Puget Sound Cohousing Fairs

Songaia Cohousing
Sunday, April 20, 2008 1pm - 3pm

Looking to join a cohousing community? The Puget Sound Cohousing Fair is your chance to meet with members from Forming Groups, who would love to have your input on building a community from the ground up, or members from established communities with units for sale/rent.

The Songaia edition of the Puget Sound Cohousing Fair will offer three simultaneous choices - each runs the full two hours.

Your choices:

1. Community Tables - meet members from forming groups and see literature about all the cohousing units for sale we can discover
2. About Cohousing - an ongoing multi-media presentation
3. Songaia Cohousing Tours - also featuring New Earth Song, the group creating more community housing on adjoining property

Cost: By Donation - to be used to make the next edition even better!

Communities planning to attend our April 20 fair:

• Bartimaeus Cohousing at Meadow Wood (Bremerton)
• Clearwater Commons (Bothell/Mill Creek)
• Duwamish Cohousing (West Seattle)
• New Earth Song Cohousing (Bothell)
• North Creek Village (Bothell)
• South Sound Cohousing (Tacoma)
• Your name here? Email: Jen@pugetsoundcohousing.com

For more information: info@PugetSoundCohousing.com

"Finding Community"
Community Seeker's Fair

featuring Diana Leafe Christian

Suggested Donation:   $10

Communities interested in tabling, please contact nancy@songaia.com

NICA Annual Summer Gathering

Saturday, July 26-27, 2008

The Farm at Columbia Ecovillage, 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.”  See www.creating-a-life-together.org for more information on Diana’s work.      

Annual NICA Winter Gathering
Saturday, March 22, 2008 was at Winslow Cohousing

Planting our Dreams

the many stages of food - from seed to the table

We spent the day with Communitarians and hopefuls at Winslow Cohousing Community  – Saturday, March 22nd from 10 am – 5:00 pm.

There was:

1)    singing,
2)    sharing community stories,
3)    dancing,
4)    a panel presentation on FOOD, from seed to harvest, and
5)    small group discussion.
6)    there were also opportunities for support, contribution and participation toward shaping the future of our regional organization (NICA).

Winslow Cohousing

This gathering was also our annual meeting and included community singing, stories of community, news from NICA and other community networks, a focused conversation about growing food in community, pot- luck lunch and a tour of the host community.  It was a day of fun, community support, and connections. The tours of Winslow Cohousing included a ride in Winslow's electric car, a walk through the woods and hearing the story why they decided to put the woods in land trust, information on their composting system and more. 

Community stories: Each community gave a brief update.  Part of this sharing included information on community garden practices. It was great to hear about our successes, challenges plans and dreams.

Food: Vegetarian soup was provided and the pot-luck dish we all shared were delightful.

Report on Saturday, October 13th

We were back in the same space with 45 folks anticipating a day long workshop with Diana.  They participated in small and larger grouping assuring that each person would be able to have his/her voice heard.  Role playing, workshops,  and presentation were part of the day's activities.  We closed with a circle that gave us the chance to reflect on the time together and to experience the hope that is present in these very days.  

Those of us who sponsored the two day gathering were also excited about the size of the group!  To have so many interested in intentional community is hopeful."

What: NICA Board Retreat

When: Sunday, Nov. 4, 1:00pm to 6:00pm

Where: Songaia Cohousing Community

Who: (1) Current Members of the NICA Board, (2) Past NICA Board Members, (3) Others who are willing to provide NICA leadership... we currently have leaders who are not board members.

We are a working board, so people that want to come to talk about community are less helpful than people who believe they can put energy toward make good things happen in the Intentional Communities movement.

RSVP: Yes, please email nancy@songaia.com

"Finding Community" - Community Seeker's Fair

Friday, October 12 @ 7:30pm
Greenwood Senior Center (map & directions)
525 N. 85th St., Seattle, WA 98103
Cost: You decide - by donation
(info will continue to be posted here as available)

We were very fortunate to have received a Seattle-area visit from Diana Leafe Christian, 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, editor from 1994 to 2007 of Communities magazine. Designed for community seekers, Diana's presentation offered an overview of how to research thoroughly, visit enjoyably, evaluate intelligently, and join gracefully an ecovillage or other kind of intentional community. The event include tables and members of 10 Pacific Northwest communities that are open to new members (see list below). For more information, email: craig@songaia.com

