Floor Plans: Where the Facilities Are

Ping Pong SHEPHERD

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SNELGROVE ROOM
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Contents
Foreword
Six Principles of Co-operation
SECTION ONE: THE COlVllVl'UN"ITY
Realities: Codes of the Community
Administrative Structure
Financing: Paying The Bills
SECTION TWO: THE BUILDING
What's Here: Facilities
What's Happening: Activities
Getting to Know Each Other
Also in the Building
The World Around Us
Co-operation
SECTION THBEE: THE ART OF LIVING
Living Arrangements
Personal Security
In Case of Emergency
Friends and Neighbors
Your Personal Environment
Getting Around
The Facts of Life
Appendicies
Co-operative Concepts
THE COVER
Administrative Who's Who
Trouble: Who to Call
Floor Plans
3
4
6
8
14
18
24
30
32
34
36
38
42
44
48
52
56
58
62
64
C-2
C-3
C-4
Supervising Editor
Frederick Malin
Associate Editor
Adele Massena
Assistant Editor
Heidi Ruth Huber
Contributing Editors
Lynn Fenske
Paul Walker
Copy Editor
Anna Tarini
Contributors
Bob All en
Phil Armitage
Mi chael Audet
Doug Bennet
Kit Chapman
Paul Dickinson
Henry Einarson
Jean Funk
Jane Greer
Ted Hanmer
Doug Hoeger
Peter Holland
Kate Kennedy
John Korcok
Sheryl Kosovski
George Jameson
Jim Lindenas
Bob Luker
Marianne McLeod
Fred Malin
Dan Maxfield
Linda McCormick
Helen McMillan
Mary Ann O' Brien
Bruce Pappin
Glenn Rose
Neil Watson
George Wheeler
Ari Yerou
Karen Young
Photography by S. James W. Baxter, Ray
Fennelly, D. Jean Funk, Robin McKee, and Carl
Steirn. Special assistance from Rob McDonald.
Special darkroom by D. Jean Funk.
NeillWycik logo by Catherine Basaraba
Charts by Fred Mal in
Floor Plans by Bruce Agar
Drawings on pages 44, 61 and 64 by Chuck
Vollmar, used by permission. Drawings on
pages 19, 26, 27, and 56 by Harriett Mable.
Drawing on page1 by Alan Spinney.
Justified copy typeset by Clarion Typesetting
and Neographi x. Lefl justified copy typeset by
Alpha Graphics. Stats by Action Print and
Replica Reproductions.
Printed by Bessborough Graphics Ltd. , Toronto
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to all Neill-Wycik members and
staff who helped with any facet of this publica-
tion during its preparation and revision.
Letter Home was adapted from a similar art icle whi ch
appeared in Community Stew, a publicat ion of Madison
Community Coop, Madison, Wisconsin, and is used by
permission.
The articles on NASCO and the Co-operative Hous i ng
Federation 01 Toronto were supplied by those organizations
and edited for use in this publication.
NEILL-WYCIK CO-OP OWNER'S MANUAL
REVISED FIRST EDITION
Neill .Wyclk Cooperative College, Inc. 1981
all rights reserved
Neill-Wycik Co-operative College, Inc., is a resident-
owned co-operative, founded to serve Ryerson Poly-
technical Institute students. It dates from 1966, when
Ryerson's Student Administration Council formed a
housing group to seek a solution to the chronic stu-
dent housing shortage. Today, Neill-Wycik is the only
student-run highrise in Toronto.
The building and the organization are named for
Alexander Sutherland Neill, the founder of Sum-
merhill, one of the world's most successful free
schools, and Raymond and the late Aurilee Wycik,
known as Papa and Mama, who served Ryerson stu-
dents for over 25 years with care, understanding and
kindness over and above what their jobs at Oakham
House required.
Neill-Wycik has been called a good place to live, but
this means various things to different people. It
involves an opportunity to actively partiCipate in a
living situation, to share in others' growth, and to
experiment with the limits of reasonable freedom.
This manual is intended as a guide to the Co-op. As
Neill-Wycik enters its second decade of operation,
much has been formalized and many traditions have
been founded. The freedom and openness with which
the building opened are still here, but they have been
tempered with the experiences reflected in our his-
tory. Policies exist today which were not thought of
when the first residents moved into the rooms we now
occupy. Certain aims with which the Co-op was
founded have been abandoned; others have taken their
place.
While this book cannot completely reveal everything
that is Neill-Wycik, it can give an idea of what has
happened and what can be done here. It is not a bible,
only a guide. Use it as you wish while part of this
community.
Welcome.
3
4
Six Principles of
Co-operation
ASSOCIATION
Co-operation is a form of mutual aid. Our
association confers on us the power to achieve
that which is impossible for any' of us
separately. We have come together out of a
recognition of our common interests and
obi igations.
As we are best served individually by com-
bining with our neighbours, Neill-Wycik is best
served by active co-operation in every practical
way with other co-operatives at local, national ,
and international levels.
ECONOMY
Neill -Wycik's distinctive purpose is
economic organization - the provIsion of
communities and services for those who par-
ticipate in it. This is a greater idea than conven-
tional economics: the management of human
and natural resources so as to achieve the
most desirable results in terms of social well-
being. We must either give better results for the
same costs or equal results for less cost than
alternative systems.
Economic results should be distributed as
follows to prevent one member gaining at the
expense of others:
a} by provision for development of the
business of the co-op
b} by provision of common services
c} by distribution among the members in
proportion to their transactions with the
co-op
DEMOCRACY
We must promote the interest of the whole of
our membership. Our affairs should be ad-
ministered by persons elected or appointed in a
manner agreed by the members and accoun-
table to them. If our members are to exercise
their authority wisely, there must be an effec-
tive system of informing them, consulting
them, and enabling them to express their
wishes, based on equality of rights in speaking
and voting (one member, one vote). In other
than primary societies, the administration
should be conducted on a democratic basis in
a suitable form.
LIBERTY
Membership in our co-op should be voluntary
and available without artificial restriction or
any social , political , racial , or religious
discrimination, to all who can make use of our
services and are willing to accept the respon-
sibilities of membership.
MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY
Mutual aid isn' t one-sided; it implies a bond,
a reciprocal obligation. The right of the in-
dividual to help from the co-op is linked with
one' s obligation to give help to fellow members
in their need. Indeed, in society at large, the
only guarantee that anyone will get one' s
rights is the willinqness of all to fulfill their
duties, their efficiency in discharging them.
EDUCATION
Education is not only preparation for, but is
also part of living at every stage of a person's
life. Our co-operative can't advance and grow
unless it promotes every kind of experience
which enables individuals to acquire the
knowledge and master the social discipline
necessary for successful co-operative activity.
This is not a once and for all process.
We not only have to begin by educating the
general public and new members to become
co-operators, but also to renew and refresh the
education of all our participants so that their
outlook keeps pace with Neill-Wycik's growth
and the new problems presented by an ever-
changing world.
Co-operatives are established to fill a common need which cannot
be fulfilled by individual initiative.
As members of the Co-op, we share several things: Space; costs;
equipment; facilities; responsibility for the running of the
Co-operative.
This section discusses how we participate in the operation and
growth of our community.
,
6
Our community allows freedoms which are alien to other highrises and student
residences. Certain areas of behaviour, however, have been legislated in response to
particular situations and problems.
The Rules!
1. Don't be violent or intimidating_ Drunk or
sober, angry or not, if you express yourself in
violence, threats or abusiveness, you ' re on
your way out . No fire arms or offensive
weapons of any kind are allowed for any
reason.
2. Destroying, deliberately damaging or
stealing results in evictions_ Report all damage
to Co-op property that you see to Maintenance
or Security. If you use a facility and don't report
damage, you are very likeiy to be charged for it.
3. Pushing, peddling, or trafficking of any
drugs, and the possession of hard drugs is not
condoned. Drug dealers are a drag. People who
are considering this business are reminded
that it is criminal, destructive to the Co-op
community, and attracts attention the com-
munity can do without. We are inclined to talk
to these greedy morons about their activities
only once, then , that ' s it! The use of hard drugs
is a non-starter too, for the same reasons.
4. Do not remove any screen from any win-
dow. If you are missing one or see one miSSing,
report it to the Office, Maintenance, or
Security. It is a criminal offence to throw an ob-
ject out of a highrise window. The imoact can I
damage property or kill the person it lands on.
5. Don't smoke in the elevators, Woodshop, or
Photo Lab.
6. Don't drink things alcoholic in the
elevators, hallways or front lobby. Alcohol ic
beverages may only be consumed in your
residence. Transport drinks discreetly in the
hallways and elevators. Drinks purchased in
the Cafe during a party cannot be taken from
that room. (For more information on our
relationship with the LLBO see page 34).
7. Visitors may stay in your unit for a
maximum of 10 days, if and only if your unit-
mate(s) agree in advance. After that your guest(s)
are no longer visitors, they are residents and we
expect them to rent a room, take out a member-
ship, or leave. Guests stay in their host's room,
not in the lounges or public spaces. You are
responsible for their behaviour.
8. The introduction of a dog or cat must be
negotiated in advance with the Pet Committee.
Pets are not allowed in the Multiple Units. In-
timidatinq pets like snakes or spiders just don' t
make it. (For more information on the pet po/icy
and control, see page 49).
NeillWycik in Society
Neill-Wycik is a community of its own. It is change what exists at once, but parts of it,
also a small part of the larger society. slowly, carefully and thoughtfully.
The Co-op is not a separate entity. Regular This change is evolutionary, not
rules of respect and acceptance are necessary. revolutionary. We do not want to revert, but to
We are sti II part of the outside world. progress.
As part of the co-operative movement, we try Nei II-Wycik is different, but common elemen-
to change society for the better. We believe ts of living, law and society are required. In
society can be more honest, just, humane, some respects, Neill-Wycik allows us greater
giving and free. We hope that by living in the freedom and makes us expect more of our-
Co-op, the members will become better people, selves in others, but foremost, we are an exten-
and bri ng these attitudes to the world outside. sion of the world which allows us to be.
We do not feel that existing institutions must
be thrown out, but that our contribution can
make life better. We cannot attempt to wholly
of the Coop_
As your stay at Neill-Wycik continues, you will become aware of these 'rules'. Many of
them are based on common sense and on the requirements of the society in which we
live.
You and the Law
The law and the legal system exist as mea-
sures of last resort for society and for Neill-
Wycik. The law is something you call in when
things are going wrong and you need
something to set them straight. More critically,
the law exists to protect the innocent from the dan-
gerous.
By and large, the law tells us how not to
behave. Laws provide very little direction on
how to behave. The law can affect the
dissolution of a marriage, but it cannot make a
happy marriage. The law can, in some instan-
ces, protect chi Idren from the worst abuses of
parents, but it cannot tell a parent how to love a
child. The law can break up a fight , but cannot
create a good friendshi p.
All of society's laws apply to Neill -Wycik. If
you run into problems, you can call the Office
during the day, or Security at night. You can
also scream blue murder. Given the level of
sound proofing in the building, chances are
everyone on several adjoining floors will hear
you.
Regarding long-term harrassment, you can
get legal advice from Legal Aid as to whether
the harrassment is legal. You can also bring
your problem to the Board of Directors, who
may decide to evict the culprit. And, you can go
to the Office anytime and discuss the problem.
You will be channeled in the right direction to
get results.
Finally, external authority, or law, becomes
less necessary as friendship and com-
munication increases. A society of friends is in
less danger of external abuse than a grou p of
acquaintances.
'Whose Rules?
They're your rules.
Whether you were for 'em, or didn't know they eXisted, they're your rules. The Board of
Dire,ctors is responsible for the operat!on of the Co-op. The 12 Direptors are elected by
the members to run the Co-op. That's a big job, so the Board appOints committees to
help with the job, and hires staff to aid with the day to day operations of the Co-op.
Essentially you are ultimately responsible. It is you "Who are permitting people to
represent you. In effect you and every other member pass the rules and decide oh the
policies wp.ich affect the practices of the Co-op.
The rules are here because over the years we have learned that they are needed. They
are set because a majority agrees With;;,their worth.
So, if you feel there is something wrong or unjust, use the power of the members to
change it, to set things right. You don't have to aqt alone. :But you have the duty to act.
7
8
Administrative
Committees, according to the cynics, are the bane of Neill-Wycik. They think so
because of the time it takes to do whatever it is that the committees have to do, and the
boredom the said cynics suffer while the committees deal with everyone else's
problems.
This is a very narrow view. In a participatory society, people must have the
opportunity to directly affect what happens in their environment. The committee
system is the way we do this.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors represents the Co-op
on the official corporate level. It makes the
major policy decisions, approves budgets, and
hires staff. The Board is the group to which the
other committees look for direction.
The Board is comprised of 12 Neill-Wycik
members who are elected by the membership
at the annual general meeting. They serve for a
two-year term. Six positions are filled each
year, so there are always six experienced
members on the Board, allowing for continuity
of administration.
One of the Board' s functions is to choose the
President of the Co-op. The President, a mem-
ber of the Board, is responsible for chairing the
meetings and co-ordinating the Board's ac-
tivities with those of other committees and the
membership at larQe.
Board meetings are open to all building
members, unless otherwise specified, in which
case the reason for closure is announced. This
usually happens only when the Board has to
deal with confidential corporate negotiations.
In such a case, all decisions and the reasons
for them are made public.
The business of the Board, its standing
committees and sub-committees is open to
every Neill-Wycik member. The Board members
are only representatives, not bosses. They
represent you. Let them know what you want.
To help the Board with the day-to-day running
of the Co-op, and to allow the greatest possible
participation by members in their organization,
the Board has established a number of stan-
ding committees to deal with specific
operational areas.
Electl
l
ng,,"the,Boa.rd
Each year we hold elections for at least six positions on the Board. You could be a
candidate. All you need to do isdeclare yourself'in the running and have a nomination
form signed by 10 fellow co-opers.
The election is usually held the same day as the Annual Meeting. That's in November.
If you are new to the Co-op, yoU'll have plenty of time to see how thingshapperi here.
Don't feel that if you're new you shouldn't run. A position on the Board is not a reward
for the most socially popular person, or the, mpst involved co-oper. It is,,,for the person
who wants to put whatever experience and talents possessed to work for the good of
the organization.
By the way, if a seat on ,the Board doesn't interest you, t,heremaybe someone elsa that
'should be involved. So, why not give 'em a little push, eh? ' i
Structure
The committees are the major source of sanity in our community. It is the
committees-all of them-composed entirely of unpaid volunteers-that make major
policy decisions in all areas of N eill-Wycik life.
The best way to see how a particular committee works is to attend its meetings.
You may be surprised how soon you, too, will be participating.
Standing COIIlmittees
EDUCATION COMMITTEE I The Committee is also responsible for the
, , development and administration of investment
EdCom IS a group of members which takes policies, accounting procedures, and financial
responsibility for the educat ion program of the and legal matters not the responsibility of
College, its facilities and equipment. The another committee nor of a staff member,
committee responds . to member initiatives The is a,lso responsible
around education and also initiates programs for mO,nltonng the administration of the Hotel
operation.
of its own, Th F' C ' . t d b th B d f
EdCom sponsors and supports such projects . e In om IS appo,ln e y , e 0
. Directors. Any member Interested In the flnan-
as yoga pottery and ceramics c?urses, cial functioning of the Co-op is invited to apply to
poetry readings, lectures, and community get- 't 0 th C 'tt
togethers. Sl n e omml ee,
The EdCom i s also responsible for training
members in the operation of the Co-op. To this
end, the Committee funds members attending
co-op training courses given by various resource
groups, as we" as staging its own training
sessions.
All co-op members are welcome to commit-
tee meetings, Proposals are encouraged ,
Those projects which are clearly for the benefit
of the membership, and have energetic ,
responsible orqanizers , are especially
welcome, Members who demonstrate a high
degree of responsibility and commitment may
apply for committee membership,
EdCom projects and facilities are supported
by a separate fund comprising the membership
fee pool.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The FinCom is an eight member committee
responsible for the financial management of the
Co-op.
The Finance Committee prepares the annual
operating and capital budgets for the Co-op, in
consultation with the Board, the other standing
committees, and the staff. Throughout the fiscal
year, the Committee reviews, analyses, and
reports to the Board on the monthly cash flow, in-
come statements, vacancy losses, hotel opera-
tions, and investments.
HOUSE COMMITTEE
The HouseCom is composed of five members:
A chairperson and four group co-ordinators. The
committee is responsible forthe operation of the
Coop's community-building efforts.
Each of the group co-ordinators is responsible
for the management and co-ordination of the ac-
tivities of the Floor Co-ordinators on five of the
residential floors. Basically, the Group Co-ordi-
nator assures that the Floor Co-ordinators do
their jobs.
Floor Co-ordinators are chosen by the House-
Com, in association with the residents of each
floor. The Floor Co-ordinators are usually
members who have been residents in the Co-op
for at least a year . This assures a working
knowledge of the Co-operative. An assistant
Floor Co-ordinator is chosen in September from
among residents new to a floor at that time.
The Floor Co-ordinators are responsible for
the distri bution of information from the various
groups in the Co-op, including the Board, Com-
mittees and staff. As well, the FloorCo-ordinator
acts as sort of an instigator for such thi ngs as the
clean-up schedule and activities.
The HouseCom is intended as a means of expi-
dit i ng activities and making the Co-op under-
standable and accessible to the membership.
continues .. .
9
10
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The Membership Committee, appointed by
the Board, is composed of members of both the
Board and the membership at large.
The committee co-ordinates its activities
with the Rentals Officer, and is instrumental in
the acceptance of new members, and the
assignment of two-person and apartment units.
The Membership Committee's function in-
cludes group interviews with prospective
members, primary education about Neill-Wycik
and the Co-operative movement, and assisting
the Rentals Officer with the initial review of all
appl ications.
Members interested in joining the committee
should contact any Director or the Co-op Co-or-
dinator.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
The PerCom is responsible for the develop-
ment and monitoring of staffing policies.
The Personnel Committee conducts semi-an-
nual reviews of staff member performance to
assess workloads and to assure that all jobs are
being done properly. The reviews help to pin-
point staffing priorities and requirements.
The Committee also administers such poli-
cies as sick leave allowances, over-time allot-
ments, and the staff working agreement , which
includes the benefits package.
Members interested in personnel manage-
ment are welcome to apply for membership on
the committee.
UPKEEP COMMITTEE
The UpCom is responsible for monitoring the
physical condition of the building. Everything to
do with building maintenance is the domain of
the Committee.
From time to time, the Committee organizes
improvement events, such as pai nt parties, to en-
courage members to take an active role in the
maintenance of their building. The Committee
also involves members in the upkeep and im-
provement of the Co-op by encouraging them to
do minor repairs. The Committee is willing to
give guidance to people wishing to do such
work. It also runs a tool loan so that mem-
bers have the necessary equipment to do the job
properly.
Members are welcome to make physical im-
provements to the building. Projects such as the
painting of murals and the installation of window
seats are welcome. Members must submit a well
documented proposal for the Committee's ap-
proval and demonstrate that they have the skills
necessary for the successful completion of the
proposed project before proceeding with the
work.
Any member may join the Upkeep Committee
by applying for membership and fulfilling the
membership requirements.
TheMembersMeet
It is fine to say that the Members are the
most important element of the Co-op, but how
does such a group, especially in a co-operative
the size of Neill-Wycik, fulfill its function?
There is participation on the committees and
the Board, but there are also other opportuni-
ties in which the whole group can participate,
annually for regular business, and at special
times, to deal with emergencies and important
business.
Once yearly, in November, the Directors are
required to hold a meeting of all members to
elect new Directors, examine the auditor's
report regarding the past year's spending, and
receive reports on the operation of their organi-
zation. At that time, the Members can also
bring to the attention of fellow co-opers any
item of business they feel is important. In the
past , the Members have brought forward such
issues as an examination of security staff
hiring practices, and voted that smoking be
banned in the elevators - three years before
the first Toronto By-Law.
