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Intentional Communities Newsletter: May 2008
Promoting Community Living & Cooperative Lifestyles
Communities magazine, Directory, Video and more
1 Events Coming Up, FIC and Related
2 FIC Position Available: Print Directory Manager
3 Community Bookshelf Title At Sale Price
4 Communities Magazine Current and Upcoming Issues
5 Online Directory - More Maps and New Streamlined URLs
6 How To Multiply Your Good Works For The Planet: Share!
1 Events Coming Up, FIC and Related
Art of Community Conference & FIC Organizational Meeting
National Cohousing Conference
NICA Gathering And Seekers Fair
Communities Conference at Twin Oaks
Art Of Community Conference
The Fellowship for Intentional Community is sponsoring a three day immersion into the world of Intentional Community and the evolution of cooperative, sustainable culture at the University of New Mexico, May 30-June 1! Our updated webpage http://fic.ic.org/aofc is your best source of information.
Sliding Scale tickets are on sale now for $110-200.
Tickets can be purchased online at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/26402
To register paying with a check, contact Syd at (206) 679-5342.
We are gathering to explore the intersection between community-building, sustainability and cultural change. Topics will include Residential Intentional Community and Guerilla Community Building, Sustainable Urban Regeneration, Permaculture & Ecovillages. The topic of Community will be looked at from many different angles: as part of peace and social justice work, a life choice to live cooperatively, as a spiritual path, as a laboratory for social change, and an antidote to global climate
change. Other workshops will teach consensus, conflict resolution and other group dynamic topics, plus look at economics and development issues. The Art of Community Southwest will feature speakers, workshops, tabling and networking events, and a Saturday night banquet and benefit auction. Whether you currently live in community or not, we hope you will be inspired to bring this learning home and make your life more sustainable... and much more fun!
Main speakers include:
- climate change author Albert Bates of The Farm's Ecovillage Training Center
- urban homesteader and permaculturist Mary Lou Singleton of the Midwives Alliance of North America
- Earth Day organizer Mark Dubois of the Pachamama Alliance
- community advocate and group consultant Laird Schaub of the Fellowship for Intentional Community
- author Margo Adair of Tools for Change
- youth advocate Myra Murphy-Jacob of the Sustainable Global Leadership Alliance.
and here are some workshop highlights:
- Consensus
- Starting a Residential Intentional Community
- New Economics
- Pathways to Sustainability
- Aging in Community Successfully
- Spiritual Activism
- Biodeisel Basics
- Ecovillages!
- Media, Community and the Fate of the Earth
- Integrative Land Planning for Community
For more information, contact Ma'ikwe at (505) 514-8180 or maikwe -[at]- solspace.net
To make a donation for our benefit auction, contact Laird at laird -[at]- ic.org or call the Missouri FIC office at (660) 883-5545.
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Fellowship Semi-Annual Organizational Meeting
Immediately following the Art of Community weekend, the FIC board will meet June 2-4 at Hummingbird Ranch, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, about 2-1/2 hours northeast of Albuquerque. It'll be a great location for three days of discussing where we are and deciding what's next for the Fellowship. Highlights of our agenda will include:
- Define what FIC can offer people hungry to create community where they are.
- Discuss plans to create the Geoph Kozeny Memorial Networking award, in honor of our fallen comrade.
- Introduce the new Production Team for Communities magazine.
- Review the Art of Community weekend just completed and future plans for FIC events.
- Select new board members.
Join us for vibrant meetings in a beautiful setting and find out first-hand what's happening in the North American Communities Movement.
For more information about the FIC Organizational Meeting contact
Jenny Upton: jenny -[at]- ic.org
434-361-1417 (after 5 pm Eastern Time)
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2008 National Cohousing Conference
June 12-15, Bentley College, near Boston, MA
This large, national conference is presented by the Cohousing Association of the United States (Coho/US). It features two days of pre-conference workshops, including folks well-known to the broader intentional communities movement, including Laird Schaub & Ma'ikwe Ludwig, Diana Leafe Christian, and some key cohousing thought leaders, including Chuck Durrett, Katie McCamant, Jim Leach and many others. Pre-conference community tours are also available. These are followed by a weekend of
regular conference activities. Presentations will address everything from the basics of cohousing and designing and building communities, to living in community and sustaining the movement throughout the country.
