Visitor Information Packet - East Wind - 1997


01-01-97
East Wind

This guide is designed to familiarize you with the many facets of life at East Wind. Inside are community norms, guidelines, and specific policies of East Wind. This guide also contains some thoughts and reflections, gathered over the years, about community sentiment in general. We have also included our major community documents in this handbook. You are not expected to know about all of this information right away, but if you do have a question, we hope that you will make use of this guide as a reference source.

Your Expectations and the Community's Priorities

East Wind is a diverse community, but there are fundamental priorities that govern how we live and interact with one another and our surroundings. Some of these might not be what is important for you, and you may have ideas on how things should be changed. Before voicing your suggestions, however, we ask that you first take time to understand how and why the community chooses its priorities. We have put this handbook together to help you in the process.

Living at East Wind is participating in building it. It is an experience in pioneering a new way of life, including all the setbacks and disappointments. But we also enjoy the adventure, take pride in our accomplishments, and have a sustained belief that what we are doing is important for the world and for ourselves. This makes it all worthwhile.

Food and Clothing

Meals

Community meals are served at noon and 6:00 p.m., except on Sunday. Sunday has brunch served around 10:00 a.m., and dinner is at 5:00 p.m. Lunch is not served on Sunday. You are welcome to prepare meals or snacks using food from the kitchen. Please ask for the cook's permission if you wish to prepare meals during community meal preparation times, which are between 10:00 a.m. and noon and between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please clean up after yourself.

Food Storage

There are additional foodstuffs in the pantry and walk-in cooler just north of Rockbottom. Feel free to use whatever you wish. If you purchase food items for your own use, please label them clearly and store them on the personal stash shelf if they are non-perishable, or in the personal stash refrigerator if they are perishable.

Dietary Preferences

These are a reflection of our diversity. Meat is served frequently at community meals. All community meals have vegetarian options. In cases where the vegetarian option includes animal products such as eggs or dairy, there are usually vegan offerings as well. Satisfying highly sensitive dietary preferences is primarily the responsibility of the concerned individual; our cooks must balance flexibility with what most people like and we do not expect them to cater to every request.

Clothes

You are welcome to use community clothes during your visit, which are kept next to the shower room. There are bins for dirty laundry in the community clothes trailer. Please return all community clothes to the trailer before leaving East Wind. Personal clothes may be washed in the community laundry before 6:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. or by arrangement with whoever is doing the community clothes laundry that day. You can donate your unwanted private clothes. Put them in the "contributions" bin in the sewing room.

Nudity

It is generally okay to wear no clothes except in situations where we come in contact with the public. Neighbors and people coming by to do business may be offended by nudity. It is, however, okay to be topless in the Hammock shop. Being completely nude in Rockbottom is frowned upon by many people, and "bare butts" are not allowed on public area furniture, for obvious health reasons.

Furnishing And Rooms

Space Usage

Do not enter private rooms without invitation. Our public spaces are available for unrestricted use all of the time unless they have been reserved for some special purpose. Public spaces like the Chicken House, the music room, the TV trailer or the exercise room can be reserved for activities with enough advance notice. Please clean up after yourself and turn off the lights if you are the last to leave. Visitors can receive labor credit for cleaning visitor spaces.

Trusterty Furnishings

Trusterty is the term we use for oversight of rooms and furnishings. If you need additional furnishings ask the Trusterty manager or the visitor manager. Our spare furnishings are few and not always in the best condition. It is not okay to take furnishings from visitor spaces to other rooms or anywhere else.

Outhouses, Trash and Garbage

Outhouse Usage

There are outhouses at the north and south end of the community (the North Fillmore and South Fillmore). We compost our human waste, and sawdust buckets are in the outhouse and barrels of sawdust are outside the outhouses. Put a scoop of sawdust down the hole after you use the outhouses; this helps the composting process. Do not throw plastics or synthetic materials down the outhouse holes. The south Fillmore has sinks, and also a private room if you with privacy. There are sinks located near the North Fillmore . It is important to wash your hands and to put the lids down when finished (see hygiene). Since urine interferes with the composting process, it is encouraged to urinate outdoors. Please do so in areas that are not major traffic areas and off the paths. If you use "pee jars" and are due to leave, please empty and wash them before you go.

