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Sample Letter to Visitors - Acorn - 1996

  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: SELECT data, created, headers, expire, serialized FROM cache_filter WHERE cid = '3:f27b053442b4f11413ae187738ad0df3' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 26.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p><title>Sample Letter to Visitors AC-A1</title><br />\n<date_created>01-01-96</date_created><br />\n<community>Acorn</community></p>\n<p><body><br />\nSample Letter to Visitors AC-A1</body></p>\n<p>Hello! We appreciate your interest in our community. This letter explains some things to expect on a visit to Acorn.</p>\n<p>We currently have an old farmhouse with four rooms and a barn that has been converted to four rooms and two lofts. Our new residence, called Heartwood, contains a dozen bedrooms plus a new kitchen and dining room, but it is not quite finished yet. Most of these indoor spaces are currently occupied by members, as our population has risen to 20. There may be room available during your stay, but it\'s possible you\'ll need to share with another visitor or move around. Please let us know if you can bring a tent or if you require an indoor space.</p>\n<p>We have three children living here, ages 2, 3, and 8. Our approach to child care is that it is integrated into our daily lives, so if you find it bothersome to have children underfoot and in the way, life at Acorn may not suit you. Let us know if you want more info on kids at Acorn.</p>\n<p>Our labor management continues to evolve. These days most of us are using a looser variant of the Twin Oaks labor credit system. Due to our need for stable income, each person pledges to do a certain amount of hours in money-earning areas, but the majority of \"creditable\" work consists of activities that are unpaid for most people living outside community, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, and childcare. Visitors are expected to contribute as much work as members, currently 43 hours/week (less if you are 50 or older). Work that visitors commonly \"plug into\" includes hammock-weaving, gardening, construction, cleaning, cooking, and other projects as they arise. This is intended to give you a chance to see how living here would feel--it\'s also a great way to get to know people.</p>\n<p>There are generally three different types of visitors we host:</p>\n<p>(1) If you live nearby or expect to be passing through, tours are available almost any time, although we prefer to schedule more than one person at a time. We request a $5 donation if possible.</p>\n<p>(2) If you want to check us out for a few days, short visits (a few days or possibly up to a week) can usually be booked on fairly short notice. We ask for $5/night to help with food and<br />\nutilities.</p>\n<p>(3) If you are interested in applying for membership, the usual visit is 3 weeks. The charge is $5/night or $65 flat rate (whichever is less) for these longer visits. Occasionally if either you or the community needs more time to consider membership, the visitor period is extended. Membership visits often need to be booked months in advance, especially in winter. We are willing to lower or waive the fees for any of these visits if it;s a problem-- don\'t let it keep you from coming!</p>\n<p>Tours can be booked over the phone, but longer visits must be arranged by mail (or email). If you haven\'t already done so, please write us a letter about yourself. Suggestions of what you could write include why you are interested in visiting community and why Acorn in particular; previous community experience if any; your age; job experience and skills to offer; work preference and any physical limitations; if you are a student, what you are studying; hobbies and interests; general background; and what you are doing now.</p>\n<p>In addition, it\'s helpful to include the dates you would like to visit. When we write to you we may list dates that are open as of that writing, but things change fast and until there is a clear confirmation of dates, a slot in not reserved. Once we have confirmed your scheduled dates, please let us know if your plans change, so that we can offer the slot to someone else. We limit the number of visitors we take in at a time in order to provide a quality experience for both you and the community.</p>\n<p>We are committed to maintaining our gender ratio within 60/40. Because we tend to receive more inquiries from men than women, if you are male, there may be a longer wait for a full-length visitor period. However, you are welcome to come sooner for a short visit.