The Annual Meeting is not the only time the
Members may gather to conduct business,
receive reports, or request action from their
representatives and employees.
General meetings can be called by the Direc-
tors or any other group of Members, to deal
with special business, like changes in the
budget, the passage of new by-laws, member-
ship and eviction appeals, the removal of a
Director, or any other matter which is felt must
be heard by the Members of the Co-operative.
The procedures for the convening of a
General Meeting are outlined in the Co-opera-
tive Corporations Act and By-Law 1 of the Co-
op (For more information on these documents
see Appendicies A and 8J.
The power in the Co-op rests with its Mem-
bers. The Members can examine the use of the
authority given to their elected representatives.
The Annual and General meetings are the
greatest tool and an undeniable right and duty
of the Members. .
The Membership
There is still one group left to look at, the
most important one: You, the members.
It is difficult to describe who you are. The
group changes not only annually, but daily. We
grow, change, leave and arrive. The only certain
thing is that you are the Co-op.
VVithout getting too philosophical, you are
the strength and the weakness of the Co-op;
you are the support and the structure of the
organization; you are the catylist and the result
of Neill-Wycik.
There was a 'catch phrase' in the 1960's
which asked "What if they gave a war and no-
body came?" To twist it slightly, what is the
Co-op without its members?
Under the law, the organization could exist,
as long as it had five directors. But would it be a
Co-op, or would it just be called a co-op?
You .. . rather ... We are the Co-op, Neill-Wycik.
We make it what it is.
A Co-op is its people, we are those people.
We are the committees, the Board, the Core
Groups, the users, fixers, teachers, learners,
operators, administrators, benefactors.
And if you've got the message, 'nuff said.
Letter Home
ear Mom and Dad;
Well, here I am in Toronto. I've finally settled in at the Co-op and I am getting to know the place better.
There're a lot ofm'ce people here . .. but this co-op thing is sure something different!
You may be wondering how people in co-ops run their lives. I haven't been here too long, but one thing I've found
out is that it's not "them ", it's me! The people here live in co-ops because they want to run their own lives. Co-ope".$. -ate
the people I live with, and, I guess, I'm one of them.
So, you already know one thing about how a co-op works. But there are some other ~ h i n g s to keep in mtnd,. >No
one person zs the Co-op. The strength of the Co-op is guaranteed only by the activities of the people who live here. Or
at least that's what they say.
There are a lot of things to do and a lot of good people to do them with. There are some things I'm not good at -
but there are other people here who are. I know how to do a lot of things, so I can share them with the other people
here. And, I've got an opportunity to learn lots of things, like finance, maintenance, how 'to meet and plan withdther
people . . . and (I hope you don't think this 2S getting too far out), about caring. It seemsto be a good place to spxead
my wZ'ngs, so to speak. " ..
Of course, for a while, I felt like hiding in a corner. It was just so much. But, well, a lot of others here must have
elt the same way at some time . .
And there is a certain amount of work necessary to keep thzs place in decent shape, and I mean more than
making my bed . . . yes Mom, I do make my bed. Some of the stuff is lzsted in the polic-z'es and By-laws of thz's place,
but some of it zsn't. Somehow, the stuff that isn't required could be pretty interesting to do, and somewhat satiSfying
too.
And don't worry, I won't get over-involved, or at least I'll try not to. There's a lot to be done, but there are ot.hers
to carry the load too. The more each of us do, the less we all have to do . A bit idealistic, I guess, but, well, I don't/vant
to "burn-out ". I wouldn't wzsh that on anybody else either.
I've seen a few burn-outs around here in the last few weeks. People who were pretty tnvolved with the place. They
just can't take it any more. They sure seem unhappy. And wejust can't get any mOTe out of them. Too- bad.
I guess if we just offered to help, or asked for it when we need it, we'd all be better for it .
Of course, there have been a few surpTlses too. And lots of new experiences. I've met a lot of new people. I mean
there's this feminist who held the door for me the other day and this guy on the third floor who thinks anything in a
skirt is ... well you can see the contrasts.
There are a lot of people from small towns here, so I'm not alone, but there are a lot of city folks too; communz'st
and liberals, and even people with religious affiliations I've never heard of .
I guess thzs will be as much of a learning experience as school. And yes, there wz'll be time for that too. Don'
worry.
Dad, I know that you thz'nk I am too sure of myself, and you worry that I may not get by without some guidance"
but I've got to learn to stand on my own sometime. This seems like a good place to start.
And whz'le I respect what you think, I've learned one thzng already; that while I'm learning about others, I a
learning more about myself. And that my ideals and ideas are 100% correct, but . . .
There's so mu.ch new here, and so much to tell you. And school, and the job, and the city.
I've got a floor meeting to go to now. I'll write again soon.
All my love,
11
12
The 'Hired Help'
The staff is hired by the Board of Directors on
the recommendation of a hiring committee.
Each staff member fills a particular function,
and, beyond that, brings personal interests and
talents to the Co-op. Many of the staffers are
members of Neill-Wycik, quite a few having join-
ed the Co-op before they were hired.
Here is a brief list of who is who and does what:
The General Manager (GM) is the senior ad-
ministrator and an officer of the Co-op. The GM
reports to the Board on all facets of Co-op activi-
ty and administration. The General Manager is
responsible for implementing all policies and
practices authorized by the Board. The GM is the
supervisor of all other staff members. The
General Manager is also charged with the day to
day business functions of the Co-op: everything
from dealing with the storefront tenants, to
researching legal matters.
The Hotel Manager is responsible for every-
thing to do with the Hotel Operation (see page
14) from advertising and promotion, to hiring
of staff and room decoration. During the hotel
season, the Manager is assisted by a group sales
manager, various department heads and their
staffs.
The Housing Co-ordinator is responsible for
keeping the building full of co-opers: assigning
rooms; matching up compatible people; pro-
moting the Co-op. The Housing Co-ordinator
works closely with the Membership Committee
on member selection and room assignment.
The Community Co-ordinator is responsible
for the community-building function in the Co-
op. The Community Co-ordinator is the primary
staff contact when a member or members in a
unit are having problems. Additionally, the Com-
munity Co-ordinator acts as a councillor to help
people over the rough spots in I ife. At times, they
may be referred to other sources of help. The
Community Co-ordinator works very closely with
the Education and House committees to assure
that there is program integration and a strong
flow of information about the co-op and its ac-
tivities. The Community Co-ordinator is also the
Director of Security, in charge of the part-time
security staff .
The Administrative Assistant, better known as
the receptionist, is the vital link between all
facets of the Co-op. The Receptionist handles
the traditional secretarial duties and also fills
other functions as need and time dictate and per-
mit. It's hard to list all of what this person does
simply because it's too much, sometimes. Be
nice to the Receptionist.
The Accountant is responsible for the general
ledger, which is a record of all financial transac-
tions of the Co-op, and for overseeing all ac-
counts payable. The Accountant is also respon-
sible for budget forecasting, in concert with the
General Manager. The Accountant monitors all
aspects of the accounting function.
The Bookkeeper is responsible for recording
information on all accounts receivable, from
housing charges payments and hotel revenues,
to monies received from special services like the
Dance Studio rental and course fees. The Book-
keeper also works closely with the Rental Ar-
rears sub-committee to assure prompt collec-
tion of delinquent housing charges.
The Maintenance Staff is usually up to its col-
lective neck in muck sooner or later. It literally
keeps this place standing, doing everthing from
washing the floors to unplugging the drains,
from patching the walls to bailing out a flooded
unit. The Maintenance Staff is a support group.
You can help by doing at least the basic mainte-
nance and upkeep expected of a co-oper (for
more information on cleaning see page 52).
MEMBERS
I
Executive Committee ---- Board of Directors
Staff Standing Committees
Hotel Administration Maintenance Security
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Floor Co-ordinators Core Groups
Paying the Staff
by Robert J. Luker We established one pay range for all fUll-time
Neill-Wycik has a different and better wav of jobs, with all workers starting at the same pay
paying people who work for co-operative organ- level . Increases are regular, annual , and the
izations like student housing co-ops, producer same for each employee. The increases take a
co-ops, credit unions, and workers' unions; in worker from the bottom to the top of the salary
short all organizations that should be serving range in five years. The salary levels are adjust-
people. ed for things like inflation by annual
The idea came from recognizing that the pro- negotiations between the Board and the staff
duct, the result of any group of workers in group.
modern society, is a collective endeavor: They This system of paying workers has been in
produce it together. The staff of Neill-Wycik effect at Neill-Wycik for about six years. Its
'produce' the administration of the Co-op, great advantage turned out to be political. It
with the help and direction of many volunteer discouraged the hiring, or continued service, of
Co-op members. They have different skills and those who could not accept anything but the
responsibilities, but their work is interdepen- traditionalist ' s view of wages. It encouraged
dent. This being the case, there is an open the hiring, and the staying, of those loyal to
system, where people can be confronted, alternatives in society, and co-operation as an
criticized, and helped -- and fired if necessary ideology. This is important given the tendency
-with no justification for the existence of ar- of co-operatives to drift toward con '.; (::rvatism
tifical distinctions between workers. Important and 'business as usual'.
decisions are made in consultation, not in The general ooint , however, is that even in
isolation. Where people put their life energies this touchiest of areas, remuneration, practical
into shared work, we need leadership, skills, alternatives, backed by mature political com-
responsibility, and honesty. We don't need a mittment , are attractive to people, and do work.
money hierarchy.
By ri ty
The Neill-Wycik Security Staff is composed of
about eight responsi ble and trustworthy co-
opers. They can usually be found at the Front
Desk (Porter's Place), on evenings after 6 p.m.
and on weekends after 12 noon.
The Security staff serves two functions: as
protection sGrvice and as Co-op represent-
atives.
Security is a protection service to the mem-
bers of the Co-op. They help in keeping the
bui:ding secure by screening visitors and
making sure that there are no crashers or
troublemakers lurking the premises.
The Security Group are the people to see in time
of trouble. Always call Security before calling
the pol ice. Security wi II call the pol ice, if they
are required, and escort them to the problem
area.
Security also fills another important role,
that of Co-op information and public relations.
They are also responsible for dispensing the
keys for various educational and recreational
facilities and equipment.
Security staff are active in the Co-op; there-
fore they can be a valuable source of infor-
mation. Stop and say "hi". Get to be friends
with the Security people. You will probably find
that they are not only co-operative, but also real
and friendly people.
The Office
The administrativ'e offices are on the ' 22nd
floor, in the west wing of the building.
Located here are the administrative staff, the
unit mailboxes, and the centre of daily activity
at Neill-Wycik.
The Office is a meeting place, place to
lodge a complaint and deliver a compliment,
get your mail, post a notice, keep in touch.
You p.ay your rent at the Office, apply for
membership and a room, tell us you're moving,
look for a new unitmate, or just sit a"d chat for
a while.
The Office is a place to get counselling, or
give some, arrange for parking, or report a leak-
ing sink.
The Office isthe place, Monday to Friday,
during the day. (For office houts, see theJnside
front cover.)
13
14
__
Co-ops are economic unions. They allow us to obtain collectively what we cannot
afford as individuals.
Just as we share in the benefits of the union, we also share in the financial obligation
to maintain it.
Budgetting
The Staff and Committees of Neill-Wycik at-
tempt to budget on a non-profit basis, which
means that, on a year to year basis, income
should equal 'out-go' or expenses, with a
provision for a reasonable cash 'buffer' to deal
with emergencies.
Budgeting is done on a cash-flow basis. That
is, we take each item of spending and deter-
mine the likely amount it will cost for the up-
coming period. We go through each of these
items methodically. Most of them are 'fixed' ,
that is, items that we cannot control, regardless
of whether we would like to cu. back or not, like
mortgage payments, realty taxes, heat, light
and water costs.
A few of the items are subject to our own
decision-making process. These include
replacement of furnishings and other
deteriorating assets, staff salaries and im-
provements to the building. For example, in
1979, the Management Committee decided to
defer refinishing the spauling brickwork on our
east exterior wall in favour of buying new curtains
for our rooms.
After all of the expenditures are projected, we
then try to evaluate all the revenues, exclusive
of Co-op rental income, and the contribution
the Hotel wi II make to operations. By subtrac-
ting all of the expenditures from all of the
revenues, other than rental income, we arrive at
the projected rent figure necessary to meet ex-
penses. This figure is used in the calculation of
the year's housing charges.
------------------1
300. TYPICAL ANNUAL CASHFLOW
200
I ", " 't:::, ::: ,: ": ",, ""
The graph shows the annual cash flow. The peaks in----September
and January are the influx of money from the payment of multiple-
unit housing charges. The shaded area, at the $50 thousand level ,
shows the lowest point to which the cash reserves can be depleted
safely.
Neil1-Wycik CollegeHotel:
NeHlWycik Cooperative College Inc., is a
comptex organism; but then that is not unusual
fora million dollar corporation. One of the
major,factors contributing to this complexity is
the division. ti
Atthe end of April, when most of us are scat-
tering to the geographic extremities of this
land, and beyond, a small number of our fellow
members, anywhere from 25 to 45 of them, take
deep breath and prepare for the 'battle',
Between the beginning and the middle
df' May, 14 floors of the residence, ap-
proximately 225 rooms, the Cafe, and the lobby
are converted into Neill-Wycik College-Hotel.
The Hotel is superficially like the winter
residence, but there the Similarity ends. While.
the Hotel operates, two teams of
maids and housemen daily sweat over 84"
toilets, 112 sinks and 355 beds. Then,
screaming school kids or 90 degree weather, 10
front desk people (who would quickly make
Cool Hand Luke seem flustered by cqm-
parlson), check counsel on everything fr,b,W
A to Z, and check out 6,000 .Hotel guests ftonr

From this pool we pay our operating expenses and our mortgage. All in all, while not
complicated, it is a complex arrangement.
Housing Charges 72%
\
Hotel 20%
/ Misc. and
_________ / sUnd'y 1%
Debt Service Payments 49%
(includes mortgage and municipal taxes)
Hotel 12.5%
Misc. and Sundry .5%
""-
i.CU'ity
'- 2%
afeteria 4%
Additions to
Fixed Assets 2%
Vending 1%
IRevenues
Expenditures
The pie charts above show how our budget is determined.
The chart on the left is a representation of our revenues, that is the
sources of the money we spend each fiscal year. Expressed in
percentages, the chart shows that Housing Charges, the 'rent' on
members' rooms, account for the largest contribution to our
monetary pool.
The chart on the right shows the areas in which the money is
spent. Debt Service Payments, our largest single annual expenditure
are payments on loans, our mortgage, and municipal property taxes _
All figures are gross amounts based on the 1978-79 auditor' s
report. While budgeting varies from year to year, the basic relation-
ships illustrated in these charts remain constant.
Opening Our Home
55 countries. 'Six hardworking Cafe staff cra.ck
30,000 eggs, butter 100,000 pieces of toast and
pour countless cups of coffee.
The Hotel does much more than provide $100
tHousand whrth of siJmmer jobs for members,
and cater to six thousand guests. It also helps
'establish our business credibility in that Big-
8ad-World-Out-There, and probably most im-
portant of all, it goes a long way toward
developing new leader'ship for the Co-op.
Even a superficial examination of the com-
mittees and the Board of the Co-op wHI reveal
many people who first became involved with
the Co-op, as opposed to just living here" 'as a
result of spending one summer on the Hote.
staff, or staying in the Hotel as a guest.
And then of course' '*the Hotel also reduces
thecol/ective rents from between $50 thousand
and $80 thousand a year, and offers the poten-
tial of reducing them even much more than that
in the years ahead.
All in,all, the Hotel is a good idea that pl,ays a
big' part' in making Neill-Wycik the sl,jccess
story fhat it is. "
15
16
Tax Credits
If you are a student, or have just started to
work, have just been married, or just don't have
the income to keep up with the outgo, then pay-
ing rent doesn't help much with balancing the
budget.
Wycik is a co-operative. Sharing the ex-
penses should keep the rent reasonable, but
given our history, the rent levels are not as low
as they might be. However, there is some relief!
Even if you did not have taxable income in
the last taxation year, you are eligible for the
benefits of the Ontario Tax Credit System, but
you must file for them.
You are eligible to claim the full amount of
your rent, for the taxation year, paid to Nei 11-
Wycik, when calculating the Occupancy Cost.
Because Neill-Wycik is an independant cor-
R.ent
The 'rent, or housing charge, is determined by
a formula which takes into consideration many
factors, including such things as living area,
amenities provided, and marketability.
The a ~ m o u n t of increase is expressed as a
percentage of the current rate_
Members have an opportunity to discuss,
dispute and decide on the housing charge in-
creases throughout the whole budgeting pro-
cess, and at the annual budget meeting usually
held around the beginning of March.
poration subject to municipal property tax, this
deduction is available to you, and, in effect,
reduces your rent.
The deduction allowed for college residen-
ces is not meant for people living here. You
claim that amount only if you lived at a univer-
sity, community college, or school of nursing
operated residence.
The membership fee you paid when joining
the Co-op are not el igible for the calcu lation of
the Occupancy Cost and should not be in-
cluded in the rent total.
You don't have to file receipts with your tax
return. These will only be required if the Tax
Department asks you to verify the rent paymen-
ts claimed. If you don't have all your receipts on
hand, a table showing rent due during the
taxation year will be distributed at tax time. It's
a good idea to keep those receipts, though.
thougn.
If you require recei pts for proof of payment
and do not have all of them, please tell the Of-
fice and the staff will confirm the rent paid by
letter. Because of the volume of paper that will
have to be checked, this can only be done if you
need confirmation for the tax people.
And by the way, don't forget to claim your
Sales Tax Credits too. You can, if you were age
16 by the end of the taxation year, and not
being claimed as a dependant by a resident of
Ontario.
Paying theRent
By Doug Hoeger, George Wheeler and Kit
Chapman
Part of our collective responsibility is the pay-
ing of the rent on time - on the first of the month.
The problem of rental arrears has plagued
Neill-Wycik since its inception. It causes addi-
tional administrative expense, cashflow pro-
blems, and has placed an unfair burden on the
shoulders of the co-opers who pay on time.
When members move out still owing money it is
often a direct financial loss to the Co-op.
To help solve this problem, the Board has
established a Rental Arrears Committee (RAC).
RAC has developed an extensive Arrears Policy
which outlines the members' financial respon-
sibilities to the Co-operative and the steps to be
taken when a member does not pay. Members
should receive a copy of the policy as part of their
information package when they move in.
It is the member's responsibility to speak to
the bookkeeper if there are problems in meeting
the rent payment. The member must then write a
simple explanation and payment proposal for
consideration by RAC. RAC only considers writ-
ten explanations. The Committee then estab-
lishes conditions by which the arrears are to be
rectified or it serves the member with a Notice to
Appear at the next Board meeting to discuss
continued residence at Neill-Wycik. Non-pay-
ment orchronic late payment is grounds forevic-
tion under the By-laws of the Co-op. (For more
information on By-laws, see page 62.)
Part Two
The
,::uilding
Our greatest resource, and our most important asset is the build-
ing, which to many people, is Neill-Wycik.
And yet, Neill-Wycik is more than the building- -it is the people
in it and the opportunities that it offers.
This section examines the various elements, both human and
material, which define Neill-Wycik Co-op.
a
"
18
What's Here:
Okay, so we keep saying that a co-operative has advantages other than comparatively
inexpensive housing. But what are they?
In our case, quite a lot: Darkrooms, party r ooms, lounges, and much more!
Places
Sewing
The Sewing Room, located on the 22nd floor ,
is open to all members who wish to use it.
