A MONTHLY EMAIL PUBLICATION of the FIC since 1999, serving over 4000 subscribers. May 27, 2006 1 New Questions, Paid Ads, and More on directory.ic.org 2 Featured Bookshelf Title at Sale Price 3 FIC Co-sponsored Events Ahead in 2006 4 Communities Magazine Issues 5 Tour Of Earthaven Ecovillage Lead by Diana Christian 6 Help Build A More Cooperative World! _________________________________________________________________ 1 NEW QUESTIONS, PAID ADS, and MORE ON DIRECTORY.IC.ORG By Tony Sirna _________________________________________________________________ * New Questions * Based on requests from site users we have added some new questions to the survey that communities fill out on http://directory.ic.org . Topics include: which gender(s) a community is open to, ethnic diversity, focus or restrictions on age groups, and members with pre-existing debt. Not many communities have answered these questions yet but we hope that this will provide seekers even clearer information on potential communities. If you have a listing, now is a great time to update it. * Simple and Complete Search * With these new questions we have updated our search interface. We have created two versions, one that shows only the most common search criteria and one that allows searching on almost every question we ask in our survey. Now seekers can search based on 40 different factors including: number of members, gender balance, how alcohol is used, and/or how community land is owned. Check it out at: http://directory.ic.org/records/?action=search * Paid Ads * We have now created a system where communities can place paid ads on directory.ic.org giving them greater exposure to those seeking community. We see this a service to both communities and seekers as communities with ads will often be the ones most actively seeking new members. There are only a few ads right now as we are just getting started but you can see them at: http://directory.ic.org/promos/ . If you would like to advertise go to: http://dirnew.ic.org/advertise.php * Deadline for Next Print Edition - September 15th * Community listings must be updated before September 15th, 2006 for changes to be included in the next print edition of our Communities Directory. The new book is due out in spring of 2007. _________________________________________________________________ 2 FEATURED BOOKSHELF TITLE at SALE PRICE Reviews by Catherine Nicosia, Community Bookshelf Manager _________________________________________________________________ DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton & Sheila Heen 2000 * 250 pages * paperback We have all been there: We know we must engage with a partner, a friend, a coworker, a store clerk or even a group of people about some especially sticky situation and we also know that the encounter will be uncomfortable. So we repeatedly mull it over until we can no longer put it off and then stumble through the confrontation. Difficult Conversations offers advice for handling these unpleasant exchanges in a manner that leads to a better outcome for all concerned. The book's three authors do an excellent job of laying out the underlying emotional dynamics that are in play in these situations. Most useful are the strategies for disarming the impulse to lay blame and for exploring one's own contribution to a tense discussion. Also of value are specific recommendations for bringing emotions into a difficult conversation by talking about them and paying attention to the way they can subtly inform judgments and accusations. The points made in the book are illustrated with anecdotes, scripted conversations and familiar examples in a clear, easy to browse format. If you are honestly interested in elevating your communications skills, Difficult Conversations will walk you through both mistakes and remedies in a way that will boost your confidence when unavoidable clashes arise. Regular price $15.00 Special price $12.00 http://store.ic.org/catalog/specials.php Shipping/handling 3.00 S/H for first item 1.00 S/H for each additional item Shop online for lower shipping rates, more shipping options, and more sale items. http://store.ic.org/catalog/specials.php S/H prices are for Standard Mail postal delivery within US. This eNews special offer is valid through [[offerdate]]. Information, catalog, ordering http://store.ic.org/bookshelf Community Bookshelf RR 1 Box 156 Rutledge MO 63563 800-995-8342 bookshelf at ic dot org _________________________________________________________________ 3 FIC CO-SPONSORED EVENTS AHEAD IN 2006 Communities Conference at Twin Oaks FIC Semi-Annual Organizational Meeting Art of Community Northwest, Seattle area _________________________________________________________________ COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE at TWIN OAKS August 18 - 20, 2006 Twin Oaks Community near