BRIGHT MORNING STAR
302 NW 81st St , Seattle WA 98117 (206)782-9305
WHAT IS IT? Bright Morning Star is a small urban cooperative household, formed to support our members in their social change and artistic pursuits.
WHO ARE WE? Currently BMS is composed of six adults with interests including Quaker activism, opera singing, peace activism, environmental awareness, intentional community, folk music, and various social service projects.
WHERE ARE WE LOCATED? We live in a six-bedroom house on a busy street corner in the Greenwood district (northwest Seattle). It's an old farmhouse with two gardens and some of the tallest trees in the neighborhood. We are on good terms with our neighbors and helped to organize the Neighborhood Watch and Disaster Response programs. Good public transportation and a public library are nearby.
HOW DO WE LIVE TOGETHER? As a supportive household we recognize the importance of regularly-shared activities, particularly meals. Therefore we have a shared supper every evening. Our schedule of chores (primarily cleaning various parts of the house) is organized around the cooking and cleaning up responsibilities associated with this meal. We also have house meetings at least every other week and workdays every two months or so to carry out the large-scale maintenance and upgrade activities. We work hard to keep the common areas clean and uncluttered.
HOW DO WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER? We support each other in our individual endeavors by attending each other’s artistic, educational and political events. We make every effort to support each other emotionally, primarily by listening as each person "checks in" at house meetings and on many informal occasions, but try to avoid offering advice or "rescuing".
HOW DO GOVERNANCE AND FINANCES WORK? The house is owned jointly by two of the adults. Rather than charge rent, we split operating costs (mortgage, utilities, basic maintenance, groceries, household goods) equally among the resident adults. Decisions on everyday life are made by all members by consensus. Decisions affecting the structure and major furnishings of the house are made by the owners.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LIVE HERE? Since the costs are split among the members, each member's share drops as more members are added. Currently, each of six members pays about $527. This amount is monitored carefully and adjusted only as needed to account for actual costs. The last adjustment was made in August 2005.
HOW DO NEW MEMBERS JOIN? When openings occur, we advertise them through the local alternative newspapers. After some initial meetings, we invite prospective members to spend a few days with us, and then try life here for a few months. If all goes well, we invite them to join the family for an indefinite period.
WHAT IS THE POLICY ON VISITORS? We welcome visitors for stays of up to three days, subject to the ability of household members to host them. Since we are all very busy with community activities outside the home, we ask that visitors contact us well in advance, preferably in writing with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We may not be able to spend much time with visitors unless the purpose of the visit is to engage in common activity with one or more of us.
Rev. 9/15/2005