The room is equipped with two Singer
machines, a long mirror , and a cutting table.
The facility is cared for by a co-ordinator ap-
pointed by the Education Committee. It is the
co-ordinator' s responsibility to clear people to
use the facility.
To gain access to the room, you must have
been briefed on how to thread the machines,
and other details about how our particular
models work.
The co-ordinator holds several sessions
throughout the year for people interested in
using the room. Watch for notices.
You've Paid
Believe it or not , all this stuff has been paid
or, b{you!
' The EdCom facilities are paid for by the
tnembe, rship fees collected when you join the
po-op or renew your membership.
By the way, if you want to get ,some money
or a project we can all benefit by, apply for it!
The Education Committee has files on past
projects to give you some idea of the budgeting
Of course, you may want to do it all. on
your'Olwn, or have' sotnething that jus'f hasn't
been done before. Well , do your research and
get your act together. Fill out the budget re-
,quest form, attach of the project and
go to an EdCom meeting to anSwer the
questions. If you can sell your act, and it'll be
good for ' everybody', you're in business.
Exercise
The Exercise Room, situated in the basement ,
is equipped with two complete 210 lb. York
barbell sets, a bench for pressing and leg exer-
cises, an inclined sit-up bench, a punching bag, a
speed bag and an exercycle.
For access to the Exercise Room, you must
obtain clearance from a member of the core
group responsible for the facility. Once your
name is on the clearance list, you may use it at
your leisure. Members working out with the
weights are req ui red to have a partner present , in
the interests of safety.
Laundry
The Surf Laundry Room is located on the
22nd floor, in the east wing of the building. The
Surf Room is actually a laundromat , with 10
washers and five coin-operated dryers.
The room also has a change machine, a
dispenser selling soap, softener and bleach, a
folding table, and an ironing board. (For more
information about laundry and the Surf Room,
see page 55)
True, there are some apartment buildings that also offer these amenities, but you pay
for them in your rent, and not necessarily equally with your neighbour.
That charge is not hidden here, and it is equally shared. And you have a say in how the
money is spent. All it takes is interest and energy on your part.
Sauna
The Murrary Paulin Sauna, located in the
basement, west wing, is a wonderful place. It's
hot, wet, and dry, and you get to know a lot of
people quite well, very quickly.
You see, the Sauna is cooed, and, after 10 pm,
most people do it in the nude.
It's a good place to relax, clear your head, or
just get clean. In addition to the sauna, there is
a small change room and two showers.
For the shy, or non-voyeurs, bathing suits are
required in the sauna from opening to 10 pm.
It's what-you-will after 10 until closing.
Kling
The Kling Lounge, located on the 22nd floor,
is one of the versatile rooms in the building.
It is an art gallery, displaying the work of
many artists and photographers; a
meeting room for the committees and the
Board; a meeting place for co-opers to sit , chat,
discuss and debate; a place to take a break
from studying or just to sit and read, or just
take a look at the great view of downtown
Toronto.
Artists are invited to exhibit their work.
Members are encouraged to see the displays,
or just drop by the room. That's why it's there.
The front door is locked, but your room key
will get you past that boundary. Just bring it,
your towel, and your soap and stuff. Leave
valuables at home and enjoy yourself!
- / --t- -r
d + ,' I .
-:-" - T
t + -t-
I
Sign-out .Procedure,s
It's easy to use a facility.
The Games Room, Kling Lounge, TV Room
and Laundry Room are wide open. You just
walk in and do whatever you do there.
Other facilities are locked, but for those you
just troop to wherever the keys are at that par-
ticular Hme (see inside front cover for
schedule). You sign out the room, leave your 10
Other facilities, like the Sewing Room,
Weight Room, Photo Complex, and Woodshop,
have to be signed out. No problem, but "what's
special is that first you have to be cleared for a
particular facility's access by the responsible
Core Group. It means some initiative"on your
part.
Card, take the key and go, go, go! "
Exception time! For the Sauna, you've' got
the key. It opens your room. All you do is unlock
the outer door, go i n and sweat.
And that, is that.
19
20
Cafeteria
Neill-Wycik has a unique facility located on
the ground floor: A combination restaurant,
dance studio and cinema.
Cafe Frodo was originally designed to serve
the members as a three-meal-a-day cafeteria,
but with the demand for home cooking in the
units, and rising costs, the cafeteria closed a
few years ago. Now, it operates only during the
Hotel season, serving breakfasts to anyone
who'll come, and supplying catered dinners
and luncheons to various functions.
Occasionally the fully equipped
IJrofessional kitchen is used by co-opers during
the rest of the year for building-wide dinners
and other events.
The Cate is a fairly big space, so, although
the food service has disappeared, the space is
still used for major gatherings, movie nights,
and its newest use, dance classes.
Sun Deck
The Roof Deck is a great place to get a tan,
read a book, take pictures of the city, or just get
a breath of air.
The Deck, located on the 23rd floor (use the
east stairs from the 22nd floor) is open as soon as
the weather's warm enough, and is closed for
the season as soon as the weather's too cold.
The Deck is open from 9 am to after dark
during the Co-op year, and closes at sunset
during the Hotel season.
There's a great view from the roof - photo-
graphers love it! It's a great place for a suntan
or a picnic. Barbques are not allowed on the
Deck, however. Enjoy!
Steamer
The Stanley Steamer, located in the base-
ment, is our major party place. Aside from hav-
ing a carpeted floor, with a ti led area for danc-
ing, the Steamers also boasts a bar and con-
nections for a sound system.
The bar area is enclosed and may be locked
when not in use. It has a sink and refrigerators.
The Steamer also has florescent and incan-
descent lighting, both dimable, so that the
brightness can be adjusted to suit to mood of
the event.
The Steamer is also a major meeting place, a
classroom, and an events centre.
To use the room, you must book it in advance
through the Office. For parties, a refundable
damage deposit is required.
Faced with a large, under-used space, the
EdCom, which is responsible for the admini-
stration of the Cafe, looked for something that
could be done there, and involve co-opers A
sprung wooden floor suitable for dancing was
installed.
Co-opers are invited to use the space to IJrac-
tise dance (ballet, jazz, modern, even disco). In
addition, the EdCom offers dance classes to
members at a subsidized cost.
All in all, a very difterent kind of operation.
'Darkroom
The Photo Complex in the basement was
enlarged in 1978 from one small darkroom to
four separate rooms: a black and white print
room; a tiny film processing room; a colour
print room; and a mounting and drying room.
The black and white print room has an
Omega ProLab 5x7 enlarger, which will enlarge
negatives from 35mm to 5x7cm, to a printed
size of up to 16x20 inches. There is a constant
temperature table, and trays for 8x10, 11 x14
and 16x20 size prints. There is also a set of
Kodak polycontrast filters.
The film processing room has a set of Pater-
son 4-way plastic tanks and reels, from a 2-reel
size to more than you'd want to develop at once
anyway. Next to the processing room, in the
centre aisle of the photo complex, is a film-
drying cabinet with a light and a fan.
The colour print room has an Omega enlarger
with a Chromatic head, as well as a colour print
analyzer and a constant temperature table, and
sets of trays.
The mounting & drying room has a drymount
press, a drum dryer, and a first aid kit.
To obtain use of the Darkroom, make an ap-
pointment with a member of the Darkroom Core
Group who will demonstrate the darkroom
equipment and check you out as an authorized
user.
Television
The Sheppard TV Lounge is on the 22nd floor,
off the Surf Laundry Room. It has a colour
television, a few chairs, a couple of couches
and cable service, with converter. It's op.en
from about 8 am until the Security shift ends at
night.
It's a place to veg, catch the play-ofts, or
watch something educational and
enlightening. Or just a place to be while your
laundry goes through its cycles.
l
..\
Woodshop
If you're a woodworker, you don't have to give
up your hobby just because your parent's Crafts-
man is 500 miles away. The Conn Mitchell Wood-
shop, located in the basement, is fully equipped
with hand and power tools, workbenches,
clamps, and space for works in progress.
The shop was established in 1971 with the
assistance of our first maintenance manager, for
whom it is named. The Education Committee
provides funding for machinery and mainte-
nance of the facility. Users supply their own
materials.
If you want to use the shop regularly, it's easy
to become a qualified user. Seminars - two ses-
sions of one evening each - are held to acquaint
members with what's in the shop, and how to use
it safely. Once you have attended the seminars,
you're a qualified user.
The shop is managed by a core group -
members who are familiar with the shop and its
operation. The group meets regularly to estab-
lish shop hours, set budgets, and organize im-
provement projects. Any qualified user who has
time and energy to devote to the shop is wel-
come to join the core group.
The shop is open to qualified users whenever a
member of the core group has signed out the
shop's key. A schedule is posted on the shop
door. Core group members are responsible for
opening the shop on as many evenings and
weekends as possible. Users are asked to sweep
up, take out the garbage, and keep the shop in a
generally tidy condition.
If you have a small project you can use the
shop on deSignated evenings. A member of the
core group will be available to supervise use of
hand power tools for you.
Members have used the shop for everything
from repairing a bookshelf to building a wall unit
and loft bed. Dust off your shop apron and pay a
visit.
Pottery
The Pottery Room, also located on the 22nd
floor, is open to all Neill-Wycik members.
The Pottery Room is equipped with an elec-
tric kick wheel, electric kiln, stoneware and ear-
thenware clays, and a dazzling array ot glazes.
Beginners can expect organized class in-
struction covering everything from the
preparation of the clay for building, to the
various hand-building techniques of pinching,
coiling, and slabbing. Classes, which run for a
semester, start in September, January and
May, according to member response.
All pottery people are encouraged to share in
the responsibility of operating the kiln and
maintaining the room.
Resource Centre
The Maxwell Resource Centre, located off the
Kling Lounge and Hanke Room, contains a
library, some desks and chairs, audio-visual
equipment and some friendly people.
Committee members use the room for
working on reports, minutes of meetings, and
for developing or getting ideas.
Co-opers use the Resource Centre for read-
ing and relaxing, meeting other co-opers, and
their representatives.
The Resource Centre is a good place to find
and talk to committee representatives, to find
out how the Co-op is operating, and to find in-
formation about the city.
It is also a good place to come to just to get
away from where you've been.
The Resource Centre is a 'free' space, meant
to be used by Co-op members for a variety of
purposes. Don't hesitate to use it.
21
Film & Print
The Kerr Room is located in the west wing on
the 22nd floor.
This fairly large, slightly narrow room is
home to two activities: Film Editing and
Publications.
Hanke
The Hanke Members' Lounge, located on the
22nd floor, is a place to get away from it all.
The Members' Lounge features comfortable
furniture, low level lighting, and a few tables for
game players. There's even a small raised area in
one corner that can be used as a stage from time
to time.
The Tuck Shop, when operating, features hot
and cold drinks and light snacks.
There is also a selection of board and table
games (I i ke checkers, chess, Monopoly and cri b-
bage) for people who feel like playing around.
The Members' Lounge is open daily until the
Security shift ends. Your room key opens the
door. The use of the room is restricted to
members and accompanied guests.
Library
The library is shelved in the Maxwell Resource
Centre on the 22nd floor, off the Kling Lounge
and the Hanke Room.
The Library features books on many subjec-
ts, from sociology to sex, and plays to plagues,
and has a good selection of fiction, too.
The books for the Library have come from
diverse sources, but mostly from members. If
you have any books that you no longer need, or
have room for, a donation to the Library is ap-
preciated. Hard cover and paperback books are
both needed and wanted.
Rehearsal
22
There's not much to say about the Music
Practice Room, located in the Basement.
There is a piano in the room, which is sound-
proof and designed for better acoustics than
the other spaces in the building.
To gain access to the room, all you have to
do is sign out the key. There is a separate key
and sign-out log for the piano.
The two activities get along quite well, and
their location in the Kerr Room led to it being
dubbed 'The Communications Centre'.
Film Editing is the responsibility of a core
group appointed by the Education Committee.
It is the group's responsibility to care for the
equipment, and carryon programs relating to
film editing. Any member may use the facility
once cleared by the Core Group.
The room contains an editing bench,
moviescope, equipment for syncsound editing,
and a splicer. It's all for 16mm work.
The Publications equipment is used in
preparing all of the Co-op's publications. The
equipment was purchased, in the main, by Ed-
Com. While it seems sparce, what there is
helps to get a professional job done. So what
do we have? Well, a light table, waxer, storage
space, burnishing roller, rulers and storage
space.
Typing
The room has two electric typewriters, two
chairs and two desks. The machines are avail-
able to all co-opers who must supply their own
ribbon cartridges.
The service is convenient for those members
who don't have a machine of their own, and have
to write a letter home or have an essay due to-
morrow.
You'll find the Typing Room behind the
brown door across from the Office, on the 22nd
floor.
Stuff
Tool Loan
Some basic tools are available for loan to
members for up to 24 hours, or over the
weekend.
The tools-for-Ioan are located in the
basement maintenance office and are available
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Tools are
loaned on the condition that if they are not
returned within the time period allowed, they
will be repossessed by the tool loan manager.
~
Ping Pong & Pool
We have a little bit of everything here!
For people who like to relax, or who don't
want to go outside and play, we have indoor
games.
No, you'll have to get your own Monopoly set.
What we have is a ping pong table and a pool
table. Both of them are kept in the O'Grady
Games Room on the 22nd floor.
The ping pong table just sits out in the open.
There is a set of paddles and a few balls in the
sign-out box, so all you have to do is sign the
stuff out and play. Have fun!
Irons
What good are the ironing boards in the Surf
Laundry Room if you have nothing to press the
wrinkles out with?
Well, unless you prefer a hot rock, we've got
irons available to members. They travel with the
movable sign-out equipment, so you know what
to do.
The pool table is great because you can play
all sorts of different games for fun and profit
(but don't tell anybody). We have snooker and
boston balls, a few cues in various conditions,
the requisite racks, and even a score board. The
portable equipment is kept with the sign out
stuff too, so hunt it down and enjoy.
Buggy
A bundle buggy? Yep. It's those little wire
carts you see a lot of people pulling and
pushing around to and from the food stores.
Security uses one to move the sign out equip-
ment from the 22nd floor to the lobby. You can
sign it out. Just find the right book, ask for it,
and it's yours to use.
Simple, and a heck of a load off your arms,
and legs, and back, and shoulders and ...
AudioVisual
Neill-Wycik has a few interesting pieces of
audio-visual equipment available for members'
use.
The 16mm film projector is used for movie
nights and special presentations, but members
who have been cleared for its use can borrow
the projector wher it is not needed elsewhere.
It is a Bell and Howell self-load with sound.
The slide projector may be used by any
authorized member. It's a Kodak 35mm
carousel.
Piano
For the instrumentalist, vocalist, and par-
ticularly the pianist, there is a piano which you
can use for practice and recitals.
The instrument is located in the Music Prac-
tice Room in the Basement.
We try to keep the instrument in shape.
Anybody can use it. All you have to do is sign
out the room (the piano comes with it, you see).
The piano was a kind gift to the Co-op by the
Rusty Reynolds Family, long time members of
the community and friends of Neill-Wycik.
There is also a black and white Sony video
tape recorder-playback unit (VTR) housed in the
Maxwell Resource Centre. It's used for viewing
the pre-recorded tapes in our library, record-
ding new shows, and for 'broadcasting '
programming on NVVTV, our closed circuit tele-
vision system.
23
24
What !Iappens:
A lot happens at Neill -Wycik. Participation in the running of the Co-op is only one
facet of an active life. There are opportunities to pursue and develop hobbies, to enjoy
entertainment and to experience life.
Publications
Neill-Wycik produces a number of
publications each year. Some are intended to
inform the membership of what is happening in
the building, others to inform people on how to
do (or not to do) things. Annually, we prepare
the brochure which tells other people who and
what Neill-Wycik is, and extends an invitation
to join us.
A description of some of our publications
follows.
NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSLETTERS
The history of our newspaper is as diverse as
the history of Neill -Wycik. The current publica-
tion, Neill ' s News, has set a record for longevity,
if nothing else.
Neill's News is a mimeographed weekly that ' s
been going strong since 1979. It's coverage
ranges from Wycik politics to humorous fea-
tures and puzzles , and has taken one of its
editors all the way to the Supreme Court of
Ontario digging for news.
The newsroom, located on the 22nd floor, is
open to all interested members who wish to con-
tribute to the Co-op' s major news source.
OWNER'S MANUAL
You' re holding it! Simply, it tells the resi-
dents what the building, Neill -Wycik, and co-
oping is all about. But it is only a signpost, not
an oracle. We hope that each edition will last
for a number of years, with minor updates, but
people are needed to keep the old gal on target.
BOOKLETS
These little goodies outline everything from
how to budget for a party to how to hold a bar-
beque for 600. They are published when the
need arises and the people are available. They
are a way of sharing your knowledge and know-
how with your neiqhbor.
BROCHURE
You probably got one when you decided to
apply for a room. It states what Wycik offers
and what Wycik wants.
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tures about committee and Board business. In
addition, special features include questions to
and from the members discussion aspects of
Neill-Wycik, problems of the day, and the co-
operative movement in general.
Watch for your copy and stay in touch.
Activities
The closeness of our community, and the availability of our facilities, together with
our members' various interests lead to some pretty interesting and lively times
Movies
We love movies at Neill-Wycik. Tllere are the
weekly film series, the occasional all -night
film festival , NFB and foreign films at
barbeques, home grown films at weekly get-
togethers, and even the odd home movie from
time to time. We' ve shown films on apartheid in
South Africa, documentaries on multi-national
corporations, and stories of the co-operative
movement around the world.
Watch for notices.
Concerts
If music be the food of love, play on:
Give me excess of it , that , surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall :
O! it came o' er my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes upon the bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odor!
Yes, sweet music, rocking music, rolling
music, disco music, folk music, all music i s
yours at a Neill-Wycik concert .
Music for lovers, enemies and the unencum-
bered or unconcerned. That ' s who concerts
here are for: You!
And the sources? Members, house bands,
and groups and soloists who we just COUldn' t
afford to pass up. They all make music here.
And of course there are the folk nights too,
where you don't only listen, you get involved.
YouvePaidl
Yep, you' ve paid for it, through your Member-
ship Fee.
That money you paid gives the Education
Committee about $20 thousand annually to do
things in the building. And to open, acquire and
maintain facilities and equipment.
If there' s something that you think could
benefit the members here, bring it to the atten-
tion of the EdCom.
Just put together a proposal, attach it to a
budget sheet , go to an EdCom meeting, answer
the questions, sell your act , and, with all
probability, you've got it.
If you need help in putting the proposal
together, EdCom has files going back to the Co-
op' s Year One and further, so there may be
something there. And the people here have in-
terests and expertise too.
Now, give it a try. After all ,you're paying for it.
Folk Night
There are a lot of talented people living in
Neill-Wycik, and they shouldn't be kept shut
away in their rooms, doodling on their note
books or humming to themselves.
For the artists, graphic division, we have the
the workrooms and gallery; for the musical
types, there is the music practice room and the
occasional talent t i mes.
If yc.,u ' ve got a band, we' ll be happy to come
and hear you play. Just book the Steamer or the
Cafe, we'll make a party of it. Or, of you're a shy
soloist , get a group of your kind together, and
we' ll come and hear you do your bit , and
probably join in too. We' ve had a couple of
these Folk Nights and jam sessions. They' re
wonderful! Sort of like a big coffee house and
drop-in
And if you're not gifted in this way, well , hum
along.
Everyone's welcome!
25
26
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Parties
We love to party!
There is at least one party here on a
weekend, and that's during a quiet time. If you
check, you ' ll find someone partying
somewhere.
There are many kinds of parties, too: private
parties, floor parties, open parties, building
parties, dance parties, costume parties, party
parties. Give us a reason, and we'll party. We'll
even party to celebrate having a party.