</p>\n<p>If you decide to apply for membership, we\'ll ask you to answer some questions in writing and an interview with two members of the community, and attend an open meeting where people can talk about what it might be like to live together along with raising any potential concerns. The group will then be able to reach consensus whether to accept your application. We make no guarantee that we\'ll be able to reach a decision while you\'re still here, thus you must plan to leave at the end of your visitor period.</p>\n<p>Information for folks with pets: We limit the number of domestic animals here, so you\'ll need to find out if a space is available. Once we assume responsibility for an animal, the community pays for food, shot, etc. Cats and dogs are not allowed in many of the residential spaces.</p>\n<p>Re: food preferences: Some of us are vegan. Some of us eat meat. Mot of us are somewhere in between. We try to accommodate various allergies and preferences.</p>\n<p>Here are some suggestions of what to bring in order to make your visit easier: durable footwear suitable for outdoor work, flashlight, raingear, work gloves, alarm clock, and clothing that can be layered and that you don\'t mind getting dirty. Also remember that we\'re not utopia (yet!)--flexibility and a sense of humor are vital.</p>\n<p>Acorn can provide transportation to and from either Charlottesville or Richmond. Both cities are accessible by bus, train, and plane. If you can match your arrival with a regularly scheduled town trip from Acorn or Twin Oaks, the pickup is free. (You need to arrive before 3pm or sometimes later; if you arrive early in the day, be prepared to wait around until the \"tripper\" has finished their errands.) If we need to make a special trip to pick you up, there is a $5 charge. If you are coming by car, let us know to send you directions. We are about an hour\'s drive from Charlottesville or Richmond, and about two hours from Washington, DC.</p>\n<p>If you have any further questions, please don\'t hesitate to write or call. We look forward to meeting you.</p>\n<p>In Community,<br />\nTree Bressen<br />\nVisitor Manager<br />\n</p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:f27b053442b4f11413ae187738ad0df3' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p><a name=\"pd_a_7190190\"></a></p>\n<p>Twin Oakers are getting the equivalent of a tax refund – free money (sorta)!</p>\n<p>So if this applies to you, please write in an “other” answer and tell all about how you’re going to spend your Big Bucks.  If it does not apply to you, just sit back and ingest the hilarity of our cash-poor existences.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/runninginzk.wordpress.com/638/\"><img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" src=\"http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/runninginzk.wordpress.com/638/\" /></a> <img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" src=\"http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=runninginzk.wordpress.com&amp;blog=51640857&amp;post=638&amp;subd=runninginzk&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" /></p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:6e2638332c4eeda6633b991fc35ab2f7' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p>Thanks Nexus (ex-Twin Oaker) for creating this video for us!</p>\n\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:8a0a392f172b0166b434fa87245b7abf' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p>For me one of the richest pleasures of anti-nuclear organizing is the characters who take on this work.  It takes a very peculiar kind of person to commit to fighting a reactor complex which has the support of the state, some of the countries most powerful corporations and giant banks, often campaigning for years concluding with a high chance of failure.</p>\n<p><a href=\"http://paxus.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/lucifer-at-gorleben.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-13905\" alt=\"With Lucifer at Gorleben protest in Germany Circa 2008\" src=\"http://paxus.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/lucifer-at-gorleben.jpg?w=519&amp;h=345\" width=\"519\" height=\"345\" /></a><br />\n</p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">With Lucifer at Gorleben protest in Germany Circa 2008</p>\n<p><a title=\"Meanwhile in Moscow - Lucifers report on protests\" href=\"http://funologist.org/2012/05/15/meanwhile-in-moscow/\" target=\"_blank\">Vladimir Slyviak</a> is one of these unusual people.  He has been fighting reactors in Russia since before the wall came down.  In 1988, he and another activist corked a smoke stack and locked themselves to it over 100 feet off the ground, shutting down the plant for hours.</p>\n<p>But you need to read that sentence again, because you were likely distracted by the action and perhaps missed the most important part, which is the date. In 1988 the KGB simply disappeared many people they found politically problematic.  To be a direct action activist in this era you needed to be unusually daring or crazy or both.  