Minutes:20060401-2

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Advisory Council Minutes, April 1, 2006

• Present: four members, four advisors, one guest: Shannon Binns, James Cowan, Stacy Friedman, Lauren Goldman, Tara MacKeigan, Shiraz, Jan Steinman, Owen Thomas, Carol Wagner.
• Facilitator: Jan
• Recorder: Lauren
• Circle Check-In: presence level: 0-10 & a Value you hold dear
  • Values: Ongoing education, multi faceted, multi generational community, compassionate truth telling (honest and present, no games, no holding back, sensitive to others), not taking anyone/ anything for granted, being present, grateful and thankful in the moment, accepting & graceful, inspiration (being inspired and inspiring others), diversity, connection, focusing on other’s needs and feelings (what is really going on for others), honest communication, authenticity, guidance (by peers, teachers, and to guide others as well).
• AGREED approved agenda
• AGREED previous Advisory Council minutes approved
• Members' Report:
  1. Property*:
     • How the members got from November to now (having an offer accepted on a property on SI):
     • Hope to get farm up and running to receive discount on property taxes: Need to make $2500 a year from sales of vegetable, flowers, or value-added products to save money on taxes (to clarify: it needs to be agricultural products). (Stacy mentions that she has a friend based out of Vancouver who makes lavender eye pillows, if there is any interest).
     • If anyone wants to give input on future land criteria, it is welcome (can look at existing criteria on the website).
     • There are vehicles available for pick up and delivery to the ferry for visits.
     • Jan and Carol have met the neighbours and they are “delightful”.
     • Plan is to get farm up and running, gardens beautiful (improvement)… and then use this investment as ‘seed money’ for the next, bigger property.
     • Pond and stream could use some restoration… maybe there’s a beaver.
     • If we don’t end up renting the cottage or getting care takers that are in-line with values, there is the possibility of people doing some care-taking with lowered rent. Shiraz expressed interest in this, and would like to speak more after the meeting.
     • Owen mentions (on the break) that in light of the current demolition at UBC, it may be possible to get lots of free equipment and supplies (glass, green house tables, hoses, etc etc etc.) Both he and Stacy may have contacts that could be helpful.
     • During the meeting (about 4:20 pm), Chuck phoned Carol and said he wants to sell the hangar. He mentioned that maybe Dave would want a place to park his equipment. Carol’s interpretation is that he wants to be paid $10,000 for the building. Jan says “No, not going to happen, it’s a used building”. So it seems there will not be a hangar on the property. There is discussion to have the realtor write into the agreement that the hangar will be removed by April 29th, 2006 (since agreement may not be able to be reached).
  2. Incorporate as a co-op*:
     • For profit co-op to hold the property. Provides services to members, and each member gets an equal say. Member shares (usually one per person) and investor shares are the two ways to put money into a co-op, although investor shares have very little voting rights. Trying to become a “consensus-based” organization (vs. voting- based). Investment shares would be used to finance capital projects. Member shares would be used to cover operating expenses.
  3. Values:
     • The core of the community. They are dynamic, especially when there is a significant turnover of members.
  4. Workshops:
     • Diane Leafe Christian: weekend workshop 18, 19, 20 August 2006. Open to public. Friday will have a cover and be open to the public. Hopefully this money can be used to make the workshop cheap or free to advisory council. Program is not yet set.
  5. Future meetings:
     • Will be on SI from now on. May 6th, is the first annual AGM.
• Five minute break (turns into 12 minutes)
• Investment Game ($100,000)
  • Goal is to imagine what we can do with development funds- what are the top priorities. Express our values in terms of artifacts and capital.
  • Participants found not knowing the actual value of the items/projects a challenge, as they would likely allocate their money differently in ‘real life’.
    • Nice to be dreaming
    • Wanted more information about the practical aspects of it
  • results of exercise to be transcribed from flip-chart pages
  • Next meeting:
    • Jan volunteers to be facilitator at the next meeting (May 6th, 2006).
  • Check out:
    • Happy, relieved, grateful, excited and hungry people.
    • Lots of appreciation for the opportunity to dream.
    • Grateful to have questions answered and clarified.
    • Relief around the group process.
    • Lots of appreciation for the grounding in reality (not ‘just about the dreams’).