Preamble:
Raft Hill was established for the purpose of teaching and living in a cooperative housing situation. Membership is guided by these cooperative principles:
Section 1: Name
This organization shall be known as Raft Hill Cooperative.
Section 2: Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to create a cohesive bond between the members and to provide social and cultural activities. Further, it is to provide room and board at moderate cost.
The membership shall be open to people of all colors and creeds, and persons of all national and political affiliations, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, age, or weight. Any person capable of fulfilling their responsibilities to the organization may apply and become a member of Raft Hill Co-Op.
Section 1: Job Elections
Section 2: Terms of Office
All Officers will be elected on a term to term basis.
Section 3: Impeachment
Any officer may be impeached and removed from office by a two-thirds secret vote of all votes cast with the understanding that a blank vote is not a vote cast.
Section 4: When Jobs Go Into Effect
Section 5: Fines
Section 6: Meal Plan
Section 1: Seniority
Section 2: Room Picks
Section 4: Parking
In the event that parking availability becomes an issue, parking spaces at Raft Hill will be assigned and reserved to each member who owns a vehicle according to seniority at a house meeting. This may mean that the member(s) with lowest seniority may not get a parking space. It is every member’s responsibility to ensure that their guests do not park in reserved spaces. Members should also leave a notice should their spaces become available while they are out of town.
Section 1: First House Meeting
The “First House Meeting” shall take place within a week of the beginning of each semester or contract period after all members have established residency and at a time when all members can be present. The following takes place at the first house meeting:
Section 2: Special House Meeting
A special house meeting must be announced at least twenty-four hours in advance by any three members desiring to do so. Such a meeting should be used only to discuss an urgent matter that cannot wait until a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 3: Quorum
A quorum of the organization shall consist of two-thirds of the membership. (9 out of 12)
Section 4: Parliamentary Procedure
The house meetings shall be run as informal as possible, however, if need be, the parliamentary procedure and authority of this organization shall be as set forth in ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER (REVISED). Because all members and their jobs are of equal importance to the success of the house, each member shall report to the membership regarding their house duties.
Section 5: Regularity of Meetings
House meetings will be held the first Sunday of the month. Regular house meetings shall be announced at least 72 hours in advance.
Section 6: Meeting Attendance
In order for the Raft Hill democracy to work for everyone, all members should be present at every house meeting. Members who do not provide advance notice inconvenience the rest of the house with an unproductive meeting and do not get a say in issues that come up during the meeting. It is evident that members who do not feel they have a say in how their house operates will be less satisfied with their Raft Hill experience.
Section 7: Voting
Section 1: Officers
The officers of this organization shall consist of: Treasurer, Steward, Maintenance, Education, Membership, and SHC Board Representative.
Section 2: Philosophy of Jobs
All members shall be responsible for promoting the purpose and spirit of the house; shall cooperate in assisting any officer seeking advice or needing help when their job becomes overwhelming. Shall try to eliminate internal problems, whether they are personality conflicts or something more tangible, and shall provide a healthy living environment for other housemates by being empathetic to each other’s needs without infringing too much on your own.
Section 3: Point System
Section 4: List of Jobs, Job Descriptions, and Point Values
Section 5: Work Weekend
The purpose of work weekend is to tend to jobs that are not otherwise accounted for in this constitution. Work weekend jobs should consist of improvements to the house, such as painting, refinishing floors, preparing the house for winter, thorough cleaning of the garage, kitchen, walls, windows, gutters, installation, cleaning, or replacement of fixtures, and so on.
Section 6: Summer Jobs
Section 1: Topics Covered
Section 2: Definition of Fair Notice
Section 3: General Expectations
Section 4: Procedure
Section 5: Penalty
Section 6: Personal Items Left Over
A housemate that intends to leave personal items from their room at the house, or to give the items to the house must receive house approval. Housemates that leave items without house approval will be fined at the labor rate to remove/dispose of the items. If the items cannot be easily removed or disposed of, the house may determine its own penalty or solution.