Vladimir might well be both.  Though his flavor of crazy, is like a fox.  I have been calling him Lucifer since 1991, he calls me goddess.</p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:09f703a4c069afa444fe204424b0569b' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p class=\"reblog-from\"><img alt=\'\' src=\'http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/14e93856b6902c2e313d80a7af156b0e?s=25&amp;d=identicon&amp;r=G\' class=\'avatar avatar-25\' height=\'25\' width=\'25\' /> <a href=\"http://runninginzk.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/dance-parties-love/\">Reblogged from Running in ZK:</a></p>\n<p>I can\'t remember a time that I didn\'t love to dance. I was one of those little girls whose mothers carted them to weekly ballet and tap lessons. My friends and I choreographed dances after school and fawned over the cheerleaders at high school football games. My dreams were shaped by the Star Search dancers and some quintessential 80s dance movies: Dirty Dancing, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and Footloose.</p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"http://runninginzk.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/dance-parties-love/\" target=\"_self\">Read more… 570 more words</a></p>\n<p>Kathryn was a dancing fool, took a break to have a baby, and now that family life has settled and shifted she is back with some fancy steps and some personal thoughts.</p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:33a3d4a29bd0410e2beb2c8e2a8d9aef' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p>I can’t remember a time that I didn’t love to dance. I was one of those little girls whose mothers carted them to weekly ballet and tap lessons. My friends and I choreographed dances after school and fawned over the cheerleaders at high school football games. My dreams were shaped by the Star Search dancers and some quintessential 80s dance movies: Dirty Dancing, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and Footloose.</p>\n<p>By the time I was starting high school, I realized I was a Smart Girl and not a Cheerleader, and I started to deliberately dance silly in order to avoid the possibility of being mocked for trying to dance well and failing. In college, I chose the goth club because people actually went there to dance, and didn’t mind if you danced a little differently. After college, clubs in the city were expensive (for me on my grad student stipend) and filled with cigarette smoke and guys who thought I should want to grind with them. Ugh. I stopped dancing entirely.</p>\n<p>I didn’t realize that I missed it. Yeah, yeah, so I watched Save the Last Dance like 10 times… My life was full. I did yoga. I discovered contra dancing, which was a blast – in a structured sort of way.</p>\n<p>And then I moved to Twin Oaks. My first Twin Oaks dance party was when I was a visitor at Halloween, and it was a revelation. The people filling the dance floor ranged in age from 2 to 78 or so, and I got to watch as many dancing styles as there were people dancing. Everyone was out to have a good time, no matter whether they danced well or awkwardly, hip hop or hippie, boisterously or demurely. It was safe to make eye contact while dancing, and share the joy of moving my body to music, without worrying that I’d have to defend my boundaries later. I was quickly hooked.</p>\n<p>For my first 6 or 7 years of membership, I made a point of going to every dance party I possibly could.</p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:cabc2f74d04ec46f126e7604975f375a' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p dir=\"ltr\">This post was written by Paxus and originally appeared at <a title=\"Official Comm Conf website\" href=\"http://communitiesconference.org\" target=\"_blank\">www.communitiesconference.org</a> Sections in italics are additions to the original post.</p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n</p><p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>1. Reconsider your living situation.</strong>  If you let it, the Communities Conference can really shake you up.  Daring people who are trying new or untested lifestyles are presenting or in attendance.  Step outside your comfort zone a bit and start from the assumption that you could live somewhere else, or with other people and see what this event has to offer and demonstrate.  Let go of the assumption that your next year has to look like your last year and go back to your own personal values.  What do you really care about?  How could this be better experienced in your daily living situation?</p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em>This is a call to be daring, which i think is the most under nurtured revolutionary trait.