Role Descriptions

House Member
Qualifications
  • Voted in by current house members
  • Must be 18 years of age
Position Summary
  • Participate in a dynamic living community by taking personal responsibility for house roles and projects and working productively with other house members to pursue sustainable living and community improvement
Experience/Knowledge
  • Experience living with other people
  • Knowledge of sustainable living practices and their importance
  • Experience or Interest in rock climbing
Primary Responsibilities
  • Maintain good relationships with other house members
  • Assist in planning and implementing house projects
  • Clean up personal messes
  • Perform weekly chores on a rotating basis
  • Attend house meetings and planning sessions
  • Pay monthly rent
  • Continuously learn about sustainable living and implement skills into daily life
  • Represent the house in the greater Marquette community
Skills and Abilities
  • Work well in a communal living environment
  • Able to cooperate well with others
  • Excellent communication skills and conflict resolution
  • Open to new ideas and ways of thinking
  • Understands basic standards for sustainable living
  • Able to perform basic chores and clean personal spaces
Working Conditions
  • Work may be inside (the house) or outdoors (greenhouse/hoop house/yard)
  • Living in a communal environment and sharing space makes for an exciting, but often hectic living environment that may become crowded or noisy
  • Potential exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures, wind, and inclement weather
  • At times, projects may create a living environment that is messy, dirty, and/or dusty.
  • Certain chemicals, paints, etc. may produce smells in the house
  • Subject to injury from over-exertion, falling material, falls from ladders or stairs, and burns or cuts from misuse of tools
President
Qualifications
  • Must have lived at the co-op for at least one session  
  • Responsible with money, commitments, etc.
  • Excellent reputation in the Marquette community
Position Summary
  • The president is the chairperson of the board of directors.  They are responsible for facilitating positive group dynamics in the house and directing behavior toward group outcomes.
Experience/Knowledge
  • At least 1 semester (or 6 months) experience living at this co-op
  • Working knowledge of sustainable living practices
  • Familiarity and dedication to current house goals
Primary Responsibilities
  • President will serve as the main facilitator during house meetings
  • Oversee other officers and ensure that they have the resources to complete their jobs
  • Maintain legal documents and other necessary information about the house
  • Ensure that mortgage and loan payments are made to the appropriate sources at appropriate times
  • Week to week responsibilities:
  • Prepare for the meetings
  • Run the meetings
  • Check in with various house members to make sure they are successful with their house roles.
  • Be an example house member for other house members
Other responsibilities:
  • Family meetings
  • Manage house member dynamics. The president is there to help facilitate conversation between house members if there are disagreements or conflicts. The president should be approachable or able to approach house members to discuss group dynamics or situations within the house.
  • The president is the formal representative of the house. Although the community outreach officer works a lot within the community, the president still represents the cooperative as an organization.
  • The president encourages other members to write the meeting agenda on the board before the meeting.
  • The president sets the mood and tone of the meeting
  • The president opens up the meeting to brags and appreciations
  • The president goes through old and new business, taking time particularly to facilitate discussion on topics
  • The president makes sure there is a clear sense of the outcome of each topic in covered during the meeting. The president should make it clear what was decided and what actions will need to be taken by who for the topic to move forward. Often times this is done by recapping the conversation briefly before moving on to the next topic to make sure everyone understands and is in agreement.
  • The president makes sure everyone knows what they need to do before the next meeting and closes the meeting.
  • The president facilitates check-out of members leaving the co-op. This includes communicating with the treasurer and accountant regarding any outstanding dues, checking/facilitating the checking of the room, and terminating the lease.
  • Attends Transition Marquette Steering Committee meetings if available.
Time commitment
  • In general most of the time commitment of the president comes during meetings which mean the president is able to head up other major projects.
  • About 3 hours a week on average devoted just to the role and not to other house commitment.
Vice President
​Position Summary:
  • Member of Board of Directors
  • Facilitate the inner workings of the co-op. In such ways that they promote positive interpersonal and intrapersonal relations among members as well as the status of their role in the house.
Qualifications:
  • Has been a board of director at the  Marquette Climbers Co-op for at least one term (3 months) directly prior to taking on the Vice President role.
  • Good reputation in the Marquette Community.
  • Passion to help the house and individuals grow, learn and prosper.
  • Commitment to being emotionally available.
Responsibilities:
  • Record institutional knowledge in various formats.
  • Check and balance the Presidential role. Providing support and challenges of thought with the planning and function of the house.
  • Promoting a positive group dynamic and communication between housemates and roles
  • To be a formal representative of the house for the city and community, maintaining inquiries and communication that will aid in the mission of the Co-op.
  • Provide feedback, advice, and support to all members of the house on a weekly basis.
  • Check with role holders weekly and report status to the Presidential Meeting.
  • Responsible for facilitating meetings in the absence of the President.