Communities that had tables at the event (alpha order):

1. Bright Morning Star - established Seattle cooperative house
2. Cascadia Cohousing - forming City of Seattle Coho w/goal of 10-15 low-$300K units
3. Columbian EcoVillage - forming urban Coho is NE Portland OR, 37 units on 4 acres
4. Emma Goldman's Finishing School - established Seattle social justice commune
5. EcoReality - forming Ecovillage in South Gulf Islands of British Columbia
6. Goodenough Community - estab. Seattle multi-residential community w/70 acre retreat cntr
7. Lake Armstrong Creek - forming Co-op on 80 acre in Arlington WA - Deep Sustainability
8. New Earth Song - forming Coho: 5 acres w/woods in Bothell, adjoins Songaia Cohousing
9. Port Townsend Ecovillage - forming Ecovillage next to Rosewind Cohousing
10. Seattle City Cohousing - forming urban Seattle Coho, meets at Jackson Place Coho

Questions? craig@songaia.com

Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium

Where: Songaia Cohousing Community (for directions, www.songaia.com)
When: Sunday, August 19, 2007 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (Tour Songaia at 5:30pm)
Cost: By Donation, you decide your contribution.

 Where on Earth are we going? And what can we do about it? These are two questions that lie at the heart of the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium. The Symposium explores the link between three of humanity’s most critical concerns: Environmental sustainability, Social justice and Spiritual fulfillment. Using video from some of the world’s most respected thinkers, with inspiring short films, leading edge information and dynamic group interactions, the Symposium helps participants gain new insight into the very nature of our time and the opportunity we have to shape and impact the world's direction with our everyday choices and actions.

The workshop is limited to 40 participants. It is being cosponsored by NICA, Rite of Passage Journeys, Pachamama Alliance and an emerging new local group of Earth Elders.

A tour of Songaia will follow this event at 5:30pm

For more information and to register, please contact Fred Lanphear at
fred@songaia.com or 425-481-8044

Island Bus Tour of Cohousing Communities
We are pleased to announce the first ever: Island Bus Tour of Cohousing Communities
Saturday, May 19, 2007

The tour bus will ride the ferries to visit Winslow Cohousing (Bainbridge), Vashon Cohousing, and the brand new Bartimaeus Cohousing in Bremerton. The anchor for this over-water venture will be a tour of Puget Ridge Cohousing in West Seattle. The fee for this daylong traveling workshop will be $110, which includes ferry fares and a delicious box lunch. Signup at the Cohousing Association of the United States website.

DenCity Research and NICA Present
Community Building: Bringing Community Together:
Lessons & Models from the Damanhur Experience.
Also includes Inner Harmonizing Sessions

Sunday, April 22nd, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Cost: $75 before April 15th – regular fee = $100
Order online www.brownpapertickets.com

Location: TEMENOS
7901 35th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98126

Founded in 1975 and located in Northwestern Italy, the Federation of
Damanhur is an internationally renowned center for spiritual, artistic
and community development. Damanhur is also an evolving intentional
community of over 800 people. Damanhurians are are known for having
built the world’s largest underground temple, called the Temples of
Humankind, composed of astonishing and inspirational vaulted ceilings,
stained glass sculptures, and murals based upon sacred geometry.
Crotalo Sesamo and Shama, ambassadors of Damanhur, will impart their
personal experience as well as the 30 years of research developed at
Damanhur. The world which they speak about is real - not perfect – but
a testament to the potential for all human beings to live in peace,
fulfillment, and joy within community.

For more information, contact Morgan Markowitz at 206-406-5523
Websites: www.damanhur.org, www.dencityresearch.com, www.ic.org/nica/

For information on workshops focused on Damanhur spiritual practices
and culture, April 22nd and 23rd, visit www.dencityresearch.com

NICA Winter Gathering at Puget Sound's newest Cohousing Community!

Bartimaeus Cohousing at Meadow Wood, 7771 NE Beacon Place, Bremerton, WA 98311
Saturday, February 24, 2007
10:00 am (sharp) - 5:00 pm (ish) - includes potluck lunch
Cost: By Donation, you decide your contribution
Childcare: to be arranged on-site if required

This year we have an exciting opportunity to visit a brand new community, Bartimaeus!  The folks there are inviting us to hold our winter gathering in their common house.

