Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: wanting to start community - Timeline Game

[Mac & Sandy Thomson (ganesh]

This request for info on how to start forming a community brings to mind the
Timeline Game.  The Timeline Game is played at a workshop for a new forming
group to teach them what the path to creating community looks like.

The game was created by Bruce Coldham.  In about 1994 Bruce and I
reorganized and packaged the game such that a group could play the game
without having to have Bruce there in person to facilitate.  I sold and
distributed the game for a few years with proceeds going to TCN.

The last I heard, TCN was going to take over sales and distribution.  Does
anyone from TCN know whatever became of the Timeline Game?  I think it could
continue to be a good learning tool for new groups and a good fund raiser
for TCN.

- Mac
Who just finished digging holes in the earth floor of our community
greenhouse for a fig and a lemon tree.

P.S.  BTW, I'd recommend Chris ScottHanson's book, "Cohousing Handbook" as
an invaluable resource to any new forming community.


-- 
Mac Thomson

Heartwood Cohousing
http://www.heartwoodcohousing.com


"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin'
somebody else's dog around."

**********************************************************

On 12/10/02 11:01 AM, "cohousing-l-request [at] cohousing.org"
<cohousing-l-request [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> Date: Mon, 09 Dec 2002 20:22:58 -0800
> From: "Emma Kramer-Wheeler" <kombu [at] earthlink.net>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: [C-L]_wanting to start forming a community
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> 
> I've been lurking on this list for a couple of months now, and it's been very
> educational - thank you all!
> 
> I am interested in getting moving on the very beginning stages of forming a
> new community.  I'd like to live in community in rural western massachusetts
> (nearish worcester or amherst, but not too near, and preferably just outside
> some nice small town), on land that includes an area for organic farming.
> Through the research I've done so far (I have the Communities Directory), I've
> not been able to find such a community already in existance.
> 
> So, I am faced with the daunting task of forming one.  I have no money to
> speak of, and there are no other interested parties besides myself and my
> partner.  I have only vague ideas of what sort of community it would be - pure
> co-housing? some kind of mix?  Shared income?  etc...
> 
> I currently live in the mid-west (madison, wi), and intend to move back to the
> northeast in no less than a year and 2 months (work-related time line).
> However, I'll be visiting NYC (where I'm from) in March/April of this year,
> and I have this notion that perhaps I should try to do some outreach and put
> together a small group of potentially interested parties to begin hashing this
> out.  
> 
> I would not be available to meet with them regularly in person at this point,
> but we could always talk on-line.
> 
> I guess I'm just afraid to put off the starting-up process until I'm back in
> the east, for fear it will take years and years and I will have to rent here
> and there in between.  I want this to *happen*, and sooner than later.
> 
> Can anyone give me any advice?  I know I'm not asking very specific questions,
> so it might be hard.  Perhaps point me towards other helpful (and free)
> resources besides the IC web site and here?  What do you think my first step
> should be?  What are some cost-saving suggestions for decisions we'll make
> early in the process?  and whatever else seems useful to share...
> 
> I have tons more questions about other stuff, but I'll stop here for now.
> 
> Thanks!
> Emma

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