The following are a few notes about aspects of the co-op about which people frequently have questions. Although this section attempts to address many things, it would be impossible to collect the answers to the myriad of possible questions a member might have. If you have a question to which you cannot find an answer, bring the issue up at a house meeting.

SCA POLICY BOOKS

Each house keeps several copies of the SCA POLICY BOOK. The Policy Book is a collection of documents concerning house and SCA operations. It should contain current rules, policies, job descriptions, and other things not covered in this handbook. In addition, there are Committee Books for most administrative positions in the co-op which contain the most recent job description and tips from past officers on how to do the job efficiently. All of these books are valuable to new co-opers. Outgoing officers should take the time to record their insights about the jobs they hold and, if possible, go over the book with the new officer. Take initiative to add new information to the books. Recorded intelligence is priceless.

VETERAN CO-OPERS

Sooner or later questions will come up that no notebook or manual can answer. However, the person sitting across the breakfast table from you with blood-shot eyes from studying all night may be a virtual gold mine of information. Don't be afraid to ask those "old" co-opers where the toilet paper is kept, what to do with compost, or something more obscure. They know. You may even get a story or two about how it was in the old days--before Bush and Quayle and the compost pile.

KEYS

Keys to your room and house are distributed by the House Membership Coordinator after the Membership Contract has been read and signed. Spare keys are kept in the office of each house.

MAIL

Each house has mail boxes by the front door for mail and messages. If you are the first to get the mail, please sort it. When you move out, leave your new address with the House Secretary, who is responsible for forwarding mail.

FURNITURE

SCA provides members with a mattress, desk, chair, and bureau. Some rooms have acquired other hand-me-down furniture as well. You are welcome to bring any furniture of your own provided that it creates no threat to the structural stability of the house (e.g. waterbeds) If you are lacking furniture, please notify your House Maintenance Coordinator.

RECYCLING

All houses have a recycling program for newspaper, glass, paper, aluminum and tin and some plastics. Please ask Job Co-ords, or old members where to put your recyclables.

PAINTING ROOMS

Houses will provide paint and work party credit for a member on three conditions: the room really needs new paint (not simply because the color is displeasing), the surfaces are well prepared (washed, holes filled, etc.), and the new paint is a light color. The House Maintenance Coordinator should okay all painting projects beforehand.

PET POLICY

Pets are approved on a case by case basis at the house level.

SMOKING

Smoking is banned in the common areas of all houses.

SCA OFFICE

The SCA business office is located on the first floor of The Lorax Manner. Office hours of the Business Manager are posted on the door. The Business Manager would appreciate your doing business when they are scheduled to be on duty, but is available other hours by appointment.

OVERNIGHT GUESTS

Each member is allowed to have guests for three consecutive days without charge. After three days the guest may be required to pay an amount equal to the daily rate paid by a member. It is your responsibility to inform your guest of house rules. Guests are the sole responsibility of the host. For more details, see the Guest Policy in the SCA Policy Book.

MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENTS

As you probably know by now, there is no landlord for the houses of SCA. This means that we do not have to wait for someone else to get around to repairing something or replacing tattered furniture. On the other hand, it means that no one but we will do these things when they need to be done. Each house has a Maintenance Coordinator to coordinate such repairs (and to keep track of work party hours done by others performing repairs,) but the Maintenance Coordinator is not all-seeing and all-knowing. Should you find something that needs repair or replacement that has escaped their attention, talk to them about it. There is a line in the house budget to cover expenses involved in the upkeep of our buildings; Maintenance Coordinators  are responsible for house maintenance funds. Should a repair or replacement involve considerable expense (over $200), it should be brought to the attention of the corporate Maintenance Coordinator, who will address the Board of Directors.