Hosting checklist

Hosting individuals and groups is a core task for all Volunteers and Members. To ensure a consistent hosting experience, this page collects hosting important points.

Individuals (i.e. Visitors)

Before arrival

• communicate unusual features of Kanthaus
  • functional living
  • dumpster diving
  • no close buddying
  • relative coldness in winter
  • …
• agree on date (and time) of arrival (and maybe departure)
• put the visit in the digital calendar and inform Kanthausians about it on Mattermost and CoMe
• reserve a sleeping spot for them for the first two nights, preferably a private room
• find out what experience they have of collective living, if any
• tell them roughly how many people there will be in Kanthaus and give a short overview of how the situation will be

Upon arrival

• be there to open the door and welcome them
• ask for urgent needs (toilet, water, food)
• help them store their things (bag, shoes, jacket)
• show them where they’ll sleep that night
• let them know where to find a toilet, a shower, food and water
• tell them about kanthaus-gast Wifi
• ask about food preferences (ethics, allergies, etc.)
• tell them if there’s any scheduled event the next day (like CoMe, power hour)
• be available for a chat
• make it clear that it’s cool to hang out in the communal spaces

First day

• do a house tour (ca. 1-2h) with the visitor
• explain the week plan and the food tasks sheet in the dining room
• invite them to contribute to cooking and cleaning
• encourage them to ask questions and try out things
• point out that being criticized is not meant personally and happens to everyone here
• ask them if they would like to be “left” by themselves to explore and observe or if they would feel more comfortable with being actively invited to participate
• show how to open (and close!) the window in the kitchen
• demonstrate using the door code in K22 and/or hand them a door tag
• tell them about constitution and collective agreements

Once a week during their stay

• schedule a longer check-in to give and receive feedback
• post a summary of said check-in in ~vol-and-mem on Mattermost

Before departure

• invite to write in the guestbook
• remind them to check all the place they might have stored or left stuff.
• ask them for their email address if they want to receive our newsletter in future

Groups

Clarify the basics

• communicate and find out the following:
  • what is it that they are doing?
  • how many people are coming?
  • when will they arrive (earliest) and leave (latest)?
  • which room(s) will they be using for day-time activities?
  • which room(s) will they be using for sleeping?
  • (when) will they participate in dinner preparation?
  • will they bring food or help us recover it?
• communicate to KH residents about the group coming
  • make a Mattermost post in ~kanthaus and/or a CoMe point
  • put it in the nextcloud calendar in the following format: Group name (n ppl) [host]

Before arrival

• reserve the room(s)
• keep KH residents posted about changes in group size, arrival time, room usage and/or duration of stay
• check the room(s) you offered them for usability, cleanliness and clean them if necessary

Upon arrival

• be there to open the door and welcome them :)
• show them where they can leave their stuff
• show them the room(s) they will be using
• invite them to use the rest of the house as well
• give them a key/tag and/or teach them the door code

During

• give a house tour if wanted
• regularly check in with them to make sure everything is fine
• be available for questions
• make them aware of the guest book and invite them to leave an entry

After

• check the room(s) and leave them in a usable state
• check privatizable storage areas and clear names if necessary