I thank the 23 units in attendance and hope to see many more at future meetings.
I. Current Status
ROC NW placed Alonda Villa in a “Not Feasible” stage on Friday, May 22nd. The committee has been unable to obtain any information from ROC. A letter attached to the website — included with the last Resident Report — stated that our monthly costs would need to increase by 68% for the purchase to become feasible. Our sister park, Canyon Terrace, was also deemed not feasible, falling short by 48%.
In speaking with Ryan Erickson, Joe’s representative, they had little prior discussion with ROC and were equally unaware of the reasoning. They were as disappointed and upset as we were. Joe has no other buyers. Joe still wants to sell to us.
Committee plans:
- Not to rely solely on ROC NW.
- Continue engaging politicians as advocates. (We have posted politician names and contact information on the board so all residents can reach out and request their support.)
- Determine market value by consulting the Assessor’s office and exploring an appraisal.
- Identify alternative funding sources or negotiate with Joe to lower the price.
- Retain a lawyer (pro bono if possible) to help identify legal requirements.
There have been no further communications with ROC NW or politicians, but efforts are ongoing.
II. Next Steps — Get Unified, Advocate for Ourselves
- Seek other resources:
- Negotiate (appraisal, legal counsel, list of park expenses)
- Funding
- Research how other parks have structured their co-ops
John Setterstrom has made contact with friends who serve on charity boards to gather advice on how to focus our efforts. They recommended we obtain two types of legal counsel: a specialist in nonprofit organizations, and a specialist in commercial real estate valuation and acquisitions.
John has received recommendations for both and has made contact. There will be some cost involved. A pro-bono attorney appears unrealistic, as waiting lists are approximately two years long and pro-bono attorneys typically lack the required specialization — they would likely advise hiring the appropriate specialists anyway.
We are opening a bank account and have already received several donations. A Financial Committee of three people has been formed: one from the Alonda Villa Co-op Opportunity Committee and two from the broader community. Their charter is to manage and report on all funds received in support of the Alonda Villa co-op effort. These three individuals are the only ones with account access and signature authority. More details will be reported at the next resident meeting on June 10th at 1:00 PM.
This will take considerable effort. The good news is that we have a remarkable group of residents with a wide range of skills, knowledge, and experience. It is time for everyone to contribute — no matter how small the effort — to move us one step closer to controlling our own futures. The goal is to become our own advocates and gain a meaningful say in our financial futures.
III. Opportunities — Volunteers Needed
- Communication Sub-Committee
- Records/Secretaries
- Document creation
- Record keeping
- Website and bulletin board creation and maintenance
- Branding (mission, vision, name, logo)
- Records/Secretaries
- Fundraising Sub-Committee
- Grant research and writing
- Fundraising events
- Donations
- Outreach Sub-Committee
- Politicians (research support)
- Media/news
- Community outreach
- Logistics Sub-Committee
- Meeting setup
- News distribution
- Table staffing
- Treasurer Sub-Committee (John Setterstrom)
- Treasurer and two co-signers
The response at the meeting was outstanding, with many people signing up — but we need more. Each of us brings something unique and valuable. The more people who join this effort, the greater our chances of success; with more eyes and ears involved, less is likely to be missed or overlooked. If we can imagine it, we can achieve it. Let’s all imagine big.
Kathleen Poague, Unit 1302 Committee Chairperson