Secretary
General Description of Responsibility:
  • Member of Board of Directors
  • The secretary is in charge of keeping records of non-financial house activities (including house meetings).  The secretary will communicate important information to house members
Primary Responsibilities
  • Part of being a secretary involves you figuring out a time to hold a family meeting that works for everyone in the house.
  • Once the meeting time is established you must remind everyone the day that there is a meeting.
    • Utilize various forms of communication to reach all house members
  • During the meeting you must take detailed notes.
    • Write the highlights on your board.
  • As the secretary you are in charge of checking the house’s email address
    • Reply to all emails and upload important documents to google drive as well as keeping it organized
  • Make sure all information is current and updated on our website
  • Manage openings in the house
  • Update applications and post them on multiple boards on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/ClimbersCoop/ & https://www.facebook.com/groups/158626410963454/
  • Check phone messages and communicate with other members the contents of phone messages.
  • Brief new and incoming house members on MCC bylaws.
  • How much time spent: 8 hours
Treasurer
General Description of Responsibility:
  • Member of Board of Directors
  • Collecting rent from everyone, depositing rent to Honor Credit Union via bank or mobile app.
  • Reporting what each house member paid to the accountant.
  • Paying bills with accountant: Semco (gas), Board of Light and Power (electricity), City (water and garbage), Charter (wifi). The treasurer may possess a house debit card for the house account in order to deposit funds into the account or when agreed upon by all members to make a house purchase.  This purchase is not to be confused with family groceries. When the treasurer is decided upon they will go to the bank with the president and the secretary and or the accountant or Ian to put their name on the house account.
Interaction:
  • Reminder about rent
Family Meetings:
  • Discuss when rent is due, cue someone with late rent to talk about their situation
Time Requirement:
  • Maybe 30 minutes to a 1 hour
  • The accountant does the behind the scenes work to figure out how much rent each house member owes
Chore Manager
  • Recently, rather than assigning chore manager as a role at the start of a session we've opted for a dynamic solution that has the role rotating weekly through all the house members. What this setup has created is a fun (and it really is fun!) way to keep the house clean as the current queen feels a sense of accomplishment in watching over their house. The president is responsible for checking that the power has been passed.
General Description:
  • The chore manager is responsible for delegating house chores on a weekly basis.  House chores are assigned by a color wheel and each week when everyone has completed their chores they communicate that their chores are complete by pulling out their pins. The wheel is then moved one place to the right and thus begins a new week. In a situation where a member does not finish their chores by the designated date and time, that individual will be charged $2.50 per chore.
  • It is not the responsibility of the chore manager to clean the house, but to remind everyone to keep their assigned spaces cleaned. It is also the chore manager’s responsibility to address everyone about a particular messy place. As individuals living in a cooperative it is our responsibility to tidy up our rooms and not have to clean up after everyone. A room should be like a tent that you rent out. It should look used but not muddy and torn. Mid-weekly check-ups and reminders to maintain cleanliness in each resident's area is encouraged.
Interactions:
  • weekly text reminders, checking on chores, positive feedback
Family Meetings:
  • Letting everyone know about chores due, feedback on cleanliness
Time Requirement:
  • Around 15 minutes
Maintenance Officer
General Description of Responsibility:
  • The maintenance officer(s) is responsible for the general upkeep of the house. Along with identifying potential problems the maintenance officer also actively seeks solutions.
  • Brief week to week of what you do: As you go about your day pay attention to parts of the house that need attention. Investigate these things and see if a reasonable solution can be created.
Other parts of role:
  • Buying the necessary supplies for any repair jobs. Communicating with house about any potential or actual purchases.
  • Seek additional resources to fully perform maintenance jobs.
  • Role during family meeting: To describe any safety hazards that have become present and to ask the group about any issues of maintenance they have discovered.
How much time spent doing role:
  • Usually not more than 1 hour a week.
  • Part of this role is seeking assistance from others when needed, as some jobs require more than one set of hands. Other housemates are often there to help when you are communicating with the house and seeking assistance as necessary.
Project Manager
General Description of Responsibility:
  • The overall objective of the project manager is to encourage and foster progress in the house and in the members, of the house. There are two types of projects commonly found in the house. There are large projects, which everyone should help with, and personal projects, which are obviously much more independent. The project manager is also in charge of organizing the relevant forms and talking with the house members about current projects.
Brief week to week of what you do:
  • Personal projects are sometimes very simple and quick while at other times much more complicated and involve much more time. With this in mind the project manager should talk to all members about the progress of their projects. Setting weekly goals and then following up the next week (or sooner) about goal achievement is a good way to do this. The project manager should not make someone feel they are not making enough progress, but should put thought into the proper way to encourage further progress.
