..........

Hello:

Season's best to you all! We have some new contacts and some other information to share.

First, we've a new profile up for Michelle and Robert. who've suggested a means to help out via the web. They're suggesting a public board where we can work on drafts of documents. They asked me about it and I thought to ask them more about it but decided to bring the group in on this idea. I'd like some feedback on the idea, please. Also we have Christopher Reale who sent in his profile information just before I posted this. Welcome to all of you.

There had been some discussion of location this year, what with some of the pictures posted of properties for sale in various parts of the country. Before we can move onto anything we'd need to be fiscally organized, are we ready for that or to at least "look into" how we can do that?

From our polls there seems to be more of an interest in considering an overseas venture, interesting that.

This is a sample of an idea we may opt for:

A community has many dimensions: location, geography, spirit, size, goals, financial basis, etc. Our deal community would be located near or adjoining large areas of public land which supports abundant wildlife. The community land would be in an agricultural area where we could trade food with our neighbors. Community land would need to have water rights for irrigation and natural water features: spring, stream, or lake. We are partial to ecological and geological transition zones like you would find at the base of a mountain.

Last consideration, but not least I'd like to know if who amongst us would want to have some regular online meetings? Please advise.

I had a chance to meet John S, a long time participant with C.O.L.

When I went up I found John trimming a tree and we then explored the place. We talked about sustainability, governance and land use. I feel there is good potential at Green Valley Village, although they've a way to go for becoming self-sustaining. They have a website: http://www.greenvalleyvillage.com

I updated some of the information on our profile at the F.I.C..'s website. No major changes just some odds and ends.

The directory: http://directory.ic.org/

The site: http://www.ic.org/pnp/cdir/1995/01kozeny.html

Again, seasons bet from us both, Wendy and Dan

Community of Light

We want to co-create a community in a rural area, grow a good portion of our own food, create a profitable cottage industries, and so be self employed. We would keep well the land that we live on and engage in right livelihood. We also want to contribute to the community around us and so benefit our society. Ideally, we would want to be near enough to a good sized town maybe some 50,000 or so, a college community would be something to consider. We could each use our talents, abilities, or professions to provide for ourselves as well extent help to others.

You are all welcome to express your ideas about what our community should be. We are, after all, the persons who will make it up.

There are a lot of ideas that we've discussed but I want everyone to know that what is or has been in issues are meant as working concepts. This whole idea is a work in progress and so let us know what you think.

If you have not been to the Community of Lights web page we now have a listing of communities that are forming. It may be educational to visit some of those sites to see what's new in the community universe See the links at: Community of Light

Thanks, Dan and Wendy

Email Address: creative1@creativeideasforyou.com

These are the introductions from persons that have written us since the last issue. Please go to Subscriber's Profiles if you would like to see the profiles we have on file currently. Some but not all of these people may have additional information there.

Katie Engel ………. kates.engel@gmail.com

Hi Dan,

I'm very interested in keeping up with your community efforts, so please add me to a mailing list? If the idea is no longer running, please refer me to a similar experience. This sounds exactly like something I'm looking for- A bit of peace and community, away. I look forward to your response. Thanks for your time! .......... Don't sweat, Katie in Orlando

Namakota,………. nama0202@yahoo.com>

Comment from user: Community of Light friend of Andrea T

ao_running ………. advaita@att.net

I would like to explore your ideas and vision to see if we share a common understanding.

Dsdevore ………. dsdevore@yahoo.com

Comment from user: respect for the normal norm.

From: "brother BONES ………. bdnbones@yahoo.com>

Greetings & peace to my fellow brothers & sisters of living light! Please add me to your mailing list. I invite you to get to know me thru the following links. Thanks

http://www.digitalcharity.com/m.php?id=18423

http://www.digitalcharity.com/m.php?id=18421

http://www.myspace.com/bdnbones420

Joining our YahooGroup: tao_running ………. advaita@att.net>

I would like to explore your ideas and vision to see if we share a common understanding.

Michelle and Robert. .......... michelle.brugiere@yahoo.com

Hello,

Our names are Michelle and Robert. We are pleased to be part of The Community of Light. This on line experience will be a bit erratic for us because we are on the road for the next 6 months and will only be visiting internet cafes a couple of times a week. We hope to visit and volunteer in some communities next spring.

From Dan: This was an interesting read:

Walt Patrick .......... windward@gorge.net

... then I'd invite you to check out our bylaws which build on the concept of representative consensus. We've been doing this for thirty years and like most communities, we've had our ups and downs, but our structure saw us through the rough parts.

http://www.windward.org/windward/bylaws.htm

We see Windward as an expense sharing cooperative, as a sort of multichannel amplifier that allows people to join together to meet their common needs more effectively than they could alone, thereby allowing them to focus the rest of their resources on their personal goals with best wishes for your adventure

Gleen Information don't stay in the dark

EyeAmerica .......... eyeamerica@yahoo.com

Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:32 am (PST)

As an insight for the group I am posting a just a few few links that if one would go there one would learn of many wondrous things. I hope to open the minds of many as to other options with no other motivation than I am ready to move on.