Registration includes Friday night Keynote by John Abrams and reception, all presentations on Saturday and Sunday, and Saturday Night Dinner Fund-raiser Auction. Funds raised at our auction help support both Coho/US and the FIC. Also included are breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Apartment-style dormitories with private baths (per apartment) are available for all conference participants; if you prefer a hotel, several are nearby. Parking is free, ample and close to the
conference buildings. Campus-wide wi-fi is available free of charge.
The best deals can be had by registering early as registration cost increases on May 31, 2008.
http://www.cohousing.org/2008/register
For more info, see the Cohousing Website section on the 2008 conference:
http://www.cohousing.org/2008/overview
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Northwest Intentional Communities Association (NICA) Events
"Finding Community" - Community Seeker's Fair
Friday July 25, Portland, Oregon
In addition to tables hosted by Northwest intentional communities (eco-villages, cohousing, community houses and cooperatives) seeking new members, we once again have the pleasure of Diana Leafe Christian as our guest speaker. As the author of Finding Community: How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community and Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities, her presentation will offer us an overview of how to gracefully join an ecovillage,
cohousing, cooperative or any other kind of intentional community.
Communities interested in tabling, please contact nancy -[at]- songaia.com
NICA Annual Summer Gathering
Saturday-Sunday July 26 - 27, Portland, Oregon
Our theme for this summer's gathering of communitarians and community seekers will follow along the lines of Diana Leafe Christian's workshop called "Heart of Healthy Community: Communication, Process and Dealing with Conflict."
An adept facilitator, Diana has offered to hold a workshop and join our other planned community festivities that will include sharing stories, singing, meals, dancing, ritual and celebration.
Pre-registration required for food planning and sleeping accommodations.
For details contact
http://www.ic.org/nica
alline.thurlow -[at]- gmail.com
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Communities Conference At Twin Oaks Community
An FIC Co-Sponsored Event | August 15-17, 2008
Twin Oaks Community near Louisa, Virginia
Organizing has begun for the annual Communities Conference at Twin Oaks! With over 25 different communities represented, 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.
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 Economics, and many more. Children are welcome. The weekend includes a multitude of networking and socializing opportunities, including "Meet the Communities", swimming, and the mudpit. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Conference is co-sponsored by:
The Fellowship for Intentional Community http://www.ic.org
The Federation of Egalitarian Communities http://www.thefec.org
Twin Oaks Community http://www.twinoaks.org
2 FIC Position Available: Print Directory Manager
Immediate Job Opening: Manager for Print Edition of the Communities Directory, 6th edition.
The Print Directory Manager (PDM) is responsible for the production and promotion of the print version of our Communities Directory. Our current plan is to print a new edition of the book approximately every 24 months, and we are hoping to hire someone in the spring/summer of 2008, with the aim of having the next edition published by late 2009.
The PDM is not responsible for maintaining the Online Directory database as we have a separate Online Directory Manager (ODM) for that. The PDM will have to work closely with the ODM as well as with the Web Weavers Committee (which oversees the FIC's family of websites) and the FIC Office staff.
Skills: This job entails building and managing a project team with skills in writing, editing and copyediting, desktop publishing, graphic design, ad sales, and proofreading. Prior experience with printing and editing are helpful, but not essential. The PDM will need to be good at team management and communication (it is highly probable that team members will not all live close to each other). This person will need to develop and stick to a budget, write periodic progress reports, and consult
with FIC's Editorial Review Board. The PDM will need to be good at managing deadlines. This job requires familiarity with FIC and its mission and we are expecting a minimum commitment of at least one complete production cycle.
Technical capabilities:
- Reliable high-speed Internet connection
- Computer with modern web browser and email
- Phone with an answering machine
Estimated time commitment: The total production cycle for a print edition takes about 18 months, with most of the work concentrated in the 4-6 months immediately preceding the printing and release of a new edition. During this intense stretch, the work can take anywhere from 10-40 hours per week, depending on the degree of delegation (the PDM may also be responsible for different production aspects if they choose to). During the less intense portions of the cycle, the workload is considerably
smaller.