Louisa, Virginia Organizing has begun for the annual Communities Conference at Twin Oaks. With over 25 different communities represented annually, it is a prime opportunity to network amongst other community minded folks. It is an ideal event for people who are looking for community as well for those already living in community to share and learn from each others experiences. It is a co-created conference, with shining eyed people, contributing their helping hands, ideas, perspectives and energy. There will be the famous Saturday night dance, campfires, singing, open space, workshops by experienced and dynamic presenters, the infamous mudpit, hammocks, good food and more. An unforgettable weekend for many! Join us at Twin Oaks' conference site in the woods! We'll be delving into the nuts and bolts of community with a variety of workshops on topics such as cooperative decision-making, intentional relationships, forming community, community econmics, and many more. Children are welcome. The Conference is co-sponsored by Fellowship for Intentional Community Federation of Egalitarian Communities Twin Oaks Community Communities Conference at Twin Oaks 138 Twin Oaks Rd Louisa VA 23093 540-894-5126 conference at twinoaks dot org http://www.twinoaks.org/conference ---------- FELLOWSHIP FOR INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY FALL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING Open to the public, as are all of our organization meetings. Hosted by Songaia community, Bothell WA Tues Sept 5 - Thu Sept 7, 2006 We invite you to join us in Seattle right after Labor Day for a week of community immersion. Immediately following, we'll host the Art of Community Northwest weekend on the campus of Bastyr University Sept 8-10. Our semi-annual meetings are a great way to find out what FIC is cooking and who's stirring the various pots. You'll meet a band of fire-in-the-belly community networkers from around the country and also find out who's doing what in the Northwest. Among other things, the agenda will focus on five-year plans for wesbite, events, creating community where you are, regional networking, and fundraising. We'll also discuss the movement opportunities for an aging population and craft the 2007 budget. Sessions are open to all-comers and it's a unique chance to witness a 20-year-old consensus-based organization at work. For information about attending the meetings, contact Jenny Upton jenny at ic dot org 434-361-1417 We hope to see you there! ---------- ART OF COMMUNITY NORTHWEST: Building Sustainable Community An exciting weekend of networking, learning, & fun! Fri Sept 8 - Sun Sept 10, 2006 Bastyr University, near Seattle WA Co-Sponsor: Northwest Intentional Community Association * Meet People from Existing & Forming Communities; Ecovillages, Cohousing, Egalitarian, Housing Cooperatives, Collectives * Build Real Community Where You Are; at Home, at Work, at Church, in other organizations * Tools You Can Use; Facilitation, Consensus, Ecological Assessments * Be More Sustainable; Ethical Consumption; Local Agriculture, Bio-Diesel, Permaculture Presenters include * Diana Leafe Christian, Communities magazine editor; author: Creating a Life Together * Laird Schaub, FIC Executive Secretary; founder of Sandhill Farm * Geoph Kozeny, the Peripatetic Communitarian from Communities magazine & Visions of Utopia producer * And many more... Check this site periodically for updated Art of Community info http://fic.ic.org/aofc/ ---------- For many more event listings http://events.ic.org/events/ _________________________________________________________________ 4 COMMUNITIES MAGAZINE ISSUES Current and coming issues By Diana Leafe Christian _________________________________________________________________ AVAILABLE NOW - THE SUMMER ISSUE Good Works: Communities in Service to Others #131 We got more response to our Spring 2006 "Sustainability and Peak Oil" issue than any other issue in the 12 years I've been with Communities magazine. It was also one of the best-looking issues we've ever had, thanks to the layout skills of our new Art Director, Amy Seiden of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. Here's a rundown of the exciting content from the summer issue: ARTICLES ---------------------------------- Creating Community Where You Are: Prescott's "Eco-Hood" Susan DeFreitas describes how a young ecological activist helped create "virtual community" in his urban neighborhood. Sidebar: How to Start a Potential Eco-Hood, Creating Community Where You Are: Start a Neighborhood Newsletter Help organize your neighborhood--by starting a newsletter, organizing a roster of neighbors or an email network, building a community bulletin board. Seeking Community: Intern at an Ecovillage You can have fun, learn new community skills, and "try before you