Category: Social Audit

That Woodsworth Co-op be an active partner and participant in the co-op housing sector and the broader Canadian co-operative movement.

FlNDlNGS

65% of all members report having participated in past co-op housing lobby efforts organized by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT).

57% of all members report having donated food during the CHFT Foodshare drive last October.

25% of all members report having taken a CHFT course or seminar, or attended a CHFT~ event.  For members who have held elected office at Woodsworth, the figure is 49%; and for past and current Board members, the figure is 72%.

In responding to the list of 10 issues/causes that Woodsworth might take a position on and  provide  donations to the  “co-operative movement” choice ranked at the top in both cases. (See report on Objective 11 for further details.)

13% of all members report being a member of another co-op and 29% report being a member of a credit union.

lMPLlCATlONS

The study shows that Woodsworth and its membership appear to be reasonably active in and supportive of the housing co-op sector and the broader co-op movement.  Significant numbers of members appear to be participating in political lobby campaigns and special projects such as the food drive.  However, the participation in CHFT courses and seminars could bµe higher and Woodsworth may wish to consider how to formalize closer relationships with other co-op organizations where mutual support or business relationships would be useful.

The process for appointing CHFT and CHF delegates and how these representatives report back to the membership was not studied – but should be in the future.

RECOMMENDED ACTlONS

1.  Board and committee members are strongly urged to take appropriate courses offered by CHFT.

2.  Staff should publicize to members all CHFT courses and Woodsworth’s reimbursement policy.

3.   Up to  15 minutes of each  members’ meeting should be allocated to presentations  about other co-op  organizations, projects,  information about other local co-ops should also be included in the events. revised members’ handbook.

4.  The Board should set a policy regarding the selection of delegates to co-op organizations and events, and that includes how these delegates√ are expected to report back to members.

To:  Home page with table of contents for Social Audit 1989

That Woodsworth be actively involved in important neighbourhood issues and other social issues deemed relevant to members ant the broader community.

FlNDlNGS

1.  The  top  five  issues  or causes  identified  by  members  as worthy of support or donations were:  co-op movement, neighbourhood, environment, food/hunger, peace

2. Woodsworth did not budget for donations until 1987. The 1988 budget is $1200, or approximately 0.1% of the annual gross revenue of the coop.  29% of all members stated the current $1200 donation budget is “just right” and 29% said “too low”.  Only 4% said “too high”.

3. In  identifying the most appropriate donation procedure,  34%  of  all members stated the Board should be able to donate up to a fixed amount (e.g. $200) with larger amounts decided at a members’ meeting;  20% stated the Board should have the discretion to make all donations with a mandatory report to members; 17% stated the Board should only make  recommendations  to  the  members;  and  8%  felt decisions should only be made by members’ meetings.

4.    Announcements  of  neighbourhood  and  co-op  movement  events  are frequently made during members’ meetings and appear in the Weekly.

5.  29% of all members report having attended a St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association (SLNA) meeting; 25% a meeting on the new community centre; and 21% a meeting on the proposed Berkeley St. Co-op.

IMPLICATIO¡NS

The co-op and individual members seem to be actively engaged in neighbourhood and other social issues.  Co-op support for the SLNA, community centre and Berkeley St. Co-op seems to have resulted in (or at least reinforced) meaningful participation by individual members.

While there is not a clear majority on the appropriate level of the donation budget, it appears that it should either stay the same or be modestly increased.  Members also seem prepared to allow the Board to make most donations, as long as large amounts are discussed by the members and all donations are reported.

RECOMMENDED ACTlONS

It  is  recommended  that over a three  year period,  the  co-op  increase donations budget to reach a target of .5% of the annual gross revenue.

Woodsworth’s SLNA delegates should report to a members’ meeting with information on the role of the neighbourhood co-ops in the SLNA. The revised members’ handbook should list ail neighbourhood groups and ad hoc committees.

(See also recommendation #2 under Objective 4, and all recommendations  under Objective 8.)

To: Home page with table of contents for Social Audit 1989

That the co-op foster closer community ties among its members provide a supportive environment for people of all ages, and maintain a cooperative community approach to conflict resolution.

FiNDlNGS

1. The  Social  Committee  has  made  a  number  of  efforts  to  work  with children  and  teens.  The  children’s  Christmas parties have been successful, but two teens’ Christmas parties were not well-attended.

2. Woodsworth seniors meet every Thursday in the Penthouse for tea, talk and bridge.   The Old York Club for seniors also meets once a month in the Penthouse.

3. The one-bedroom units at Woodsworth are the only ones that are wheelchair accessible.  Where possible, wheelchair accessibility has been improved around the co-op.

4. 42% of all members report they have had a difficult situation or problem with a neighbour, and 65% report it was solved.  Of those facing a problem, 42% involved the Grievance Committee to find a solution.  Of those, 63% report the Grievance Committee handled the issue in a fair manner.

5.  Compared to when they first moved in, 44% of all members feel the level of community spirit at the co-op is worse.   31% feel it is the same.

6.  61% of all members (and 74% of all parents) believe the co-op is a good place to bring up children.

7.  65% of all members (and 82% of single parents) believe the co-op is a good place to be for single parents.

8.  68% of all members (and 95% of seniors) believe the co-op is a good place to be for seniors.

9.  59% of all members believe the co-op is a good place for residents with a physical disability; and 46% a good place for newly arrived immigrants.

1O.    91% of all members stated Woodsworth is very friendly or friendly as a neighbourhood.  Good feelings about neighbours, the neighbourhood and community were also the positive features of the co-op most frequently cited by members.

11.  ln the survey, members were asked to identify problems at the co-op. While a variety of problems were cited, some of those most frequently noted were:  non-participation and a lack of community spirit by some members, and problems with teens in the park and related noise, as well as vandalism.

lMPLlCATlONS

In general,  it appears that members feel we have a good sense of community at Woodsworth, even though people say community spirit has decreased in recent years.  In particular, it is good to see that parents, single parents and seniors all feel even more positively than the general membership about their place at Woodsworth

ln problem areas, the teen/park problems seem to be a major concern and must be the  focus of  more attention  by  the Board and membership.  In regard to internal difficulties among co-op members, it does appear that our grievance procedures are helpful in many instances.

RECOMMENDED ACTlONS

1.      The Membership Committee should develop and implement a program to help young people become more active participants in the co-op movement.

2.      The revised members’ handbook should also list those under 18 along with the parent or guardian in the members’ list.

To: Home page with table of contents for Social Audit 1989