Cohousing-L Mailing List: NAConf97: first announcement

[Marci Malinowycz (SoDance]

(all conference postings will have a subject line beginning with NAConf97)

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 North American Cohousing Conference (NAConf97)
 September 18-21, 1997
 University of Washington, Seattle WA
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-------------------------
 Schedule
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The core of the conference takes place Friday the 19th through Sunday the 
21st. There will be panel discussions, presentions, speakers, workshops, and a 
few social events along with the resource room, tours, and other features of 
the conference.

The first day of the conference, Thursday 18 September, is called the "burning 
souls day" and is traditionally the part of the conference when regional, 
national, and international cohousing activists come together to work on ways 
to promote cohousing and keep the overall vision a strong one. This year's 
burning souls day is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain CoHousing Association. In 
the works is a possible retreat to a cohousing community in the area, with 
accommodations at that site. Look for a later posting about this 
conference-within-a-conference.

The days before and after the conference will offer opportunities to visit the 
area's cohousing sites that are farther away from Seattle. Details of these 
tours, still being planned, will be sent to preregistered members.

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 Location and Hosts
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The conference will take place in Gould Hall on the UW campus in Seattle's 
University District, with many restaurants and other features within a short 
walk. The greater Seattle area is home to several cohousing communities in 
various stages. One feature of the conference will be field trips to sites in 
the region.

It is cosponsored by the Northwest Intentional Communities Association (a 
501c3 nonprofit organization) and the University of Washington College of 
Architecture and Urban Planning.

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 Program
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The program is under development. Now is the time to suggest topics and 
speakers. Do you have a presentation you'd like to make? What experiences can 
you share? What questions would you like answered? Are there additional 
features you like to see? Can you suggest a theme to pull it all together?

If you would like to be involved with the development of the program or any of 
its parts, contact the coordinator and volunteer your time and ideas.

-------------------------
 Groups
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We want to make the conference especially useful to cohousing groups who 
register as a group. Cohousing groups may have table space in the resource 
room at no charge for the purpose of promoting their projects. Groups may 
reserve function space for a meeting or other private or public event. Other 
resources and benefits are being developed. Tell the conference what would be 
useful for your group.

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 Price
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You can get a discount on the conference cost by registering early, while the 
program is still being put together. The early-bird price for the three-day 
conference is $60, good now through at least the end of June 1997. Final 
prices will be announced when the program details are announced.

Discounts will probably be offered to cohousing groups. These will not be 
lower than the early-bird price.

Some one-day or no-meals memberships may be made available for those with 
schedule or budget constraints.

The cost of the "burning souls day" has not been set, and will depend on plans 
to be made. To register for burning souls day at this time, along with your 
early-bird registration, just indicate that you want to attend that day as 
well. You will be notified to formally register when the price is set.

The conference will provide child care to anyone who requests it in advance. 
The arrangements will be a combination of professional care and parent and 
other adult volunteers. The cost will be included in the price of the 
conference. Our aim is for the conference "village" to make it possible for 
parents to participate fully, without worry.

We consider this conference participatory and peer-run. None of the organizers 
will be paid. Please consider putting in some volunteer time either before or 
during the conference.

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 Accommodations
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The conference takes place the weekend before UW orientation, so hotel space 
will be tight, and no on-campus space is available. Reserve early to be sure 
of a room. A discount has been obtained from two hotels near the conference. 
Other hotels are nearby; contact the conference if help is needed with these. 
There may be some space in local cohousing; let us know if you want this, but 
have a backup reservation anyway.

The College Inn is a historic bed and breakfast across the street from the 
conference site, at 4000 University Way NE. It is smoke-free, does not allow 
pets, is accessible only by stairs, and has shared bathrooms. Continental 
breakfast is included. A sitting room is available, good for small groups to 
meet. Rates start at $48.60 for one and $57.60 for two, with $68.40 for a 
two-bed suite. Call (206) 633-4441 to reserve (Visa/Mastercard required), and 
mention the university-sponsored cohousing conference to get these rates.

The University Inn is a short walk away, at 4140 Roosevelt Way NE. It is a 
full-service hotel, with ADA rooms, free parking, and free continental 
breakfast. Rates start at $82 for one and $92 for two, with some kitchen 
suites starting at $109. To reserve, call (800) 733-3855, email 
UnivINN [at] aol.com, or fax (206) 547-4937, and mention the Architectural and 
Urban Planning cohousing conference.

-------------------------
 Registration
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To register, make checks payable to "Northwest Intentional Communities 
Association" and send to POB 46665, Seattle WA 98146-0665. Include the 
following information:
-- name, address, day phone, evening phone, email
-- cohousing group, professional, volunteer, and/or other related status
-- interest in burning souls day and the tour days
-- food restrictions and preferences, other special needs and requests
-- children's names, ages, sex, special needs
-- topics of expertise or experience to contribute to the program
-- volunteer offers of help to the conference

For more information, contact the coordinator: Marci Malinowycz, 206-763-2623, 
sodance [at] msn.com