</em></p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MlYJFErljS9j3u6y6WRVo0iBCXDZJwpTyYWEDvrWb2vpq-yicsSTFbj-OdjwR7hhnLnrhD4f8kVb2uWn0vUFDl_QsP_MmQfuhHYFbM0Qa6UK-i6fMrzmrjIMWQ\" width=\"NaN\" height=\"NaN\" /></p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>2. Chat with a rock star.</strong>  There are a bunch of inspiring personalities at the Communities Conference and they are more accessible in this relaxed 3 day event than they are at most times in their busy lives.  Seek out the people who say something that excited you and ask to have lunch or a more private chat with them.  If this is your first time attending, read the entire set of workshop descriptions upon arrival and find out which presenters sound like they are doing stuff you are excited about and then get any of the event organizers to point that person out to you.  This conversation might just change your life.</p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:1a0cae9ea7d8413500e25214684ad887' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: SELECT data, created, headers, expire, serialized FROM cache_filter WHERE cid = '3:eec343b01362d659c6c6422356f34349' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 26.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p>Several people have said the most useful piece of the <a title=\"Official Loud Love event\" href=\"http://loudlove.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Loud Love</a> event was the transparency tools workshop.   i was powerfully reminded that while the tools are useful, what appears to be really happening is that people are longing to be asked these revealing questions.  With the smallest opportunity most people will share deep feelings and vulnerable information about themselves, even with people they dont know very well.</p>\n<p>We have re-started the transparency group at Acorn.  There were a few people excited about it and a number of people who showed up when it happened who seemed to like it.  My original thought was that we should try to fuse Acorns more festive culture with this tool set and instead of having the classical, slightly formal transparency discussions.  We should have transparency parties, where the format is more relaxed, less full group oriented and more smaller conversations.  Distracting food and drink could be part of it as well.</p>\n<p><a href=\"http://paxus.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/picsasso-girl-in-mirror.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-13883 \" alt=\"Picasso\'s girl in the mirror\" src=\"http://paxus.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/picsasso-girl-in-mirror.jpg?w=363&amp;h=450\" width=\"363\" height=\"450\" /></a><br />\n</p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Picasso’s girl before a mirror</p>\n<p>Instead, at the first Acorn transparency event this year, we stuck to a more conventional format, with the group in a circle and a single person revealing themselves to everyone using several <a title=\"This blog transparency tools list\" href=\"http://funologist.org/2010/12/27/liberal-transparency/\" target=\"_blank\">different tool sets</a>.  And i was blown away again.</p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:eec343b01362d659c6c6422356f34349' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: SELECT data, created, headers, expire, serialized FROM cache_filter WHERE cid = '3:ecef4d3a4c260902733e7beecb9958ad' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 26.
  • user warning: Table 'cache_filter' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: UPDATE cache_filter SET data = '<p>Scabies sucks, but it was fun when people got excited about applying each other’s permethrin and the subsequent “prolonged skin-to-skin contact” parties we’re now green lighted to have.</p>\n<p>And having strep is not fun, but it’s nice that I don’t worry about losing my job/money/childcare/house because I’ve gotten sick and need to stay in bed for a couple days.  And people will bring me food.</p>\n<p>So maybe intentional community breaks even.  We infect each other with every transmissible ailment, but then we take care of each other while people get back to normal.</p>\n<p>Cue inspirational music.</p>\n<p> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/runninginzk.wordpress.com/629/\"><img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" src=\"http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/runninginzk.wordpress.com/629/\" /></a> <img alt=\"\" border=\"0\" src=\"http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=runninginzk.wordpress.com&amp;blog=51640857&amp;post=629&amp;subd=runninginzk&amp;ref=&amp;feed=1\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" /></p>\n', created = 1371689198, expire = 1371775598, headers = '', serialized = 0 WHERE cid = '3:ecef4d3a4c260902733e7beecb9958ad' in /home/thefec/htdocs/includes/cache.inc on line 109.
in