This gathering is also our annual meeting and includes community singing, stories of community, news from NICA and other community networks, more singing, a focused conversation about life in community,a pot luck lunch, and a tour of the host community.  We begin the day together at 10 AM sharp and conclude with the tour at 5 PM.  It is a day of fun, community support, and connections. Please join us!

Questions: nancy@songaia.com

NICA Sponsors: Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium

Winslow Cohousing Community,  353 Wallace Way NE, Bainbridge Island
Sunday, January 28, 2007
12:30 pm - 4:30 pm followed by Dinner 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: By Donation, you decide your contribution.

Where on Earth are we going? And what can we do about it? These are
two of the questions that lie at the heart of the Awakening the
Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium. The Symposium explores the link
between three of humanity’s most critical concerns: environmental
sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment. Using video
clips from some of the world’s most respected thinkers, along with
inspiring short films, leading edge information and dynamic group
interactions, the Symposium allows participants to gain new insight
into the very nature of our time and the opportunity we have to shape
and impact the direction of our world with our everyday choices and
actions.

The workshop is limited to 50 participants. You have a choice of
registering for the workshop only, or for the workshop and dinner.
Dinner will accommodate vegetarians and carnivores. For more
information or to register contact: Therese Kunzi-Clark (206) 842-2872 or e-mail
kunzith@unesso.com

Pragmatic Consensus Panel
hosted by DenCity Research
Tuesday, January 16th, 7-9 pm
University Heights Center at the corner of NE 50th St and University
Way NE, in room 209.

What does consensus mean? How does it work? What are its benefits and
pitfalls? Is it for you? This is a forum with local experts on the
subject of consensus - a decision making process as experienced in many
of today's communities and organizations. For more information go to
www.dencityresearch.com. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Creating Community Traditions through Celebration and Ceremony

Sunday, December 10, 3pm
Songaia Cohousing Common House

Traditions are glue that hold communities together. Join us in some hands-on learning as we explore their creation, from annual celebrations to rites of passage recognizing life milestones - happy and sad. In this interactive session, we will consider the elements of ceremony and ways to organize and create in community. We will also form small teams that will collaboratively create short events to share within the workshop.

Cost: By Donation, you decide your contribution

True Holidays Celebration: Saturday, December 2nd

As a resident of the Village without Walls, the Goodenough Community invites individuals and communities to join in celebrating HOPE at the 2006 True Holidays Celebration, Saturday Dec 2 nd. Please see www.goodenough.org\true_holidays.htm.

Build a WISER Commons – cooperating to create a Sustainability Commons

Friday, December 1st, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm; $10 a head
Town Hall @ 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle
(Downstairs – Seneca Street Entrance)
Includes a presentation by Paul Hawken of the Natural Capital Institute
Purchase tickets online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/8542

NICA Co-sponsors Seattle-Area Cohousing Bus Tour

Seattle, WA
Saturday, Nov 4
8:30am – 5:00pm

This Seattle-area Cohousing Bus tour is offered by the Cohousing Association of the United States and is cosponsored by NICA, the Northwest Intentional Community Association.

The all day tour starts and ends at Jackson Place Cohousing in Seattle. We start by loading up our tour bus and getting to know each other as we proceed North East to Sharingwood Cohousing in Snohomish County. After learning about this fascinating two phase community which has used different development models and includes a nature preserve, we head to Clearwater Commons, a new community under development near Bothell – this residential community is emerging from families in the Sudbury School community across the street. Next stop is Songaia, also near Bothell, where we'll have a tour and enjoy lunch  in the community's common house – Songaia is known for its innovative food program! After Songaia, its back on the bus to return to Seattle, where we'll visit Puget Ridge Cohousing in West Seattle - the first cohousing community built in the City of Seattle. After Puget Ridge, the bus will take us back to Jackson Place Cohousing where we'll enjoy the final community tour of the day. Craig Ragland will lead the tour. $95 per person. Lunch included.

http://cohousing.org/tours.aspx

<Sept 30>

Fellowship for Intentional Community presents

Art of Community Northwest; Co-Opportunities for Sustainability

September 8-10, 2006

Major Sponsors
Northwest Intentional Community Association
Federation of Egalitarian Communities
International Puppydogs Movement

Sustaining Sponsors
Rites of Passage Journeys

Supporting Sponsors
Cohousing Association of the United States

Living Together: Cohousing in Denmark
happened on July 7, 2006 7pm, Jackson Place Cohousing

Since the early 70’s the Danes have developed and lived in cohousing
communities – today there are hundreds and many of them are unknown to
North Americans. Grace Kim and Mike Mariano visited over 20 of these
communities in 2004 and shares their experiences through an extensive
slide presentation. Through a photographic journey, they will show how
Danish communities have successfully created a sense of communitas
throughout 30 years of cohousing.  They will share insights about
successful site planning, covered community streets, the importance of
common house design, and the concept of “hygge” in Danish culture.

