Canada Summer Jobs 2021, Landsberg/Lewis Housing Co-Op

1. Cover Your Windows

Get a window insulator kit and start covering your windows. Thistraps air between the film and the window and turns the air itself into aninsulator. The kit comes with double-sided tape and will cover up to 5 windows.If you can afford it.

2. Seal AirLeaks

Doing this will significantly lower your heating bill. First, caulk around the edges of windows, then add weather stripping, but don’t stop there. Weather strippingis also great for stopping drafts around doors (don’t forget the attic accessdoor). You should also install door sweep.

3. Check Your Heating System

Make sure any heatingvents around your house are not blocked by furniture or drapes.  Be sure to put fresh batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in case your heating system getsoverworked or in case the power goes out and you have to use candles, oil lamps, space heaters, camp stoves, etc. You canalso save on energy by putting an insulation blanket over your water heater.

4. Make sure all appliances are in working condition 

Be sure to make sure all of your key appliances like water heater,furnace and kitchen appliances are working well.  Being stuck with these andbreaking in winter can be expensive, unpleasant or dangerous.

5. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Most ceiling fans havereverse switches, and there’s an important reason for this. If you look up atyour fan you’ll notice it turns counterclockwise, but in the winter you want itto turn clockwise instead. Warm air rises to the ceiling, but with your fanspinning clockwise it will create an updraft that pushes warm air around theroom without creating a wind chill.

6. Insulate Pipes

Make sure to coverexposed pipes in unheated areas such as the basement, attic, crawlspace, oroutside. For this you can use pipe insulation sleeves. Be sure to cover every part of thepipe including the bends and joints and seal the seams with ducttape.

One other thing: Don’t forget to remove any garden hoses that are attached to outside faucets and putthem away for the winter. After that, find the shut-off valve for your outsidefaucets and turn it to the off position. Finally, open the outside faucets andlet them drain.

8. Clean the Gutters

When gutters are clogged,rain and melted snow can cause leaks and damage. Get all the leaves, twigs, andcaked-on dirt out of there, and run water through the downpipes to make surethey’re not clogged.

9. Check for Tree Limbs

Heavy snow and ice cancause them to break and fall, so be sure to trim any limbs that are hangingover your house.

10. Make a Plan

If you’re a prepper, youshould already have food, water, and medical supplies. But do you havea plan for staying warm and cooking food if the power goes out? If not, checkout the articles Indoor Heating Without Power and Indoor Cooking Without Power.

Spray vinegar, ammonia & cayenne pepper in area's you think you suspect or have seen dropping. They are repulsive to rodiants/raccoons.

Putting moth balls and epsom salt around the house and under the sinks will also be another good way of kepping these critters away.

2019 Elections Committee is now accepting nominations for members willing to run in the election for the Board of Directors. 

Submit nomination forms to the office by Monday, February 11, 2019. 

A profile may answer such questions as:

·        What do you hope to accomplish as a Director?

·        What is your philosophy about teamwork?

·        What do you consider to be the most important area of responsibility for a Co-op Board of Directors?

·        Why are you interested in running for the Board?

·        What is your relevant experience?

·        What do you consider confidential?

·        How would you handle a breach of confidentiality?

·        What do you consider a conflict of interest?

·        How would you deal with a conflict of interest?

A member of the Co-op may nominate someone (including themself) for election by taking the nomination form to the office to be forwarded to the Nominating Committee. According to the Act, in order to be eligible for election, a person must be:

·        a member of Landsberg/Lewis Housing Co-operative;

·        age 18 or older;

·        mentally competent to be a Director of  a Housing Co-operative in Ontario; and

·        Not an undercharged bankrupt.

Members should consider nominating only members who would be good Directors. The Co-op needs a good and strong Board of Directors – a Board that makes wise decisions, represents the members well, gives strong leadership and inspires the confidence of the members. The Board must be dedicated to the vision of the community and based on the values of caring, hospitality, mutual support and inclusion of all the members.

The following pages attempt to show the duties of Directors and election procedures that are customary at Landsberg/Lewis Housing Co-operative. If there are still questions, please call the office at 905-508-4128 or speak to a member of the Election Committee: