finding common ground june, 2020...provocative book, this changes everything: capitalism vs the...
TRANSCRIPT
Finding Common Ground
June, 2020
UP FRONT
THE WEBSITE IS LIVE! www.CommonGround.eco Huge thanks to Rita and Richard for launching our new name on the internet. It’s GENSET.* If you find typos, broken links, etc., please email Hope. Enjoy! *Good Enough for Now, Safe Enough to Try
Helping each other during COVID-19 Let’s stay connected virtually to ensure that we take proper care of each other in these chaotic times. Do you need assistance or can you offer any? Contact Maria at [email protected], (919) 444-1193.
The Community Farm Initiative is a great way to get outdoors, learn about farming, have fun with (masked) others, and raise money for the community. All are welcome regardless of skill. Curious? Contact Margret at [email protected]
JUNE HIGHLIGHTS The Governance & Training Circle held the first online training with a solid group of terrific members. Dave engaged the group in a reflection on the Principles of Cooperative Culture on Friday night. The next morning, Hope offered a whirlwind tour of Sociocracy. Though Zoom was a little tricky, overall the two sessions were well received—comments included “great energy and enthusiasm,” “useful—well organized and structured,” and “fun jokes!” There were also several suggestions for improvement, e.g.: making it shorter, offering a training for brand-new members and a more in-depth workshop for
COMMON GROUND CALENDAR
Green goodies galore!
Banner above: Persimmon tree blossoms (photos by Margret)
GET INVOLVED—VISIT A
CIRCLE MEETING We hope that you will feel inspired to join us in this
coming year! All of our Circle leaders would be very happy
to talk with and guide you as you become more involved.
Contact any of the leaders listed in the calendar below.
Note: all events are open to everyone unless otherwise
indicated, and Zoom teleconferencing & child care are
available for most Circle meetings upon request. Observers
are encouraged and RSVP is essential!
RACIAL AWARENESS WEEKLY
READING/SHARING CIRCLE
Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom
Sponsored by the Membership & Marketing Circle
RSVP Maria for more information and a link:
Exploratory Members, and making it shorter (did I say that already?). We’re grateful to our members for the stretch!
A Romaneso cauliflower is in there somewhere!
Land Stewardship: Hooray for an extremely rewarding turnout (Enmasked! Distanced!) for our two-day Memorial Day work event. Priority was given to dismantling the old tractor shed, decluttering and reorganizing the storage container, and clearing the periphery in anticipation of an expanded farm structure. It appears that builders enjoy taking things apart just as much as building them! Branden hauled away a large load of recycling and trash on his 20-foot trailer. Meanwhile some smaller groups of folks ducked into the shade to tackle our ongoing trail maintenance. Meals were taken together-but-not, thanks to the spreading shade of Mother Oak. June’s work day will be announced soon – treat yourself and join us next time! Membership & Marketing’s Last Saturday offering, Dismantling Racism, Part II, once again featured the dynamic Evangeline Weiss of Beyond Conflict. There’s no denying that Covid-19 has hit people of color disproportionately hard, and two late-May horrific racist events have brought this subject to the fore for our community and the world at large. Participants Zoomed in from far and wide and the conversation touched us all deeply. We appreciate everyone’s participation and willingness to be searching and vulnerable together. Planning, Design, & Development: PDD is delighted to have added two new members: Leah Gibbons and Brandon Yarborough. Both bring extensive experience in development, alternative building and regenerative
A group of CGE members & non-members are meeting
weekly to read WHITE FRAGILITY: Why It’s so Hard for
White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin Diangelo.
We read and think aloud together about racism as a
"system" within and around us instead of something
we either are or are not. As the first step to
dismantling racism, we are helping each other to focus
our attention on the ways in which this system
manifests in us personally, in our community, and in all
collectives we are part of.
PLANNING, DESIGN, &
DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE
Wednesday, June 3, 6:30-8:00pm, via Zoom
RSVP Anthony: [email protected] Observers are always welcome, with RSVP
LAND STEWARDSHIP CIRCLE
Sunday, June 7, 2:30-4:30pm
Cedar Pavilion on the land (or via Zoom if weather
does NOT permit—watch for last-minute changes)
RSVP Jeffry: [email protected]
We will practice social distancing and be wearing face
masks, so be prepared to speak up! We’ll decide on
our next workday at the meeting. Guests are welcome
with RSVP.
MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING CIRCLE
Thursday, June 11, 6:30-9:00pm via Zoom
RSVP Marilyn: [email protected]
Contact Marilyn a few days before the date to receive
the Zoom link and agenda/attachments. Observers
are welcome with RSVP.