If you want to share your good fortu ne, or just
make a lot of friends, you can organize a party
for everyone who' ll come. There' s a booklet
available called How to Throw a Wycik Party
which will give you some ideas on budgeting
and planning a party for the members. It ' s also
a good guide if you apply the tips to any sort of
gathering that has food, drink, music and lots
of people. It's avai lable at the Office, for the
asking.
Barbeque
We love to barbeque about as much as we
love to party. Maybe it's because it ' s just
another excuse to party, or maybe it ' s because
it's a party or because it's summer, or because
it's outside, or nice, or warm, or free food.
Whatever the reason, there are building-wide
barbeques, usually co-sponsored by the
Education and House committees; floor barbe-
ques; private party barbeques, where a small
group advertises tickets, and a somewhat
larger rrXrVavelS on the
Going places is a favourite pastime at Neill-
Wycik. It may not happen often, but when it
does, it's fun. We've had exchange visits with
the student co-ops in Ann Arbor and Lan-
sing Michigan; hosted the Board of Directors
of NASCa; sent our members off on retreats
to discuss Wycik leadership, co-op problems, and
the advantage of being under a tree on an
island in the middle of a lake.
The House Committee usually looks after
these details and the Education Committee
even gets into the act from time to time, usually
with its chequebook.
We even have a hidden ambition to send a
pack of us off to New York Ci ty (although even
the state would be fine) just to see it. Yes, we
I ike to travel.
total cost (a barbequed food kitty?).
And then, of course, there can be the inti-
mate backyard cookout between friends.
But, whatever the reason, or event , they all
take place in the back yard, that patch of grass
behind the Cate windows. There' s a barbeque
gri II that ' s part BBQ and part Hibachi and
anyone may use it.
And there' s the glorious outdoors.
Yes, even summer can be fun. Bon appetit!
fif
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Since the EdGom' spaces are ..., Shared. by' aU
members, ... certal .!.', been
devel.oped to help protect, the
thei r; upkeep, and establish the responsibilities
of members who uS.e them for parties. .,.... "
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nes,,, ng!%
pOlicy,passed in Nta,v, 1978. " +,' '>.
, Rooms whrch may be used for part;es'a're the
StanleySteamer,and Frodo's. The use,of Frod;o's
musf'conform to LLBO story
page 34}. Steamer is used ofH-
quor is not desired, which means BYOaffairs.
A refundable damage deposit is' required on
all pa'rtyrooms, and will be returned ifthete is
no damage. Partyorganl. zers, or ,Hosts, "",h,c
sign the party held responsJble
for the costs of over and aboye:the
ofthe depos:it. '14,. . '. '.,. " . :,(
, ... aDo6r-
malities oefore S'nd;:,aff era party by either a'
member of the EdConiQ[,the Security Staff.
Although a party may bS"opeh to.Jhe buUding,
or even if Ws/ a private affair, the@l'Hosts must
lake the of They Jake per-
sona/ respopsibiHty ' for tHe g,obd behaviour of
their guests, and for th,e cl eaning o!' the, p:arty
site "afterward;, in addition toresponsibilitY;:.. for
'damage and repair, as mentioned ,
The party pOelicy, which was developed by the
NW Broadcasting
Neill-Wycik operates its own closed circuit student radio signal CKLN. There is always
radio and television stations. something to listen to.
All our radio programs are broadcast live and You can tune in to NWFM by hooking your ra-
our television is usually in-house productions dio to the antenna terminal in your room and tun-
and popular off-network programs on video ing to channel 105 FM.
tape. If you have a speCial event you would like to
NWFM advertise, simply drop a note in the NW Com-
munications box in the Office. Broadcasters
Neill-Wycik FM is like no other radio station.
Instead of one centrally-located broadcast
studio, members of the Co-op broadcast from
their rooms, USing their stereo systems and
frequently announce their 'phone numbers
while on the air so you can call in a request, or
whatever.
recordings.
You can broadcast from your room, provided
that you meet a few technical necessities.
NWFM produces about three to 10 hours of
programming daily. When no one at Wycik is
broadcasting, NWFM simucasts the Ryerson
If commercials bug you, and DJ's bore you
NWFM is just what you need. If you are in:
terested and wish to find out more, or have
trouble tuning us in, leave a note in the Com-
munications box.
We are always looking for new people and
new ideas.
27
28
Lectures
From time to time, somebody arranges for a
speaker to come to the building.
Usually the Education Committee will co-
sponsor the event, or at least hel p with the
arrangements. The lectures can range from
aerodynamics to zen.
When Neill-Wycik opened. a series of lec-
tures was part of the Co-op's daily life. The
idea slowly atrophied because most people
here were just too busy with school to bother
with additional regular lectures. So much for
alternative education, but it explains the
'College' in the name.
Now lectures happen when we can arrange
them, when someone has something to say, or
when they're just too good a thing to pass by.
Lectures, tarks, demonstrations, and what
have you are also arranged by the groups which
all the Co-op home. CNSP and Erin Lane School
have brought events to Wycik, and Co-opers
were invited. Link Poetry Workshop has
readings and lectures on a regular basis, which
are also open to members of the Co-op.
If you're interested in listening or learning,
there's always something for you here.
Classes
With all of the facilities in the building, it
would be a shame if they were only available to
those who already knew how to use them.
Appropriately, our co-operative committment
goes further than sharing the costs and re-
sponsibilities of providing housing and the
facilites. We also share time and expertise.
If you are willing to learn, there will always be
someone willing to teach you, or to find you a
teacher.
The Education Committee sponsors a series
of courses annually. They are usually held in
three sessions: fall, winter and summer,
corresponding to the three school periods.
The courses are taught by Co-opers, who are
paid a modest honorarium for teaching. The
cost of the teachers is split between the stu-
dents and the Education Committee.
Students are responsible for the cost of su p-
plies where applicable.
Courses offered vary from session to
session, but usually include pottery,
photography and carpentry.
To help in the planning of courses, EdCom
conducts two surveys a year, one in preparation
for the Fall and Winter sessions, and one for
Spring and Summer, to find where the interests
lie for both potential students and instructors.
Course registrations are centralized in a
single notice and response form. All you have
to do is show your interest and show up.
In addition to the interest and crafts courses,
the Education Committee, in association with
the Management Committee, and the Board of
Directors, also offers First Aid Courses, by the
St. John's Ambulance and fire prevention and
safety seminar by the Toronto Fire Depart-
ment. The dates and locations of these courses
wi II be posted separately from the others.
If you would like to teach a course, contact
the EdCom with a proposal, including the
course content, the experience level necessary,
and a proposed budget. Volunteers are always
welcome.
Brunches
The job of getting to know each other doesn't
stop with the orientation activities. It ' s just too
big a project to be covered in a month, not to
mention justsn evening dinner and slide show.
We also get together at parties, and other af-
fai rs, but many of these events have another
purpose, so the business of getting to know
each other is peripheral
From time to time you will see notices of a
floor or group holding a brunch. You bring a
mug, and they'll supply coffee, or juice, muf-
fins or others munchables, a lot of people
and a mellow atmosphere to just sit and talk.
If morning sessions don't appeal to you,
there are also the weekly drop-ins, usually held
in the Kling Lounge. There, you ' ll find people,
discussion, music, and refreshments, and you
don 't even have to bring your own crockery.
Either way, it's fun getting to meet and know
your neighbours.
If a floor or a group want's to sponsor a brun-
ch, or one of the drop-in evenings, the
Education Committee will entertain a proposal
to at least partially aid the event financially,
and will be more than pleased to give you ad-
vice and guidance on how to budget for, and
run the affai r.
A
"
, , V'I'
,
_.. ... ny:.
I d e a s ~
Games
Ah, the games members play here. There's a
room for games on the 22nd floor, with a pool
table and ping pong set-up, but that's only
where it beains.
There's the Backgammon club, which sets
up a number of in-house tournaments for its
members, and any co-oper can join. Everyone
who partiCipates is rated as a player so that
competition is between equally skilled players.
And regular continual play will improve your
game, so you can move up.
There's the bridge group, too, and those
others who meet once a week in the Kling
Room (been going on for over seven years,
y'know).
We've even got a group into playing
Diplomacy and Risk.
Back to the Games Room. In years past
we've had a snooker tournament in the
bui Iding. There's even an award for that. The
Molsen Placque. And with the number of ping
pongers, looks like friendly competition isn't
impossible there either.
Yep, we're real game players here.
Sports
We have such a cross section of people
living at Wycik, that nearly all sports are played
at or near here.
With our proximity to Ryerson, and with most
of the students living here registered there,
Wycik is a representative body in all available
organized activities at Ryerson. Many of our
members join their own course union teams,
but Wycik also fields teams if enough members
show an interest. Of late, hockey has been our
forte.
The Education Committee has provided
sweaters for our team players. These can be
signed out at the beginning of any sports
season.
By the way, the NW Team name is Wycik
Warriors
~ , rjJf4
I ~
29
30
The Co-op is the people who belong to it. If we are to have a close, sharing, caring
organization, the first thing to do is gain knowledge of each other.
Since we are a Co-op, the learning process, the work of getting to know each other,
WelcoIDe,Neighbor
Part of the challenge of making this Co-op
work is getting to know about it and each other.
Three times during the year, in January, May,
and September, the Neill-Wycik community
holds orientation programs for its new mem-
bers.
The Septem ber orientation is the largest of
the three. It emphasizes communication
about the Co-op, by both new and old members
on an individual floor level , but it is much more.
To help ' break the ice' , and demostrate the Co-
op' s social potential , a number of events are
held during the initial weeks. Past activities
have included a boat cruise in the Toronto har
bour, with dinner and dancing; a beer festival ;
building parties; a jazz concert ; and a film
festival. In addition, each floor is encouraged to
hold some sort of event , whether it be a dinner
or a roller skating party, or anything that will
bring the members on a floor together, and help
them to get to know each other better. The
Education Committee usually makes funds
avai lable for these activities.
In January and May, the Orientation sessions
are smaller, usually involving from 40 to 70 new
members who have joined the Co-op since the
last session. The Winter and Spriilg orien-
tations are quite different. They are usually
centered on a dinner hosted by committee
members, and offer dialogue between old and
new members, on a wide variety of topics. A
slide-and-tape show or a film about student co-
ops highlights the evening.
Basically, Orientation is co-opers saying
"welcome!" to their new neighbours.
Drop In, Sit a Spell
Need a place to go to get away from
studying? Sick of that essay and want a change
of scene? Feeling like talking to somebody?
Then drop in.
The Education and the House committees
sponsor a weekly Co-op Drop-in where co-
opers can meet , talk, rest , veg, relax, enJoy,
hide, debate or just plain go.
There's coffee and cookies, soft drinks and
music, places to sit, and people.
It's cozy, comfy, and low-key.
The Drop-ins are part of the Co-op's ongoing
attempts at community development , of getting
people to meet others. The aim is simple: to
build community through interaction and
relationships, and to strengthen the Co-op
through discussion and the sharing of
problems, views and ideas.
But the ulterior motives notwithstanding, the
Drop-ins are there so you can take part. Give
'em a try.
By the way, during Ryerson's exam week, the
Drop-in is held most week nights to give you a
quick getaway.
)
Each Other
also means getting to know the Co-op. All in all it is a dual process with one goal:
Strengthening our society.
Co-op Education
An important part of the co-op and communi -
ty development is knowing what ' s happening in
the co-op movement , and learning more about
the operation of co-ops.
The Education Committee pays for at least
part of the cost of this kind of education, of-
fp.red by a number of other organizations.
The North American Students of Co-
operation (NASCO) offers courses and
seminars at its annual Institute, held in Novem-
ber. Usually a group of co-opers attends these
sessions. They include dinners with guest
speaks whose subjects range from co-op
publications to purchasing systems.
The Co-operative Housing Federation of
Toronto offers a series of courses throughout
the year on Financial Management , Board
Training, Maintenance Management, and other
areas. Neill-Wycik members have been taking
part in these. Enrollment is l imited for each
course by co-op, so demand for places is
great; but the courses are worth the wait. Board
members and prospective candidates are wise
to take the Board Training courses offered by
either NASCO or the Federation. There' s more
to the job than you'd think.
EdCom will also entertain applications for
financial aid for any member attending func-
tions or educational sessions held by any other
co-operative group.
Planning the Welcome
Just like many other events and functions
here, the Orientation is also planned in commit-
tee.
Okay, so the Orientation is a welcoming to
the community, and an opportunity to show
new mem bers what we have to offer, and where
they can become involved.
The Board and committees co-operate on the
initiation of a number of events for the first
month of the new Co-op year, and the arrange-
ments for the dinners held in January and May.
The real dynamic is the summer-long plan-
ning that takes place for the September
welcome.
It begins with the brainstorm. Ideas are
tossed out and discussed to see what has
worked, what can work, and what should be
retired.
Next come the planning sessions with staff ,
committee and co-ordinators.
The Housing Co-ordinator gets into the act ,
telling us how many first-timers there will be .
And then we let the members outside the
building know what's happening. Why you
shouldn't bring a car, or that the tickets for the
Board Cruise are available. And that's when the
Owners' Manual should get into your hands,
too, before you arrive.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, volunteers and
the paid co-ordinator(s) are making arrange-
ments, co-ordinating events with Ryerson, get-
ting licences, planning parties, finding people
to do things and looking for more volunteers.
In preparation for the fall , we need people to
serve as Floor Co-ordinators and Community
Counsellors, and they have to be trained too.
It's a hig process, and, if things go right,
we'get on a roll ', the carry-over of energy that
will take us through the whole year, back to the
time when we start planning for the next Sep-
tember to come. Care to join us?
31
32
Our building is a great asset. It not only gives us a place to live, but also a place in the
community. It most certainly makes us visible.
Since co-operation is sharing, and, since in the long run we are attempting to bring
Who's Here
Who's here? Practically everyone!
. I
If nothing else can be depended on, this
axiom can: Neill-Wycik may be a co-op, but it's
not an exclusive club.
Neill-Wycik has a long history of opening its
doors to other groups and individuals. Not
everyone in the building is a member. By the
same virtue, not everyone in the building has
the same privileges as a member.
What do the other people do here? Well, they
have meetings, classes, offices, rooms for the
night, stop overs and, in some cases, use of the
equipment.
Okay, fine, but who's here?
Hotel guests in the summer, co-opers from
out of town who are into visiting Toronto, the
owners and managers of the stores on the
streetfront, members of dance groups, schools,
newspapers, publications, non-resident
members who have dropped by to say hello and
enjoy the benefits of their membership.
There could be anyone at anytime. The world
certainly isn't held back at our door.
We've always had an open door policy, as
long as we can get as good as we give.
With many of the non-member groups and
such, we have reciprocal agreements from
which we can both benefit.
But, that's enough said here. The articles on
these pages tell you a bit more about who's
here, what they do and what we get out of their
presence.
The Store Fronts
The presence of commercial tenants in Neill-
Wycik is an example of entrepreneurial and co-
operative co-existance.
The four stores provide about $24 thousand
in rental income - a significant contribution to
the Co-op's operating revenue.
The leases are such that we cannot effect
much control over the quality of service to the
membership, or over the remaining length of
tenancy, or the amount of rent paid. These
agreements, save one, were handled for us by a
property management firm at the dawn of our
existance. The future and our interests were
seemingly not taken into account at the time of
negotiation. We have managed to co-operate
with the commerical tenants on various ac-
tivities, such as New York Pizza's sidewalk
cafe, for mutual benefit.
While their presence may be questionable,
the convenience of having some services just
downstairs isn't all that bad. And neither's the
rent they pay.
u
~
"'
our 'message' of co-operation and sharing to the community, many people other than
members may use some of the facilities from time to time.
NASCO Canada
Sometimes it takes a while before a good
idea takes hold. It was like that getting Nasco:
Canada established, and Neill-Wycik is the
place where it happened.
The North American Students of Co-
operation (NASCO), a continent-wide
secondary level co-operative group, was solidly
headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. NASCO,
an organization with members from both
Canada and the United States and a board of
directors composed equally of people of both
countries, had one problem: Because of the
location of its home base, and the nationality of
the balance of its active members, its focus
The Others
A number of other people wander into the
building from time to time.
Erin Lane School uses the Steamer for
classes. Co-opers are invited to join sessions
that may interest them. Watch for posters.
The Link Poetry Workshop uses the Steamer,
and sometimes the Kling Lounge, for meetings
and readings. Wycik members are always in-
vited to these sessions too, and notices are
usually distributed a week in advance, in your
mailbox.
Various dance groups use the Cafe for
classes and rehearsals. These are not open to
members, but the Co-op benefits through the
furniture fund. It means lower housing charges.
The Metro Co-op Community, better known
as MC
2
, uses the Kling and the Steamer for
meetings, and Wycik is always invited. MC
2
is a co-
operative co-ordinating group.
And, of course, there is the McGill-Granby
Residents' Association, the community
municipal politics people who speak for the
people in this area. In a way, they represent you
too.
There are a number of other groups and in-
dividuals here from time to time. The list just
accounts for the 'regulars'.
This is another way of opening our home and
exposing ourselves to the world outside, and
them to us.
was decidedly American. That is, until quite
recently.
In 1979, through the efforts of the Canadian
directors of NASCO, and because of the de-
mise of the Canadian-based co-operative group
NEXUS, Nasco: Canada was conceived.
Nasco: Canada is the Canadian wing, but it is
not a branch plant, or the offspring of the
American counterpart: It is an equal partner
established to make NASCO truly international,
not only in membership, but in scope.
Nasco: Canada is inv01ved with lobbying pro-
vincial and federal government agencies for the
needs of Co-ops, and in providing training and
direction for co-op leaders and administrators.
Most importantly, the Canadian office enables
NASCO to be in as close touch with the current
situation in the Canadian co-op sector as it is
with the latest developments in the United
States.
Nasco: Canada is 'headquartered at Neill-
Wycik. It is an appropriate and opportune
location.
Since joining NASCO, Neill-Wycik has been
active in the activities of the organization.
Within a year of its joining, the Co-op nomin-
ated one of its members for a Directorship and
saw two Wycikers elected to the NASCO board.
Other Neil-Wycik members have become invol-
ved with NASCO programmes, planning, and in
one instance, found employment, organizing
one of the conferences which lead to the
founding of Nasco: Canada.
Aside from the resources which NASCO can
find here, Neill-Wycik benefits with NASCO's
presence. We become a focal pOint of the co-op
world. People coming to work for or visit Nasco:
Canada also visit the Co-op. They have an
opportunity to see how we do things. If nothing
else, we can prove that a large-membership, 22
storey highrise housing co-op with an itinerant
membership works. We also have the oppor-
tunity to use the resource of NASCO first hand.
We no longer have to trek to Ann Arbor to bene-
fit from our membership, because the
resources which it brings are right here for us
to use. (For more information on NASCa, see
page 36.)
33
34
The World
There is a world out there and we are part of it. Neill-Wycik is a leader in its
community. Our members should take advantage of the activities that the city offers.
At the same time, we should invite more of our neighbours into our vertical village.
We rely on the services of many of the people 'out there'. We are not self sufficient.
The Neighbours
By Henry Einarson
The McGill-Granby neighbourhood encom-
passes a small area immediately north of us. It
is a mixture of old and new houses, a highrise
apartment building, some older apartment
complexes, and Neill-Wycik. Wycik and its
neighbours, as a group, consider the many
problems of living downtown, working to make
life better for everyone. We present our views
and ideas to the municipal government through
the McGill-Granby Residents' Association.
Wycik has extended a standing invitation to our
neighbours to use our facilities for meetings. In
turn, McGill-Granby residents outside the Co-
op appreciate and I isten to our views.