Grace H. Kim, AIA is a registered architect in Washington and Oregon,
and is the cofounder of Schemata Workshop - an architectural
collaborative in Seattle. In 2004, she was awarded a traveling
fellowship that allowed her to research cohousing in Denmark, where she
visited over 20 urban, suburban, and rural communities.  She is
concluding a research degree at the University of Washington where she
has studied the design of Cohousing common houses.  Grace has also
visited almost a dozen cohousing communities in the Pacific Northwest.

Mike Mariano, AIA is also a co-founder of Schemata Workshop and a
registered architect in Washington and Illinois.  Schemata Workshop is
an architectural practice focused on buildings and urban planning that
reinforce community.  Mike accompanied Grace in her visit to Denmark,
serving as the photographer documenting all of the communities.  They
both helped prepare meals in most of the communities visited and had an
intensely immersive experience into the Danish culture as well as
cohousing communities.

Cost: By donation, you decide your contribution

<posted by craig@songaia.com on 5/31/06>

NICA Summer Gathering happened on July 1, 2006 in Eugene, Oregon

Communitarians and community seekers came together for a day of singing, sharing stories of community life, networking, introducing community organizations and networks, and open space discussions.

Where: 40th Avenue "Cohousing"

When: 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday July 1st, 2006

<posted by craig@songaia.com on 7/2/06>

The 8-Shields Model; an introduction
Featured Alan Seid
Happened on Wednesday, March 8, 2006; 7:30pm
Songaia Community

NICA is pleased to present Alan Seid's introduction of the 8-Shields Model. This model was presented to the Fellowship for Intentional Community at its recent organizational meeting at Los Angeles Ecovillage and has been adopted by the team planning Art of Community Northwest; Building Sustainable Community. This large, Sept 8-10, 2006 event is being presented by the Fellowship for Intentional Community and is co-sponsored by NICA.

What: Based on the Native American medicine wheel, the 8-Shields Model is many things: a map for organizational design, a checklist for events, a flowchart for projects, and much more. Also known as the Acorn Model, this tool helps us integrate people's diverse gifts into cohesive, effective teams. It clarifies some important and confusing issues regarding consensus decision-making, as well as between hierarchical and egalitarian approaches to organizational design. The Acorn Model is known for being both highly effective and very fun!

When: Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 7:30pm to 9pm

Where: Songaia Cohousing Community's Common House (Maps & Directions)

Cost: By donation, you decide your contribution

Who: Alan Seid teaches a number of specific sustainable living tools he has found to be powerful. He has been applying the Acorn Model since 2000, when he first learned it from Jon Young, founder of the Wilderness Awareness School (WAS). Alan has attended a total of 14 training days on the Acorn with Jon and WAS staff, including Coyote Mentoring, The Art of Mentoring, The Mind of Mentoring (2005), and a one-day private training. Since 2000 Alan has lived and worked with people applying this model to their personal and work lives. Alan is a founding member of the Whatcom Network for Compassionate Communication (WNCC) which uses the Acorn Model organizationally and in all their trainings.

<posted by craig@songaia.com on 2/26/06>

NICA 14th Annual Meeting
happened on Saturday, February 25, 2006
RoseWind Cohousing Community in Port Townsend, WA

This was a great event with about 35 people who attended across the day. We gathered at 10 am, share a potluck lunch, and ended at 4:30 pm... though many of us lingered a bit afterward to informally chat.

The morning featured community stories from representatives of the the 12 NW communities that came and the afternoon focused on the question How do we create sustainable communities? with a panel of folks from a diverse set of communities that shared their unique perspectives and then led small-group discussions. This was a great opportunity for connecting with like-minded folk, participating in some great dialogue and experiencing a sense of community through singing and story-telling.

