From the start we agreed that we wanted Raccoon Creek to be an inclusive community. Anyone who cared about the things we feel are important and was willing to accept rules that we might collectively establish would be welcome. Race, finances, marital status, family size, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs... none of these should matter, as long as one didn't intend to impose their choices on others.
We asked each participant to draft a
"personal vision statement" describing the community they wanted to help establish and live in. Then, after a group meeting for the purpose of discussing our shared vision, one of us drafted a
"community vision statement". We may revise it from time to time based on experience and input from future members.
Next we found a list of items or issues that might be concerns or desires for a community. We modified the list to remove some things we knew were not needed, and to add a few entries that deserved consideration. This document is called the
"Goals for Site Plan Questionnaire." Each of us then graded every item on the list from 1 to 10 and from two perspectives: "importance" and "urgency." A large table was developed with all the responses and averages, and it was posted to the files section of our discussion list for all participants to see.
We began to discuss the findings of this exercise, especially the items for which there was a significant difference among us. To date only a few of the entries have been discussed in detail, but, perhaps not so surprisingly, not that many indicate a significant difference of opinion. On one issue, for example, discussing our responses indicated more of a difference of interpretation of the meaning of "importance" rather than a difference of opinion on what the community's position should be. We hope to discuss remaining differences, not necessarily to change each others' opinions as much as to understand them.
Then we established a process for adding interested people to our group. First we agreed there would be two categories of
"participants" - members" and "associates".
"Members" are those who were committed to create a home and live at Raccoon Creek and who pay the community's annual dues. They would also agree to "parity" among
members with respect to contributions, both financial and participatory. (More on finances in a later entry.)
"Associates" are all others interested in the health of the community who pay the annual dues. Associates may participate in all community meetings and activities, and they may participate in community votes unless the members should decide that a particular decision should be made only by members.
"Dues" were suggested to be $100/per year or $10/month. They are paid by all adult participants.
The following steps have been established to bring new participants into the Raccoon Creek Community:
- Invite a new prospective member ("visitor") to a community meeting.
There are no expectations of visitors for their first two meetings. They are given a copy of a "Schedule for Prospective Participants", essentially this list of steps. - If a visitor choses to attend a third meeting, they are asked to bring with them a personal vision statement.
- After that third meeting, current participants discuss the visitor's personal vision statement and decide whether to invite them to continue.
- If invited to continue, visitors are
- given a copy of the "Community Vision Statement" and invited to suggest any changes to it they might want the community to consider;
- given a copy of the "Goals for Site Plan" worksheet to complete so their opinion can be consolidated with everyone elses';
- given full access to the community's e-mail discussion list, including all minutes of past meetings, maps and pictures, and other documents useful to the group. (Non-participants can only see the description of the list.)
- asked to make, or begin to make, their annual dues payment.
We feel this process has served us well so far but are always open to new ideas.
