Lest You Forget

The co-op has been taken over by a corporation.  It is not a hostile takeover - it is a holistic one. In fact, the Board of Directors are so enamored by the CEO of this corporation, that they deferred all matters over to her at our Special Members' Meeting.

The CE0 has a varied history with our co-op.  She was one of three external 'experts' who took over our co-op under our Solvency By-law.  Two of these Board members left their positions prematurely.  The third Board member (our present CEO) stepped down to become our paid Office Co-ordinator.  (The external Board of Directors failed to monitor the goings-on with our previous Office Co-ordinator, nor did they listen to the complaints by members, until the office was in such disarray it could no longer be ignored.)  The ex-external Board member disappeared for a week or two, until negotiations brought her back, minus the Property Management company she worked for.  At our Special Members' Meeting she stated that she is now a corporation and even brought an employee with her.  The corporation must be extremely fast growing in order to support two substantial incomes.

The Agenda stated that the CEO would conduct planning sessions  after the main order of business was finished. However, seeing that this meeting was a Special Members' Meeting to deal with an eviction, members were successful in limiting the Agenda to address the eviction. (The Board of Director's decision was successfully overturned by the Members.) The CEO then wanted to engage in a discussion to ask members for guidance for future Board decisions.  She was reminded that the meeting had already been adjourned. 

The Board of Directors has apparently gone out for tender for property management.  This is a smoke and mirrors tactic to bring the CEO back into the fold of the co-op (once again) under her newly incorporated company - for a long-term contract.

All correspondence coming from the office is presently signed:
 
                              YOURS IN CO-OPERATION

                               MANAGEMENT 

We are being duly conditioned to withstand the patronizing ways of our co-op's latest form of democracy.

Dime A Dozen Evictions

There is an extreme abuse of power underway by the Board of Directors evicting members for sums under $25.00 and $1,000.00 respectively, purportedly owing to the co-op.  These members were never notified by letter from the co-op that sums were owing, nor were Performance Agreements ever entered into. 

Serving members with Notices of Eviction is the most serious action a Board of Directors can take. To lose one's housing without fair justice is a blatant violation of Section 7 of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom.

Community-oriented agencies have stated that our housing co-op has one of the worse reputations in the City of Ottawa for mismanagement and abuse of its members.

Directors' Refrain

Down at the office
Past the great big bend
The Directors assembled
To decide once again

Who shall we evict?
They said with a snap
It must be someone we know
To effect a great slap!

Rules do not matter
Rights do not exist
When we make decisions
Using delectable twists

We love to exact pain
In all the right places
For it gives us great power
In these vulnerable cases

We will make them shudder
We will make them shriek
No one will escape
Our impenetrable Feat

To destroy is our passion
To evict is our lust
No one will survive
Our divine Will to Crush

We will Win and we Know it
As we tighten the noose
We've done this before
AND

      WE WILL 

                      NOT   

                             LOSE!

At Our Leisure

Members received a 48-hr. notice that on Monday, September 3, 2012 and on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., a maintenance person would be entering our homes to install CO/Smoke Detectors. 

How long does a 48-hr. notice last?  For us, it lasted for 144 hours, not including the two days mentioned above.  Now that's a very wide 48-hr. window.

It kind of reminds me of the eviction once taken against me.  It was merely 'postponed'.

Speaking of evictions ...

Side Trip on Saturday Night

Well, that was interesting - my very first ambulance ride as a patient.  The diagnosis was Hypokalemia - low potassium.  I experienced electrical currents up and down my arms, I began to shake, my teeth chattering and lips quivering.  I'm not out of the woods yet as I feel very slowed down and a tad light headed.  

All-in-all this is extremely weird.

The Strange & Loving Saga of Stéfan & Stéfane

Je t'adore Stéfane - Oh, how I long to spend the night with you.

Je t'aime aussi, Stéfan, but your car ...

Mais pourquoi mon auto, ma chérie?

Parce que Stéfan, you have not registered to stay overnight.

But what can I do, mon lapin?

You must make arrangements with the office, mon amour.

Ma chérie, I called the office, mais la machine is on FAX.  Ques que je peux faire?

C'est compliqué, Stéfan.  We must get in touch with a Director then.  The Board has said that it is our duty, or there will be a punishment.  Mais, it is after nine o'clock at night and if we knock on a Director's door, I could get evicted.  Je ne sais pas quoi faire ...

Oh my pet, I long for you vraiement a ce moment.  How could I leave you now?

Je sais, Stéfan, tomorrow is but a long ways off.

Je vais retourner, my love.  I would traverse the Great Wall of China and scale all the fjords in Norway just to be in your arms again. 

I await your return, Stéfan.  My heart aches seulement pour toi ...

The moon's glow will caress us both Stéfane.  Until then  - ma chérie.

Stéfan, we will embrace once again.  Je t'aime Stéfan!

Moi aussi, Stéfane - je t'adore ...


Postscript:  After the failed attempt by Stéfan to reach the office, the co-op has declared that there will be no Visitors Parking until further notice.  The fate of Stéfane is still unknown.

Director Dictates

Director #1 to a friend debtor:

You know that you've owed months of unpaid housing charges before and now you want to go on an exotic vacation - again? 

Well – OK, how about you pay us when you feel up to it ....

*****

Director #1 to a non-friend debtor:

What?  You owe the co-op $200.? I am going to put my education to good use – you are EVICTED!

*****

Director #2 to a co-op member:

I know that I've been in arrears before – actually LOTS of time, but that was then and this is now.  Besides which, I'm making plans to go up to the cottage.  I vote you EVICTED!

Is the Board meeting over yet?

*****

Director #3 to a co-op member:

Listen, I am an upstanding member of society.  True, I haven't been coming to very many Board meetings over the years, but I do attend – some of the time.  I'm not up on my By-laws, but then again, they are not needed — when I make decisions.  Even though I don't participate much, they seem to like me here on the Board.  And as such, YOU ARE EVICTED!

*****

Director #4 to a co-op member:

I vote and support the winning side.  That way, I'm always in good favour with the folks in power.  And I get to enjoy the PERKS of the position I've had on the Board – for many years now.  I'm kind of the friendly type of person.  I get along with everyone.  Oh, by the way, YOU ARE EVICTED!

******

Director #5 to a co-op member:

I'm a newbie on the Board of Directors.  I always say make the member accountable for the Office Co-ordinator's mistakes.  I like to see the effect of my POWER on vulnerable members.  My lofty position requires that I mete out the most judicious decision at my command.  You are to be summarily executed, er — evicted.

*****
 
Director #6 to a co-op member:

I know that you are thousands of dollars in debt to the co-op, but aren't you a friend of Director #4?  Just go home and forget this ever happened, OK?

*****

Director #7 to a co-op member:

What are you doing here?  Aren't you part of the Guns & Gangs unit?  Oh – YOU are the guy they are after!  Well then, just carry on and GOOD LUCK! 

NEXT?