Cohousing-L Mailing List: Wonderful MAC Conference Yesterday

[Sharon Villines (Sharon]

Mid Atlantic Cohousing put on a wonderful conference yesterday. The  
arrangements and  supporting materials were as detailed and well  
designed as they would have been for a professional conference for  
2,000. It's so hard to arrive in a strange place and have no idea  
where to go. Ann Z (Takoma Village), Martie W, (Liberty Village),  
Brigitte (of Blueberry Hill), and Marlys (Potomac Valley) were the  
main elves and they had lots of help.

I had expected to get away from Takoma Village for the day but arrived  
to find half my neighbors handing things out and carrying boxes and  
trays.

About 150 people showed up for 20 sessions on everything a cohousing  
community needs from ideas for marketing to their energy future to  
playing well with others. We were well-fed with bag lunches in the sun  
and more snacks than we should talk about. (I have a stash in my bag.)

At least 20 people showed up afterwards, in different groups at Ann's  
favorite Indian restaurant. If you think that was a coincidence, you  
don't know Ann.

I didn't see everything but Zev's closing presentation on Peak  
Community was on a sign of things to come with diminishing oil  
reserves and focused an exciting concept that will bring cohousing  
further into the mainstream as a blueprint for energy starved  
communities. I'm sure we will hear more about this. There were tons of  
other presenters, I'm sorry I can't type out all their names.

Laird was solid and energetic as he always is. Ask Raines about the  
rubber duckies. All I'll say is that they involved a top hat,  
auctioneering skills, and a quacking good time.

It was nice and encouraging and lots of good ideas for reenergizing  
olld communities and starting new ones.

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