Kitchen Refuse

There are buckets for compost and pig slop located in the kitchen. Coffee grounds, tea leaves, citrus fruits or rinds should go into compost. Most other food scraps can be fed to the pigs. Please scrape your plates and put them in the wash tubs when done.

Other Refuse

There are collection stations located throughout the community. We do recycle most of our trash in some way; be mindful of our efforts and separate any trash. Barrels labeled "Burn" receive wood and paper products. Plastics, aluminum, glass, and metals are put in barrels appropriately labeled for each. Save mason jars for food processing. Take the time to pick up any stray litter that you see. If you are working on something, don't leave a mess for someone else to clean up.

Communication Services

Information about East Wind

In addition to this handbook, you can find information about East Wind in the Community Legislation book and the East Wind Utilities Usage book. Copies are located in the lounge area in Rockbottom and in the Hammock Shop. Also in the Hammock shop are Voting Records, historical records of community legislation, the Facilitator's Handbook (community meetings are held in the Hammock Shop) and a Hammocks Production manual.

We allow you to credit any time spent reading these materials towards your work quota, because this time will help you be more familiar with East Wind, and reduce the need to ask questions of others. However, if you do have questions, don't hesitate to ask you contact person or another member.

Mail Services

Places to put personal mail are in the CP office above the typewriter, and in Rockbottom at the bottom of the stairs near the lost and found shelf. There are fresh and recycled envelopes, postcards and scratch paper for your use on shelves nearby. There is a visitor mailbox in RB for receipt of mail. Check the mailbox key at the far left end of the mailboxes for the number of the box. East Wind will pay for your postage during your visit, unless you are mailing something that will cost significantly beyond normal letter rates. Check with the office manager or the people who handle the mail if you have questions.

E-mail

E-mail accounts at east wind's domain are provided free to guests and visitors. To obtain an e-mail account, find a computer in the office area that is not currently being used, and look for the icon labeled "e-mail". Double-click on it, and type "new" when asked for a login name. The computer will go through the sign on procedure, and give you your own e-mail address. A help screen can be obtained by typing "?".
If you are not good with computers, simply cannot figure out how the system works, or are a former subscriber to AOL, you might want to seek out the computer manager or other professional help.

Telephones

To use the telephone with a credit card or to make collect calls, first dial 9 to get an outside line, and then the number (virtually all calls form East Wind are long distance). If you with to use (cheaper) direct long distance rates, you will need to open an account with our accounting office, deposit cash in this account (in addition to your visitor fee), and get a confidential code number. You can do this at the cashier's desk (check in Enterprise for the current hours the cashier is open). To use your code number, dial 9, then your phone number, dial your phone #. After hearing the beep after the phone #, dial your code #. the calls will be charged to this account.

It's best to let a member answer incoming calls until you feel more familiar with East Wind. Calls from outside the community (often business calls) are identified by two quick rings in succession. Calls within the community are identified by normal telephone rings. You may answer the phone anywhere in the community, except during business hours (which are 8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday) in the office or hammock shop. During non-business hours, the phones are forwarded to Rockbottom, and it is possible that you will pick up a business call. If this occurs, please politely tell the caller that the office is closed, and either take a message or have them call back during business hours. If you take a message, be certain that the person it's intended for received it.

Bulletin Boards

The major bulletin boards are in Rockbottom. The Day Board is for personal messages and announcements of imminent events, the Back Board, for what is happening in the community, the Visitor Board, for visitor affairs, and the Political Board, for subjects of political interest and activism. It is important to check the Day Board frequently. There are cards and writing utensils on the shelf next to the phones in Rockbottom. Always sign your notes!

Lost and Found

Lost and Found is located in Rockbottom at the bottom of the stairs. If you've lost or found something, it helps to put a note up on the day board.