People living in the McGill-Granby area are
consulted about projects proposed for the
neighbourhood. Co-opers have direct input as
residents of the neighbourhood. We do have
clout We worked with developers on a con-
struction project lucated next door to our
building to ensure that greater emphasis was
placed on fr:imily housing, and the retention of
many of the original structures on the site, and
the reduction of the new building's shadow on
our property's north side and the rest of the
neighbourhoort .
McGill-Granby is just a small part of the
downtown area. Co-opers arp, invited and en-
couraged to find out more about living in the
centre of a large city. We live in Ward Six of the
City of Toronto. Our ward includes the central
business district, the Toronto Islands,
numerous hospitals, Ryerson, the University of
Toronto, and many people living in houses,
apartments, residences, and co-ops.
If you are interested in finding out more
about the city you live in, the Office staff will be
pleased to pass on information about coming
activities and concerns.
The 519
Neill-Wycik is not the only place offering or-
ganized activities, The 519 Church Street Com-
munity Centre also has much to offer Co-opers.
The 519, one of the busiest community cen-
tres in Toronto, is just a short walk north on
Church Street. It offers numerous activities and
services of value to downtown residents.
Among these are a chess club, conversational
french lessons, dance classes, life drawing in-
struction, a community resource centre, library,
food co-op. poetry workshops, a legal clinic
The 519 holds a number at activity days,
bazaars with good bargains, and dances. The
staff is open to members' suggestions for pro-
grams. Most of the programs rely on volunteer
input and time, and are financed by a nominal
membership, fund raiSing events, and grant
from the City.
The LLBO Blues
One of the greater bugaboos we have is the
LLBO and its regulations. For those not in the
know, the LLBO is the Liquor License Board of
Ontario. Between that group and the Ministry of
Consumer and Commercial Relations, which
likes to sell you ID Cards, we've go fun, folks.
What's it all mean? Certain areas of the
bUilding, while still part of your home, are con-
sidered Public Places under the Act. These in-
clude the lobby, hallways and the elevators.
Your residence is your unit, the Steamer and
our lounges. In Public places you can't have
booze unless the place is licensed. In Residen-
tial places it's okay, as long as the stuff is
"legally in your possession".
Nor are we, or should we be, isolated from the rest of humanity. The Co-op makes us
unique, but it doesn't prevent us from participating in a larger society.
Bell Canada
Ah yes, good 01' Ma Bell. She can be a
real. .. uhm ... mother sometimes. Which leads us
to the wonderful subject of: How to get a
'phone and where to stick it .
To get a telephone, you just pop over to the
Bell Phone Centre at the Toronto Eaton Centre.
Make the arrangements there, that is type of
service you want, type of 'phone, colour, dial or
push button, Mickey Mouse or plain old black
desk. They will give you an instrument to take
home with you and will arrange to have service
operative within a certain period.
After you get home, uncrate the little dingier
and plug it in. Yes! We are equipped with plug-
in jacks.
Okay, now for some considerations. Do you
want a private 'phone, or do you want to share
one? Good questions. Here are some more.
If you want your own private 'phone in your
room, will you let your unit mates use it on oc-
casion? How will you handle long distance
charges? If you want to share a telephone, will
it stay in one person's room, in the hall or the
lounge? Also, consider that if the group of you
apply for joint service, you will be charged the
higher business rates. Not a good bargain.
Us&the COpS
We have a good relationship with the police.
We have found the best policy is for us, through
Security and the administrative staff, to handle
our own problems, whenever possible.
Of course we cannot expect our security
people to solve situations which endanger their
lives or those of others. We leave these cases
to the Metro pol ice. After all, that's what they're
paid for: To serve and protect.
The Metros don't know much about Wycik
people because not many of them have had the
pleasure of entering our building or seeing our
living situation. When we do have them here,
we give them the respect they deserve, but we
also demand the respect which we deserve. It
works very well.
Many units split on the 'phone bill, for basic
service, and one member takes the legal
responsibility for the bill. There is some trust
needed for this arrangement.
Finally, watch out for unheeded costs. If all
you need is a black desk phone with a dial, get
one. It works as well as the statue of a rodent.
Well, I've gotta go, time's up.
C able TV
If you have a television, you may not be hap-
py with the number of channels you can receive
off-air. You have two choices: The building an-
tenna and cable service.
The building antenna doesn't cost you a
thing. Just hook-up your set to the terminals in
your room, and that's it. You'll get nine chan-
nels: WGR, Ch. 2, (NBC); WIVB, Ch. 4, (CBS);
WKBW, Ch. 7 (ABC); WUTV, Ch. 29 (Ind.) all in
Buffalo; CBL T, Ch. 5 (CBC), CFTO, Ch. 9 (CTV),
Ch. 22, Global; CITY, Ch. 79 (Ind.), all in Toronto;
CHCH, Ch. 11 (Ind.), in Hamilton. The thing is,
not all the channels listed here correspond to
the channel the antenna will pump into your
set. Check around to see which number on the
dial is receiving what channel.
The other possibility is cable service. This
building is serviced by Roger's Cable. There are
two options: straight service, where your set is
hooked up to their big antenna, and converter
service, which gets you even more channels,
like Barrie, Peterborough and Kitchener, and
specialty things like Air Canada arrivals and de-
partures, weather information including the
Weather Radio Canada broadcast signal. Cable
costs for the cable connection, converter ren-
tal, and installation fees. And there's no saving
in having the converter and cable installed at
the same time. Rogers charges an installation
fee for each service, at last check about $15 a
shot. The only advantage to cable is improved
reception.
The choice is yours.
35
36
Co-operation goes beyond Neill-Wycik. There are co-ops throughout Canada, North
America, and the world. We must share with these other co-ops in order to learn
and grow.
The Federation
Co-operative housing is more than Just a
place to live. It ' s a whole new dimension in the
Canadian housing market. The Co-operative
Housing Federation is a one-stop resource cen-
tre dealing with every aspect of co-op housing.
The Federation is incorporated as a non-
profit co-operative. Its members are individual
housing co-operatives. Each co-op has one vote
entrusted to a delegate. Membership meetings
of the delegates are held monthly. The
delegates elect a five-member Board of Direc-
tors to handle administrative matters. The
Board employs a staff to develop new co-
operatives and deliver service to existing co-
ops. The staff is organized in four teams:
Development , Management , Education and
Adm i n i s t rat ion.
The Federation grew out of efforts that began
in the fall of 1973, when several housing and
community groups met together to organize
lobbying of the newly created Ontario Ministry
of Housing and to discuss common problems
with the new federal non-profit housing progr-
grams. These meetings were found to be very
useful and the participants agreed on the need
for a continuing organization. In March, 1974,
the Federation was officially founded and by
January, 1975, funds were secured to hire the
first paid staff. Combining strength through
united action and emphasizing the develop-
ment of practical services, the Federation has
grown slowly but steadily.
As an organization seeking to unite all
housing co-operatives in the Metropolitan
Toronto area, the Federation seeks out the
membership of each new co-operative. Each
member pays an annual fee and is entitled to a
member benefits package which includes: in-
formation and advice, a regular newsletter,
discounts on Federation courses and
publications, a say in the creation of new ser-
vices, emergency management assistance
should it be required, and savings through a
bulk purchasing network.
The Federation is actively involved in
representing its co-operatives on both an in-
dividual and group basis on any issues affec-
ting their financial or social health. Member-
ship in the Federation guarantees each co-op
continuinq access to management support and
a voice in the larger co-op movement while still
maintaining its own independence.
NASCO
The North American Students of Co-
operation (NASCO) is a campus-based con-
sumer co-operative whose members, both in-
dividuals and organizations, support the co-
operative movement.
NASCO grew out of the energy of student co-
op members who believed that the co-operative
movement could be spread only by active
organ izi ng and ed ucation. Representat ives
from 41 campuses at an Ann Arbor, Michigan
conference in March, 1978, concluded that a
North American organization was needed to
facilitate this work.
The Canadian experience of building student
co-ops through good communications and
technical assistance influenced the
organization of NASCO. Similarly, the demise
of the North American Student Co-op League
(NASCL) - attributed in part to its passive role
in new co-op organizing - provided a lesson of
another kind.
From its inception until 1971 , NASCO's
technical assistance and communications
were car ried on by people on a volunteer basis
while they continued their co-op work locally.
This local work was indicative of the vast
energy flowing into campus and community co-
op organizing a<;;ross Canada and the United
States.
By 1971 this energy had created the need for
many services to help sustain co-ops and
reduce the barriers confronting co-op
organizers. As a result , NASCO now employs a
full-time staff , provides continuing education in
the form of publications, conferences, and
training programs; technical assistance and
membership benefits like the Campus Co-op
Directory.
Through NASCO, members help support co-
operatives at other campuses and communities
throughout North America, and receive the
education and service benefits which come
from relating to the larger co-operative
movement.
Today, NASCO links thousands of people
who are building better communities and a
more just economy by building co-operatives.
art Three
he Art of
I " .iving
Neill-Wycik is a community working at becoming a home. This is
not easy because much about our lives is centered on becoming
acquainted with our passive environment, and not on the people
around us.
Living together in a SOCiety based on mutual aid is a philosophy
alien to many of us .
This section is a compendium of tips, gleaned from the ex-
periences of other co-opers, about living with people and things.
38
I,iy:ing __
The Co-op offers several different types of living arrangements. There are the multiple
units, the two-person units, and the apartments.
You have the choice of how you want to live, and, within certain guidelines, with
Moving In
Moving in is a lot of fun! The riot scene in Day
of the Locust seems more controlled than what
happens here during the three days in Septem-
ber when everyone comes home.
In reality, things are organized, and busy.
What happens in the first week of September is
the return of members who have been away for
the summer, the arrival of new residents, and
the internal moves made by members who are
changing places.
Everybody who cares gets involved. The Of-
fice is closed for the three days, except for
messages and mail in the late afternoon. The
staff and volunteers are in the cafe, lobby, ele-
vators and on the floors helping people move
in, supplying information, and directing traffic.
At move-in time you'll sign your Occupancy
Agreement, pay your housing charges as re-
quired, pose for your Membership Card photo
and answer the Skills Index questionaire.
Here's one moving tip: Whether it's in,
around, or out, when you move, pack all of your
stuff, put it all beside the elevator, then have
the elevator put on service for you, load it up
and move. Saves time and elevators. If you just
highjack an elevator without getting the key, it
puts all the others out of sequence.
If you're moving in at any other time, go to
the office, make your arrangements there, get
you key, and have the elevator put on service.
Now, all that's left is to unpack, put your
stuff away, and make your room your home.
ID Cards
The Neill-Wycik 10 Cards allow Security to
tell members from visitors and strangers, and
help sort out the riff raft from the co-opers:
10 Cards are usually made on the day when
you move in, and they're free. There is a small
charge for replacements though.
The 10 Cards have your photo, room number,
name and signature. They are used to get you
into a building party, to sign out facilities and
get use of various pieces of equipment.
They also make great 10 when cashing
cheques and things like that. They won't be ac-
cepted as the only form of 10, but many places
will take them as the second, or third piece re-
quired. And they can't deny it ' s you since your
mug's on the card.
The 10 Cards are permanent, and will be re-
validated when you move in, or renew your
I membership.
Staying
Believe it or not, you just don't come back
here to live, you've got to re-apply!
We don't mean to get bureaucratic, but we've
got to have some way of finding out what
rooms are available so we can let new people in
(should we have the space, of course). So, if you
intend to return in the fall (assuming you're not
staying for the summer), or if you're staying for
the summer, or after the summer, you've got to
fill out that application form too.
The form itself is no big deal. In fact, it's your
chance to tell the big wigs a few things about
the Co-op. This makes the whole process a
functional and educational exercise.
An important thing to remember: To make sure
that you'll have space for the Fall, you'll have to
get your application in by June 1. If you are stay-
ing through the Summer, and are living in a multi-
ple unit, there' s another application you'll have
to put in by April 1 to make sure there's room for
you then, too.
Arrangements
whom. And as with most organizations there are procedures to follow and problems to
solve in any sort of living arrangement.
l ounge kit chen
A1
'"-
~ ~ t ~
lo unge
E unit
L-jp-
,......... o un it
A2
lounge
Typical Floor Plan
trhe floor plan shows t he layout of the typical floor. The dash-lines Revised UI .. . lit Lounge
~ h o w the walls of a floor with a .Iounge. The dot -lines show the 1..-------'1 [ ..:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: .. :::::::':::'
onflguratlOn of some C and D unit lounges. . ><> :>
Equipping
the Kitchen
So, you're gonna do your own cooking. Well ,
that's well and good, but you' re gonna need
some tools, right? Right.
If you are living in a four- , five- , or six-per-
son house unit, even if you all cook and eat
separately, you'll wind up Sharing at least the
dishes and utensils. Any arguments about
whose fork someone is using are just plain
stupid. Just make sure you know what belongs
to whom when the party breaks up, that's all
that's important.
So, what to bring.
Given the fact of a communally equipped kit-
chen, then the basics are in twos:
plates, cups, cutlery, pots, pans. and all that
paraphernalia. You can, of course, bring some
more sophisticated things like toasters,
mixers, egg separaters, but only in one' s, and
there still may be some duplication. Still , it's
worth the risk. Two' s better than none.
The Co-op supplies the fridge and the stove;
you' ve got to do the rest.
How you equip the kitchen depends on
what you know about kitchens, and food and its
preparation. You may be on some sod of diet,
or eat differently from everyone else. Or maybe
you just don't cook.
Well , whatever, you do with the space, bring
the basics and work the rest out with your
nearest and dearest , your unitmates. Come to
think of it, the whole thina aoes for everyone,
those in the multiple units, and the two-person
and apartment un its too.
Okay, now get cooking.
39
40
Changing Places
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________________________
MEMBERS
Pcstal Code Desired tJove-in Date ______ _
Elrer:JenC'j Address City ____ _
Postal 0xIe Phooe _________ _
University/Col lege ________ _
Year in Course
________________ _
As a rrerrtJer of Neill-wycik Co-qJerative College In::: ., I .:lgrcc to adhere to the policies set by
all past and future cmrn.i.ttccs.
signature Today ' s :Jaw _________ _
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TwoPersonTips
The two-person house units, better known as
the " two-mans", are primarily rented to in-
dividuals who have shown leadership in the
Neill-Wycik community.
If you are applying for one, you will have to fill
out a two-person request form, available in the
Office. The form asks questions about your in-
volvement in the Co-op and your reasons for
wantinq space in a two-person unit.
The Membership Committee reviews all ap-
plications for Two-mans and Apartments. When
your application is received, you will be contac-
ted for a personal interview. If you are granted a
Two-man, your name will be placed on the
waiting list. When it comes to the top, you will
be contacted. All you' ll have to do then is wait for
a vacancy in an appropriate unit.
To insure continued involvement in the Co-
op, the Membership Committee may require
you to enter into a specific work aqreement
with the Co-op.
Questions about the procedure will be hap-
pily answered by the housing Co-ordinator or
any member of the Membership Committee.
You' re not satisfied with your room-mate? You
want a bigger place? You need to have an apart-
ment? Whatever the reason, members changing
places are not unheard of.
You may be approved for a room transfer dur-
ing the co-op yearor when you re-apply for space.
There are some considerations if you wish to
move internally during the co-op year.
You may change places during the Co-op
year or when you re-apply for space. The choice
is yours. There are some considerations.
If you want to change places during the Co-
op year, that is during the term of your Occu-
pancy Agreement , there are a few things you
must do: You'll have to let the Rentals Officer
know that you want a different room, unit or
whatever, at least a month before the change.
You'll have to sign an internal move agreement
which outlines your responsibilites to the Co-
op because of your desire to change places;
You'll have to take responsibility for advertising
the availability of your space for occupancy
and any housing charges due for the space un-
til someone is found to live in it.
If you want to move into a two-person or
apartment unit there are other things you'll
have to do too, and these may require a wait un-
til a unit becomes available and your name
comes to the top of the waiti ng I ist (see
separate story)
If you just want to make different arrange-
ment for the Summer or the Fall, you have only
to fill out the appropriate application form (See
separate story). The Two-person and Apartment
story is basically the same.
Requests
You want more than just a room. You want
one in the middle of the building, south side, a
01, and you want certain people in your unit.
Well , not that you wi II get it , but the Housi ng
Co-ordinator will certainly try to get it for you.
But first , you've got to let your desires be
known.
When you fill out your housing application
form, there is a space you can use to indicate any
preferences you have. If you want to form a
group, I ive on the south side of the bui Iding, oron
a low floor this is the way to communicate your
wishes to the Housing Co-ordinator and the
Membership Committee.
!
Moving Out
Moving out is a fine art. First of all, it's not
the same as moving-in in reverse. And it is cer-
tainly not like changing places. Moving out
means that you are leaving. It means that you
are taking whatever stuff you want to keep, with
you. Moving out is a production number.
Neill-Wycik has three forms of moving out:
The spring exodus; the fall re-organization; the
odd decision.
The spring exodus is the biggest organiza-
tional problem we have next to the September
move-in. Although members know that they will
be leaving, school, exam schedules and other
factors determine that everyone leaves during
the same two weeks of April. The staff and vol-
unteers assign the elevators, collect keys and
check rooms. Unlike the fall move-in, the spring
exodus continues all day. Specific details may
change, so watch for notices.
The fall re-organization is actually part of the
fall move-in. Some people change places,
others move out. This usually happens during
the last week of August.
Of course, people move out at any time. There
are requirements about notices and sub-letting.
Moving out is simpler because the volume is not
as high. Co-ordinate your activities in this area
through the Office and the Housing Co-ordinator.
Personal Relations
In all communities, even ours, people don't
always get along with other people. What to
do? Well, first remember that one person's per-
ception of a phenomenon, say stereo loudness,
may differ radically from that of another
person's perceptions of the same occurance.
Keep in mind that toleration of differences in
lifestyle and values is a positive good, and ex-
posure to legitimate differences is one of the
benefits of living in a large co-op. Because
people are often at different stages of life, with
very different needs, one person may need
Super Tramp on the box, while, you, the other
person, may need peace and quiet.
Okay, so what can you do about these con-
flicting needs, the elements that bring about
disagreement and conflict?
Communication among friends gets heard. If
you deal with your problem on a friendly basis,
you have a good chance of success, meaning a
reconciliation amenable to both parties. If your
only form of contact with your neighbour is
conflict communication, it won't go well. Get to
know the people on your floor on a friendly
basis before things go wrong. The earlier you
do so, the better things can be.
If you are not friends, remember that open
communication is still the order of the day to
achieve success. Don't be afraid of face to face
contact with a legitimate complaint. It is still the
best way to deal with a problem. Simply and
quietly state your case and see what kind of
response you get. There is no point complaining
behind someone's back.
Okay, so we've dealt negatively with the
negatives. Finally, here is what you should do:
Negotiate! Compromise, clearly defined, is the
road to mutual good living. Once the situation
is put forth, settle things like what hours, what
evenings, and at what volumes that stereo is
acceptable. You come to these conclusions to-
gether; no ultimatums, or unconditional
surrenders.
If you have trouble talking, neutral third
parties are useful in negotiations. If your neigh-
bours or unitmates are not available to fill the
role, the office staff is there to help you, as are
your floor co-ordinator and community council-
lor. If you don't know where to turn, see the Co-
op Co-ordinator for help.
The freedom to swing your arm ends well
before the other person's nose begins. Neill-
Wycik has basic rules (see page 6). Learn them.
Communicate them in a friendly way.
All of what's been said notwithstanding,
there are two causes of confl ict: Normal anta-
gonisms from conflicting lifestyles, which can
be dealt with effectively by the methods out-
lined above, and very serious disturbances, like
threatening, violent, suicidal, or larcenous be-
haviour. If you think you are dealing with the
latter kind of activity, let's call it serious crazi-
ness or criminality, scratch all the stuff about
friendly contact and talk to the Co-op Co-ordin-
ator, or any staff member, immediately. People
who act in this way need strong, official
responses or need to be referred for help.
