We admitted Brooke/Joe and Rita. I will send them notices asap. If anyone who has not met them has any objection, please let me know immediately, before I send the invite.
Kevin is going to draft language to amend our core rules so that we can adopt a forfeited vote or a proxy or something, so that we can admit members when we don't have a unanimous attendance; we've been having trouble getting everyone there so it will be difficult to admit new members. We will vote on this and if it passes we will officially change the Core Rules.
Kevin will be making a new spreadsheet in November-December, after the next round of invitees gets decided upon at the Nov. meeting.
Celia has graciously offered to run another training workshop for newbies in October, and to draft language for a "So you've joined the co-op". Thanks, Celia! I can help.
Don't forget to do some Sit Offers once in a while!
Request some sits already!
FYI, for people who can't remember our website address, try this handy shortcut:
You start with zero points, so you might want to start sitting before you start requesting sits. Your first step should be to get connected to the other co-op members by making an account at 30boxes.com and then adding each co-op member to your buddy list. Our blogmaster can assist you in identifying us; you'll need our email addresses. Make sure you add each member or you will miss out on receiving all sit requests.
Once you are connected via 30boxes, ask the facilitator if there are any open, unassigned sits; if you would like to take one, let him or her know so they can invite you to the open sit. All future sit requests from other members will come to you via an email generated by 30boxes. The email will allow you to “accept,” “decline,” or note that you are “not sure” about a sit. Please reply to 30boxes emails in a timely fashion so that the sit requesters know the status of their sit requests!
Here's the evolution of a sit request:
Requesting a sit
To request a sit, go to 30boxes and used the Detailed Entry feature at the top of the page to make your sit request. It is helpful to get the most relevant details into the event title (is it for a set date/time or are you flexible, how many kids is it for, is it a day/night sit, etc.). Be sure to include a start and end time, even if you are flexible. The “notes” section is where you can specify if you are flexible as to day/time, have a specific request as to location, or anything else you need to communicate.
Now, before you click “Add Event” you must be sure to add all co-op members in the “Invites” section. In this field, if you type “+”, up will come your list of all co-op members you have added. You must add each member individually (you can’t add the full list in one move). If you leave someone off, they will not get your sit request, and if you leave everyone off, well, your request will simply float along in cyberspace. Here's a demonstration (one note, I forgot to mention in the demo about the Plus sign, but you'll see.)
Once people have responded to your sit
If more than one person has said yes, see who is more negative on our sit log. The sit should go them. You assign the sit by noting it in 30boxes and contacting to them off-line to work out the details and confirm that they got the sit. The facilitator can help you assign the sit if need be, but it's really quite simple.
If you got no takers, write "NO TAKERS" somewhere in your sit request. (Look back into our calendar to see previous examples.)
Please remember, you are expected to use the co-op at least once a month OR make at least two sit requests to demonstrate a good faith effort to use the co-op. Without activity, the co-op withers.
The "edit" button flashes when you mouse over the name of the sit "PM Sit for Laura." Click in either the the Event title or Notes to edit. You could also add new invitees at this time.
Making Yourself Available to Sit
If you find that you are not being able to take any of the sits people are posting, or if you simply want to be proactive in racking up points, you can also use 30boxes to let people know when you are available to sit. Try to make this very clear in your event title; for example “Celia wants to watch your kids Saturday night!”
Recording a sit
Once you have completed a sit for another co-op member, it is your responsibility to “pay” yourself by going to the co-op blog (link) and complete the Sit Report Form. This sit is fairly self evident—just read carefully and you should be fine! Top tip: just do a sit report right there at the end of the sit. The sittee (the person you sat for) can answer your questions if you have any.
Present: Laura (recording minutes), Celia, Jen, Kevin and Joe (new recruit!)
Absent: Katey, Ginny, Paula
Recruitment
After discussing Joe's potential membership (more below), we talked about recruitment more generally; given the co-op's current use patterns, we think it would be healthier if more people joined and seek to renew our recruitment efforts.
We will schedule a playground meetup once we have a few nibbles. Celia already has one; Jen is thinking of another. Everyone should be on the looked out for stressed out parents who need a sitter! We discussed our geographical restricts in terms of where we get new members from, and basically it comes down to an ad-hoc "well, what works for us?" case by case basis.
Incidentally, we talked about doing a social media blitz in an effort to get new members—which is scary, because we know that there are members of communities real and virtual who would like to join, but who we don't want to join. Talk fizzled out at that point. In the meantime, please send out the link to our brochure site (http://babysittingcoopinfo.blogspot.com) to interested potential members, and if you would like to throw a few flyers in strategic locations, here is one. By the way, the language in both of these recruitment tools is a couple of years old, so if you see something that needs to be edited, it probably does. Let Kevin or me know and we will make the changes.
