News from the Front: sub-group reports
Crafts Group. Was
it by chance or because of a sense in the air that the Crafts
Group finally got together around the time the NFA was set up?
We have held Craft Fairs irregularly in the past, often timed
to Conferences. Now, inspired by a very successful Creativity
Fair at Christmas, we have had the first of what are intended
to be monthly Creativity Fairs in the attractive and welcoming
space of the Community Centre. We are also talking of raising
our profile both in the Phoenix Shop and through the Internet.
As well as the traditional Findhorn Community crafts of pottery,
weaving and candles, the group includes sculptural woodwork, feltmaking,
bears, cards and jewellery.
Richard Brockbank
Communications.
We have established our team of minute-takers, who are experienced
at formal record-keeping. We are seeking a fully-equipped
office with that happy balance between having facilities available
when needed and not having an unused facility for 90% of the time.
We have been offered the back two pages of the Rainbow Bridge
for Council Matters, and have put together a rota so that each
week there is a "personal" view from a Councillor of
what we are doing instead of more formal and (to some) boring
minutes. We are taking up the offer of a couple of pages on the
Foundation's web site, and investigating setting up our own. And
we hope to produce a newsletter such as this regularly.
Richard Mark-Coates
Neighbourly Relations.
Since I am living in Findhorn I was and I am falling in love
with the area, the country, the people, and of course spirit.
So it felt very appropriate to chair the neighbourly relations
sub-group. We will form a circle of approximately 6-8 people related
to the Association and local friends. Communication and listening
in gentle tender loving care is what I understand is the purpose
of this group. I feel if we are in this space there is already
friendship and understanding between the diversity of people.
Bridges are not really necessary. It is building a consciousness
that we are one. We were given a warm welcome at a meeting of
the Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council, and look forward to
developing a close working relationship. All is very very well!
Irene Dittrich
Family Services.
Following the need of the Children and Families Department of
the Findhorn Foundation to become independent, and in order to
better encounter the growing needs of families and children of
the Community, surrounding area and visiting guests, a small group
of people is working towards forming an Unincorporated Association.
The aim is to launch this new face by the end of August.
The name of the Association will be "DUCKS AND CO., Findhorn
Bay Development Project for Families and Young People" and
win be a pilot project working alongside the Foundation. The objects
of the Association are to promote any charitable purposes for
the benefit of parents and children designed to advance education,
the furtherance of health and emotional and spiritual well-being.
The Association is planning to cover every aspect of family life,
from pre-natal trainings to adult fife of the children through
different activities, playgroups, seminars, support groups and
services. Further change to the structure will take place in the
beginning of the new financial year (February 2000) when it will
become a company limited by guarantee.
Lucia Gallicchio
Park Envisioning. The
Park is the physical centre of our community, providing the environment,
structure and facilities to inspire and nourish all who are drawn
here. We aim to address the needs and highest aspirations of residents,
non-residents and visitors alike, thus encouraging a caring, healing
culture. Amongst these needs are ecological places to meditate,
work, heal, celebrate, play, socialise and retreat within a framework
of beauty, and which express our care for and cooperation with
nature. Also needed are governance structures which hold an overview,
maintain a sense of identity, facilitate meetings, and provide
collective caretaking and responsibility in cooperation with the
Findhorn Foundation.
The process of manifesting the highest potential for the Park
has started by:
- Naming and collating parts of the vision which are held by
different people, including meeting with them and listening
- Providing possibilities for Park residents to join in the
process and add their parts. We did a walkabout around the Park;
a Planning for Real session and a Park Resident's Meeting will
be coming soon.
This is only the beginning! We'll keep you posted.
Dürten Lau
Trustees Resolutions.
The Listener-Conveners and several Councillors had a very
constructive meeting with the Trustees of the Findhorn Foundation
during their visit in May. The Trustees made a very supportive
resolution welcoming the NFA and envisaging 'full participation
with this initiative.' They also made it clear in their verbal
presentation, although not in the written resolutions, that they
saw their proposed 'breakthrough initiative' as involving the
whole community, and not just the Foundation.
Malcolm Hollick
Arts and Celebrations.
The purpose of this sub-group is to develop, expand, and enrich
community through the Arts and Celebration, as well as to develop,
expand and enrich the Arts and Celebration through community.
A puppet theatre group held its first performance in black
light with fluorescent colour on May 9th, and is planning future
events. A fact-finding initiative is under way regarding use of
The Universal Hall. We all celebrate the manifestation success
for the new Art Centre, spearheaded by Randy Klinger. Arts aspects
of the Smilestone Project (see separate article) are being coordinated
with the convenors in Findhorn village. The NFA Council gives
wholehearted support for such projects that will benefit the surrounding
area.