41
42
We live in the centre of a large metropolitan place. Toronto is reputed to be a 'safe' city,
but the troubles associated with a large agglomeration of people are becoming more
and more obvious.
There is a lot that the 'ordinary' citizen can do to head off these problems. Not the least
Security Check
Personal security is a matter if common
sense.
Always lock the door when you' re out, even if
you're just going down the hall. Never leave
your keys in the lock. Keep your unit doors
locked. We have lots of nice people here, but
there are always a few bad apples. History has
shown that there will be one dishonest type for
about every 100 members; that's seven .potential
rip-off artists, one for every three floors. These
are in addition to the few who manage to in-
filtrate front lobby security. A locked door is
your best protection.
THE KEY TO SECURITY
Your room key is also your front door key.
Shortly after fall move-in, Security locks the
front door in the evenings and on weekends.
This protects us from unwanted visitors and rip-
off artists. It also helps Security to determine
who lives here and who doesn't, by seeing who
has and uses a key. Even though there is a but-
ton behind the desk that can release the door
lock, Security is defeating the purpose by 'buz-
zing' people into the building. As well , Security
may be called away from the desk at any time,
which means that there is no one there to push
the magic button should you be without your
key. Carry your key with you when you leave the
building. It is your responsibility to prevent
being locked out.
WHO GETS IN WHEN YOU'RE OUT
It is a Co-op policy not to allow anybody else
into a member's room. If you wish to allow
someone into your room, the Office or Security
r e q L l i r e ~ a letter from you. This applifGs to
deliveries, telephone and cable TV installations,
or any other entries except for an-
nounced room checks, requested Maintenance
service, or emergencies.
Twice yearly we change room and unit locks.
This usually happens in early May and late
August. It is done to protect new occupants
from the possibility of theft by the previous oc-
cupant. Notice is given at least 24 hours before
the changes. Office and Maintenance staff are
available to issue new keys.
About three times a year the Co-op has room
checks. After advance warning, members of the
staff , or agents of the ManCom, usually
Security, go through all the rooms in the build-
ing. If you are home, they will ask you to show
them about. If you are out , they wi II use a pass
key, enter your room, have a quick look about,
then leave and lock up.
In about 90 per cent of the rooms checked,
everything will be fine. The purpose of the
check is to deal with problems which occur in
the odd room or unit , usually relating to maint-
enance, dirt, bu_gs, or the occasional piece of
Co-op turniture that finds its way into a mem-
ber's room.
A reminder to the two-person and apart-
ment unit residents: Your rooms are unfur-
nished. The only time that Neill-Wycik furniture
should be found in these rooms is when it has
been leased from the Co-op.
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, OR DAY
Don't be intimidated by strangers who might
be wandering through the building. If you see
someone on your floor or in your unit who
doesn' t look familiar, feel free to ask his
mission. If there is no apparent reason for his
presence, ask him to leave and cail Security.
The same applies if someone happens to be
crashing anywhere in the building.
Remember, this is your home.
SecuritY-__ _
of these is to take precautions, to 'nip trouble in the bud'.
The best way to deal with 'trouble' is to prevent it, to take steps to insure your security.
After all, the best defence ...
Tenant Insurance
Whether you live in one of the Multi ole Units,
where the Co-op owns the funiture, or in the
Two-person and Apartment units where you own
everything but the fridge and stove, you have a
lot of other possessions that you' d probably be
hard pressed to replace should they be lost
through theft , fire, flood, or a canary attack.
What to do?
Have you ever considered tenant insurance?
That's like insurance that people take out on
what they own in a house. People who live in
apartments can do the same thing for what
they own.
There are many plans and many insurance
agents and companies. A small survey indi-
cated that The Co-operators company will pro-
bably give you the best rate, but times change
so check around.
What do the pol icies cover? Practically any-
thing you want them to. And there is full cover-
age and deductables. Decide what you can af-
ford in premiums and loss and make your
choice.
If you're wondering why all this concern
about property loss, check your Occupancy
Agreement and the membership by-laws, then
you'll see (see appendices B and C)
For more information on tenant insurance,
check the Resource Centre. There' ll be some-
thing on file there to give you a head start in
making your decision.
Inventory
No matter if it's for insurance reasons (see
separate story), or just for yourself, so you can
tell your stuff from theirs, keep a list of what
you own.
It helps when you're packing and unpacking,
shipping or receiving.
It especially helps in the kitchen where most
things wind up in the same cupboards and
drawers. This is not say that someone is going
to walk off with something, although that has
been known to happen on occassion, but a list
will help you to recognized what's yours when
you really need to know.
If you own it, inventory it then, if you need to,
you can prove that you once had it.
43
The plans of mice and men! At times it seems that no matter how well we plan, how
much care we take, something will go wrong.
Whether or not it is the Fates meddling in our lives or just 'one of those things', there
Crime!
If anything happens to you, call Security or
the Office first. They wi II take care of notifying
the proper authorities. If you see that your
room or any part of your unit has been rob-
bed; if there is an intruder in your unit; if the
neighbors are noisy or rowdy: Call Security or
the Office first.
In case of robbery, if the theft is obvious, re-
lock your room and don' t touch anything.
You've seen enough cop shows on the tube or
at the movies to know why.
Our best protection from intruders is each
other. Know the people on your floor, and chal-
lenge any strangers you may see. No need to be
brusque, just ask where they' re going as if
you're interested in giving directions. If the an-
swer isn't satisfactory, call Security, or if you
feel comfortable about it, get a friend on the
floor to assist you in escorting the person out
the front door.
Internal
Security
We handle a lot of our own problems for one
simple reason: most of them are too small o,r in-
consequential to bother the Police with. Noise
problems, which are generated within the
building, are not worth going to outside people
to help deal with them.
People who are noisy and rowdy, and won 't
respond to friendly requests to tone it down will
be handled by the Security staff. Just call.
If you suffer from or are threatened with
physical abuse, call for help immediately. If the
aggressor is from the building we want to
know. We don' t need that type of activity here.
There's nothing worse than feeling unsafe in
your own home.
Intruders and other people of that ilk are
usually dealt with by building security in other
' places, so in that respect, we are not different.
It all boils down to the simple fact that we
only need the police for the 'big things'. And in
that way, we retain the.ir respect.


KJ, --
44
Aside from all of that, by calling N-W Security
first in an emergencY,we can get help to wher-
ever it is needed rIght away!
, 1 . -
I /" / __ -......
,-
.. , ....
Would you know what to do or who to see?
Illness & Injury
If you're sick, or if someone you know is sick
and it seems serious; If you're injured, or if
someone you know is injured: Cal! Security
first . Then call the proper emergency service
(For numbers, see inside back cover).
Security has a list of trained First Aiders
living in the building who have already volun-
teered to help in an emergency. Security can
also conduct the proper people to wherever
they are needed, and put an elevator on hold
until help arrives.
Medical HeJp
Here are some places where you can find
medical help:
Don District Community Health Centre
296 Shuter Street , Apt . 102
364-1361
St. Jamestown Community Health Centre
200 Wellesley St. E. , Apt. 104
966-5770
St. Michael's Hospital
30 Bond St.
360-4000
Wellesley Hospital
160 Wellesley St. E.
966-6600
Toronto General Hospital
101 College St.
595-3111
First Aid
Do you have first aid training?
If you do, the Co-op would like to know two
things: Who you are and if you are willing to
help in an emergency.
Some of this information will be by either of
the Summer or Fall EdCom Interest Survey, and
the skills index questionnaire. If you miss de-
claring yourself on any of these occasions. iust
go to the Office and say: "I ' m a trained First
Aider and I want to help" . They' ll love you, and
we all thank you.
University of Toronto Dental Clinic
101 Elm St. , Toronto,
978-2798
Tell Us!
If you have a hidden medical problem, the
Medic Alert or similar system should be looked
into. You're coming into a big city and the
people around you may not know what your
problem is unless you tell them. In addition, the
Co-op is now compiling a list of special aid in-
formation , totally confidential , which can be
used in case of emergency. If you can't speak
for yourself, the information you give the Office
can speak for you.
45
46
In Case of Fire
Highrise fires are more serious than most
because of the number of people involved and
the limitations of firefighting equipment.
IF YOU FIND A FIRE
Most fires start in waste baskets or in the
kitchen, and can be quickly put out. Be calm.
There are two hoses and two fire ex-
tinguishers located on each floor. One is out-
side the E unit at the east end of the floor, and
at the west end, near the A units (see diagram).
Use the extinguisher first. If that doesn't
work, pull the alarm.
Alarms are located near the fire door in the E
and F un its, and near the east and west doors
to the stairs. Use the alarm only when it is
needed. Pulling the alarm does not
automatically notify the Fire Department.
Leave the area of the fire and call SecUlity.
Tell them the floor and the unit number or fire
location. Security will call the Fire Department.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE ALARM
When the alarm rings, close your windows,
leave and lock your room. Close lounge win-
dows and doors too. Leave and lock your unit.
Go to the nearest stairwell and walk down.
Do not, under any circumstances, use the
elevators. They are needed by the fire fighters
and taken out of service as soon as they reach
the ground floor. You could be waiting for an
escape that wi II never arrive. The elevators are
also the surest way of gettinp yourself killed.
The elevator shafts act like chimneys; smoke
goes up them. In addition, the elevators stop at
the first fire floor. If the flame is outside the
elevator door, you will be roasted as soon as it
opens.
DON'TS AND DOS
Don't bring your budgie, cat, stereo, or
anything else. If it is a serious fire, people may
die. We don't need anything but people in the
stairwells. Fires frighten animals and make
them hard to control. If it is not a serious tire, or
if it is a false alarm, your pets and belongings
are safer in your room.
Don' t run, but walk quickly.
Don't stop because somebody says it is a
false alarm. You don't know that somebody or
how that information started. Go back only af-
ter the alarm stops or you are sure of your in-
formation.
Don't call the Office or Security Desk. The
telephone lines must be kept clear to reach the
Fire and Police departments, and possibly even
medical help.
Do assume that any alarm is the real thing,
and act accordingly, no matter what time it is.
In the multiple units there are smoke detectors.
If they sound, answer their call as well. They are
there to warn you well in advance, before a
problem is serious.
A JOKER IN EVERY DECK - UNFORTUNATELY
If any person creates a false alarm and is
caught and convicted, he will spend time in jail.
It is a criminal offense. We don ' t need or want
false alarms. They can take lives.
What people don't realize is that every time
the alarm is pulled, the Fire Department must
be called. If it is a false alarm, it is no joke
having the Fire Department racing three
engines to our building when they may be need-
ed elsewhere.
False alarms are also a bit like yelling " wolf".
The more alarms we have, the less seriously
people take the warning bell. And that means
we could lose members in an ugly, unwarranted
way.
Don't smoke in bed!
It's not just you we're worried about. You see,
burning sponge rubber releases fatally toxic
fumes. Due to a quirk of fate, almost all Co-op
furniture and matresses are made of, or stuf-
fed with foam rubber. If they catch fi re, people
will die. So, be caretul where you put those
burning weeds, tor all our sakes.
Counsel
If the world's really got you by the tail and
you need help getting things back into order, or
at least into some perspective, there are profes-
sionals who can help.
Here are a few places where you can find
help:
Social Work Consultants
96 Gerrard St. E., 14A 1
977-1090
Family Services Association of Metropolitan
Toronto
24 Wellesley St. E.
924-8723
Toronto Institute of Human Relations
51 Bond St.
364-5757
n>-
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Location of Fire Alarms and
Fire Fighting Equipment
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fire alarm
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When Your World's Too Much
Your world may seem overwhelming at times
for any number of reasons. Trouble with lovers,
friends, family, school - whatever - can act to
make you feel depressed, isolated, under pres-
sure, or confused.
You don't have to feel at the end of your rope to
ask for help. In fact, you shouldn't wait. Some-
times a trained ear can help you clarify and put a
fresh perspective on things before they reach
crisis proportions.
Too often people don't ask for help or see it as
appropriate because they can't pinpoint the prob-
lem. They just know they feel crummy. A little
feedback can help them understand what is both-
ering them, which is the first step to resolving
things.
Occasionally crises do occur. A lost love, fam-
i Iy i II ness - all ki nds of th i ngs - can make you feel
frightened or confused. Crisis counselling can
help you over the initial trauma of events and
help to ease the pain and set you on the healing
track.
You don't need an emergency in order to get
counselling. There are also some practical
things you may want information on, but which
you may not feel comfortable asking your friends
about, or there may be topiCS which you've
discussed with your friends but want another
opinion.
For all of these thi ngs you can and should seek
assistance. There are people with training and
experience in such matters who can help you.
The Community Development Co-ordinator can
refer you to appropriate services, or perhaps give
you some assistance herself - after all, that ' s
one of the reasons she's here.
47
48
Friends and
Robert Frost may have been right in his theory about good fences and good
neighbours, but he certainly wasn't concerned about a sharing society when he wrote
it. In the same poem he wrote, "Before I build a wall, I'd ask to know / What I was
walling in or out". He may have been closer to the truth.
We must be closer than the usual h i ghr ise or suburban community, since sharing and
Co-operative
Living ByJohnKorcok
Last week someone asked me for hel p and I
didn' t do anything.
As I walked down the hall from the elevator, I
heard the splash of running water and a cry of
frustration. This was obviously something to be
checked out. I walked i nto the house unit and
found a fellow kicking his overflowing toilet.
When he saw me, he stopped and waited for me
to do something.
"What ' s the matter?" I asked, looking at his
wet shoes in the growing puddle of water.
"Can you fix this for me?"
" Nope, but I will show you how to do it. "
After about two minutes of instruction on the
plumbing of toilets, not only did it get fixed , but
t he fellow wi II know how to fix toi lets for the
rest of his life.
" No" has become my standard reply when
I' m asked to do things for people. I' ll help you,
I' ll teach you, I' ll work with you , but I' m not
going to do anything for you.
I keep wondering why it is that people expect
the Office, or Maintenance, or Security to do
everything for them, to handle all the unsavoury
tasks and rough edges. Where does this de-
pendency on staff and the power structure
come from?
Well , for a start , many of us have come to
Neill-Wycik straight from living with our paren-
ts. Our mothers and fathers sheltered us when
we needed it, when we couldn' t take care of
ourselves. So when we moved here, it is easy to
expect that to keep on happening. Many mem-
bers are angered or bewildered when they find
that here we do things for ourselves.
On the other side of the coin, there are those
who are afraid to leave thei r door open when
they' re home, who get angry in silence when
the other guy won' t clean the floor, who would
rather paint their room alone rather than ask for
a hand.
This is the kind of thing that happens in an
apartment building. If you' re in trouble, you call
the super or the police. If you just want some-
one to talk to, you ' re out of luck. This need not
happen here.
What we have in this building is rare in our
society. Between the confinement of the family
and the isolation of apartment I ife, there is a
huge gap. Here we' re learning how to fill that
void with a community of adults, independent
yet interrelated. We try to care for each other
enough to live as humans, standing on our own
feet when we can, supporting each other when
we can ' t.
We' re still a ways from this goal but it's a
worthwhile goal , and we' re getting closer. It is
with goals like this that we make our lives
richer and more worth living.

eighbCLurs
mutual aid begin with personal interaction.
Certainly we have guidelines, and common sense dictates boundaries. And you
certainly retain the right to choose where and when to draw the line. But make sure
you know what's on the other side before you build a wall.
Dog and Cat Story
Pets have been a problem at Neill-Wycik.
When the Co-op opened, the freedom to do
and own what one wished was not tampered
with, as long as one's desires were not harmful
to, or did not infringe upon the rights and
wishes of another co-oper.
Pets and the attitudes of some pet owners
dia both.
After a number of hassles, fleas and messes,
and an arkful of wandering animals (including
C1 boa constrictor which seemed to like living in
walls), pets were banned.
The Neill-Wycik Pet Committee was formed
so that members could have pets.
Originally a sub-committee of ManCom, the
PetCom is now a core group of the House
Committee.
The function of the Pet Committee is to ap-
prove new pets and observe that registered pet
owners are honouring their pledge with respect
to current pol icy.
PetCom has established the following
guidelines:
1. Cats and dogs are allowed only in the two-
person units and apartments.
2. All cats and dogs must be approved before
they are brought into the building.
3. Cats and dogs must be innoculated against
enteritis and dogs against rabies.
4. All cats and female dogs must be neutered.
5. A refundable deposit of $10 for cats and $25
for dogs is required to cover the cost of
possible damage caused by the animal.
Before final registration approval is given,
receipts must be produced as proof of in-
noculation and neutering.
49
Food Kitties
Unit kitties are price savers, work reducers,
and, perhaps, the only sane way to eat if you
live in a four, five or six-person house unit.
It means pooling your resources to buy food,
and cooking at least one sit-down, as opposed
to grab-and-run, meal a day. The alternative is
that everybody buys their own food and cooks
individually. This results in four (or six) quarts
of milk turning sour in the refrigerator, constant
arguments about "Who ate my eggs?" , and a
severe clean-up problem when one person goes
to cook supper and finds the frying pan in use,
or worse, full of the previous user's remnants.
Dishes pile up in the sink, the oven doesn't get
cleaned and generally, the cooking area isn' t
very well maintained because nobody con-
siders it a personal responsibility to undertake
major cleaning jobs.
Establish a budget
Most people are able to buy food for between
$20 to $30 per week per person (a weekly budget
of between $80 to $120 for a four-person house
unit to between $120 to $180 for a six-person
house unit). For the first few weeks the figure
should be higher because a number of staple
items will have to be brought to stock the larder.
This could range from an initial $25 per person in
the first few weeks, to a lump sum the first week
which includes the week's share plus an addi-
tional donation. Once the staples are bought and
you have an accurate fix on local prices a weekly
budget can be determined.
Organize your buying
50
Part of establishing your budget involves
defining "food". Things like milk, bread and
meat are easy to settle on, but what about
potato chips, or toilet paper? Here are some
guidelines.
If everybody uses it, buy it out of the kitty, but
first discuss and agree on a lot of things. Does
everybody use the same toothpaste? Many
people buy their own personal hygiene produc-
ts, buy maybe your group will reach other con-
clusions.
The kitty should represent sensible food
buying. Many groups have concluded that if a
member wants to eat junk food, and drink Coke
instead of milk at dinner, it should be done at
personal expense. On the other hand, if one of
two people want something to eat that others
don't have much of a taste for (like liver or
yogurt), so what.
If one person takes lunch to work or school
while everybody goes home to eat, lunch bags
and sandwich meat are legitimate expenses.
Work out your own guidelines for what the kitty
should cover well in advance. It saves
arguments later.
Remember, though, that as your community
continues, changes may occur and the terms of
reference established in the beginning will
have to be changed to accomodate the
situation. Be prepared to be flexible.
How to shop
Decide when you want to do the shopping -
once a week, once a month, every day. Con-
Sidering the amount of storage space available,
a weekly trip is most advisable. Rotate the work
so the people who go to the store are either
permanently in charge or part of a different
crew every week.
Make a list of what needs to be bought and
stick to it. The best way to compile the list is to
post it on the bulletin board so whenever the
peanut butter is running low, the need for a new
jar can be jotted down. It is better than
waiting until the day of the shopping trip to
remember what is needed. Also, check to see
what is going to be cooked during the coming
week, and include what is needed on the list.
Another suggestion: Have a meeting (nothing
formal) to check the list for superfluous items
or missing necessities. This kind of con-
sultation keeps arguments to a minimum and
everyone involved in the operation of the kitty
and the pantry.
To help save money, clip the newspaper
coupons. It is surprising how many of them can
be useful, and the few dollars this can save is
worth the little time it takes.
