you...

The inherent problems with non-profit housing co-operatives in Canada can put things into a real perspective that just about sums-up everything wrong with zero equity co-op housing! :: CLICK HERE And HERE

Review all the information stated above by Ken, and then consider this related quote on Leadership:

"People ask the difference between a leader and a boss...The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives." (Theodore Roosevelt)

And also consider the following quote:

"To be extremely self-centered, only interested in your own satisfaction, always brings negative consequences in the long run." (Dalai Lama)

Information may be updated/revised or deleted without prior notice

Ken Hummel, Member, Athol Green Co-operative Homes Inc.