June 2019 - Ucol-shareholders

Meal after induction workshop
by High Street Cohousing 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

Hi all, Looking again at the facilities available to us for a meal in the Centre for Sustainability, we have decided that a better option would be to send out for takeaways - Chinese? Thai? Fish&Chips? Pizza? - A consensus will of course have to be reached. Anyway, this would mean that everyone would be asked to split the cost of whatever food is ordered. We hope that this will be OK with everyone - we certainly want everyone who can to stay for the meal. And UCOLers who can't come for the afternoon are very welcome to arrive at 5pm - it would be good to let Jan or Min know if you will be coming. Warm regards, Anne

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Latest agenda
by Sandy Ross 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

Hi everyone, I am sending out that latest version of the agenda - new items in red. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Frances

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Agenda for meeting tomorrow 6.6.19
by Sandy Ross 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

As this is coming out rather late, I have not called it a draft. Any additions, please email me before 10 am tomorrow morning. Frances

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my right to express an opinion
by Rosemarie Smith 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

Hi folks Earlier today I had an email from a group member challenging my right to express an opinion on the grounds only those ‘with skin in the game’ should do so. Can I background my response: When Maurice and I joinedUCOL five years ago the right to vote was very loose — even people who hadn’t put in their $100 membership got to show cards, partly as training, then for years everyone (not just shareholders) voted on design decisions as the project was refined. Then the group evolved to be all purchasers, apart from us, and we dropped out of any unit design decisions. So I’m not sure where the actual constitutional rules are now for someone who has a) loaned money and b) is on the waitlist. But in case I haven’t made it clear enough, I do consider I have ‘skin in the game’ for the financial (and all round) success of the project and not just because of five years of meetings and working bees and in anticipation of some kind of memorandum of understanding that we’ve put on the back burner until the big issues are settled. We had to wait for a share issue to become actual shareholders, and by then the rules were that we had to purchase one each ($10,00) Then it became apparent there wasn’t a unit to suit us, (and yes we felt excluded at the time) but we left the money in as a loan and also as a place on the wait list, just as an insurance policy. I presume our financial input was a significant amount at a time when the company need capital, (though no where near the amounts some other very generous people loaned). It is most certainly a significant amount for us. I have always understood there was no guarantee of getting it back, which will be difficult. I’ve been expecting there would be a challenge to my input at some stage, but would have preferred it was raised more kindly, and in the group as a matter of principle. And not linked to an attack on what I actually wrote, which was a response to opinions expressed by others. Receiving emails like this will silence people and the ramifications of the way this issue is handled are far more serious than the actual decision. The free exchange of ideas is essential, learning to see the world through other’s eyes. Yes I can see that people with hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake now might think that our $10,000 is ‘nothing’. (And yes, someone did say that to me once, and in retrospect I should have taken it more seriously not just a heat of the moment comment.) I hadn’t actually decided whether to abstain tonight, but now most certainly will now, and might take the coward’s way out and not even attend. Plus ask the directors for guidance on future voting. But I’m not butting out on an opinion, as much as I hate contention. I’m committed to the success of this project. For the record, I had no fixed opinion on choice of lawyers til I heard Antony’s advice, and will be sorry but not devastated if you don’t take it though I do see questions still to resolved. I’m far more concerned about full exploration of issues, probing facts and opinions and MOST of all, free and supportive expression, rather than the actual outcome. Love to you all in your deliberations Rosemarie

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No more hole!
by Anne Thomson 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

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For tonight's agenda
by High Street Cohousing 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

Below is a request from Shelley Lithgow at Gore District Council asking if someone could be part of a workshop held in Gore on *Thursday 20 June, 9.30am-12.30pm. * The aim is to present a wide range of different ways of providing housing, and particularly around intergenerational living. Other groups involved in housing, including MSD, Kiwibuild and Community Living, will be presenting to an invited audience including local community providers, BUPA, real estate agents. Someone from MDS office for seniors (?Dianne Nicholls?) had suggested us. They are asking for a presentation on 'what is cohousing', maybe 10 mins or so not initially our experience of developing High Street Cohousing, though that could be part of the conversation afterwards. If no one can attend information about cohousing would be useful to have available. I said I would ask tonight if anyone wanted to visit Gore on 20 June, or how else we might participate. Anne Name Shelley Lithgow Email readyforliving(a)goredc.govt.nz Subject Co-housing / ageing population Message Hello. I\'m writing to invite someone from your organisation to a workshop that we are holding in Gore in regards to the challenges & opportunities we are facing in regards to the ageing population. I would love to discuss this further with you, could you please call me on 027 540 6615 or email me and I will send through further information. Thank you for your time Regards Shelley