Before heading off to Loblaws, Dominion or
Kensington, check the newspapers for specials
and arrange your shopping list the way the
items appear in the store. It makes group shop-
ping easier and solo efforts faster. It also helps
in avoiding the supposedly unavoidable im-
pulse buying that stores are set up to en-
courage. Get to know the shopping territory.
Certain things, like bread and milk, should be
bought as needed. This assures freshness and
constant supply. It also can cause headaches
for whoever is handling the money.
How to handle the money
Collect the agreed amount from everybody
on the same day. This constitutes the kitty for
the week. Put the loot in a tobacco can or cof-
fee jar or something, and keep it somewhere
everybody has access to it.
Don't get into the situation where everybody
.,...........
tosses in their loot as it becomes available. If
that happens, it is easy to lose track and for
somebody to say, "I was supposed to pay 12
bucks on Saturday, but I didn't have it until
Wednesday and I bought, I think, two loaves of
bread and a can of spaghetti. Or was it two
cans of beans and a can of spaghetti? Anyway,
I still owe whatever the difference is ... " . Fill
the kitty first, then there is no difficulty in
taking the money out.
Without getting too formal, keep records.
Just a place to write down who tossed in the
week's share and who hasn't. Also, when
possible, keep receipts. In this way, you have
something to refer to and the possibility of
hassles is minimized.
Schedule your cooking
Everybody in your unit should be able to cook
something. If not, they should learn. If
somebody is a total write-off as a cook, don't
torture your innards with monstrosities. Put the
non-cookers on permanent bathroom duty and
away from the stove.
Rotate the cooking chores among the
capable cooks. Six people will almost cover a
week, and rotate Sundays. Of course there may
be a day in the week that a formal six-down
will not fit, so leave Sundays open. Remember ,
be flexible whenever pOSSible, but assign ' per-
men ant ' days. This avoids mix-ups.
Organize the clean-up
Supper is probably the only meal that
everybody can eat together. Breakfast and lun-
ch dishes will more than likely pile up during
the day. The minimum that should happen is af-
ter you eat , you rinse and stack your dishes on
the counter. Don't leave them lying around on
the table. After supper, one, or preferably two,
should do the dishes. If everyone is left to do
their own cleaning, you'll get dirty dishes piling
up. Do the cleaning as soon as possible after
the meal. The longer before it starts, the longer
it will take to get the work finished.
Co-operate
Your unit kitty must reflect a certain amount
of mutual trust and flexibility by the people in
your house unit. If you can't muster the basic
amount of co-operation involved in sitting down
to dinner once a day with each other, regard-
less of whether you think the guy in the end
room is a little weird, crooked or straight, then
your community is doomed. Once you start
bringing up your differences at the dinnertable,
supper becomes another battleground, another
point of contention. Before long you're back to
canned stew.
Most of us arrive at Neill-Wycik from homes
where someone - usually a mother figure -
takes care of the domestic end of things. That
central person does not exist here. Everyone
has to cultivate a few mother hen instincts.
Turning the unit into a home is everyone's
responsibility. You must spread the work
around.
A unit kitty can become a unifying factor and
the foundation of how good, or bad, your stay at
Neill-Wycik will be. It's possible that a full kitty
won't be necessary in your unit, but no matter
what arrangements are made, a certain amount
of co-operation is required to make life in a
house-unit bearable.
Where to Shop?
by Linda McCormick
Toronto is awesome enough without trying to
figure out where to find good food.
Several small high-cost convenience stores
are in the immediate area, but these should be
relied on for milk and bread alone.
So now starts the "Value-and-Variety-for-
Your-Dollar" search. The best overall bargains
are to be found at Knobhill Farms Food Ter-
minal. There are two locations within easy
reach of the CO-OD. One is located at Dundas
and Lansdown, about 35 minutes by streetcar.
If the distance sounds forbidding give it at least
a trial run - with a friend. The other store is on
Cherry Street near the waterfront, but to get
there you'll need a car or a cab. (About trans-
portation, see page 57.) The Food Terminals are
not your conventional supermarket , they are
warehouses open to the public.
Of course there are always the conventional
grocery stores. There are three Loblaws stores
an easy distance from the Co-op. In order of
distance, starting with the nearest, they are:
555 Sherbourne St.; Parliament St. above
Wellesley, just north of Gerrard; Yonge St., east
side, just above Adelaide St., south of Eaton
Centre. There is also a Dominion Store located
at Shuter and Sherbourne streets.
If you want to experience the atmosphere of
a farmers' market, get good prices and great
vegetables to boot, then try the St. Lawrence
Market. It's located at Front and Jarvis streets.
The north building is open on Saturdays from 5
am to 5 pm. Go early, everything is usually pick-
ed over by 3 pm. The 'experts' say that you get
the best selection early and the bargain prices
late.
51
52
Your Personal
The most important thing to remember here, as in other society, is that your activities
are relatively free-as long as they don't interfere with someone else's.
Filth, %$*#, and corruption bother everyone. But, if there is one thing that no one likes
to do, it is housework. Living here, on close terms with up to five other people, means
Cleaning Up
In a residential co-operative you look after
your own space, which includes your floor's
corridors, elevator lobbies, stairwells, garbage
chute rooms, and maintenace closet.
Naturally, you don't have to do this all alone.
You should have help - the other co-opers who
live on your floor. Your Floor Co-ordinator
should organize a maintenance schedule, with
you on it. Of course, if things don't get started,
or if the system falls apart, there' is nothing
stopping you from getting things set right , or
picking up a few loose ends, for that matter.
For sanity's sake, replace burnt-out light
bulbs, vacuum hallways, and take out the gar-
bage.
Vv'hether it's the floor, or just your own unit,
it's wise to keep things in decent shape. You
will be the first to notice a maintenance
problem. Unless you want to live with the
bother, report it!
Typical problems about which you should
notify Maintenance are: dripping taps, ripped
or miSSing screens; plugged sinks; negligible
water pressure; stove and fridge problems; bugs
mice e:trlU uliitn non-human pests; orOKen fur-
niture; plugged toilets; broken light switches
and cover plates; defective lamps; miSSing or
splintered bookshelves; and anything else that
doesn't seem right, or that you can't repair.
Remember, if you attempt a repair, first make
sure you know what you are doing. There is no
embarrassment in asking for help it you are not
sure what can be done, or if you feel incapable
of accomplishing a task.
Most cleaning and repair supplies are pro-
vided by the Co-op. Cleaning supplies, qar-
bage bags and some equipment are kept in the
floors' maintenance cupboards (see diagram).
Acidic tile cleaner, which is great for cleaning
the floor tiles in the washroms, can be obtained
from the basement Maintenance office. (For
more information on the hall closet, see
separate story).
In addition, during the winter, each floor has
a vacuum cleaner aSSigned to it. It is kept in
one of the units; the location will be posted
near the elevators on each floor. During the
summer, the vacuums are spread around rather
thinly because of the Hotel operation. From
May through August, two Hotel floors must
share with each other. Co-op floors each get a
machine of their own. The little beasties are
collected at the end of August and April for
cleaning and preventative maintenance. A few
machines are available for sign-out during this
period, so you don't have to get buried in dust
motes. Oh, and by the way, you, too, can clean
out your own vacuum! Maintenance will be
happy to give you instructions.
Of course, now that you know what to look
for, and where to get stuff, next thing is what to
do, right? Read on.
QUICK MAP ~ elevators," I I I F UNIT
garbage C h u t ~ I maintenance closet
II)
elevators EUNIT
Environment
that you have to keep your mess under control.
So for those who care, and especially for those who should ...
The owner's manuals for some of the equip-
ment in your unit have long disappeared, and
there are some peculiarities with the building
for which you may need some help and ex-
planation to make cleaning and repair easier.
Here are a few tips.
DEFROSTING THE FRIDGE
Every year somebody damages a refrigerator.
The Co-op will bill you for repairs, so before we
get to the 'do's' ... this important don't:
Do not use any object, other than a finger, to
remove ice. Forks and knives, and yes, even
spoons, are deadly to the fridge, no matter how
careful you are. If you poke even a small hole in
the freezer lines, it's goodbY!3 bucks.
To remind you, each freezer door has a warn-
ing label attached to it. If your freezer is
miSSing this little sign, ask for a new one at the
Office. It ' s better than a string around your
finger - it doesn't cut off the circu lation!
THE DO'S
Here's how to do it right:
When the ice is about a quarter inch thick,
the fridge should be defrosted. Here is The
N W Ten Step Method
1. Remove frozen food and take it to the next
unit in a garbage bag. Ask your fellow co-
opers to put it in their fridge until yours is
ready. If you ask first, then you will find a
fridge with enough room to accomodate
you. With some real planning, you can pull
a co-operative arrangement where you de-
frost one day, and your neighbour the next,
using the reciprocal storage method. (You
figure it out)
2. Turn the fridge control dial to OFF (not de-
frost, it wastes time).
3. Unscrew the lightbulb in the fridge until it
goes out.
4. Prop the main door and the freezer door
open (use an ice cube tray, it has to be
good for something).
5. Go to a movie, concert, play, disco, or just
out.
6. Come back. Dump the tray under the
freezer. It's full of water. If you blow this
step, wash your floor, it's already wet.
7. Remove ice carefully, with your fingers.
8. Dry off surfaces after all the ice is gone.
9. Screw in the lightbulb, turn on the dial to
desired setting.
10. restock your fridge, and open a new box of
Cow Brand if you wish.
And that is that!
CLEANING THE STOVE
Neill-Wycik stoves are generally neglected.
This is unfortunate because a clean stove
doesn't send up smoke signals, uses energy
more efficently, and doesn't smell like you' re
boiling a goat (unless of course you are, in
which case we can't help you).
There isn't much to cleaning a stove. Just
keep the top cleaned daiiy with a damp cloth,
the oven cleaned once weekly with the oven
cleaner supplied in the Maintenance Closet ,
and the pans under the elements cleaned when
needed, usually weekly as well.
BATTLE OF THE OVEN
While you don't have to do it this way, and
the get-up is a bit of a bother, try it. The oven
cleaner is caustic, so use rubber gloves. It is
also suggested by the safety people that you
wear a face mask of some sort, and eye
protection as well. They prevent loss of sight
and lung damage from the fumes.
The gloves, mask and eye protection you will
have to get on your own. As mentioned, it's
your own choice, but the gloves, at least,
should be used.
Lining the bottom of the oven and the
element drip pans helps in the clean-up but
some manufacturers claim this helps the
elements burn out more quickly.
continues ...
53
54
cleaning hints, continued .. .
There are times when your elements will burn
out, or your stove wi II not work. New fuses for
the stove, and new elements can be obtained
through Maintenance.
Two tips: Don' t use your oven as a space
heater. It is there only for baking and broiling;
and don' t put a pan over the oven vent , usually
located in one of the two rear burners, when the
oven is on. This somehow doesn' t do much for
what's happening inside the range.
DON'T BE IN THE DARK
The first rule of thumb when something elec-
trical doesn't but by all rights should, is
that a fuse has blown. Don't panic. You are the
one who can fix the problem. The fuse box for
the kitchen is located in one of the cupboards
above the sink. Have a look for it when you
arrange the stuff on the shelves, and leave a
way to get to it easily when you have to. Found
it yet? It ' s that gray metal thing in the wall.
Fuses are available from Maintenace. If, how-
ever, you can't get one from that source, buy
one and keep the recei pt , we' ll pay you back.
Always replace the used fuse with one of the
same amperage. That means a 15 amp fuse for a
15 amp fuse. Don ' t replace a fuse with one of a
higher number. And if the same fuse keeps
blowing, report it immediately. There ' s
probably something wrong with the wiring on
the Circuit.
For other problems, in the multiple units,
there is also a relay box or two. If the fuse isn't
the answer, flip the switches. If what should
come on doesn't after that , report it , too.
FLOOR STORY
Floors are easy things to clean. They just
take soap, water, time and some effort.
If you wish to clean the bathroom floor and
wall tiles, you can pick up a jug of acidic tile
cleaner (hydrocloric acid) from Maintenance.
You have to be careful with it , but it does a
great job!
Pour it on heavily. Let it sit for 10 to 20
minutes, then rinse it off a couple of times. You
may need to do a little scrubbing, so protect
your hands.
If you wish to really clean your floors, be they
carpet or tile, we also have a floor stripper and
a steam cleaner available. Both machines can
be found at Maintenance.
AND FINALLY
The only things more ignored than the stoves
around here, when it comes to cleaning, are the
toi lets.
Clean:ng a toilet is not such a hard job, it just
seems that way.
Toilet bowl cleaners do most of the work.
You just have to scrub a I ittle with a brush and
wipe a little with a rag. No big deal.
When you try it , you may not like it , but you
may feel more secure the next time.
Chute Shuffle
The. Garbage Chute one of the many miracles of modern technology. But it is very
:te:rp.peramental. It will treat you well" if you treat it well. But it made up its own rules
10,llg ago.
We indulge only have one. Treat the Garbage Chute as a friend. Don't ever, ever,
EVER throvy: newspaper, glass, boxes (including those of the pizza variety), or any
l00t'e down the Chute. It's got a union, so you'll have to
out back tp the bins yourself.
I "
the Chute's rules will inspire retaliation. It will plug up. No
icne:Will be abl e to'use it, possibly for days. Your house will smell like the last plague.
'Phe 0nute,,;Will) augh. Maintenance or security staff will have to unplug the jam, which
means climbfng into the chute. They will not laugh.
Do the Chy.te by its r ules, or it will do unto youl
me to tell you about the Garbage Chute and the attempted
'dlsppsal of a.seven-foot Christmas. tree sometime.)
Pest Problems
If you hear the pitter patter of I ittle feet and
know that no one in your unit has little feet ,
t hen you may have visitors who haven' t been in-
vited.
Big Clean
Despite the best enorts ot many co-opers to
keep their homes neat and the Co-op leader-
ship's efforts to help encourage this goal , when
the Hotel season nears, we have to pay people
to clean all of the multiple units used for in the
hotel operation.
Known as the Spring Clean-up, the big clean
is a costly measure in time and work. Two
crews, mainly co-opers who have been hired to
do the work, spend the best part of two weeks
scrubbing, scrapping and scouring 14 floors of
four, five and six person units to make them
presentable to our hotel guests. And what a
mess. Ask anyone who has worked the clean-
up. Toilets that have never seen a grain of
cleaner; the spaces behind stoves and refrig-
erators that have never been washed, never
mind swept; floors that haven't been washed
since the last clean-up. It ' s a mess folks!
To many members, this just a place to sleep
and eat , collect the mail and to be found. It's
nothing more. There is no pride, no sence of be-
longing or ownerShip. So they don' t care. They
need a push. And if you care, well, don't give up
just because you're stuck with the other kind.
Thisis not an us and them place. That kind of
relationship results in the maintenance abuses
that we have to clean up every year. This is a we
place. We should all pitch in to up keep our
home-for however long we live here.
For the problems that bug you, the Main-
tenance people will go the cupboard route.
Clean out all your cupboards, above and below
the sink. Wash them out. Maintenance will then
apply a residual spray which is effective at zap-
pin' bugs for up to 60 days. A word of warning
though. While the spray is not toxic to humans
and most pets, small animals, birds and fist1
are in danger, so find a place to stash them un-
til the air clears. The light powder left once the
spray drys is okay. It won't harm anything -
except bugs!
For mice we go the feeding route. Main-
tenance will work with you in plaCing several
trays of rodent bait in your cupboards under the
sink and under your radiators. We don 't use
traps because they are not effective in highrise
buildings. The bait is an effective method, and
will clear up the problem in three to four weeks.
Secrets of the 811rf Room
We've all got to air our dirty linen sometime, I and other laundry additives from a grocery
and there' s no better place than the Surf Room. store.
As well as space to show off your dainties, The washing machines work best if you don't
the Surf Room has washers, dryers, a folding overload them. Keep the wash about three in
table and an ironing board. You may have notic- ches from the too of the bin. So that you don't
ed that those objects describe the contents of a Lawrence Welk your way into the annals of
laundry room. Neill-Wycik history, use only the amount of
Like many of the fun places in the building, soap appropriate to the amount of wash you
the Surf Room has its own quirks and a few tips have, and in any case no more than two-thirds
are in order. cup, which is about 250ml for you metric types.
First of all , unless the world changes over The machines are not capable of adjusting
night, the change machine tends either not to water levels, so you're stuck witha full tub each
work or to be out of stock when you need it time. You can adjust for temperature.
most. Bring enough change to get you through If the machines screw up and you loose vour
wash and dry. money, refunds are available at the Office. Put
The dispenser, which offers soap and such an out-of-order sign on the offending contrap-
for sale, is usually jamed or out of stock too, so tion, please.
save money and, frustration get your potions
55
56
GettinP: __
Okay, now you know your way around the building as well as anyone else. But how
well can you get around the city?
Toronto is quite a walkable town, especially since we are, according to the
Toronto-sellers, centrally located. There are, however, places and people just out of
comfortable walking distance, like the airport, Scarborough, and the Zoo.
DOUBLE
PARK/tJG
/
Parking the Auto
Cities W8re never meant for automobiles, but
they were meant for people.
Automobiles were meant for people.
Something had to give. Trouble is, it wasn't
people giving up their automobiles, so the
space to put the darn things in is in short sup-
ply. And if the development plans for our im-
mediate area go through, that shortage is going
to get even shorter.
Neill-Wycik has a parking lot at the rear of
the building with space for 45 cars. In addition
to this, we rent spaces from a parking lot close
to the building. All these spaces are rented on a
first come. first served h::tsis at move-in time.
The parking situation in our neighbourhood
has always been bad because of our proximity
to Maple Leaf Gardens. There are events at the
Gardens 200 nights of the year and each event
brings a flood of suburban cars looking for a
home. They will steal a space anywhere they
can. It is vital that Wyci k parkers behave
responsibly and replace the chain on our lot af-
ter every entrance and exit. Failure to do so
results in a loss of parking privileges.
Because of lack of spaces, visitors and
unregistered parkers cannot use our lot. This is
not a major problem because we are currently
surrounded by private lots, as long as the
visitor is not competing with a Gardens event.
A car in the city, while a convenience, is not a
necessity unless you plan to travel a long
distance or require it for work. It is advisable to
look into the alternative of public transpor-
tation.
Around
So, how do you get there? The Resource Centre can help you with some of that
information, but there are some basiC ideas you should be familiar with first.
PubliC Transit
You want to go from here to there, you don't
have a car or want to use one, a cab would be
too expensive and you don't want to walk. So
you take the bus, right? Not necessari Iy!
Oh, sure, you'll use public transportation, but
not necessarily a bus. It may be a street car or
the subway, or a combination of all of them.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is re-
sponsible for the operation of public transit in
Metropolitan Toronto. The service is convient,
although it's getting progressively more expen-
sive, and certain service cuts in the city core
are plain ridiculous. Still, it is good to have it
when you need it.
The subway stations nearest the Co-op are at
Carlton and Yonge, the College station, and
Dundas and Yonge, that's the Dundas station
at Eaton Centre.
The Church Street bus stops at the corner of
Yonge and Gerrard for southbound
and south-east for northbound). The closest
street car stop is Carlton and Church (south
west for eastbound, north-east for westbound)
The price of the ride entitles you to transfers,
Taxi!
The TTC route is just too long and compli-
cated. You're dressed for the evening and don't
want to blow it on the bus. The car's sllot and
you have to get there now! What to do? Take a
cab!
At last look, Toronto's cab rates were the
lowest in North America, and that's not too
bad now, is it.
On the main streets, cabs can be hailed, but
if you live off the main drag, it's best to call one.
Unless it's a busy period, or raining, there'll be
a cab at your door in anywhere from five to 20
minutes.
and if you plan correctly you can get there from
here in reasonable time.