Transportation

Visitor Pick-up and Drop-off Policy

Although, we do not charge visitors for any pick-up that is within 40 miles of East Wind (which includes Gainesville, Mountain Home, AR and West Plains) we encourage visitors to schedule their arrivals and departures with an town trip. Drop-offs that are not part of a town trip will be charged the same rates that members pay, which is 20 cents a mile.

Vehicle Usage - Yours and Ours

We ask that you not use your private vehicle very much during your visitor period. This is to give you a sense of what living here as a member is like. If you do drive your own vehicle, please do not use our gas, and please keep your driving to a minimum.

All of our vehicles have names, and any member with a Missouri license may drive them. Visitors may not drive community vehicles, although they may reserve them and find a members to drive them. Often members will get a group together to split the cost of the vehicle, which is 20 cents a mile , and take a trip into nearby towns. You can read more about vehicle policy and what is available at the Vehicle Use Board, which is located in the hallway between the Hammock Shop and the office.

Town Trips

We have regularly scheduled trips to neighboring towns - Gainesville, West Plains, and Springfield. There is a trip calendar posted at the Vehicle Use Board and at the bottom of the stairs in Rockbottom. You can arrange to go along on a town trip, or arrange to have something purchased for you by the person doing the trips; see "Requisition Cards" in the Money Transactions" section. You are not charged for these trips.

Vehicle Repair

Our garage workers do not normally work on private vehicles, but it is possible to get minor work done, time permitting. There are a small amount of tools available to do some light service work. Visitors (and members) must have permission form the Auto Shop Manager to use the garage or have access to tools used to service and repair community vehicles for work on private vehicles.

Bicycles

You are welcome to use the community bicycles. Please do not ride them at night or leave them on paths. Park them in places where people are likely to find them and use them. If you have your own bicycle, store it near your room, and attach a note to it telling folks who it belongs to and whether or not they may borrow it.

Health and Safety Concerns

Emergency Resources

In case of emergency, find a member as soon as possible, preferably one who has had first aid training (you'll learn who these people are in your Medical Orientation). First aid materials are in box D-3 in RB, and there are emergency numbers posted by the phones in RB. All major buildings have fire extinguishers; familiarize yourself with their location. Please relate any medical concerns to a member of the Medical Committee.

Insects

While ticks are a serious health hazard in other parts of the country, ticks present little threat here. They start to show up in march or April, are the greatest nuisance during late June, and disappear with the first frost in October. Check your clothing after walks in the woods and tall grass. Ticks tend to congregate around waistbands and socks. If you see a tick crawling on you, brush it off if you're in an area where it won't get to other people. If in a room or public area, it's best to kill a tick by cutting it in half, burning it, or popping it's abdomen, so it won't get to others. If a tick does bite you, it's best to pull it out slowly using tweezers or long fingernails, and immediately treating the bite with antiseptic and ointment.

Seed ticks are very, very tiny ticks, smaller than a pinhead, and come in groups of 50 to 100. They are at their peak in late June. They can easily be removed by using masking tape on your skin to lift them off. If you have any bites, treat the area with antiseptic and ointment.

Wearing loose clothing discourages chiggers, which are invisible to the naked eye. Chiggers don't actually bite; the red, itchy irritation on your skin is a reaction to secretions it releases when it feeds. Taking a shower right after a walk and rubbing your skin with a washcloth will remove any chiggers you may have picked up. If you do get chigger bites, there is calamine or other anti-itch lotions in the medical mailbox or above the sink in RB.

Poison Ivy

Poison ivy has three leaves and red berries. The leaves have a slightly shiny appearance. It is found along paths and in the woods in the spring and summer. To prevent a rash, avoid touching the leaves. If you do get a rash, it's best to treat it with jewelweed, calamine lotion, or clay.

Hygienic Practices

Since communities are susceptible to contagious illnesses, we place a high priority on good hygienic practices, and have had good success. Wash your hands frequently, and particularly after using the outhouses, before touching food, or working in the Nuthouse. Avoid touching stocks of food directly with your hands. Do not share toiletries or leave them in public spaces. If you have long hair, pull it back securely before working with food. When using the phone, do not touch the receiver directly to your mouth. If you are ill, do not work in areas where you would be in contact with food or food implements (kitchen, HTA, etc.) Put dirty clothes, including community clothes sandals, in the laundry bins after use.