We also had an opportunity to tour RoseWind and see some community art that was featured in Communities magazine. We will also learn about the Port Townsend Ecovillage that is forming on property which is directly adjacent to RoseWind.

There was no fee for this event, but donations to NICA were requested... and received, THANK YOU to those who attended.

<updated by craig@songaia.com on 2/26/06>

The NICA Board Meeting happened on 6:15pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at Elliot Bay Bookstore cafe.

NICA Board Meeting: Thursday, December 15th at 7:00pm
The NICA board of directors meet at Songaia Cohousing Community in the home of Fred and Nancy Lanphear.

In Attendance

Fred Lanphear, President
Odysseus Levy, Vice President
Nancy Lanphear, Treasurer
Therese Kunzi-Clarke, Secretary
Kim Clark
Craig Ragland

Welcome and check-in
Agenda Review
Treasurer's Report
NICA ONLINE Progress Report
Proposed FIC Art of Community Event
Annual Meeting

Welcome and check-in

We got a late start, and got going with a round-robin check-in at about 7:30pm.

Treasurer's Report

Minutes from the last meeting were approved.
Nancy reported on current account balances - NICA is better funded than ever before.

NICA ONLINE Progress Report

Craig shared the current status of the NICA ONLINE project, describing the work with Raines Cohen, learning about various online communities and with Tony Sirna, who developed the FIC website.

The interdependence of the NICA website on the FIC Website was discussed.

Craig described social networks, using tribe as an example - he has since created a NICA Board tribe and sent invitations to NICA Board members.

He also described the work being done by the FIC Regional Networking Committee using a wiki.

Proposed FIC Art of Community Event

The NICA Board members were refered to the event wiki which has lots of detail, but is not quite ready for public release.

It was agreed that, at this time, NICA is willing to risk up to $5,000 in support of the event. It was agreed that $1,000 cash will be immediately available for payments in support of the event. How the remaining $4,000, which might be used to pay for NICA staff labor, requires more discussion. Rather than making an outright grant, NICA will provide money for the event as a loan to the project. Money which NICA provides "up front" to help finance the event will be returned should the event economics prove sufficient. NICA does not request any profits or interest. If event income exceeds its cost (including repayment of NICA), any proceeds would go to the FIC. It is understood that events of this sort are not without risk and that it is possible that NICA will not be repaid.

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting will be on Saturday, February 25th from 10am to 4pm at Rosewind Cohousing. This has been confirmed with Lynn at Rosewind.

Next meeting dates and location

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at Elliot Bay Bookstore at 7:00.

Closing

Beyond Sustainability: An Inspiring Vision of the next 250 Years

A Free Program by Michael Dowd

WAS on: Friday evening, December 2nd, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm

About forty people gathered at Songaia to hear The Great Story (Wikipedia description) - the epic of evolution told as a sacred story. Its intent is to bridge science and religion and provides common ground for theists, atheists, humanists, and spiritual seekers of all sorts.

This way of thinking about the Universe and our relationship to it is inspiring people to relate to social justice and environmental sustainability in an entirely new way.

The progam opened a local discussion of the role of cooperative living and intentional communities in the context of this new world view.

Michael Dowd is a well-known sustainability activist and an inspiring speaker who has commited his life to sharing The Great Story. A gifted and passion-filled cosmic storyteller, he is the author of the 1991 book "EarthSpirit," which was inspired by the writings of cultural historian Thomas Berry, physicist Brian Swimme, and deep ecologist Joanna Macy.

October, 2005 NICA Board Meeting

On 10/12, the NICA Board met at Rebecca's (our president) home in Seattle. It was alot of fun getting together and the Rebecca's salsa was so fine... (THANKS)

In Attendance:

• Fred & Nancy Lanphear, Craig Ragland from Songaia Cohousing Community
• Rebecca LiaBraaten
• Odysseus Levy from Winslow Cohousing

Agenda:

• Check-in
• Regional News
• Board Development and Roles
• Bank Account Signatories
• Registered Agent
• December 2nd event & promotions
• Spring NICA Gathering event
• NICA relationship with FIC (Fellowship for Intentional Communites)

We started with a check-in, going round-robin among the attendees - there is a lot going on in everybody's life! And if you come to the next meeting, you'll get to hear about us and share some about your life in community.

