Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Marketing and Outreach at the Green Festival Washington DC

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Oct 16, 2006, at 6:55 PM, Ann Zabaldo wrote:

> I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who knew something
> about cohousing but even more surprised at the people who didn't know
> anything and wanted to learn!  We had two big displays at the front
> of the booth.  One was a map of DE, PA, MD, DC VA & NC with numbered
> dots showing where member communities are located along w/ a column
> listing the communities keyed to the numbered dots.  A second big
> display had a written series of characteristics of cohousing.  People
> loved both displays and actually stopped to READ the characteristics.

This was truly a wonderful booth and the map of communities made it 
look like we had soooo many communities. On a map, of course, we look 
like we are all just next door to each other! But the overall 
impression is "this can be done."

The charts and maps were done in color on the computer and very 
professional. People from forming communities stood around and handed 
out flyers, engaging passers by in conversation -- Would you be 
interested in coming to our open house (or our next meeting)? Great 
stuff.

Diana Leafe Christian also spoke to a very large, almost filled room 
even though she was opposite Amy Goodman of NPR. Her book, Creating a 
Life Together, is the most comprehensive on all aspects of intentional 
community -- of which cohousing is a major part. Many people raised 
their hands when she asked if anyone was interested in living in an 
intentional community. I was the only person in the room who lived in 
one (or at least the only one to raise my hand). So this is the place 
to find your people.

There were many other speakers there as well so don't miss the next 
Green Festival and find people who may be interested in your community.

Our people who attended also came back with renewed vigor over doing 
more within the community for green practices. We had a big interest 
when we started but over the years it has waned since there was just so 
much other work to do and we were tired. Eventually, you have to focus 
on your day job, but this was a big infusion of hope.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org