3:20 called to order by Margaret Flinter Head count: 150 (more in attendance for part of the time)
16th Annual Meeting of DNE corporation (17th year of camp)
Facilitator: Margaret Flinter
Vibes: Debbie Steiner,
Mintues: Wes Brown,
Today we willl take time in community meeting to get together to do
Dance Spree move back to downtown Northampton (above Fitzwilly's on Main Street); doing well, Len Huber joining Wes Brown on the rep body for the next year.
Barefoot Boogie: highest attendance, in good financial health and plannig to buy a sound system; may change structure slightly (quarterly rather than monthly meetings); need more volunteers
Dance Hartford: starting 3rd Saturday in September and weekly through October; may change to every other Saturday beginning November; has a nice sound system
Dance Haven: off for the summer, going to a new space in September
Other dances: California Dance Jam (EBay Oakland) 30-50 people moving from private to collective ownership 1st Friday is especially child friendly
Frolic in New Paltz doing well, volunteerism up, attendance down (changed to inside), may have new sound system; April weekend went very well
Northern California Dance weekend event occurred, DNE'rs welcome
Question: how to decide if there are more than 13? Answer reps make that decision. Concern: already heavily weighted to member dances, would like to see more at-large reps.
Note: having more reps doesn't give a member dance more representation
Clarification: only for one year, with priority on at large reps.
VOTED: by consensus, with clarifications noted above
Elders recognized by standing
People in the community who have played a significant roles over some
time--reps,
committe members. Normally elders' role is to philosophize about issues of
concern to the community. This year they did the practical role of being the
chore committee. Next year will go back to being visionaries. Please join
the elders if you believe you qualify and want to contribute.
Reports
Committee members recognized by standing.
Note: many functioning committees do not have enough volunteer energy, so the
responsibility falls to the reps. Please join committees.
Financial report -- Bill McAvinney
as of Jan 1, 1996: $97,200 (chk 46,600, CD 42,100 loan fund 9100)
plus $7000 in homeplace fund (separate account) [minute taker's note: the
breakdown figures may not be accurate, but the total figure is close]
expected income
$194,100 (about $2600 over)
expected expense is over budget in some committees but will likely be ok in
final accounting
expected final to be about $5000 over
Question: why such small profit?
Answer: when there is a good size overage, reps budget less margin
CIT (Counselor In Training)
Emily Gadd and Kani Romain, 4th year CITs
Being a CIT takes a great amount of responsibility that some adults don't
always acknowledge that we have. Part of our responsibility is making sure
that the children of DNE are safe. We commit our time and energy learning
how to work effectively with kids. We learn to listen on a new level, redirect
risky situations, comfort children in their time of need, and use effective
language. To sum it up, we are helping kids with their individual development.
We think about thekids first having them do what they want to do, as long as
its safe, not justwhat is convenient for us. We do this by giving them
choices and being clear without being rude. We close by saying that we hope by
providing a stable environment for the youth of DNE we hope to soften the
transition from our present campsite to our to the future DNE campsite.
CIT's introduced
Paul Freundlich
We think about our future with more urgency when there is a good reason for
it. In 1987-88 we began to think about homeplace as a result of being thrown
out of 2 camps in a row. It has been an gradual, organic process--we only
have $7,500 in our homeplace account. This is ok but doesn't deal with the
specific issue: we can't come back to OMNI next year. A site search
committee was put together, and it's come down to now. The reality is we have
to find a new place.
A skit: what if there's no DNE next year--rumors abound.
We want to move ahead in an orderly and effective manner. To ease some confusion: Lisa Kennedy and Diane Johnson will be available in the back of the house for any one with a particular question for clarification (this will keep the general meeting going more quickly). If your particular question is of use to general meeting, it will be brought in.
Part1 Context: finding a new camp site
Part2 pass out proposal
Part 3 Gulag or Club Med?