Reproductive Responsibility Mailbox

There is a mailbox in Rock Bottom stocked with condoms, spermicide, etc. The use of these materials, if you are sexually active at East Wind, is highly encouraged. Work to prevent the spread of STD's, and use responsible sexual practices.

Working at East Wind

Fair Share

According to the bylaws, members must work their "Fair Share." Fair share specifically means:

* Doing a certain number of hours each week (see "Quota" below)
* Cleaning up your messes
* Making sure your HTA shift (work that is "Hard To Assign") is done, and
* Doing hammocks and/or nutbutter production (Production Quota, or PQ), if necessary.

Although visitors are exempt form HTA and PQ work, we ask that you keep to the spirit of Fair Share during your time at East Wind.

Quota

"Quota" is the number of hours members agree to work each week. You become responsible for quota after your labor orientations, which will detail the labor system and how to get started with work. Any hours you work before this time are creditable towards your first week or quota. Persons over 49 years of age are eligible for a lower work quota (see "Economic Agreements, Lower Quota for Older Members").

The membership manager may ask visitors who have a labor balance that is more than ten hours "in the hole" to extend their visitor period.

Finding Work

East Wind offers a diversity of work that you can to do to meet quota. It is your responsibility to find work that you are interested in and to be sure that this work is creditable. During your labor orientation you will learn about priority work areas, and you will be referred to trainers for hammocks lessons. You'll also learn how to get in touch with managers and other key people in work areas that you may be interested in. Your contact person can help you find who to talk to for different kinds of work.

Also, you may count towards quota any time spent in orientation, tours, observations, etc., as well as time reading this handbook and other community information materials listed in the "Communication" section.

Done Time

We keep track of labor flow by recording our hours on done time sheets. They are posted or available in each work area or in Rockbottom. If you have trouble locating one, ask someone. Record fractions of hours to one decimal point; for example, if you work for one hour and thirty-six minutes, record this as 1.6 hours. These sheets are collected each Sunday night.

Make an effort to record your hours immediately after you finish working in a work area. If you forget to record your hours, you will cause problems with accounting for your labor and may not receive credit (see "Economic Agreements, Adjustments in Labor Balances").

A labor sheet on the back board details how each week's labor is used, and is updated each Thursday with the previous week's work.

You should record any time spent in orientation, yours, observation, etc., as well as time reading this handbook and other community information materials listed in the "Communication" section on the "Membership" done time sheet hanging in RB.

Sick Time

Sick Time can be used to meet quota if you are sick and cannot make up the lost time during the week. There is a done time sheet for the claiming of sick hours. The number of sick hours allowed to be claimed in a day varies according to the current quota. You cannot be over quota in a week that you claim sick time.

Over Quota Time

You are allowed to work more than quota and accumulate time off. The accumulated extra time will be recorded in what is known as your labor balance. A positive labor balance allows you to have more freedom to arrange your work as you want. Having a negative labor balance (being "in the hole") for extended periods of time may reflect poorly on you and lead to problems.

Personal Service Credits (PSC's)

PSC's are labor hour credits transferred from one member's labor balance to that of another member of visitor. This allows you to have another person do something for you that they would not ordinarily get credit for, such as painting a mural in your room, giving you a haircut, or making you a piece of jewelry. PSC's are to be given at the rate of one PSC per hour worked. PSC's may not be given in the following situations:

1. If the labor accountant receives the request for the transaction from anyone other than the giver.

2. When the giver has, or would have after the transaction, a negative labor balance.

3. When the transaction would drastically affect the labor flow.

4. When the transaction would be against the interests of the Community, as determined by any member of the management team, board, or the community meeting.

Recreation

Use of Recreational Materials and Equipment

Community recreation and sports equipment is usually available for visitor's use; ask the recreation manager or social manager to make sure. Library books, musical instruments, games, and other resources for leisure are available for your use. Please return all borrowed items to their storage place.