Compensation: This varies considerably, based on efficiency and what tasks the Manager performs and which are delegated. Once the overall project budget has been approved, the Manager is free to move money within that budget so long as the project is completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard of quality.
For a complete description of the job and production cycle, or a complete description of the selection process, or to apply for the position, contact
directory_jobs -[at]- ic.org
3 Community Bookshelf Title At Sale Price
Featured by Catherine Nicosia, Community Bookshelf Manager
This month I am offering a special price on one of the best books in the Communication Tools section of the Intentional Communities Store. This is my go-to book when I need advice on how to make a meeting work well.
Great Meetings! Great Results
by Dee Kelsey and Pam Plumb
2004; 213 pages; 7" by 9"; paperback; ISBN 0-9658354-1-3
If you want to learn the practical basics of meeting facilitation, this is an excellent resource. It offers in-depth coverage of everything needed to create the best meetings possible. Included are tips and tools for both the beginning and experienced facilitator offered in a clear and engaging way.
This book is an essential tool for those who want to learn the basics of good meeting facilitation. In a well-written format based on real-life situations and experiences it covers what facilitation is, the skills needed by an effective facilitator, good preparation for a meeting, the best ways to maximize the group's potential, and how to deal with challenging situations. It also addresses in depth positive communication and conflict management. There is good, sound advice, coupled with lots
of effective tools and resources, for both beginning and experienced facilitators alike.
Regular price $29.00 Special sale price $25.00
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Don't forget to check out the following excellent books currently in our Specials section. Both are full of great ideas for those seriously interested in building community.
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Co-Op Villages: The Next Evolution
By Jack Reed, Jen Chendra and Jim Costa
2007; 290 pages; 9"x 6"; paperback; ISBN: 0-97948-650-5
Co-op Villages:The Next Evolution provides a model of the way in which intentional communities can be the basis for a truly healthy and ecologically sound lifestyle. Thoroughly researched and well-considered frameworks, suggestions and outlines provide a scaffolding from which to begin building such communities.
Both those wanting to start communities and those who are living the lifestyle already and co-creating community in place will benefit from reading this title. It offers lots of inspiration for how to begin the process and also for how to grow and fine-tune existing groups and projects.
Regular price $20.00 Special price $16.00
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Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability
By Jonathan Dawson
2006; 94 pages; 8.5" X 6"; paperback; ISBN:1-90399-877-8
This book is one of the excellent Schumacher Briefings series and will give the interested reader solid information about the history and the scope of the modern ecovillage movement. The author, who is the current secretary of the Global Ecovillage Network Europe, is uniquely qualified to provide an in-depth analysis.
In the past few decades, ecovillages have grown into a world-wide phenomenon, incorporating a wealth of approaches to building communities that seek to minimize their ecological impact while maximizing human well-being. Highly recommended for readers wanting to learn more about one of the growth edges of intentional community.
Regular price $14.00 Special price $11.00
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http://store.ic.org/catalog/specials.php
Shipping/handling on mail or phone orders
4.00 S/H for first item
1.00 S/H for each additional item
S/H prices shown are for Standard Mail postal delivery within US.
Community Bookshelf
RR 1 Box 156
Rutledge MO 63563
800-995-8342
bookshelf -[at]- ic.org
Shop online for lower shipping rates, more shipping options, and more sale items.
Information, catalog, ordering
http://store.ic.org/bookshelf
4 Communities Magazine Current & Upcoming Issues
#138 (Spring): Women in Community
#139 (Summer): Green Building in Community
#140 (Fall): Politics in Community
Current issue: Our issue on Women in Community is currently on newsstands. Ask for Communities at your local bookstore or food co-op, or consider subscribing today. This is an issue you don't want to miss!
Explore parenting, gender identity, intimacy, leadership, culture, growth, entrepreneurship, and more--with a group of talented authors who range from experienced communitarians to first-time community members.