Tips: Buy your tickets or tokens in bulk,
which reduces the cost slightly; cut transport
time by combining services (for example don't
loop around the subway from Dundas to St.
Patrick station for University Northbound, when
you can take a streetcar from Dundas and
Yonge to University and Dundas and catch the
underground there).
If you know where you're going, but not how
to get there, the TTC wi II tell you where to go.
All you have to do is call 484-4544. The service
is avai lable dai Iy from 7 am to 11 :30 pm. Transit
route maps, called Ride Guides, can be ob-
tained from the TTC just for the asking. There
are usually a few copies in the Resource Cen-
tre, too.
Bbycle8
There is an alternative form of wheeled tran-
sportation that gets overlooked a lot, but which
is growing in popularity and there's a boom
ahead in the business. Bicycles!
There is a lot to be said in favour of the bike.
The power unit has to be fueled everyday any-
way. It's easy to park and store. It's cheaper
than a car, and lighter too. You can learn to fix
it, and the only time the engine falls out is when
you loose your balance.
Yep, bikes are good. You can still get there,
be i ndependant transportation-wise, take up
less space, use less of our non-renewable en-
ergy, cut pollution, keep yourself in shape, lots
of things.
Yes, if you have to get there, and don't want
to walk, don't have a car, the bus turns you off
and cabs are not your style, a bicycle is just for
you.
57
58
There are some things in this world which just don't logically fit anywhere. Yet they
maybe important. Or at least they are nice to know about.
Our building has been here awhile. In that 'while', we have established certain
Decor
Once you've got your room, the next step is
to make it your home. That means impressing
your personality on the space. Some people
have no difficulty in doing this. They just put
their stuff in the space and that's that. But if
you want to be creative, or have a physical or
esthetic disaster on your hands, you ' ll want to
decorate.
The majordecorating medium is paint. The Co-
op supplies paint on a sliding cost scale, depend-
ing on the physical condition of the room or unit.
While the policy is under constant review and is
regularly adjusted to reflect cost efficiency, the
basic idea is that if you are assigned an unmiti-
gated disaster, the paint is free. If there is only
partial wall damage or paint problems, you pay
half the cost. If you are not pleased with the col -
our, but otherwise the place is okay, you pay the
full cost.
Maintenance will mix the paint for you, once
you get your paint slip and, where applicable,
your receipt. We use a semi-gloss latex paint
which is washable, dries to a nice finish, and is
easily painted over.
People living in the multiple units have part-
time painters available to assist them so that
the paint job is done properly. This saves paint ,
time and money. If you live in a multiple unit ,
you have to make the arrangements for the
painters. You can find out who they are when
you make arrangements for your paint in the
Office.
Okay, so much for paint. What about wall -
paper? Well, we'd prefer that you not use the
stuff. It is easily damaged and begins to look
shabby. However, if you've got your heart set on
the stuff, here are a few hints: Use it in your
room only. Use dry stripable stuff so it's easily
removed by you before you move! Remember, if
you are putting up shelves or pictures or what-
ever, that you're putting holes in the paper as
well as the wall. Match your pattern when you
put up your wallpaper, otherwise you'll be
haunted by your mistakes. Keep any leftovers
for repai rs.
procedures, and the building has developed certain quirks. Since they don't fit
anywhere else, here's a look at a few of those 'little' things.
Cards & Letters
If it can do anythi ng, the Post Office gets one
thing right: It usually delivers the mail to the
building.
Your cards, letters, bills and plain brown en-
velopes are part of the usual morning delivery.
No one delivers the mail to your door. It has
to be picked up at the Office. There are mail
boxes there for each unit. Your mail is pigeon-
holed there along with whatever your unitmates
have had sent to them.
Be friendly when you pick up your mail , and
take the stuff for your whole unit. If there are
notices or other single items for the unit in the
box, make sure that everyone in your unit has
the opportunity to see the stuff. Just because
you may not be interested doesn' t mean that
someone else may not be. Take everything with
you. If you don't, the junk piles up.
If you receive mail which is meant for no one
in your unit, strike out the unit number in the
address and put the mail in the basket also
located in the Office. The item will be
redirected.
If you are moving, let the Office know what
your new address will be. We will forward your
mail for six weeks. You should also tell it to those
who need to know your new address. Don't waste
money on the Post Office' s offer to forward your
mail. They send that card to us. We do the work.
They keep your money.
One more thing: We can use your help
sorting the mail in the morning when it comes
in, or checking out the misdirected stuff, or
readdressing the things that need to be
forwarded. Here is one opportunity to be
involved with the daily operation of the Co-op. It
isn ' t glamorous , but it's necessary.
And finally: Your address is:
Your Name,
96 Gerrard St. E.,
Your Unit (you can say Apt._ ),
Toronto, Ontario.
M5B1G7
Summer Heat / Winter Sizzles
Winters are fun at the Co-op. The members
have one thing in common: The rooms are
either too hot or too cold. The reason:
Technology.
Neill-Wycik is equipped with hot water heat-
ing, which means there are huge boilers in
the basement which have to heat and circulate
the water which in turn goes through the pipes
to our rooms, looses its heat to the cold air,
thereby heating the air and us! There are two
problems. The first is that it takes the boilers
about three days to heat up or cool down. The
second is that some genius decided the best
most efficient way to decide when heat is
needed is to put the thermostat outside the
building and to split the system for south and
north exposu reo
For those periods, the boilers can't keep up
with the changing minds of the thermostats.
Aside from that, any change in the weather
which is unusual , like a summer cold spell or a
winter warm-up, will not be reflected in in-
creased or reduced heat output by the boi lers
until three days later, when it mayor may not be
required. Makes you want to fly south and stay
there, doesn' t it.
Summer is just about as much fun.
The place isn't air conditioned. (The cafe is,
but that's for business, so there.) So, how to
keep your cool while the streets are melting.
Simple: buy a fan, install your own air condi-
tioner, move to the upper artic.
The fan is your best bet. It takes up little
room and less energy than an air conditioner. If
you go the air conditioner route, you' ll have to
tell the Co-op, which means Maintenance. And
you'll have to abide by the Co-op' s installation
requirements, which means, we don't want the
thing to fall on anybody.
59
60
Elevation
Ah, the joys of modern technology! The buil-
ding is equipped with four - count 'em - four
elevators. At any time they can be (a) working;
(b) out of service; (c) on special assignment; (D)
missing; (e) none of the above.
The reason for this situation is simple: We
don't know what the little vertical carriers have
on their minds.
We do know that they have problems. A few
of them are physical and can be taken care of,
with varying degrees of difficulty and speed, by
the elevator repair service we have on contract .
The other problems, the persistent ones, are
psychological.
There are people who can care for the mental
well being of people, some animals, and most
computers. However, we have yet to locate an
elevator psychiatrist. This is important because,
counterclockwise from southwest , the little
beggars are psychotic, neurotic, schizophrenic,
and suicidal. It is not a pretty situation.
We could retire the little darlings, after ten
years service, at great expense. This would be the
logical and seemingly humane thing to do. But,
we have been advised that this course of action
may not be wise. After all, their employment at
Neill-Wycik is the only anchor they have in their
lives' constant ups and downs. It gives them a
purpose.
Deliveries
So you're expecting a package.
Be it from Eaton's, Sears, Goodwill or your
mom, there may be problems getting it to you.
First of all, make sure that the sender has
your address right. They usually get the 96 Ger-
rard Street East part correct , although some-
times somebody goes west instead. It's the room
numbers that get the 'outsiders' confused.
So, if you want the delivery to go to a 'B' unit,
make sure that the person who takes the order
knows that it's a 'B' and not an 'E' or a '0' or an
eight!
Now, there may be times that you won't be in.
You can have the del ivery brought to the Office.
If the package is COD, make sure that the Staff
has your cheque, cash, or money order. If you are
expecting a large item, it's better if you give per-
mission for it to be delivered to your room. Just
drop a dated signed note off at the Office giving
permission for your unit and room to be entered,
and for what purpose.
There are a few things we can do to make the
situation better. We can thank the elevators for
their service. We can stop and chat with them.
We can show them some appreciation; demon-
strate our need for them. We can stop treating
them as mere objects.
None of that withstanding, there will always
be problems. And unti I the field of elevator psy-
chology has progressed to a point where deep
seated problems can be effectively dealt with,
we'll just have to put up with their whimseys.
So, if you get aboard an upbound elevator
and find yourself in the basement; or if you press
the call button for your floor and whiz right on
past it; or if you reach your floor and the door
won 't open, don't take offence.
After all, they can't help it. They're doing the
best they can. But they need understanding
and compassion.
Besides, what you can expect from a motor-
ized yo-yo?
So Long!
"Gee, you're leaving. Well, it's a been nice
knowing you. Where' re you going?"
Sometimes, we don't have the chance to ask.
Sometimes you don't have the opportunity to tell
us. But we need to know where you are off to.
During the term of your occupancy agree-
ment, it's possible to get a forwarding address
because, if you leave before the agreement has
expired, we have to talk the whole thing over. And
it's automatic.
But, when you're leaving at the end of your
agreement, well, there are a lot of people leaving
then too. So, in case you leave something be-
hind, or we get in touch for some reason, make
sure that we have your new address. Even if it's
not a permanent one, we can at least get a com-
munnication on its way to you.
Updates
From time to time, there will be adjust!11ents
to the facric of our vertical village. New com-
mittees will spring into being. There will be
changes in staff and operation of the Co-op.
These may make a lie of the Owner's Manual.
So, watch for notices and especially your
own copy of update pages for the Owner's
Manual. Keep 'em handy. Keep in touch!
Appendices

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62
Appendix A
The Cooperative Corporations Act of
the Province of Ontario sets out the
terms of operation of a provincially in-
corporated co-operative.
Any co-operative which is incor-
porated, that is one which becomes a
company (like Neill-Wycik) must con-
form to the standards and requirements
of this Act .
The terms of the Act cover all facets of
a co-operative' s operation , from the pro-
cess of incorporation, to member
meetings, accounting, records , and the
dissolution of the corporation.
In many instances, the Act allows for
minimum standards. That is, it has provi-
sions for certain procedures which are
only in effect if the Co-op has not provid-
ed for them in its By-laws. For example,
the Act sets no minimum attendance or
quorum for Annual or General meetings
of members. This is the responsibility of
the Co-op. Of'l the other hand, the Act
provides that quorum for the Board of
Directors is a majority of directors,
unless otherwise provided for in the Co-
op' s By-laws, but in any case not less
than two-fifths of the total board.
In short , the Co-operative Corpora-
tions Act is a compendium of the legal
requirements to which a Co-op must
conform.
Copies of the Act are available in the
Resource Centre.
AppendixB
The documents which have the most
immediate effect on the operation of the
Co-operative are the By-laws.
The By-laws set out the terms and
conditions for the operation of our Co-
op.
Neill-Wycik has four by-laws which
spell out the rights and responsibilities
of the members and of their elected and
appointed administration.
Bylaw 1 is aconstitutional by-law. It
contains provisions for the operation of
the Co-op. Under the provision of the Co-
operative Corporations Act (q.v.), By-law
1 outlines the legalities of administra-
tion. Included in the By-law are the terms
of membership, the constitution of the
Board and its standing committees, the
powers, duties and responsibilities of
the Board , the requirements for
meetings of members, and provisions
relating to the fiscal year and the hand-
ling of funds.
Bylaw 2 is a by-law relating to the
power of the Directors to handle certain
banking matters. It is a requirement of
most financial institutions which handle
our accounts.
By-law 4 provides for the operation of
the Co-operative and the taking of cer-
tain decisions by an Executive Commit-
tee. This By-law was enacted at a time
when the Co-op was experiencing finan-
cial trouble, and there was a need for
flexibility of the administration to deal
with rapidly changing situations. It re-
mains in effect as a useful tool in case
of an emergency. The members of the
Executive Committee are held fully
responsible for their actions.
Bylaw 9 is a departure from all of our
other by-laws. Where the others are con-
cerned with administration and respon-
sibility for the operation of the Co
operative, By-law 9 is concerned with
housing and the rights and respon-
sibilities of the members, and their rela-
tionship to the Co-op.
By-law 9 is the blueprint for the opera-
tion of our housing business. It spells
out the terms and conditions for which
housing is supplied, and the procedures
to be followed in applying for and ter-
minating occupancy and membership.
The By-law also contains information
on deadlines, procedures and forms.
These add conformity and clarity to our
operation.
The by-laws are easily accessible
documents. They are available from the
Office, and copies are on file in the
Resource Centre. Become familiar with
them. In essence, and within the limita-
tion of the law, they are an expression of
your desires. Why? Because no by-law
takes effect until it is approved by the
Membership - you l
Appendix 0
The Occupancy Agreement is just that
- an agreement , a contract.
Members do not lease or rent the
space they occupy in the Co-op. We have
a different system. Members apply for
and are granted the right to occupy their
rooms and units.
The Occupancy Agreement outlines
some of the responsibilities of the occu-
pying member and of the Co-operative in
entering into this arrangement.
One of these provisions is the housing
charge to be paid by the member in ex-
change for the right to occupy. Another
is the term of the occupancy.
The Occupancy Agreement also
outlines some of the procedures for ear-
ly termination of occupancy, and the
resulting financial and other obligations
of both the member and the Co-
operative.
The Occupancy Agreement, used in
concert with By-law 9 (q.v.), is a valuable
document, and benefits both the
members and the Cooperative because
it clearly sets out the terms of a mutual
agreement for mutual benefit.
AppendixD
Regulations surround us. Few people
are aware that any sort of legislation, no
matter how all-encompassing it may
seem, is translated into some sort of en-
forceable regulation .
Acts of Parliament, the provincial
legislature, a city council and the Co-op
may, from time to time, have concomi-
tant regulations writen under their agis.
By-law 1 (q.v.) allows for regulations to
be enacted by the Board consistant with
the provision of the By-law. Throughout
that document, there are references to
procedure by regulation.
Bylaw 9 (q.v.) allows for the Board to
adopt regulations, and act with them in
mind. But it also requires them to be ap-
pended to the By-law as a schedule,
thereby making it part of the By-law.
This requires final approval by the
membership.
There are ::,everal regulations in effect
at Neill-Wycik. Those related to By-law 1
are for clarification and simplification of
its enactment. Those for By-law 9 are
contained in Schedules A, B, and C, of
that document and are concerned with
Membership Policy, Rules and Regula-
tions, (for some of these, see page 6) and
Maintenance Policy.
AppeD_dixE
TheCorporate Charter is the docu
ment which sets out the Co-operative's
name, purpose, and other factors rele-
vant to it becoming an entity, and in law
a 'person'.
Neill-Wycik's charter is contained in
its Letters Patent, a certificate of incor-
poration issued by the Ontario Govern-
ment in response to an application made
by the founding members of the Co-op.
Neill-Wycik was incorporated in 1978
as a non-share capital, non-profit cor-
poration and was converted to a co-
operative corporation in 1976.
The Letters Patent contain our Ar-
ticles of Incorporation, which state our
purpose for existence, and other articles
pertinent to our operation, such as the
amount of the Membership Fee, Member
loans, and provisions concerning pay-
ment of Directors.
The Letters Patent may be amended
from time to time by the Members in
order to reflect changes in the operation
of the corporation or in the philosophy
of its constituents. In such a case, the
Coop files Articles of Amendment with
the Government and these are acknow-
ledged with the issuance of Supplemen-
tary Letters Patent.
AppendixF
Energy Conservation is not just a pass-
ing fad. It's a real concern that we should
all be thinking about. By conserving ener
gy we save money that can be used for
other things like new carpets, new pool
tables, new TVs and even a lower rent in-
crease. Remember that there is no profit
to be made here. Any money that you save
the Coop comes back to you in the form
of more goods, services and amenities.
What can you do? Plenty! Get that leaky
faucet fixed. Turn off lights and appli-
ances that are not in use. Take all the food
for a meal out of the fridge at the same
time. Cover pots on the hot stove. Close
your windows when you're not home in
the winter. All these things, and others
left up to your imagination, can save
energy on a large scale over a period of
time.
Canadians use more energy per person
than any other nation. There are some
good reasons for this. Our large industrial
base, the high percentage of urban dwel
lers and the long distances to travel in
this country and subsequent energy in-
tensive transportation costs make some
of it necessary. There are things that we
can do to decrease this use of energy, like
determining areas that waste energy and
watching our own habits.
NeillWycik is embarking on an exten
sive energy conservation program which
will save thousands of dollars. However,
thousands more can be saved if our memo
bers make a concerted effort to save
energy. Start with yourself and your
habits. Don't live less comfortably. Just
be energy conscious. Don't use more
than you need.
AppendixG
The Damage Deposit is a fully refund-
able deposit required by the Co-op when
you move in. You will get it back when you
move out, providing that there is no dam
age to your room or unit.
When you assume occupancy of a unit,
it and your room are checked out for defi-
ciencies and the results are recorded.
When you move out, the unit and specif-
ically your room, are checked against this
record. The costs of repairing any new
damage will be deducted from the de
posit. The balance will be returned to you.
If the amount of damage exceeds the
amount of the deposit, you will be billed
for the additional amount. In the case of
damage to the common areas of the unit,
the members occupying the unit will be
billed an equal amount.
You won't be charged for reasonable
wear and tear so don't worry about things
like scuffs on the walls. If there is ac-
cidental breakage, it must be reported to
maintenance immediately or you will be
charged for it.
The damage deposit system is a pro-
tection for the members and the Co-op. It
is intended to provide payment for
damage by the people who cause the
damage. In a way it is a deterrent for
malicious damage. It also ensures that
the people responsible for damage pay
for it.
63
64
Co-operative
Concep___._ts __
There are many things an individual can't do, but which many people can do well
together: Making steel; raising children; running a highrise community.
People can achieve a higher level of civilization and humanity by working together.
People have a natural right to share in the ownership and control of the business
organizations which serve them.
Democracy in the economy requires one person, one vote; not one share, one vote.
Democracy is necessary in economic and political organizations.
Profit made by large institutions belongs to the people who have directly and
indirectly created wealth.
Success in a co-operative business can be best measured by service to the people over a
long time. Co-ops are instruments of mutual aid, not ends in themselves.
Co-ops challenge both public and private enterprise to be humane, democratic, and a
service to the people.
For the social and political good, people should run their own affairs and therefore,
any field in which people can organize themselves in a spirit of mutual aid and
self-reliance is a proper field for co-op endeavors: Making steel, raising children;
running a highrise community.
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Robert J. Luker
Hn U[LP[ D [ ACI-I
OUT.
EMERGENCY ONLY
Call Security: 977-2322
Other numbers to call as needed:
Fire, Police and Ambulance: 361-1111
Poison -Control: 597-1500 or 461-8272
Drug Crises: 967-6488
Suicide Prevention: 368-8211
Distress Ce'ntres: 598-1121 or 486-1456
Co-op Info: 977-2320
-
C ' Atoui lhe cOlier.... "'
The cover is a line drawing by long time member Alan Spinney.
The drawing is a montage of people involved in everyday activities. It was chosen because it illustrates the heart of Neill-
Wycik: People sharing their experiences, work, fun, joys, sorrows - everything that life brings, It also emphasizes that the Co-
op is its people.
The lines radiating from the top left hand corner of the cover are not a space-filling decoration. They are Alan's impression
of the mural which graces the east exterior wall of the building.
The mural , by Canadian artist Rita Letendre, replaces an earlier work by the same artist , Sunset No. 1, which was painted on
our west wall and obscured by the Place Gerrard building.
By the way, the name of the new work is Skyward Dream - a sentiment shared with the people who founded the on Iy true co.
operatively-run student highrise in Toronto: Neill-Wycik Co-op College.
COVERCREDITS
Illustration: Alan Spinney
Typesetting: Neographix
Printing: Bessborough Graphics Ltd., Toronto
..)