We do not have a book check-out system for the library. There is a book return shelf at the bottom of the stairs in Rockbottom. Please return borrowed library books before you leave. Donated books can be placed in the donated library books box. Please mark them as "donated to library".

In cases where there is a large group wanting to watch television, deciding what to watch is settled by a vote, or by whomever reserved the TV trailer at least 24 hours in advance.

Festivals

East Wind celebrates solstices, equinoxes, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, and Land Day (May 1st). These days are not work days and quota is lowered during the weeks in which they occur. We also have celebrations on Halloween, Validation Day (Feb. 14), and during the Dog Days of August. Any help you can offer in creating fun and varied celebrations and other diversions is very much appreciated.

Music

Feel free to use the stereo systems in the music room in Reim and the Hammock Shop. People working in the hammock shop arrange to take 45 minute music listening turns, while music in Reim is first come, first serve or by reservation. Put recordings away after use.

Generally, no recorded music or radios can be played in RB, except that the cooking staff may play music in the kitchen during afternoon hours when cooking dinner. If you are staying in a residence building, refrain from playing music in the building between 10:00 pm and 10:00 am. Be aware that sound can carry a long way, and the walls are not insulated for sound. If playing music outside, please refrain from playing loud drumming or music outdoors between 10:00 pm and 10:00 am, unless well away from residence buildings.

Smoking

The children's spaces and the Nuthouse are smoke-free. Enterprise is smoke-free except for the smoking lounge opposite the FEC office. Smoking is permitted in the Library in RB, in the TV trailer, and in the music room. Empty ash holes when you are through. Field strip butts and make sure they are out before throwing them away outside. Filters don't degrade so don't throw them on the ground.

Interpersonal

Getting to Know People

Good ways to get to know people are starting conversations during meals or while working with folks, organizing and attending recreational or educational activities, and trying out different work areas. Don't be offended if some folks seem distant or uninterested in you. Lack of interest and even wariness of newcomers is common in intentional communities; it has to do with so many people coming and going. Folks that stay here a long time often become reluctant to extend themselves for fear of being let down or deserted if the new person decides to leave. This distance will disappear with time, and its disappearance largely depends on your commitment to and enthusiasm for the community.

Communication

When communicating with others, especially when dealing with conflicts, be respectful of the other person's feelings and be as clear and definite as possible when communicating your views. During your Communication Orientation, you will be introduced to some of the ways in which communication occurs at East Wind.

Being Non-Intrusive

It is a good idea to ask before joining what may be an intimate or intense conversation. When beginning a conversation with someone, ask if the occasion is a good time to talk instead of assuming that they can. Make an appointment to talk if necessary. Leaving a note is a more gentle way to initiate a conversation. If a person refuses an overture, please respect that refusal, and use your judgment when deciding whether or not to press the matter.

Assertiveness

Short of stubborn and demanding behavior, it is important to let others know what you do and do not want and like. Not asserting yourself in this manner can allow small issues blow up into big ones, and cause interpersonal problems much more serious than the original issue.

It is likely that you will be approached with requests to do work. It is okay to say "no." Do not feel obliged to say "yes" just to be pleasant and agreeable.

Rumor Control and Grievances

If you have a concern, issue, or grievance, take it to the appropriate manager if you are not up to discussing it with the person whom it concerns. When hearing rumors or grievances, assume the role of a confidant; it stops with you until it can be dealt with by someone whose official responsibility it is to deal with it. Casual discussion of such things is a less effective way to address them, and will increase misunderstanding and mistrust.

Building Friendship and Trust

Make time to get together with people. Volunteer or ask to be included instead of waiting for others to approach you. Remain aware of your and other's boundaries however, and understand that trust is something that needs to grow over a certain period of time.

Children

Don't be shy about interacting with the children, but keep in mind that people need to reside at East Wind for four months before they are allowed to be alone with them. If you play with the children, do so in public spaces. Children's diets are supervised, so please don't feed them without first checking with a meta or primary.

