Bucket's blog

For those strange folks that might be interested in reading the stuff I post on the Opinions & Ideas Board at Twin Oaks, I am posting them here for your reading pleasure.

Cheers!
-bucket

Room Assignment Policy & New Member Placement
Draft - Bucket for Pop Gang - 12/8/08

Each SLG may give a brief summary of their SLG's norms and culture to the Room Assigner. They may also give the room assigner a single paragraph on what qualities they wish a resident of their SLG to posses.

When the room assigner is contacted by a new member for room placement upon their arrival to Twin Oaks, the room assigner will list all available rooms as potential options for the incoming new member, along with the information provided by the SLGs on their culture and their expectations of residents. The incoming new member may then choose which room they wish to occupy from those available.

The only exceptions will be that rooms reserved by the Child Board will not be listed as options and that men will not be placed in the Downstairs Oneida unless there are no other rooms available.

When a new member is placed in an SLG, the new member is not automatically given membership into the SLG. The new member must go through whatever process the SLG decides is necessary to become a member.

If the new member is not accepted into the SLG, or chooses to not apply, this member will not have the rights and privileges of SLG members unless the SLG chooses to grant this new member such privileges. For instance, new members who are not part of the SLG are not given the option to move into a larger room within the SLG when one becomes available. A new member who is not part of the SLG might not be allowed voting rights on SLG issues.

As I write this, a child is being born here at Twin Oaks. In the upstairs living room of Kaweah, Summer and Purl are being assisted by friends, family and a midwife in giving birth to our newest member.

In June of this year we celebrated Twin Oaks' 41st Anniversary. Around 200 members and ex-members gathered together to watch slide-shows, have dinner and dance together to mark the occasion. Unfortunately, while we were waiting for dinner word got to us that one of the buildings next to our warehouse, named Oz, was burning. The destruction was total, but luckily the fire did not spread to any of the other buildings. The folks at Louisa Fire Department contained the fire and put it out for us. Work is already underway to replace Oz with a new steel building by this spring.

This years Halloween party was a blast. Many members dressed up and partied down. Costumes included: Sarah Palin's pregnant teenage daughter (costume worn by a 40-year old man), Peak Oil (person adorned with garbage bags and car-oil cans, with a trickle of fake oil dripping out of their head) and Johnny Cash (complete with 3-piece live band, led the whole room in singing a round of "Ring of Fire")

As of this moment, Twin Oaks is at maximum capacity. In early November we took on our 93rd adult member, which according to our current policy is our Population Capacity (or Pop Cap for short). Already since then we have collected a waiting list of a dozen people ready to move here once the opportunity arises. Is this the beginning of a new trend or just an anomaly? Only time will tell.

Bucket Goes to NASCO
And Reports Back to You!
Monday, November 10, 2008 – Bucket TO

On Friday, November 7th, I attended NASCO Institute and gave a workshop on the Egalitarian Communities Movement titled "The Power of Sharing." My travel costs were paid for by NASCO and the FEC. My labor credits were provided by the FEC. The FEC requires a written report whenever it pays for any FEC member to attend an event. This is just such a report.

NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation) is an organization to support and train members of cooperatives, primarily student cooperatives. Each year NASCO holds a conference called NASCO Institute where they hold their general meetings, hold workshops and training missions, and celebrate their collective history and culture. This event takes place in Ann Arbor, MI on the University of Michigan campus.

If you haven't already, I think it is worthwhile for any communard to visit a few housing cooperative. I think you might be surprised by how similar our culture and values are.

This was my second year presenting at NASCO. I personally enjoyed the last time I went immensely. I learned a lot, made some really great connections and was exposed to a lot of new ideas and concepts. There was a lot of interest in both my workshop and egalitarian communities in general. My workshop received a lot of positive feedback. I came back and shared with the FEC and my home community a lot of new ideas.

This year was a different experience for me. I felt rather familiar with the campus and city. I knew many more of the people there and stayed in much more comfortable accommodations. (This year I stayed in the Quaker Friends coop, where I had my own room and soft cushions to sleep on. Last year I slept in the basement of a coop named The Veil with 30 other attendees.)

I am working on my NASCO Institute presentation for this year, and came up with these figures. Enjoy!

Gasoline:

The average American uses about 500 gallons per year.(1)
Twin Oaks consumed about 15,267 gallons of gas in 2007.
With an average population of 87 adults, that would put our consumption at 175 gallons per person.
That is 65% less gas consumed!

Electricity:

The average American uses 11,000 kWh of Electricity per year.(2)
Twin Oaks consumed 268,065 kWh in 2007.
With an adult population on average of 87 adults, that would put our consumption at 3,083 kWh per person.
that is 73% less electricity consumed!