PLANNING, DESIGN, &
DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE
Sunday, June 14, 6:30-8:00pm
RSVP Anthony: [email protected] Observers are always welcome, with RSVP
design along with creativity and lots of good energy. The Circle continues to wrap up our “Raising Sights 2020” initiative. Currently we await feasibility reports from our consultants on Water Independence. The hope is that we will be able to rely solely on our own wells for potable water. We’re following up our already extensive research and consultation on Energy Independence with an advisory study on photovoltaic system options. We are also focusing on consolidating a recommendation to General Circle on Core Building Materials—straw bale and hempcrete are strong contenders—again based on extensive research and discussion. Out of the special GC meeting in on May 21st came a push to look seriously at alternatives to the present Master Plan. Along with the above, therefore, we are in the early stages of doing so, while at the same time energetically preparing to move full-speed-ahead with the Master Plan as it stands if at all possible. Our overall goal at this time is to get us into position to launch into intensive architectural design development and site engineering planning the moment the money becomes available.
IN THE KNOW…
Have you read/seen/heard something inspiring lately that you’d like to share with the community? Please send in your recommendations to Hope. Paul recommends Naomi Klein’s wonderfully provocative book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate. It’s a penetrating story of the intersection of Climate Change and our present destructive economic paradigm. The NYT Book Review states it well: “The most momentous and contentious environmental book since Silent Spring.”
LOCAL EVENTS TO EXPAND OUR
SOCIAL & CULTURAL HORIZONS Is something happening that you want our members to know about? Please send your listing to Hope by the 25th of each month. Racial Equity Institute Training Sponsored by Organizing Against Racism (OAR) We strongly recommend these 2-day trainings as a way to begin a shared conversation about racism and social/environmental justice at Common Ground Ecovillage. Check OARalliance.org for details.
GOVERNANCE & TRAINING CIRCLE
Tuesday, June 16, 4:00pm – 6:00pm via Zoom
RSVP Maria: [email protected]
Please RSVP for a link. If this time is difficult for you,
please call Maria at (919) 444-1193.
*change to third Thursday*
FINANCIAL & LEGAL CIRCLE
Thursday, June 18, 6:30-9:00pm, via Zoom
RSVP Paul for a link: [email protected]
We welcome visitors, especially those who may wish
to join this important circle.
Heartwood
PLANNING, DESIGN, &
DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE
Wednesday, June 24, 6:30-8:00pm, via Zoom
RSVP Anthony: [email protected] Observers are always welcome, with RSVP
GENERAL CIRCLE
Thursday, June 25, 7:00-9:30pm, via Zoom
RSVP Hope: [email protected]
We welcome observers, with RSVP
LAST SATURDAY
Leadership Training
Saturday, June 27, 3:00-5:00pm via Zoom
Women’s Chainsaw Safety 101 Offered by NC State Extension Thursday, June 18, 1-4pm $10, sliding scale available Due to COVID-19, we are hosting our next workshop virtually with Zoom. It will be a little different, but the same team will be instructing and we think it will be a great workshop. For information and to register: https://go.ncsu.edu/virtualchainsaw101. Hope attended this workshop in person last December—contact her if you’d like to know more.
The Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington is going digital on Saturday, June 20th from 10-6 EST and Sunday, June 21st, at 6pm EST. For more information, click https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington will be the largest digital gathering of poor, dispossessed and impacted people, faith leaders, and people of conscience from all 50 states and across the world. The increasing urgency of a broad movement led by the poor and most impacted is more apparent every day. Now is the time to organize towards collective action to enact a moral agenda for the nation. As our ranks grow in the coming months due to COVID-19 and the ongoing crisis of poverty, building a platform for the plight, fight, and insight of the poor is even more urgent. United, we can move the moral and political imagination of this country and revive the heart of our democracy! Compassionate Connection (aka Non-Violent Communication): Wednesday, June 24, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, via Zoom. We welcome people at all levels of experience with NVC. Facilitated by Marilyn Grubbs and Lila Rosa. Contact Marilyn for more information: ([email protected])
Green and Gold
Sponsored by Governance & Training Circle
RSVP Maria for link: [email protected]
Leaders are servants of the collective, who model and
apply cooperative skills in everything they do. That's
what being a leader at Common Ground Ecovillage,
and many other collectives around us, means. And, we
consider every person participating in the work of a
Circle to be a leader. Since we weren’t born in a
culture that teaches us how to accomplish this type of
service, we are learning together. Join us as we share
leadership / facilitation tools that have proven useful
to us. Every Common Ground member who is or wants
to be part of the work of any Circle is strongly
encouraged to participate. RSVP is crucial so that you
receive the corresponding Zoom link.
Dogbane beetle on flowering tatsoi; Venus looking glass
(photos by Margret)
An bazonkers Bloodroot leaf
