East Wind Community: Difference between revisions
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East Wind Community, founded in 1973, is an [[intentional community]] located in the [[Missouri]] [[Ozarks]]. This [[commune (intentional community)|commune]] is devoted to "equality, ecology, cooperation and [[nonviolence]]" and encourages people of all races or sexual orientations to join. It is a secular, democratic and egalitarian community in which all the members hold all assets in common. Each member is given food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education, and a monthly discretionary fund. East Wind Community owns over 1000 acres of land and several businesses. All major decisions are made by direct democratic processes and most positions in the community, i.e. nut butter manager, kitchen manager, etc. are elected. |
East Wind Community, founded in 1973, is an [[intentional community]] located in the [[Missouri]] [[Ozarks]]. This [[commune (intentional community)|commune]] is devoted to "equality, ecology, cooperation and [[nonviolence]]" and encourages people of all races or sexual orientations to join. It is a secular, democratic and egalitarian community in which all the members hold all assets in common. Each member is given food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education, and a monthly discretionary fund. East Wind Community owns over 1000 acres of land and several businesses. All major decisions are made by direct democratic processes and most positions in the community, i.e. nut butter manager, kitchen manager, etc. are elected. |
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Revision as of 23:01, 9 October 2006
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{{citation}}: Empty citation (help)
East Wind Community, founded in 1973, is an intentional community located in the Missouri Ozarks. This commune is devoted to "equality, ecology, cooperation and nonviolence" and encourages people of all races or sexual orientations to join. It is a secular, democratic and egalitarian community in which all the members hold all assets in common. Each member is given food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education, and a monthly discretionary fund. East Wind Community owns over 1000 acres of land and several businesses. All major decisions are made by direct democratic processes and most positions in the community, i.e. nut butter manager, kitchen manager, etc. are elected.
The East Wind Community has several income sources. They run a nut butter business named East Wind Nutbutters. In addition, they produce "Utopian Rope Sandals" and have a drum making business named Slackjaw Drums. All the income from the businesses is used to support the community, fund the DF's, and on years of increased profit there is profit sharing. Members are required to work a certain number of hours in the income generating areas, and are also expected to help with dishes and cleanup after meals. All work is considered equal, and domestic labor, cooking, cleaning and child care are labor creditable as well as work in the gardens, ranch, or grounds.
There is a process for joining. Prospective members must write to the community introducing themselves. From these letters, the membership team pick those who seem to be a good fit for the community. They are then invited for a three week visit period, at the end of which they may choose to join or not. There is a one year provisional membership in which full members may have the opportunity to call for a vote on any PM who proves to be either too disruptive to the community or is failing to do their fair share of the labor. There is also an associate status for people who do not wish to make a full commitment to the community. Associates are not given a vote or medical care, but have the ability to go on leave more often. There are several types of leaves, from personal affairs to social emergency. All members are free to come and go in the community whenever they please.
East Wind is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities, which also includes the communities Twin Oaks, Sandhill, and several others. There are many community conferences and labor exchanges between the communities, and there is a fund which all the communities pay into to help cover any major medical expenses.
The lifestyle is rural and the behavior tends to be bohemian. There is a creek with a swimming hole and clothing is optional. Members live in dorm style buildings and there is a central dining hall and laundry and shower house. There are also several personal shelters, many of which are designated as doubles for couples. There are many common spaces and plenty of recreational activities, from computers and satellite TV, to a fleet of canoes, a pool table and many community drums and instruments.