Regional News

A new IC group is emerging, the BCICA, British Columbia Intentional Communities Association. It will be covering BC, an area which is clearly in the NW, but because of its size and scope, needs to form its own regional association. We briefly discussed the opportunities this presents.

We also talked about Port Townsend Ecovillage, a new community forming on property adjoining Rosewind Cohousing. It is being started by people with significant existing cohousing experience - for most current participants, this is their second community project - it might even be considered second generation US cohousing.

Board Development and Roles

Rebecca resigned her role as President of the Board, as she will be traveling extensively and is no longer a member of the Goodenough Community. She asked that Fred step in as President and Fred agreed to play that role. Rebecca will continue as a Board member, but without an official role. After discussion, the new slate of officers were decided to be:

Fred Lanphear, President
Odysseus Levy, Vice President
Nancy Lanphear, Treasurer
Kim Clark (also from Winslow Cohousing), Secretary (to be confirmed)

Other prospective board participants were discussed - mostly people who had been involved previously. We also talked about the history of NICA's leadership and participation being primarily based in the Seattle-area, while NICA's constituency is the broader NW.

Bank Account Signatories

A form for the NICA bank account signatories was updated and Fred, Odysseus, and Nancy will be able to sign the account's checks.

Registered Agent

The board approved the change of its Registered Agent from Jonathan Betz-Zall to Fred Lanphear.

December 2nd Event & Promotions

On Dec. 2nd, NICA will be sponsoring an event with Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow, who's mission is to communicate the Universe Story, see www.thegreatstory.org. They visited and shared with the Songaia Community a few years ago and will be doing another presentation. There is no charge for the event. They support themselves primarily by selling topically related books.

NICA will promote the event among NW communities, while Songaia will host it.

Promotional items

1. Fred will prepare copy for a one-page flyer and send to Kim, who will hopefully prepare a ready-to-print version and send it back
2. Nancy will print it and prepare a paper-based mailing
3. Craig will post the event on the NICA and FIC websites
4. At the event itself, NICA will provide refreshments
5. Odysseus works for a company that does email for businesses, Craig will work with him on getting our email act together, first for the promotion of this event and later for NICA in general.

Spring NICA Gathering Event

We discussed the value of shifting this one-day annual meeting to February, so it will not be so close to the Summer Gathering. We will explore having the Feb-06 event at Rosewind Cohousing in Port Townsend.

NICA relationship with FIC (Fellowship for Intentional Communites)

Some relevant facts:

1. NICA is one of the only ongoing Intentional Communities Associations in the US with a regional focus - others have come and gone, others focus on specific types of communities, e.g. cooperatives, or are brand new.
2. Fred is on the FIC Board
3. Craig just returned from a visit to Sandhill Farm, the intentional community which hosts the FIC offices. While there, he learned a lot about the FIC, its organization, leadership, and day-to-day operations.
4. Fred and Craig are on the FIC Regional Networking Committee - bringing more regional focus to FIC was part of Fred's reason for getting involved.
5. FIC currently hosts the NICA website. FIC is discontinuing its hosting relationships with a number of intentional communities which have sites on the FIC servers. But FIC is open to a continued relationship with NICA.
6. The NICA ONLINE project presents another point of contact, Craig has been been working with the FIC web developers. Many of the goals in the project would best be accomplished by close work with FIC resources - a well-organized, proven team.
7. Fred, Nancy, and Craig will all be at the FIC Organizational meetings at Los Angeles Ecovillage next month.

It was agreed

• NICA will offer FIC $250 per year to help cover costs associated with hosting the NICA website. Since the market value for our current hosting is about $20-80/year, this higher offer reflects NICA's wish to participate as a partner, sharing a meaningful portion of the costs involved in making the FIC and NICA web sites more powerful vehicles for growing the intentional communities movement. We see NICA's role with this as a model for how other regional and local IC organizations can help leverage the work of FIC.
• We will be asking FIC to provide some specific new web services and features which will better enable NICA to use the web in support of its mission. In some cases, NICA may bear some financial costs to implement new features.
• The NICA website will move from its current url (ic.org/nica) to a new one (either nica.ic.org or nw.ic.org). This will be done in conjunction with the planned NICA website redesign.

We finished up the meeting with hugs all around... and wishes for all participants to have safe travels, as each of us would be out of the area during parts of the next month.

<posted by Craig 10/14/05>