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Formed: 1967 Established: 1967
Friends' Cooperative House
Madison, Wisconsin,
United States
 We are a co-op house in downtown Madison, near the university campus. We emphasize consensus decision making, by which each of our 12 members has equal say in what goes on in the house. Members are required to attend house meetings, which happen every other week. They are an important tool for dealing with issues that come up and also draw us closer together as a community. We have dinner together four nights/week--we all take turns cooking. So there's great variety in our vegetarian meals. Though we're pretty diverse--undergraduates, graduates, folks with "real jobs"; Jewish, Buddhist, pagan, evangelical Protestants, atheist, agnostic, and fill-in-the-blank; and running the gamut in terms of sexuality and sexual orientation--we love being with each other. While we (or subsets of us) do things like go out to dance, swim in a nearby lake, or bar hop, we equally enjoy just sitting at home and talking or bonding as we take care of housework. Our organic garden and ongoing house-improvement projects are sources of joy (and a wee bit of pride, too). We work with other downtown housing co-ops, trading knowledge and offering mutual support.
 
Website: http://www.madisoncommunity.coop/house.cfm?HouseID=9
Contact:
437 W Johnson St
Madison, Wisconsin 53703-2205 United States
Phone: 608-251-0156
Email This Community!
Former/Other Names: (MCC)
Last Updated:10/2/2007
 
Visitors Accepted
Visitor Process: Our house dinners, held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are the best way to get to know us. Please call at least 48 hours in advance--we reserve the right to turn away anyone who shows up at our door without getting permission first.
Affiliations: Madison Community Cooperative (MCC)
:: Avalon Cooperative House
:: The Phoenix Cooperative House
:: Orton Cooperative House
:: Syntropy Cooperative House
:: Ofek Shalom Cooperative House
:: Lothlórien Cooperative House
:: Hypatia Cooperative House
:: Audre Lorde Cooperative House
:: Ambrosia Cooperative House
:: International Cooperative House (ICH)

Population
Adult Members:
12
Child Members:
1
Open to new adults:
Yes
(Contract year begins August 15th, but may have openings other times of the year. We usually begin interviewing prospective member for the fall beginning on March 1.)
Open to new children:
Yes
(Have not had chirldren and families as members in recent years, but we would welcome inquiries.)
Gender Balance:
38% M 62% F
Open to which gender(s):
All genders welcome
Ethnic Diversity:
8% identify as 'people of color'
Age Focus:
No Focus
(Age range has typically been from 20-40, but we welcome people of all ages to apply.)
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
Yes
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(Should expect the rough equivalent of five hours per week.)
Join Fee:
Yes
($76: $40 goes to Madison Community Co-op; $21 goes to NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation and gives the member a lifetime membership in NASCO.)
Regular Fees:
Yes
(Rent ranges from $270-$440 per month depending on room size)
Land and Buildings
Urban
Land Owned By:
Other
(Madison Community Co-op - which is cooperatively owned by the member of Friends' Co-op along w/members of other Madison housing co-ops. MCC is a cooperative & non-profit organization.)
Number of Residences:
1
Cohousing:
No
(Members have individual rooms, not apartments or houses.)
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
1-5%
Share Community Meals:
2-5 times/week
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
(All of our food purchases are vegetarian, but members are free to purchase food in addition to what the house provides, including meat.)
Dietary Practice:
Primarily vegetarian
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used
(No smoking of any substance is allowed inside the house, however, smokers may use one of our outdoor porches.)
Social Factors
Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members:
Yes
Restrictions on Romantic Relationships (between consenting adults):
No
Shared Spiritual Path:
No
(We were founded as a Quaker house, and continue Quaker traditions of consensus and a moment of silence before dinner, however we have historically attracted people of all religious faiths and beliefs.)
Which Spiritual Path(s):
Ecumenical (includes "all religions")
 
 


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