D. Creating Community

Creating Community: 

Creating Community Steps for Getting Started

Contents: 

Contents I Personal Preparation II Processes for Creating Community III Executing Plans IV Ongoing Community Development V Current Research Status

I Personal Preparation: 

I Personal Preparation What to Expect Self-Assessment Methods of Involvement Requirements for Participation Timeline Estimation

What to Expect: 

What to Expect We, as a group, will decide everything about the community Considerable research and preparation has been done to aid in the process Be prepared to listen, share, and learn Be prepared for differences of opinion Making collective agreements and decisions can be hard work

Self Assessment: 

Self Assessment A big part of this process is discovering: what I really want out of community how I want to contribute to community Take stock of my own strengths, weaknesses, desires, and motivations A variety of skills, strengths, desires, and motivations are needed Consider the desire and intent of the group as a whole, the needs of the public, and what will actually work for everyone

Methods of Involvement: 

Methods of Involvement Help with research, discussion, and planning Invest financially in the community Purchase land in the community Help with construction of infrastructure and buildings Reside (or own) in the community Help start agriculture, education, cottage industries, and tourism

Requirements for Participation: 

Requirements for Participation For living or owning in the community: Must be vegetarian or vegan; and no intoxication Grow some percentage of your food Be part of the sharing, discussion, planning, and ongoing development Take a course in the process of consensus; read “Creating a Life Together” Agree to abide by all community rules Be formally accepted into the group

Timeline Estimation: 

Timeline Estimation Meet every week (expect around 6 months) Purchase land (6-12 months from 1 st meeting) Commute on weekends; develop infrastructure (0-12 months after land purchase) Build homes, some people move to community Start constructing community buildings Develop cottage industries & education Some people can potentially quit their jobs

II Processes for Creating Community: 

II Processes for Creating Community Meet Regularly Learn, Research, Share, Discuss Determine Personal Involvement Get Consensus Training Engage in Teambuilding Create Vision Documents Draft Community Agreements Develop Detailed Plans Implement a Formal Joining Process Develop Community Physically

Meet Regularly: 

Meet Regularly Weekly meetings – at least Keeps momentum and progress Considerable planning is required Stay organized = stay focused Meeting agenda should be clear Allow plenty of discussion, on topic Stay involved, even if things are not perfect Take an active role

Learn, Research, Share, Discuss: 

Learn, Research, Share, Discuss Various presentations to get us started Specializing is valuable – expertise is needed Specific key subjects are required initially Many others will be needed later Set goals all the way through Break major goals into smaller tasks Always leave time for sharing and discussion

Determine Personal Involvement: 

Determine Personal Involvement Meet preliminary requirements Develop relationships and partnerships Make commitments you can keep Personal involvement can change over time Circumstances change Desires change Things don’t always work out Plan for several types of involvement

Get Consensus Training: 

Get Consensus Training Consensus is one tool for group functioning Diversity and differences of opinion are desirable and must be valued Most groups use consensus in their decision-making, and majority vote as needed Everyone should be heard, valued, and respected Emotions are OK!

Engage in Teambuilding: 

Engage in Teambuilding Some of us may not know each other at all We need methods to build rapport within the group Teambuilding exercises are especially valuable when there is no joint physical activity Any activity done as a group will aid in developing relationships - particularly those where interdependence is required

Create Vision Documents: 

Create Vision Documents Vision documents should convey the essence of the community to others Various Vision Statements should define high-level scope & purpose Documents should not be conjectural, but should connect the future with the present Some details of the community may be necessary before all Vision Statements can be created Multiple documents may be needed

Draft Community Agreements: 

Draft Community Agreements Examples: Vision Statement, Environmental Statement, Community Constitution, Community rules Everything should be in writing Details are important! If everything is spelled out clearly for everyone there will be less misunderstanding and fewer problems in the future

Draft Detailed Plans: 

Draft Detailed Plans Community agreements can be tiered: Vision Statement (and Environmental Statements, etc) Community Constitution Community Agreements or Rules Master Plan (detailed plans) Put all plans in writing whenever possible Detailed plans may be regularly revised

Implement a Formal Joining Process: 

Implement a Formal Joining Process Group members need identification Everyone follows the process, including all of us The process must be clear, & available Most communities have several stages of membership, with various levels of rights Examples: Associate, Owner, Residential, and Voting Members

Physical Community Development: 

Physical Community Development What we’ve been waiting for! Hard work will be fun if we have already formed a good community of people All planning should be complete prior to this stage Brings about greater bonding Is a more complete manifestation of the vision

III Executing our Plans: 

III Executing our Plans Setting up Legal Entities Organizing Internal Finances Choosing & Buying Property Developing the Land Moving to the Land