  • Project manager is also tasked with developing and keeping updated an ongoing list of possible activities for workdays. They are encouraged to take suggestions on this list and make it public (on the board), and remind housemates of the list on the workday.
  • Project manager needs to continually put thought into all the projects in the house. Being respectful of personal projects, the project manager plays a passive encouraging role in terms of ideas (the project manager should always be willing to lend a hand anyway necessary). With respect to larger projects the project manager plays a more active role.
Role during family meeting:
  • The project manager gives a report of progress made and initiates discussion about the future goals in terms of large projects. In terms of small projects, the project manager encourages each person to discuss their project. Lastly, the project manager presents any new project forms that have been submitted.
How much time spent doing role:
  • About 1-5 hours a week
Interaction with other roles:
  • With respect and an upbeat attitude. It is important to make progress in projects, but your priority is the people, not the project. In a similar light it is important to challenge people and sometimes be their source of motivation.
Grounds Person
Qualifications
  • House member with enthusiasm for gardening and permaculture design
  • Preference given to individuals with a Permaculture Design certificate
Position Summary
  • The grounds person is responsible for maintaining the garden and greenhouse/cold frame.  During the winter months, they are responsible for maintaining indoor plants, preparing future growing operations, and snow removal.
Knowledge/Experience
  • Experience implementing sustainable agriculture design
  • Understanding of unique growing conditions of the UP and Marquette region
  • How to start seeds/plants
  • Familiar with ordering process of seeds, plants, etc.
  • Care of plants and garden areas
  • Management and communication skills
Primary Responsibilities
  • Maintain greenhouse/cold frame facilities
  • Plan for growing season, make necessary orders and purchases before season
  • Design a plan for the garden and cold frame before growing season
  • Educate house members on plans for garden and cold frame
  • Organize and facilitate work days for planting, caring, and harvesting
  • Water plants
  • Maintain compost throughout the year (including emptying compost bucket from house)
  • Coordinate leaf and snow removal
  • Perform other grounds maintenance as needed
  • Understand city ordinances and policies to ensure house compliance
  • Manage and screen new sources of compost from community members (organic preferably, same guidelines as we follow in the house)
Community Outreach Officer
General Description of Responsibility:
  • The Officer is responsible for serving as a liaison and fostering relationships between the Marquette Climbers’ Co-op and its community. This includes other external individuals or organizations locally, regionally, nationally, or globally. Organizations of note include, but are not limited to:
    • South Superior Climbing Club
    • Couchsurfing and Warm Showers
    • NASCO
    • MQT Growth
    • Northern Climate Network
    • Couchsurfing and Warm Showers:  The Ambassador is responsible for managing the MCC’s Couchsurfing and Warm Showers accounts and serving as a host to guests. When a new guest will be staying at the MCC, the Ambassador should:
      • communicate with guests to plan for their arrival.
      • alert housemates when guests will be arriving.
      • give guests a tour of the house when other members are not available
    • In the event that the Ambassador is not able to be present for the arrival of a new guest, they should find another housemate to take over in these hosting responsibilities.
    • South Superior Climbing Club:  The Ambassador should communicate with officers of the South Superior Climbing Club to plan club events and meetings at the MCC and elsewhere.
Meeting Duties:
  • Serve as a representative of community interests in decision making
  • Update housemates on ongoing community initiatives and projects
  • Promote house events and projects on Facebook and other social media as appropriate
Accountant
General Description Responsibility:
  • The accountant is responsible for keeping records of house finances and tracking expenses.  They work closely with the treasurer to create and follow a financial plan (short and long term)
Qualifications
  • Trustworthy house member with excellent math and computer skills
  • Previous money handling, accounting, banking experience
Experience/Knowledge
  • Excellent math and arithmetic skills
  • Ability to utilize Excel and other financial software
  • Experience working with banks, credit unions, etc
  • Experience with paying taxes for a business or organization
  • Familiarity with specific financial policies (local, regional, federal) involving the house
  • Experience creating short and long-term financial plans
Primary Responsibilities
  • Working with the secretary and other house members, use the mission statement and house goals to generate and revise financial plans
  • Short term (monthly)
  • Medium term (semester and annual)
  • Long Term (3-5 year)
  • Maintain spreadsheets for each financial plan
  • Document all house transactions
  • Prepare tax information for secretary to submit each year
  • Sign each house expense form completed by the treasurer
  • Name on house account, monitor account(s) each month
  • Prepare a financial report with the treasurer for each house meeting
​Blog
General Description:
  • The blog dog is our muse and poet. The creative pen stroke to recount our journey for the enjoyment and use of all those following the coop.
Experience/Knowledge:​  
  • Experience editing and reviewing papers
  • An ability to operate a website and blog
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Post blogs biweekly
  • Post newsletters monthly
  • Encourage writing by other house and community members
  • Review all sections to be published and edit
  • Post and check on blog for replies
  • Update house about postings