If a society is to grow it has to have proper input, dreamers, thinkers and doers, scientists and laymen, as well as financing and laborers. Speaking for myself I don't consider myself any smarter than the average person but with the little I have learned I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope these links will open eyes and conversation and most of all...ACTION in the group .......... EyeAmerica

http://www.keelynet.com/

"Pace Pace" .......... minnesinger5@yahoo.co.nz

Dear Lenita and Newbie2 and all C.O.L.s

I write again in goodwill and devoted interest in alternative solutions to this living on the Earth (sustainably) idea.

My recent trip to East Germany was instructive and diverting.

I spent a day or 2 with the yurt building crew there in a Dorf near Jena.

The Yurt structure house is very easily built- there really is no big mystery to the assembly once a location (usually temporary) is found and a few inexpensive, mostly improvised materials are secured.

I think insulation is very important, but the crew there seemed to downplay the need for much of that. The top ring (or group joint support) is the key foundation. Nutwoods are used for spokes onto the ring, then various methods can be used to construct the walls.

Mongolians use a lot of felt since it can be rolled up to transport on the nomadic trail.

I think a functioning Yurt (or Ger) can be made by anyone, with or without any training at all.

Until a community's permanent housing is established, I could suggest the yurt as a beginning.

 I've heard of none in the malilings that have come my way this period

..........

A very easy way to give food to the hungry is to set the Hunger Site as your browser's home page. Check out the Hunger Site to see what it is about and how it works.

If you want to research intentional communities this is a good place to start.

Communities Magazine comes out regularly and is a resource for those seeking to explore communities. The directory that is a great primer in the variety of the community universe. You can write them at the address given below. This is their office address.

Communities Magazine, 138 Twin Oaks Road, Louisa VA 23093 USA or call them at: Tel/Fax: 540-894-5126. Their website is at Intentional Communities

The resources on the Northwest Intentional Communities site might be valuable. There are lists of legal documents, process advice etc. They're at: http://www.ic.org/nica/resource.htm

This list of places seeking members, communities forming and the like. It's at the F.I.C.'s website: http://directory.ic.org/iclist/

It might be a place to do research, who knows there may be a place within a relatively short drive.

My yahoo ID is available for use as a means to chat online. I am willing to schedule a time(s) during a given month where we could chat. I am thinking that a Saturday or Sunday would be the best time overall, however I am open to suggestions. Please advise.

If you are a member of our Yahoo group you can access the current polling data, or vote: this is the link to our group This is what we have at "press time"

Would you consider a location outside the United States?

Choices	Votes	%
Outside the U.S. preferred	2	9%
depending on country chosen	5	22%
Neutral - no preference	2	9%
would but not first choice	9	40%
NOT consider outside U.S.	4	18%

Should we have a membership fee of some kind?

Choices	Votes	%
Income of entering members	5	27%
Money making capacity of the community	13	72%

If we had an entry fee what should it be based upon?

Choices	Votes	%
Number of entering members	0	0%
Income of entering members	2	12%
Money making capacity of the community	2	12%
Other	4	25%
A share buying system	8	50%

Areas or regions we'd like to consider: (See the site for details)

Choices	Votes	%
AZ, NM, W. Texas	0	0
Cent. US: NB KS OK DA	0	0
G. Lakes, AK, MO, IL, IN,WI, KY, TN	1	6%
E. KY, E. TN, WVA, W.VA, W.,PA,	2	13%
G. Coast, FL, LA, MS, AL	1	6
E. PA, NY, NH, VT, CT, RH ME, MD	0	0
N. Idaho	1	6
NW/W OR, W. WA,	7	46%
CA, NV, UT, E. OR, E, WA, MT, CO, Wy	3	20%

What kind of climate would you want to live in?

Choices	Votes	%
Tropical	2	8%
Subtropical	5	21%
Forest	7	30%
Woodland/meadow	9	39%
Tundra	0	0%

What land locations would you like?

Choices	Votes	%
Island	13	18%
Peninsula	10	13%
Land bound w/coast	14	19%
land bound no coast	11	15%
High altitude	13	18%
Low altitude	11	15%

What sorts of things would you want to use the land for?

Choices	Votes	%
Farming	19	13%
Raising livestock	14	10%
Raising feed crops	11	7%
Hunting	6	4%
Gathering	15	10%
Fishing	14	10%
Utilitarian crops	10	7%
Fruit bearing trees	22	15%
Lumber/milling	5	3%
Water/solar for alt. power	23	16%

Would you consider a buy/sell/relationship with the outside world?

Choices	Votes	%
Yes	22	100%
No	0	0%

This is attributed to George Carlin, I do not know if this IS his but the thoughts are nice enough and, well, it could be his.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower

viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired,read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of low incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

A holy man had a conversation with the Lord one day and said,

"Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But, because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand."

It is simple," said the Lord. "It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

*Remember that I will always share my spoon with you.