Natural Gas:

The average resident in Virginia uses 767 therms of natural gas.(3)
Twin Oaks consumed 16,221 therms of natural gas in 2007.
With an adult population on average of 87 adults, that would put our consumption at 186 therms per person.
that is 76% less natural gas consumed!

This is a great example of the power of sharing.
Cheers!

I came across this article by Kat Kinkade about "Hippies." A lot has changed since the late 60's, for instance Twin Oaks no longer requires an entrance fee. It is funny and interesting none the less.

Enjoy!
-bucket

Kat Kinkade died at 7:40, July 3rd, 2008 at Twin Oaks Community in the building called Nashoba. Her family and friends were here with her when she passed.

Kat Kinkade was a founding member of 3 communities in the Federation of Egalitarian Communities; Twin Oaks, East Wind and Acorn. Each of these communities are still thriving to this day.

Kat died due to complications related to bone cancer, an illness she has been living with for quite a while.

Kat will be buried tomorrow in Twin Oaks Community's cemetery with family and close friends in attendance. The burial will be at a closed ceremony. A memorial service will be held in the near future. For more information on Kat's memorial service, please contact Valerie at valerie@twinoaks.org

Yesterday, Twin Oaks celebrated its 41st anniversary. It was a great celebration as many members and ex-members came together to sing and play in the courtyard.

At dinner, a call came into the dining hall. In a few minutes there were whispers that there was a fire near our warehouse. Several of our members ran to find 3 fire trucks and a few local news crews standing next to a burning pile of lumber that was once our varnish shop, called Oz.

The building was mostly destroyed when the fire department arrived. They focused on keeping the flames from spreading to other buildings in our warehouse complex. We sent up pies to the firemen, and helped them plug their trucks into our water supply. There was nothing else we could do.

So we went ahead with our celebration, and danced in ZK. It was good party, and we are so very lucky that we did not lose a residence.

Folks are meeting today to figure out how to continue our work without the building, and to find the quickest way to rebuild. Already there is enthusiasm for a better building then the one we lost.

Twin Oaks is 41 Years Old... what a strange anniversary we had.

http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/home/headlines/19948939.html#

During our 41st Anniversary, Matt X told us this story of leaving Twin oaks Community. Enjoy!

Early morning, Tupelo. I awake on my moldy and familiar futon to the sound of birds. Too many birds. 9:30 is too early for this.

I moved upstairs to this room to take advantage of the relative neatness and sanity that is upstairs North wing Tupelo. My room is the one with the wood paneling and Kana’s old staircase. It’s like a ski lodge for people on acid.

Pele is my neighbor. I’m sure that has something to do with why it’s quiet and somewhat clean up here.

I walk out into the living room. Crap. All of Rose and Maya’s teenage friends trashed the place last night. Beer bottle caps and mysterious stains are all over the carpet. My favorite lamp is gone. Pele’s gonna be mad. I really don’t want to be around for that.

I walk downstairs and catch a whiff of Pianky’s onion drying experiment that’s going on in his room. I respect the idea but it smells very bad. This house is crazy. As I fry my egg in the kitchen I realize I am depressed. My favorite skillet was left out all night with fish oil in it.

Three years of wild communal living has taken its toll. I’ve processed myself raw, managed a few areas, dated every single available woman who was even slightly interested in me, and the thrill is gone.

But where else is there to go? The world is insane. It’s all about cars, and money and violence and discrimination and war. Plus where could I go where they’d let me start work at 10am, work for six hours, topless and bearded, and call it a day? Christ, maybe I’m getting lazy. Well regardless, I’ve got some serious sitting around to do for another hour before I go varnish some chairs.

I am reposting this story from "The Leaves," the Twin Oak's newsletter. Enjoy!

...forty years and counting

by Valerie, aka Ultra-Violet Waterfall

Anniversary this year brought over one hundred ex-members and friends to help us celebrate this milestone. We kicked off the weekend with a live-music contra dance in the backyard of Kaweah. With Kathryn calling, and music from the Okara Mountain Jig Riggers (Ezra, Kassia, Trout and Madog, and Sky on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, bass and drums), we danced well into the evening.

The reporter from the Richmond newspaper who was covering Anniversary even joined in a for dance or two, and the weekend edition of the paper featured several Oakers in mid-twirl. Once we were tired out, Kele and Caroline treated us to a performance of middle Eastern bellydancing, complete with exotic outfits and exotic fiddling. Saturday morning arrived with a classic Ira/Velma brunch, and many people lingered and chatted, reminiscing, telling stories, recounting bygone controversies, scandals and gossip, and also catching up on the current events of everyones’ lives.