Sit offers
At the last meeting we talked about changing procedures so that sitters could offer up potential sits. Laura's one sit offer had no takers, but we agreed to keep trying them out. The group basically OK'd any manner of sit requests, but for recordkeeping, we should continue to track sit offers on 30boxes (even if it is in parallel with some other system, like doodle) as we may include offering sits in the criteria for what determines non-use.
Non-use
It has been pretty high! Let's use us! Relatedly, Kate is going to reach out to Paula to see if she is still interested in being in the co-op.
Voting
Technically, we need unanimous approval to admit a new member, but meeting attendance has not made this possible in over a year. Yes, we need to vote on Joe/Brooke joining the co-op, but we may need to consider modifying the unanimity rule, given our collectively low meeting attendance of late. Katey, Ginny, Paula, do you trust the rest of us to vote in your best interest? Or would you prefer to hold off til the next meeting or social meet up to meet him and his family?
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on September 16. We are also trying to organize a recruitment/social meetup for late August/ early September.
Present: Abigail, Micheal, Kevin, Laura, Jen, Celia
Absent: Katey, Paula
Discussion
After trying Sunday evenings for last two meetings, we're going to go back to Mondays for the next meeting.
All co-op members are encouraged to reach out to anyone who might be a good fit for recruitment. New recruits should be invited to the next meeting (in July).
All co-op members, but especially those with negative points, are encouraged to offer up a time when you can sit for someone else. If you are free some night, weekend, etc and want to shoot out an email letting members know -- maybe someone can take you up on the offer.
Facilitators will now work for four months instead of three, to allow them to chair two consecutive meetings. Points reward for facilitation will be 5 points per 4 months.
Roles
Kevin T. will take over blogging from Laura effective July 1st, through the end of December.
Laura will take over facilitation from Abigail for June through September. Celia is next in the rotation and will take over facilitation starting in October.
Upcoming Meetings
Co-op social: Saturday June 22nd, 11:00 pm, 45th St. playground
1) How can we get more sits requested and accepted:
a. Doodle.com (Laura tried this out, and liked the openendedness. There is no way to keep track though, so also post it on 30boxes.com, if you choose to try this out.)
b. text day of sits (Last minute sits should be posted on 30boxes, but try texting everyone too for more responses.)
c. When do we need sits and when are we available to take sits (generally) If you couldn't make it to the meeting, please reply all and let everyone know what works for you.
Member
Sits wanted
Can sit
Laura
Night sits, occasional afternoon/bus pickups
Night sits, occasional afternoon/bus pickups. Very occasional weekend day sits, advance notice.
Kevin and Kate
Nights and weekends
Nights and weekends
Jen
Day sits, afterschool pick-ups (3:30)
Night sits (Friday and Wed)
Ginny
After school sits, weekends
Weekends, nights, some afterschool pick-ups
Abigail
Night sits
Weekends, night sits, Summer flexibility
Celia
Weekend day sits
Weekday sits
Limited bus pick-up sits, as long as the stop is near Auden's (basically I can do it for Hana or Jojo).
Weekend day sits, need notice
Night sits (ideally b/n 8 and 11 PM)
weekday day sits (hint, hint Katey!)
Katey
Paula
2) New roles:
Facilitator: Paula will take over April 1 (and this isn't a joke) Check out the fac. duties on the website. You will do great!
Blobmeister: Kevin will take over July 1 (right?)
3) Spring get-together? 45th st playground? Another night out for the Mom's?
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
January 21, 2013 Meeting Minutes
Present: Abigail, Laura, Celia, Kate, Ginny, Jen
Absent: Katey, Paula (non-use submitted)
Facilitator: Abigail
Blogmaster: Laura
1) New recruit update
No steps have been made by members or new recruits to get the ball rolling. Lack of interest?
2) Continue to look for potential new recruits. A few members have leads (Abigail, Celia.) Follow up at next meeting.
3) Change the night we meet on. Paula can never make it to the meetings on Mondays. Possible (permanent) move to Sunday night. Next meeting will take place 3rd Sunday in March. (March 17, 2013)
4) Let's plan another night out!!
5) Revisit the core rules: Look through these at this link, and we can discuss any changes we may want to make, or rules we need to stick to at the next meeting.
6) Non-use points for January are submitted--START REQUESTING SITS!!
Dear fellow co-op members,
Please note that I have updated the website and the spreadsheet. Note that we do not have actual members named "Mango, Apple and Banana" those are future members.
Please feel free to send bug reports, suggestions and cat pictures to me. Feel free to review for spelling, too.
Btw, I also gave us an easier link name, now we can also be accessed through tinyurl.com/coop3000
Have a lovely frigid day!
