Quarterboarding

From WikiSutra

QUARTER-BOARDER GUIDELINES

Welcome to the Co-op! We’re excited that you are interested in quarter-boarding with us. Here is an explanation of what quarter-boarding entails, and how you can join us.

1. Benefits!

• The main benefit of quarter-boarding is that you are entitled to eat a quarter of your meals at the co-op: home-cooked vegetarian meals, fresh bread, and stocked fridges and pantries all day long.
• A house full of new friends!
• You are welcome to spend time at the co-op, do homework in common space, and participate in some house events. We try to incorporate quarter-boarders into our community as best we can, while respecting residents’ boundaries.

2. Points and Board:

• The co-op runs its chore-system through points. A quarter-boarder does a quarter of the points that a regular co-oper does. This is usually around 8 points every two-week cycle (some examples: cooking half of dinner is 8 points, making dessert is 6 points, and washing dishes after dinner is 4 points).
• Chores are described in the co-op Sutra kept in the orange binder in the foyer on the Points table or on the Wiki-sutra online at http://hcs.harvard.edu/~dudcoop/wiki/index.php; co-opers are more than happy to answer your questions about various chores. You are welcome to do any chores that appeal to you.
• Sign up for chores on the points chart, which is put out ever other week by the points steward and is located in the foyer. Annoucements get sent out over email.
• A quarter-boarder pays a quarter of the board that a regular co-oper pays. This is usually around $170 for the semester. To arrange your board payment, contact the treasurer.

3. Guidelines: Some things to keep in mind--

• Sometimes, if we have many enthusiastic quarter-boarders, there can be some strain on our cooks and our supplies. No one counts meals, and no one wants to, so we ask that you please respect the quarter-board agreement on the honor system. Quarter-boarders are encouraged to eat communal meals with the co-op, but not to take food out of the co-op or use it as a grocery store. (Buying in bulk through our twice-weekly orders may be possible, but that's extra.)
• We ask that you limit the number of guests you bring to the co-op, especially for dinner. If you plan to bring more than one person to dinner any night, please notify the cooks so that they can make enough food. Keep in mind that you use up your alloted meals in bringing guests.
• Personal baking projects that use coop food should also be factored into the 1/4. (e.g., cooking for yourself and 2 friends? 3 meals for that week.)
• Please notify the co-op if you want to hold a study group/meeting/rally/sing-along in co-op common space. These types of events should be sponsored and overseen by a co-oper.
• You are welcome and invited to come to our co-op meetings and even bring agenda items, but only resident co-opers vote at meetings.
• Note on guests: we like to be welcoming, but we also like to keep the house familiar and comfortable for residents. therefore, if quarter-boarders want to bring a guest for hanging-out purposes, they should really feel compelled to ask the house first. Remember: quarter-boarders are themselves guests. Parties and mealtimes are one thing, but the co-op should otherwise be allowed to feel like home for the 30-something residents.
• On using the kitchen for personal projects: ok, so long as you a) fully clean up afterwards, including all cooking supplies, and b) give mindful priority to regular coop chores.
• Half-boarding: possible, but takes more arrangements...

4. Process for becoming a Quarter-Boarder (even for continuing quarter-boarders, since we have new co-opers every semester)

1. Contact the co-op Presidents. They will help you do step 2:
2. Introduce yourself at a co-op dinner (6:30pm), preferably at a meeting, which happen invite you to a co-op meeting, usually Sunday or Monday night over dinner. This is so that people in the co-op know your name and face.
3. Email the Points Steward who gets you set up to sign up for some chores on the points chart during a 2-week trial period. Then, if you do your chores and no one in the co-op has objections, you’ll get “approved” and be an official quarter-boarder.
4. Contact the Treasurer to pay your quarter of the board.

Please be pro-active about these steps and contact us with questions!