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Podcast: New Zealand's First Passive House Cohousing Project in Podcasts
by Gay Buckingham 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

For those who like Podcasts this is an interview with Tim covering Architype, Tim himself, passiv haus and Cohousing: 191: New Zealand's First Passive House Cohousing Project from Home Style Green in Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/home-style-green/id513213105?i=100043… Gay Buckingham 027 4544012

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Spreadsheet on aspects of legal decision
by Alex King 06 Jun '19

06 Jun '19

As promised on Monday, here is the spreadsheet that lists pros and cons of the two suggested options for lawyers. I have included information originally from Catherine and Susan, and also from emailed comments to me or the list. Note that there is a mixture of opinion and fact in the spreadsheet, and further work could be done to refine our understanding of which is which. There are still some outstanding comments which I have not had the time to address and include. It may be that we decide to update this spreadsheet again, if the meeting tomorrow does not resolve the question. My understanding is that we are not planning to discuss lawyers tomorrow beyond the straw poll. Thanks, Alex

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Info for tomorrow's agenda
by High Street Cohousing 05 Jun '19

05 Jun '19

Hi all Attached is a list of who is coming to the induction workshop - 6 people interested in buying, and one who wants to learn more about what we are doing. Four of them have confirmed that they will join us for dinner. So there is a shared meal at 5pm on Saturday night, isn't there! Also, I have ordered 2 more copies of the Cohousing book, and they should be winging their way to us now. See you tomorrow, Anne

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A change of meeting
by Anne Thomson 04 Jun '19

04 Jun '19

Hi all, Gay, Jan, Frances and Anne were talking on Wednesday about the difficult position we are regarding our legal representation in the future. We have a suggestion to make. 1/ We meet next on 6 June (next Thursday) 2/ At that meeting we have no discussion about the the lawyer we will use, but we do hold a straw poll on the minute "That we continue to engage Helen Davidson as lawyer for the project, moving our business from McMillan & Co." If there is no strong opposition, then it could go on the agenda for the next regular meeting. 3/ If there is strong opposition, then at the 6 June meeting we agree to have an extraordinary meeting, which those who do not hold strong opinions are not expected to attend unless they wish to. At that meeting the only agenda item would be to reach a consensus on how we proceed with legal representation from this point. We identified some questions which we wanted to have answered. Others have given us responses as noted below: *1/ Does Kiwibank have a requirement or an opinion regarding whether or not we can change lawyers?* *"* I don't believe they should have any say on who we choose to use as a lawyer. I think they will understand us changing if we decide to given the circumstances. They just need to have a qualified lawyer to sign off routine paperwork." *2/ What costs would be incurred if we move a trust account?* There should be no costs associated with moving the Trust account, according to Law Society rules - same as documentation - see below. *3/ Who currently holds our legal documentation?* Kiwibank holds all the financial documentation originals, with other documents at McMillan, UCOL holds original of company documents. An Authority to UpLift would be the process to move the documents to another firm and there should be no charges for a client to collect the client's documents on request according to Law Society rules. *4/ What back-up administrative support will be made available if 'our' lawyer is incapacitated at some point?* If we do find that we need to have an extraordinary meeting, we would also ask the small group to circulate before the meeting a list of the pros and cons as they identified them, for everyone to consider. Others may have other questions they also want addressed. It would be useful to meet on 6 June in light of the induction workshop on Saturday 8 June, Currently there are 6 interested parties planning to attend, 3 in Dunedin and 3 traveling from Auckland or New Plymouth, 3 interested in the 2/3 bedroom unit and 3 in the 1 bedroom unit. I have been telling people that the workshop is 2-4pm, with a meal to follow at 5pm. *Please would you let us know how you respond to our suggestion, and whether or not you would be able to come to a regular meeting on Thursday 6 June, next week.* Thanks, Anne

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Ucol-shareholders June 2019