Set up Legal Entities: 

Set up Legal Entities Most communities require more than one legal entity They are needed for legal protection, recognition of individual rights, tax shelter (or tax reduction), non-profit status, land ownership, conducting business, etc Non-profits, non-exempt non-profits, LLCs, 501cs, Homeowners associations, cooperatives, and other entities all have particular advantages and disadvantages

Organize Internal Finances: 

Organize Internal Finances Various financial sources: Members, Contributors, Investors Business resources, banks and lenders Government resources Determine needs; match with sources Conduct fundraising as needed Set up financial safeguards, procedures, reporting systems, and responsibilities Establish pool of funds

Choose & Buy Property: 

Choose & Buy Property Know the location criteria Considerable work has already been done Find and track properties for sale Be prepared to quickly contact members with suitable properties that come available Hold property until decision can be made Don’t buy property until group documents are final and enough members are on board

Develop the Land: 

Develop the Land Infrastructure development Finalize community layout & all building sites Consists of clearing & leveling land, creating large lake, digging wells, & fencing entire community Individual home construction We can have our own construction team Use professionals for special projects Construction of community buildings Temple, school, auditorium, etc

Moving to the Land: 

Moving to the Land As houses are completed people will move in, some will still commute to work Continue executing the agreed-upon plan Continue to meet regularly! Start gardens and cottage industries Education for children is a prime necessity Greater sustainability in lifestyles takes place gradually, sometimes over years

IV Ongoing Community Development: 

IV Ongoing Community Development Get Together Regularly Invite Others Learn, Research, Share, Discuss Re-create Vision and Community Determine Personal Involvement Deal with Problems Four Principles of Community Building

Get Together Regularly: 

Get Together Regularly There must always be a vehicle for ongoing open communication and sharing If there are no problems meetings may be less frequent, such as biweekly or monthly Come together for various purposes – meals, festivals, kirtan, worship, education, recreation, working together, and spending quality time There will be more than one grouping within a community

Invite Others: 

Invite Others Most communities have particular times of the year for visitors Establish programs and facilities for outreach and caring for guests and visitors Guests may come for particular purposes such as festivals or to visit regular public facilities Cottage industries, recreation, & education are excellent ways to involve the public

Learn, Research, Share, Discuss: 

Learn, Research, Share, Discuss These processes should always continue The subjects learned and discussed will change over time The early development phases will focus on water, food, shelter, and physical community development Later stages will focus on education, healthcare, sustainability, outreach, guests, festivals, social structure, etc

Re-create Vision and Community: 

Re-create Vision and Community Community vision and purposes may evolve over time as the community grows Details can change, core principles should not Written documents must be kept up to date Community documents allow new people to get an in-depth introduction Community should help improve the vision, and the vision should help improve the community

Determine Personal Involvement: 

Determine Personal Involvement We can change as individuals, and the entire community can also change Change necessitates periodic re-evaluation Conflict or problems can result in honest personal assessment All methods of involvement are ongoing, except purchase of land if the community is full

Dealing with Problems: 

Dealing with Problems Make a personal commitment to deal with problems, rather than ignore or avoid Learn and use the right tools, individually and collectively Seek guidance Emotions can be valuable The community documents must include information, steps, and processes Consider the following four principles:

Community Building Principle #1: 

Community Building Principle #1 Treat each person with the bhakti and care as if the success or failure of your own spiritual life depends on this. Do not take into concern how they treat you. The manner in which you treat people is the same way you are treating Guru and Krishna.

Community Building Principle #2: 

Community Building Principle #2 Any time there is a problem in a relationship, you should first see it as your own fault. Even if others are to blame, you will only add to the problem by considering them to be at fault.

Community Building Principle #3: 

Community Building Principle #3 You should treat every person with whom you come in contact with the same care as the person you love the most.

Community Building Principle #4: 

Community Building Principle #4 As we associate with others in our spiritual communities, we should do so in a mood that these are the people I am living with and they will probably also be the people that I leave this body with. - His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

V Current Research Status: 

V Current Research Status Research communities & related subjects (80%) Research real estate & zoning issues (50%) Research financing options (50%) Research legal entities (50%) Select decision processes (90%) Create community agreements (60%) Establish location criteria (90%) Research suitable properties (75%)

(List of Presentations): 

(List of Presentations) Rural Communities & Ecovillages Support for Communities Creating Community Providing Necessities - Water Providing Necessities - Food Providing Necessities - Shelter Community Layout Energy Resources Modern Economic Systems Community Economics Financial Requirements Creating a Sustainable Future

Creating Community: 

Creating Community Questions and Discussion