by Kay Kay
As well as being a former Listener Convenor to the Community Kay is an author, coach, long term member of the Community and has built an eco-house in the Findhorn Ecovillage.
This community is a place of transformation, not only for the individuals who come here but also as an ever-evolving experiment in community living. The current evolution is through the creation of the New Findhorn Association (NFA). This is not part of the Foundation nor is it an organisation to run along side it. The NFA has been developed by representatives of all parties concerned to be a container in which all the aspects of this community can come together as a whole.
In the past this community consisted of one large organisation the Findhorn Foundation and several hundred other people who were not members of the Foundation but chose to live here in community. Through the NFA this community, including the Foundation, has now become an Association of Organisations. People join the NFA through the appropriate organization of their choice. There are almost thirty of these organisations which, between them, cover all aspects of life here. The Foundation is by far the largest and is one of the charitable organisations Trees for Life is another of those. The Phoenix Store is one of the business organisations and Findhorn Flower Essences another. There is an organisation for crafts people, an organisation for complementary health practitioners, and one for Earthshare (our co-operative, organic vegetable farm project) and many more. Anyone living within fifty miles who wishes to be part of this community can be so through one of these organisations. Newcomers can join through the Newcomers Organisation that has been created to help them to integrate easily into this community
All organisations are responsible for their members and for running their own affairs. Nobody who chooses to be part of this new form of Community is left out, and everyone who has lived here for longer than a year, and is over 13, has an equal vote. To make it available to everyone, the yearly membership subscription is on a sliding scale, with each person deciding the amount they contribute.
The membership has elected a council to guide the development of the NFA, and Listener-Conveners, a man and a woman, paid by the electorate to carry out much of the work. L.Cs co-chair the council but most of their time is spent listening to people, feeling the pulse of the community, gaining an overall view of what is happening and creating opportunities for discussions, networking, the development of projects and co-operation between individuals or organisations.
I feel privileged to have been elected as the female Listener-Convener for two years and my co-Listener-Convener is Rory O’Connell. Together we towards identifying and strengthening areas of common ground in our Community Association, while highlighting aspects which could use some attention.
The NFA was designed to be a cauldron into which every part of this community can be put to make a rich concoction that will nourish and sustain us all. The structure is not one of managing, of hierarchy or of needing large amounts of money to sustain itself. The intention is for this to be a light but strong way of holding the process of community evolution. To offer another metaphor, I see it as a clear plastic bag (with apologies to environmentalists!). It is made from a tiny amount of material; it is economical; in itself it occupies very little space; yet it is very strong and it can hold a surprising amount. The fact that it is transparent means that every thing in it can easily be seen.
There are many issues to be addressed and projects requiring focus. In the role of Listener-Conveners, Rory and I intend to have an awareness of the overall and ever-changing picture and to support all community members to fulfil their individual potential and that of the community.
As we listen to people we are beginning to see the threads that are emerging to be woven into the tapestry of sustainable community. The member organisations are each working on a different aspect of this. Sustainability is most often thought of in terms of ecology and economy. These are being addressed in many ways.
Within the development of the ecovillage we are concerned with the built environment, the generation of renewable energy, recycling, and environmentally friendly waste disposal.
With Ekopia Community resource exchange we are creating co-operative ownership and the management of financial resources for the benefit of everyone involved.
There is a vision for a Bureau is to provide services such as a skills database, accommodation information, business services, project start-up advice, and car-pooling.
However, social sustainability is also a vital element in the life of a community. And that, I believe, starts with attitude. Our attitude to each other, to our neighbours and to the Planet we live upon. We are all familiar with this kind of statement but what does it really mean in our daily lives?
I think it requires us to ask ourselves some fundamental questions. How much do we care about and respect one another? Are we honest with each other? Are we compassionate? Do our differences separate us or do they add richness to our lives? Do we gossip and make judgements about people based on what we hear? What kind of welcome do we offer to people? How much responsibility do we each take for our choices, our behaviour, and our actions? Do we blame others when things are not as we would have them be? Do we expect someone else to make things better? Are we envious of people who have what we do not? What are we committed to? Are we reliable? Do we let our fears run our lives or can we encourage each other to be courageous?
It seems to me that the kind of community we will evolve into in the future is dependent upon our attitudes today. Within the container of the NFA we are creating a culture in which the Findhorn Foundation no longer expects or is expected to provide the support structures for the whole community. This is a cultural shift. This new culture of empowered, responsible organisations and task oriented, special interest groups is the foundation upon which a new form of community is being built. Our personal and collective attitudes will determine how sustainable that community will become.
With love and a listening heart.
Kay Kay