Special Feature articles include:
- Valuing a Culture of Women by Colette Hoff
- From Intentional Community to Building a Tribe by Anissa Ljanta
- What's Masculine, What's Feminine, and What Am I? by Mollie Curry
- Transgendered at Twin Oaks by Calliope Kurtz
- Journey Inn: Gleanings from the World of Women by Janaia Donaldson
- Building a Business in Community by Alline Anderson
Other articles include: how to deal with a power imbalance in your community; how community values can help conquer climate change; leading women in the cohousing movement; ecovillage activists in Japan; and a photo memorial of Geoph Kozeny.
Next issue: The theme of the next issue (summer #139) will be Green Building in Community
, with articles by Michael G. Smith, Mark Lakeman, Matthieu Lietaert, Elke Cole and Brandy Gallagher, and others.
Fall issue: Our fall issue (#140) theme will be Politics in Community.
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Get a Communities sample issue, renew or subscribe
, or follow these links for general info: http://store.ic.org/cmag and http://communities.ic.org/
Sample issues $5 plus $4 S/H by US standard mail.
Shop online for lower shipping rates and more shipping options.
Subscriptions one year 4 issues (new rates in effect since March 1)
$24 US :: $29 Canada :: $31 Other
Order by phone fax or mail
FIC * 138 Twin Oaks Rd * Louisa VA 23093
800-462-8240 fax 540-894-4112
5 Online Directory - More Maps and New Streamlined URLs
By Tony Sirna
More Maps
We have added some new mapping features to the Online Communities Directory. Users can now map the results of more searches as well as community lists by state, country, and community type.
For instance you can go to our List of Ecovillages and click on  and you'll get a map of ecovillages in our database.
Or you could view the list of all the communities in the United Kingdom or the state of Missouri
and each will have a "Map These Results" button.
You can even perform a complex search for rural communities in California with more than 100 adults
and get a map of the results.
We hope you enjoy the new mapping capabilities
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Streamlined URLs
We have cleaned up the Online Directory URLs for linking to community listings. URLs are now of the form: http://directory.ic.org/ID_Number/Community_Name
So my home community Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage would have the URL:
http://directory.ic.org/2026/Dancing_Rabbit_Ecovillage
This is much more readable by users and can also help with search engine optimization, allowing listings to appear higher in search engine results. We have also simplified the URLs for our lists of communities by state, province, or country.
You can now go to URLs such as:
http://directory.ic.org/intentional_communities_in_Hawaii
http://directory.ic.org/intentional_communities_of_New_South_Wales
http://directory.ic.org/intentional_communities_Argentina
See our
Geographic Community List for a whole list.
Note: All of our old URLs will continue to work.
As always, we encourage you to link from your website or blog to the Communities Directory and have now made it easier to link to a specific community. For instructions on linking to our site see:
http://directory.ic.org/link.php
6 How To Multiply Your Good Works For The Planet: Share!
Q: How can I save energy and money around the house and also help the climate?
A: Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs.
Q: But how can I do more than that, and have more fun too?
A: Start an eating co-op! Host a sewing circle! Join a car-sharing group! Share stuff!
Many of us are examining our lives to find ways we can reduce our impact on the overheating, overfished, eroded, paved and poisoned planet. Of course there are lots of little things we each can do that will make a small change in our individual footprint, and those are good places to start. But we're realizing that we've reached a time when big changes are called for--and lots of them.
Are we up to it? Well, the good news is that many of the changes we need to make will also improve our quality of life. They don't mean more drudgery and boredom--they mean more companionship, support, freedom, and downright fun. I'm talking, of course, about joining our lives with other people: about community.
More and more people now understand that community and cooperation are a central part of the way forward to a healthier planet and a thriving society. Our communities are even getting positive coverage in places like USA Today and US News & World Report. Over 5,500 people are reading this enewsletter with you, and new communities are constantly appearing online at directory.ic.org--and in the beautiful new print edition of the Communities Directory.
Who talks to the media about community, distributes this enewsletter, and keeps improving that directory? The FIC does. Who refers callers to communities they might like, publishes Communities magazine, and hosts regular events offering the tools and skills needed for cooperative living? The FIC does.
Who needs your membership support in order to keep offering these things? The FIC does! Please join today, and keep multiplying your good works through sustaining the cooperative spirit. 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:
RR 1 Box 156
Rutledge MO 63563
800-995-8342
fic -[at]- ic.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.
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