In communicating with young persons we make an effort to offer them the same respect adults would expect from adults. While it is fine to coo and babble with pre-verbal infants and toddlers, mimicking children in "baby talk" is not what children who are attempting to master language want or need from adults.

We try not to talk about the children in their presence as if they were not there. We assume that they are interested in following our conversations about them and would want to be directly involved just as adults would. We have many agreements which specifically concern the treatment of children, buy in the setting of different standards of treatment, we hope not to ignore the desires or concerns of our children, inviting their input where possible.

Gender Concerns

While sexist training dies hard and we cannot say that we have completely freed ourselves of our sexist expectations, we attempt to enhance our awareness of how such dynamics come into play as we live our lives.

We do not support the perpetuation of gender roles. Everyone is encouraged to explore the full dimensions of who they are and not let sexist training get in the way of finding out. Men may wish to pay more attention to how they look, or explore vulnerable aspects of their psyche. Women may wish to pay more attention to what they can achieve, and develop their confidence in thinking for themselves. Men can care for children; women can fix cars and build houses. Work traditionally done by women is not spurned or considered less valuable than work traditionally done by men. It is important to us to support one another in our breaking out of traditional gender roles.

Physical Affection

Physical expressions of affection-- embraces, greeting kisses, back and shoulder rubs, etc. are encouraged; however, not all people are open to giving or receiving affection all of the time. Try and gauge people's openness before exchanges of physical affection. In any case, physical affection should not be confused with sexuality.

Sexual Relationships

People's expectations and orientations (monogamy, bisexuality, casual sex, etc.) around sex vary widely, and are private matters at East Wind. Frankness in sexual matters is strongly encouraged. If a person wishes to pursue a sexual interest in another person, co should state that to the person directly, instead of assuming that the other person already knows or veiling co's interest with pretense. If the issue presents itself, let others know what kinds of relationships you are or are not open to, in order to divert unwelcome sexual attention.

Pregnancy and Birth Control

Birth control materials for both men and women are supplied free. The smooth operation of our children's program and honoring the wishes of the membership in how it allocates its resources year by year make it necessary to plan pregnancies. Once approved by the community, pregnancies and childbirth are given the community's full support in time and funds.

Unexpected pregnancies are very, very hard for the community to deal with. It means that the community must shift resources and reassess its priorities, perhaps delaying other projects reducing support for other programs. For this reason, we cannot as of yet accept people who are expecting children, and want members to be settled and committed to living at East Wind before they consider having children.

Sexual Harassment

In a society characterized by fairness and mutual respect, sexual harassment has no place. We agree to educate ourselves about sexual harassment, increase our awareness of when it happens, and be vigilant in seeing that it not continue.

Definition

Sexual harassment is defined as any act of a sexual nature directed at another person which that person finds offensive, providing that the person who commits such an act has been informed that the act is considered to be offensive. In line with this, the following three conditions must be present before a charge of sexual harassment can be made:

1. Acts or expressions must be considered offensive by those subjected to them, and a complaint must be made to communicate this, either directly or indirectly, to the offender.

2. The person acting in the offensive manner must be informed that either the specific act or the type of act was considered offensive by those subjected to it. A public notice is not sufficient to met this requirement.

3. The act must be determined by the Social Manager to be sexual in nature.

The Social Manager is charged with verifying these conditions and facilitating communication between those involved.

Some examples of acts which are likely to offend:

1. When a person tries to use some perceived power over another to get them involved in sexual activity, e.g. when a member implies that a visitor should be involved sexually with co or others in order to get accepted for membership.

2. Obscene advances, including words, jokes, gestures, actions, or unwanted touching. What is considered obscene will vary from person to person.

3. Staring at or following someone uninvited. This is not only irritating, but can be demeaning or even very threatening.

4. Repeated sexual advances, when the other person has made it clear through words or behavior that their company is not desired.