buy." Conflict & Connection: The Overly Powerful Community Member How to deal with the person who always gets her way in meetings, by experienced process and communication consultants Caroline Estes, Bea Briggs, Tree Bressen, and Laird Schaub. Living in Community: When Oprah or Geraldo Call . . . What happens when the media uses intentional community for consumer entertainment? How Dancing Rabbit and East Wind fared at the hands of national media. Darin Fenger. Managing the Media: A Journalist's Advice SPECIAL FEATURE "HOW CAN WE HELP?" ---------------------------------- Seven Months in the Gulf How members of The Farm community responded to Katrina victims in Louisiana and Mississippi--and what they learned about the human spirit. Ralph McAtee. Building Bridges of Clay, Mud, and Straw How Kibbutz Lotan's pioneering program in natural building brings Jews and Arabs together for cultural exchange and new understanding. Michael Livni, Mark Naveh, Alex Cicelsky. I Can Do It Because I Live in Community Bright Morning Star's members are active in peace and social justice issues--which they can do more easily through mutual support. Rosy Betz-Zall. Communities That Serve Others . . . and Love Doing It Darin Fenger interviews Jesus People USA in Chicago; Magic, Inc., in Palo Alto, California; and Koinonia Partners in rural Georgia. It Shows our Neighbors We Want to Contribute Alyson Ewald looks at local service projects undertaken by members of Sandhill Farm, Dancing Rabbit, and Red Earth Farms in northeastern Missouri. Heirloom Gardens, Clean Water, and No GMOs How the environmental activist Sowing Circle community manages multiple successful projects through its nonprofit Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC)--from teaching school children organic gardening to taking on agri-biz. Phil Tymon, Brock Dolman, Adam Wolpert, Dave Henson. ---------------------------------- COMING UP IN THE FALL ISSUE Will You Spend Your Elder Years in Community? Tentative theme articles for the Fall issue #132: o Older people who live in community, and how they like it. o Communities that cater to older people and how residents of these communities like it. o From the elder perspective: would I live in community again? ---------------------------------- Get a sample issue, renew or subscribe here http://store.ic.org//communities/sample.php http://store.ic.org/cmag Sample issues $4 plus $3 S/H by US standard mail. Shop online for lower shipping rates and more shipping options. Subscriptions one year 4 issues $20 US :: $24 Canada :: $26 Other Order by phone fax or mail FIC * 138 Twin Oaks Rd * Louisa VA 23093 800-462-8240 fax 540-894-4112 _________________________________________________________________ 5 TOUR OF EARTHAVEN ECOVILLAGE LEAD BY DIANA CHRISTIAN June 10, 2006 _________________________________________________________________ Communities magazine editor Diana Leafe Christian will be offering a special tour of her community, Earthaven Ecovillage, to Communities readers on June 10th. The "Editor's Tour of Earthaven" will touch on: * Permaculture Design in an Ecovillage Setting (with Patricia Allison) * How Earthaven financed its property * Earthaven's passive solar natural buildings (clay-straw, chipslip, cob, strawbale, timber-framing, earthen plaster) * Off-grid power systems (photovoltaics, micro-hydro) * Roof-water catchment, Graywater recycling, Constructed wetlands * Council and committee governance * Creating a village-scale economy See Diana's website http://www.creating-a-life-together.org/ for more details. _________________________________________________________________ 6 HELP BUILD A MORE COOPERATIVE WORLD! _________________________________________________________________ E. B. White once said, "I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." Like many of us faced with the same dilemma each morning, you can choose to improve the world in a way that also helps you (and many others) to savor it at the same time. Join the FIC! If you've already joined, donate! It's easy, it's fast, it gets you discounts and other benefits... but best of all, it's a way to both enjoy being part of a vast network of community-minded folks, and also enable the growth of that very network. So, don't fret over whether to improve the world or enjoy it--do both. Savor community living while bringing it to more people. Please join us. For more info on member benefits and to join online using our secure server go to http://store.ic.org/membership To request a membership form by mail, or to email, or to talk with a human, contact us at Fellowship for Intentional Community RR 1 Box 156 Rutledge MO 63563 800-995-8342 fic ( at ) ic ( dot ) org To learn more about the mission of the organization visit http://fic.ic.org/index.html Many thanks from all of us in the Fellowship.