Sample Letter to Visitors AC-A1
01-01-96
Acorn


Sample Letter to Visitors AC-A1

Hello! We appreciate your interest in our community. This letter explains some things to expect on a visit to Acorn.

We currently have an old farmhouse with four rooms and a barn that has been converted to four rooms and two lofts. Our new residence, called Heartwood, contains a dozen bedrooms plus a new kitchen and dining room, but it is not quite finished yet. Most of these indoor spaces are currently occupied by members, as our population has risen to 20. There may be room available during your stay, but it's possible you'll need to share with another visitor or move around. Please let us know if you can bring a tent or if you require an indoor space.

We have three children living here, ages 2, 3, and 8. Our approach to child care is that it is integrated into our daily lives, so if you find it bothersome to have children underfoot and in the way, life at Acorn may not suit you. Let us know if you want more info on kids at Acorn.

Our labor management continues to evolve. These days most of us are using a looser variant of the Twin Oaks labor credit system. Due to our need for stable income, each person pledges to do a certain amount of hours in money-earning areas, but the majority of "creditable" work consists of activities that are unpaid for most people living outside community, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, and childcare. Visitors are expected to contribute as much work as members, currently 43 hours/week (less if you are 50 or older). Work that visitors commonly "plug into" includes hammock-weaving, gardening, construction, cleaning, cooking, and other projects as they arise. This is intended to give you a chance to see how living here would feel--it's also a great way to get to know people.

There are generally three different types of visitors we host:

(1) If you live nearby or expect to be passing through, tours are available almost any time, although we prefer to schedule more than one person at a time. We request a $5 donation if possible.

(2) If you want to check us out for a few days, short visits (a few days or possibly up to a week) can usually be booked on fairly short notice. We ask for $5/night to help with food and
utilities.

(3) If you are interested in applying for membership, the usual visit is 3 weeks. The charge is $5/night or $65 flat rate (whichever is less) for these longer visits. Occasionally if either you or the community needs more time to consider membership, the visitor period is extended. Membership visits often need to be booked months in advance, especially in winter. We are willing to lower or waive the fees for any of these visits if it;s a problem-- don't let it keep you from coming!

Tours can be booked over the phone, but longer visits must be arranged by mail (or email). If you haven't already done so, please write us a letter about yourself. Suggestions of what you could write include why you are interested in visiting community and why Acorn in particular; previous community experience if any; your age; job experience and skills to offer; work preference and any physical limitations; if you are a student, what you are studying; hobbies and interests; general background; and what you are doing now.

In addition, it's helpful to include the dates you would like to visit. When we write to you we may list dates that are open as of that writing, but things change fast and until there is a clear confirmation of dates, a slot in not reserved. Once we have confirmed your scheduled dates, please let us know if your plans change, so that we can offer the slot to someone else. We limit the number of visitors we take in at a time in order to provide a quality experience for both you and the community.

We are committed to maintaining our gender ratio within 60/40. Because we tend to receive more inquiries from men than women, if you are male, there may be a longer wait for a full-length visitor period. However, you are welcome to come sooner for a short visit.

If you decide to apply for membership, we'll ask you to answer some questions in writing and an interview with two members of the community, and attend an open meeting where people can talk about what it might be like to live together along with raising any potential concerns. The group will then be able to reach consensus whether to accept your application. We make no guarantee that we'll be able to reach a decision while you're still here, thus you must plan to leave at the end of your visitor period.

Information for folks with pets: We limit the number of domestic animals here, so you'll need to find out if a space is available. Once we assume responsibility for an animal, the community pays for food, shot, etc. Cats and dogs are not allowed in many of the residential spaces.

Re: food preferences: Some of us are vegan. Some of us eat meat. Mot of us are somewhere in between. We try to accommodate various allergies and preferences.

Here are some suggestions of what to bring in order to make your visit easier: durable footwear suitable for outdoor work, flashlight, raingear, work gloves, alarm clock, and clothing that can be layered and that you don't mind getting dirty. Also remember that we're not utopia (yet!)--flexibility and a sense of humor are vital.

Acorn can provide transportation to and from either Charlottesville or Richmond. Both cities are accessible by bus, train, and plane. If you can match your arrival with a regularly scheduled town trip from Acorn or Twin Oaks, the pickup is free. (You need to arrive before 3pm or sometimes later; if you arrive early in the day, be prepared to wait around until the "tripper" has finished their errands.) If we need to make a special trip to pick you up, there is a $5 charge. If you are coming by car, let us know to send you directions. We are about an hour's drive from Charlottesville or Richmond, and about two hours from Washington, DC.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write or call. We look forward to meeting you.

In Community,
Tree Bressen
Visitor Manager