Attendees:
Chris Ford
Selwyn Polit
Mycelia (?)
Cat Barron
Becky Weaver
Greg Thompson
Greg Onstott
Laura Smith (briefly)
Colette Henricks
Eileen Nehme

Junior attendees:
Gemma Smith
Mikayla Smith
Azhray (?)

The meeting started at 7 PM at Selwyn and Colette's house.

1. Introductions

2. Cohousing overview - there was some discussion and description of what
cohousing is, for the benefit of members who had questions about various
aspects of cohousing.

3. Check-in on projects
· Central Austin Cohousing - has changed focus away from a site in the
Mueller Airport Redevelopment area and is looking for sites elsewhere in
Central Austin. Several people had suggestions of developers to contact.
· Austin Rural Cohousing - is looking for land about 20 minutes east of
Austin. They are considering purchasing a smaller piece of land and doing
pay-as-you-go self-construction instead of borrowing a large sum and
developing the project all at once.
· Oak Hill Cohousing - a core group of about 6 families is developing a
vision statement. They are envisioning a project of clustered single-family
homes near the Waldorf School in Oak Hill. They are considering applying for
grants to do green building demonstration projects as well as
self-constructing straw bale homes.
· Happy Feet Community (no representatives attending) - the Newning land
deal did not pan out, and the group is again considering an N Street-model
organic retrofit model.
· Hilltop Cohousing (no representatives attending) - no news.

4. Mission Statement - a working mission statement was agreed upon:

CACTUS promotes and facilitates the creation of cohousing in Central Texas
through education, public action, and resource sharing.

It was agreed that this statement will go on the Yahoo!Groups e-group site
as well as our future website.

5. 2002 Planning Exercise

The group brainstormed activities and goals for 2002.

Goals
· Educate those most likely to be interested about cohousing/recruit new
members
· Educate the larger public and government officials through the media and
other channels
· Help cohousers educate one another to make each project more successful
· Educate building and real estate professionals about cohousing

Activities (brainstorm session)
· Discuss issues that were problems for unsuccessful past groups
· connect people with existing groups
· achieve 501(c)3 status
· sponsor special-interest meetings among cohousers
· sponsor speakers on relevant topics
· create events, conferences
· sponsor booths at various fairs and conferences
· raise funds for all other activities
· create a slideshow/presentation to present to various groups around town
· web site
· fun (5th Sunday socials, dances)
· Austin access TV (cable, training, provide story, ACC, Travis TV)
· Kids (include in our activities)
· Cohousing zoning code or expand condo model to include common space,
kitchen etc
· Open houses
· Community outreach
o Booth presence
o We create coho events
· Bring in speakers
· Radio (KUT "Access")
· Government links (meet with officials, green party)
· Slide show & presentation for roadshow
· Rural community centers for outreach
· Grants
· Leverage resources
· Combo event (the big burrito?)
· Media relations (Chronicle articles, other newspapers)
· Piggyback on other events
· Get a big personality to be a spokesperson (Jim Hightower?)
· Clinics/Meetings with group committees to share info/successes/failures

2002 Calendar
Taking our brainstorm results and prioritizing them for next year's
calendar, the group created the following calendar of events:

Q1
· Launch a website
· Create a budget and funding plan
· Put together a slideshow/presentation
· Host introduction/recruitment meeting - present slideshow, have
introductions of each active group, schedule time for mixing and mingling.
This will involve media attention prior to the event.
· Start working toward 501(c)3 status in anticipation of grant-writing
activities (sustainable building demonstration projects in association with
cohousing development)

Q2
· Create a booth presence for fairs, gatherings, (brochures, packets), etc.
· Networking/sharing meeting/clinic for cohousing groups to look at
problems/successes

Q3
· Revisit/start working on cohousing zoning code
· Continue booth presence, speaking to groups, etc.
· shmooze politicos

Q4
· Create Central Texas Cohousing Conference, involving outside speakers,
breakout sessions, training/education, media relations, marketing, and
fundraising.
· Continue booth presence, speaking to groups, etc.

Committees Created

Website Committee
Selwyn Polit
Eileen Nehme

Yahoo!Groups manager/calendar keeper
Chris Ford

6. Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 7, 6:30-8:30
Chris Ford's house, 620 W. Crestland, 78752 (off Lamar just south of 183) -
323-6870
Facilitator - Selwyn Polit

Agenda will include
Childcare during meetings - solutions for location, activities, and $$
Planning for Q1 Event
and more!

The meeting adjourned at 9 PM.

Becky Weaver
512-478-7321
becky_weaver@io.com

Cactus Meeting Minutes
10-16-2001

In Attendance: Becky Weaver, Selwyn Polit, Colette Henricks, Cat Barron, Laura Smith, Greg...

Quarterly Plans

Q1
- web site
- Membership Extravaganza
- Money/budget
- Slideshow/presentation
- 501(c)3 status/combining efforts with SBAT/SBC under their 501(c)3

Q2
- Create booth presence (brochures/packets etc)
- Networking/sharing meeting/clinic for cohousing groups to look at problems/successes

Q3
- do booths, groups, presentations
- shmooze politicos
- revisit zoning issues

Q4
- invite speakers
- Central Texas Cohousing Conference
- Renewable Roundup fair booth

Possible Goals
· pitfalls
· web site with contact info
· 501(c)3 status
· fun (5th Sunday socials, dances)
· Austin access TV (cable, training, provide story, ACC, Travis TV)
· Kids
· Cohousing zoning code or expand condo model to include common space, kitchen etc
· Open house
· Community outreach
§ Booth presence
§ We create coho events
· Bring in speakers
· Radio (KUT “Access”)
· Government links (meet with officials, green party)
· Slide show & presentation for roadshow
· Rural community centers for outreach
· Grants
· Leverage resources
· Combo event (the big burrito?)
· Media relations (Chronicle articles, other newspapers)
· Piggyback on other events
· Get a big personality to be a spokesperson (Jim Hightower?)
· Clinics/Meetings with group committees to share info/successes/failures

Mission:
Promote & facilitate cohousing through
· education
· public action
· resource sharing

Goals
· recruit new members
· raise awareness
· education within groups
· educate professionals (ie builders/developers/contractors) about cohousing

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