Part4 Fishtank: discussion of options
Part5 Discussion of community search process
Part6 Wrap up
Handed out Site Search proposal: Paul asked if the proposal was understood Roberta asked if previous discussions included people under 18 (answer: at least 1) Question: won't it be late to wait til December to start on a new rental site? Answer: no plan to wait until December for next year rental Question: Clarify what we are doing today. Answer: form a committee which is empowered to gather information and make a proposal to the reps. Kenny: if this proposal is passed, the decision that the reps make based on the recommendation of the committee may not come back to the community meeting. Question: who wrote the proposal: Answer: Paul with a lot of help Bill: 1 find a place for 500 people per week for two weeks 2 buy a place that we build to suit over time 3 buy a place for a mil to mil.5 that already suits our needs 4 buy a existing camp that we renovate over a relatively short period of time have a work camp have a work camp with a child care component to teach kids include designing buildings that work don't take the first opportunity, don't have camp next year, and everyone all go to California rent a campground and make a dance tent camp get together with another dance entity (country dance camp, folk dance--some org that is compatible with ours) buy Fantasy Island (Gilligan's, Alcatraz) go to the Rainbow Gathering Virtual dance camp over the internet occupy an urban space on a weekend Buy Omni camp find a wealthy philanthropist buy into an existing running camp, form alliance of some kind with them Fishbowl begins with four people Eric: cooperating with other groups: knows at least two other nonprofits that might be interested. suggests it make take longer than a year to get it done. Dina: not ready to let go of the idea of living community--doesn't want to leave that behind in the rush to get next year's camp in place--spread out over the entire summer Declund: issue of commitment level, long term picture: are people willing to rehab a camp? are we going to jump from one camp to another? this year a lot of people signed up then cancelled at the last minute. Joe: Has been in comunity and has seen huge buildings go up faster than with contractors; doesn't worry about building something quick because we won't be walled in--can do it better next time with experience Diane: echo issue of commitment is important: want to look at structure so that those who actually work can enjoy the benefits Laurie: If we put up a list on the bulleting board and all attendees note whatever camps they have seen Steve: Does nothing during the year but gives it all in camp. Thinks it very different from living in community together. Roberta: Living together: make sure that children are included in the planning process; make sure that people that are different are considered/included Steve Robins: if we own, accessibility can become a priority; if we work with someone else we lose control; the community: those who have put in time/effort, etc. it's dangerous to not have a system for bringing in new people; we may lose vibrancy. Carolyn: no concerns about building/rehabbing a new site. was concerned about people putting in time, then found that there are too many. Neil: Interested in the process of manifesting reality by having clear vision. If we are not clear in vision when empowering the committee, we may not end up with what we really want. Jashana: expand the fishbowl so that there is audible commnent ("hmm") from individuals in the community when in agreement with the speaker ALisa: afraid of large meetings because of that Death, Relife. Concerned about the proposal because of the split between those who want living community and those that want summer camp. Rather than dance weekend in Boston, why not weekend with community as focus along with dance. (Loud hmm) Tam: realize that camp is coming into a new phase, wants it to be less money oriented. Candy: feel very conscious of how much time/energy/people power to make camp happen. Now we're talking about a huge venture--wants to do it but doesn't want to bite off more than we can chew. May be too much to do this now AND put on camp too. Maybe let Rainbow, California, etc. be our camp next year and let DNE summer camp go next year while getting another place together. Isaac: seems that it's real important to get together next year even if it's mostly work. Would be just as happy pounding nails alongside anyone here as dancing. Jeff: would love to bring 20 people from Phoenix to work next year (and $1000) Daniel: don't want to sink into something without knowing what we're all about--wants to enjoy. not worry about subsistence level--how can we move up? Bill: DNE has an opportunity through vacating OMNI to determine whether it is a community or just dance camp. Right now DNE is prosperous--risk is at its lowest--look at 400 person camp down the road and start the new thing now--if we don't have the energy now, we won't have the energy. Matt: clarity of vision: you do something, the clouds part and the next thing is in front of you. recent growth has changed us--let's do what we need to do and clarity will come. we have new people, new connections, possibilities within this community. list of priorities: what do we want in a camp that can serve some of our needs now and get the rest later. Ben: alternative to skipping camp while we work this out next year (see if we can get someone else to run camp for us for a fee while we do the what we need to do) Devaka: First timer from California. note what time it is on the planet right now. DNE has mastered the art of harmony and has an opportunity. would like to see a dance camp but we're up to something bigger than that. Charles: Community is a process. Whatever is going on here is part of his life and brought him here. People are afraid that if we have small groups (reps, homeplace, this group and that) but we are a community. We have an example: (1) chore/community service--we used our brains and devised a way to make it work, and it involved everyone. (2) use the weekends for community input and reflection. The proposal on the table: a Community Search Committee; something is going to happen. Boston community meeting is too late. We have a large segment of our community right here right now, can we use the current meeting. Carolyn: I trust the people who step forward to be on this committee. There are so many decisions that come up that can't be anticipated. Erica: have everyone right their own ideas about clarity. Holly: because of the depth of the issue, the reps are a small segment of the community. would prefer to have the actual decision made at a community meeting, and if it can't be made their, have reps decide. Kenny: time commitment will be very large Tom: no time to offer an alternative: if we don't agree, the reps will decide by default. This is a chance to expand the represtation to 30 people rather than 8 Kari: chance for balance Michael: concern that we might not meet next year--but we can use Rainbow Gathering concept and meet on federal land and do it cheap. Sylvia: here Boston community meeting's input Christine: rather reps and elders to make decision Tagan: doesn't want it to come back to larger committee: wants to empower this committee Facilitator Margaret: 30 seconds of silence, then put the proposal to vote Blocking concerns: Holly: It is not in the best interest of the community to have the reps make the final decision. Would prefer to have the reps/elders/committee make the decision. Rebecca: Really look at the responsibility of owning a piece of property year round, not just two weeks. Ben: Since this will be presented next week, I have a concern that I would like to think about for a week. Margaret asked for blocking proposals. There were none VOTED: By consensus the proposal passed as written.
Carolyn Fuller
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