5. Ridicule of another person's sexual orientation.

RESPONSES TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT

A person who has been the victim of sexual harassment may in some cases feel able to talk directly with the offender about it. The social Manager, if called upon, is prepared to question the accused individual about what happened, and to determine whether that person understands the community's policy on sexual harassment. Based on the results of that conversation, the Social Manager may recommend one or more of the following:

1. No further action; assurance from the individual that co intends to abide by the community policy may suffice.

2. Facilitated discussion involving both parties.

3. Voluntary behavior contract, in which the individual agrees to abide by the community policy, and accepts specific consequences if co breaks the contract, such as leaving the community for a period of time or indefinitely.

4. Community-wide concerns meeting.

5. Resolution by Community Meeting asking offender to leave.

Money Transactions

Visitor Fees

Visitor fees are $2.00 up to a maximum of $20.00. They can be adjusted or waived. They should be given to the visitor manager or to the accounting office during accounting hours shortly after arrival.

Accounts Receivable (A.R)

You can open up and deposit cash in an account with our accounting office once you have paid the visitor fee. Accounting hours are posted in the accounting office. You may then charge long-distance phone calls (see "communication services" for instruction) and the price of items purchased for you on town trips to this account. When you leave, you can close the account and take out the balance of your cash, leaving enough money in it to cover outstanding charges if necessary.

Requisition Cards (Reqs)

These are found at the bottom of the stairs in Rockbottom and in the accounting office in Enterprise. You can use them to request items on town trips. Fill them out and put them in the slots that coordinate with the town you want the item from.

Other Money Concerns

We request that you do not spend more that a member's monthly allowance of $75 during your stay. There is a safe in the accounting office should you wish to store valuables. If you wish to purchase community products during your visit, arrange to see someone in the business office between 4:00 and 5:00., Monday through Friday.

Animals

Wildlife

Wearing loose fitting clothing discourages chiggers and being thoroughly covered discourages ticks. It is useful to carry masking or duct tape on field trips to remove seed ticks. See "Health and Safety Concerns" for more information on handling ticks and chiggers.

Most all spiders are quite benign. The Brown Recluse is poisonous and is frequently seen in late spring and summer; as it name suggests, however it tends to be very shy. It is useful to shake out clothing, bedding, or shoes that have been sitting around for a long time.

Most snakes are harmless and beneficial. Copperheads are poisonous, but infrequently seen. Be careful around woodpiles, rock piles, and tall grass. We have had only three snake bites since 1974. If bitten please seek help.

There is a diversity of wildlife to see around East Wind. If you'd like more information about Missouri wildlife, you can find it in the Missouri/Ozarks section of the Library.

Pets and Ranch Animals

New pets must be approved by the pets manager and all concerns related to them discussed in advance of coming to East Wind. See the pets manager for concerns about pets. With some exceptions dogs and cats are not allowed in Enterprise between April and November. Rockbottom and the nuthouse are not open to pets. Pets in other public use buildings are subject to supervision.

On our ranch, we raise sheep, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, and chickens. Check with the ranch or chicken managers if you are interested in learning more about the farm animals.

Membership

There are different kinds of membership for adults: associates, provisional; members, and full members. Full details regarding the acceptance process are in the Appendix under "Membership at East Wind" and member rights and duties are under "East Wind Bylaws, Membership."

Associates are required to be in residence at least sixty days in a given year, although space constraints may not allow for this. Associates are subject to East Wind's labor agreements, but not to East Wind's money and property rules, with some exceptions.

Provisional members are those who are accepted by the Community on a trail basis, and allowed partial voting status on certain issues before the community. After a certain period of time, the community votes to accept them as full members of East Wind. Full members are granted tenure in the community, and may vote on issues of override, impeachment, and amendments to the East Wind bylaws.

Leaving East Wind

Before your visitor period ends, we would appreciate if you would attend to the following: Leave your room neat, return all borrowed community articles to their proper places, settle all money matters with our accounting office. Leave an address where we can reach you (to forward mail or to keep in touch), and let us know if you wish to be on our mailing list. Be sure to have filled out both the initial visitor information form, and the post visitor questionnaire, both of which are available from the Visitor Manager. We invite you to keep in touch.