People who wanted some grounding were welcome at Anton/Vinnie’s guided meditation. Anyone who wanted a more visceral reminder of the good old days could pay a visit to TCLR, where a huge table of archival photos and a slide-show helped jog peoples’ memories. Ex-members could also sign the newly unveiled 40th Anniversary Quilt displayed on the wall.

Perhaps the hardest thing for me living at Twin Oaks these days is the Turnover.

Tomorrow my good friends Aubee and Rie leave to hike the Appalachian Trail. I will miss them sorely. My friendship with Aubee has been invaluable here at Twin Oaks.

I will miss her and Rie.

It is hard watching so many friends come and go. It is true that I have had an easier time connecting with more people in community, and that these connections have felt deeper and more real then most of my friendships before I joined the movement. But it also so much harder to have so many people I like leave.

Tomorrow a few of us are going to drive them to town and have Thai food in Charlottesville before we drop them off at the train station.

I worry that I am becoming less open to new people and more reclusive the longer I live here. It is so emotionally taxing having so many wonderful people leave that it is hard for me to feel safe opening up to new people.

Aubee really knows who I am, and knows my strengths and weaknesses almost as well as I do, yet she accepts me as I am none the less.. It is really hard to lose a friend like that. I do hope they come back to live at Twin Oaks after the trail.

News of the Oaks

Jun 07 – Jan 08

By Ezra with assistance from Mala and Gordon

Well, it's been a while since the last News of the Oaks came out, right around the time of our 40th anniversary, and we're pleased to report that the intervening eight months have been (generally speaking), a time of relative peace, stability, and prosperity.

Despite a relatively high turn-over rate, and the departure of several long-term members, population has remained in the eighties. Among the old-timers to strike out on their own this fall were Alder, Amy, Jack, Inge, and Indigo. Jake, who we all hoped might come rushing home, is still living in Savannah with George, and writes that he doesn't even miss Twin Oaks anymore.

On the other hand, this fall has seen the return of the oldest old-timer of them all-- Kat Kinkade! At the end of 2007 Kat returned as a full-time member, after 7 years of living in Mineral, and moved back into Nashoba (see interview with Kat in this issue).

While our adult population remains stable, our child population has continued to fall, and is now at its lowest point in many years: 7 full-time kids, two half-time kids, and one kid on sabbatical. Although the child population has been shrinking, our young folks themselves have continued to grow, and thanks in part to a new child labor policy, are becoming more integrated into the community than in the past. Rowan, now 11, has thrown himself into his duties as chef, and has been helping with meals in ZK kitchen every week. Kids have also been tutoring at Reading Window, helping with road maintenance, and primarying younger kids.

(read more by clicking on title of this article)

Laird has written in his blog about the upcoming FEC Assembly and the PEACH discussion that is scheduled to take place.

PEACH is one of the benefits of FEC membership. It is a program of self-insurance to cover catastrophic health care costs.

While this operates under the auspices of the Federation, the governing bodies for FEC and PEACH are distinct. The Federation is governed by delegates from each member community, and PEACH is governed by a body comprised of one representative of each participating community. This person is called a MELBA (Member Expected to Look after Basic Affairs). Any correlation between delegates and MELBAs is coincidental, and delegates have no authority over PEACH.

Here is a link to the article:

http://communityandconsensus.blogspot.com/2008/02/pitfalls-of-proposals-...

Things to do, that might be delgated out:

Systems and Structures turned into ascii text or XML

All old content put into a standard format

Old content revised, catagorised and uploaded

Digital Photos gathered for Photo Gallery

I will think of more soon....

So this is the first day with Drupal running. Drupal is the software platform that this site runs on.

It will be fun figuring out how to do all the stuff I hope to do with this site.

There will be many kinds of users on this site. There will be

Non-Authenticated Users

-> Can read all non-internal files

Authenticated Users

Drupal

Non-FEC A-Users

(non FEC members)

-> Can post blogs and send messages

-> Can post in non-external forums

-> Can read all non-internal files

FEC Member Individual A-Users

(Individuals who are members of FEC communities)

-> Can read Internal and non-internal documents

-> Can read and post in all member forums

-> Can post blogs and send messages

FEC Community A-Users

(usernames for people within an FEC community

to access internal data without having an

individual account)

-> Can read Internal and non-internal documents

FEC Delegate A-Users

-> Can read and edit all documents

-> Can read and edit FEC-internal documants

-> Can read and post in all member forums

-> Can read and post in all FEC-internal forums

-> Can post blogs and send messages

plus super users and such as needed.

So thats the plan, let's see how it works!