MH Warsaw House Dynamics

We decided to use question-answer form. We hope that using this for our note will be clearer.

How are responsibilities shared and divided?

This is the hardest thing for us. We are trying to rule who will be responsible for which event (inviting guests, uploading photos and receipts, cooking, shopping). In first few months we were taking turns in charge of uploading photos and receipts and updating the calendar. But it wasn’t working. So, each month someone is always responsible for usually 2 events, and they are also permanently duties, for example Zosia- finances, Ania – calendar. They are also household duties – we are trying to take care of them like a team

Do you involve community members in the planning and execution of events?

Of course. Their ideas are very import ant to us. When we hear that someone want to organize something or want to tell us about his vision of next month we are very happy because we are feeling that what we do is important and that it really works! We always ask our community members about the best date for each event – of course we can never choose a date that will be good for everyone, but we are trying to! They is always someone who wants to come earlier and help us with preparing or who wants stay longer and help us with cleaning. We are very glad that we have such great community.

How are each resident's individual strengths used to benefit the house/community?

It comes natural. Ania is a great cook, so she always cooks something delicious for events. Zosia is well organized so she is responsible for finances. Agnieszka is our spokesperson. Kuba is keen on ecology so he is trying to make our house more ecological. He is also a very outspoken person so he is helping us with our first-timers. Together we are working us a great team!

How does your house organize and plan each month?

Usually we are planning next month during the whole ongoing month. We are checking out events’ lists in our city (sometimes also in other cities as well) for movies, Jewish Youth Organization events, Jewish festivals, Jewish Community of Warsaw events. After that we are talking with our friends what they would like to do with MH during the next month. Very often they’re having their own ideas. It’s really nice to hear their ideas. In the end of the month we are organizing a meeting – we talk about our plans for next month, what event each of us wants to organize and we are making our calendar. Sometimes it’s quite hard because we are studying and working so we don’t have lots of free time. On this meeting we are trying to divide duties for next month including for example cleaning, adding events to the calendar and stuff like that. Of course we are talking about our ideas for the whole month – not only on this meeting. But it is important to meet once a month in a more formal way.

Do you set monthly goals for the house?

Sometimes. We are thinking about our last months and trying to draw conclusions – whether we should make more events for the Jewish Community, more tikkun olam, or we should expand our guest list.

Conclusions: Teamwork and Communication, not only between MH members, but between our whole community!