The last Summer Solstice of this millennium was celebrated
by a whole weekend of events starting with a bonfire, music, singing,
stories, and overnight camping on Moya's Green on Saturday. On
Sunday, there was a celebration brunch in the Community Centre
with dancing, music and games for everyone outside. Finally, on
Monday, during the actual time of the Solstice, there was a beautiful
meditation, dancing, and a Blessing of Flowers in The Universal
Hall. There is now an essence being made from all the flower offerings
from Monday's celebration.
A new drama group has been formed in relation to Esoteric Astrology
and the up-coming global events. The first performance is scheduled
for August 11, during the alignment of the Grand Fixed Cross and
the total solar eclipse. A full day of celebrations, ritual, dance,
drama and music is being planned for the entire community.
Blessings
Elizabeth Hill
Peacemakers. Our
Constitution stipulates that the Council shall appoint at least
three people with skills in mediation and conflict resolution
as 'Peacemakers.' Their main area of responsibility is mediation
of disputes which are not purely within one Organisation-Member.
Other responsibilities include overseeing Association elections,
receiving and validating petitions to Council, and being of service
if a Member or Organisation-Member faces possible expulsion.
Having been a peace educator before I joined this community,
I felt drawn to take on the Peacemakers as my first portfolio
as Councillor. I am delighted to say that now we have a pool of
16 good people in place (8 men, 8 women) from within the Foundation
and the wider community with a range of experiences and skills,
who are willing to serve in this role.
Why so many? Why not!! Actually, my own perception of their
deeper role has changed. I see them no longer foremost as "Peacemakers"
but rather as "Peacekeepers" or even "Peacebringers."
Their very willingness to say 'yes' means that the "Impulse
of Peace" will have landed on them. I see them as points
of Light and Peace dotted around our community and carrying that
consciousness with them. None of them is 'holy', they have all
experienced deep conflict in their own lives and know how much
a human heart can hurt. Sixteen quiet Peacemakers, representing
the whole diversity of our community means that whenever one or
two are needed, the perfect ones for that task may be chosen.
And as one Peacemaker said so perceptively to me: "We
will know when we are doing our inner work well - when we are
no longer called upon to mediate conflicts.' How very true!!
Rowan Duczek
Vision Brochure.
What are the NFA and the Council? How did they come into existence,
and what is their purpose? What is their vision for the future?
We have tried to answer these questions in a 'Vision' brochure,
a copy of which is enclosed with this Newsletter. This brochure
is intended not only for members and prospective members, but
also for interested people in the district, and the Community's
network of supporters around the planet.
Malcolm Hollick
Council Policies and Code of Ethics.
The Constitution of the NFA, which was passed by a 95% majority
in March, leaves many details to 'be set by policy'. Hence one
of the first tasks of the Council has been to draft Initiatory
Policies so that we are fully functional. These are in three parts.
First is the Code of Ethics, a copy
of which is included as an insert in this Newsletter. This provides
a clear statement to the outside world of who we are and what
we stand for. It also will be the main criterion for assessing
eligibility of organisations to join the Association. The second
part of the Policies covers details of the rights and responsibilities
of Organisation-Members. And the third part establishes procedures
for the Council and other bodies, such as the Peacemakers. These
Initiatory Policies are now available for members to comment on
them, and they may then be amended before being ratified by the
membership at a General Meeting.
Malcolm Hollick
Council of Organisations.
We have more than 40 organisations in our Community. They
range from single-person businesses up to the Findhorn Foundation,
which has about 25% of the Community as members. For the past
six months we have been meeting monthly as a 'Council of Organisations'
at Minton House. Our first three meetings, chaired by Robert Gilman,
sowed the idea of closer co-operation. The current format is to
have a time of networking and socialising followed by an invited
speaker. So far we have had a lively talk about the support available
through the Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise Company
from its chief executive, Dick Ruane, and an informative evening
about funding available through Moray Council from its Economic
Development and Property Manager, Craig Anderson. In July, we
will be visited by representatives of the Co-operative organisation
to discuss, amongst other things, the possibility of setting up
ethical banking in the Community. The outcome is a growing sense
of support and possible financial involvement from local funding
bodies, and a stronger feeling of collaboration amongst the organisations
in our Community.
Judith Meynell
Organic Restaurant.
A joint venture between the Phoenix Shop and Minton House
shows the benefits of collaboration. It is exploring the idea
of an organic restaurant. This project is unfolding 'organically'
with occasional dinners happening at Minton throughout the summer
organised jointly by the Phoenix, Minton, Earthshare and Wester
Laurenceton. Next year Minton will operate a small pilot restaurant
on three nights a week, with the possibility of building a restaurant
in the grounds in the future if the demand is there.
Judith Meynell
Economic Development.
David Hoyle has put forward a very exciting and inspiring
draft proposal for a Consumer Co-operative and associated bank
and investment fund. This will provide a model for many future
business initiatives and has the potential to be a powerful vehicle
for economic development of the Community. It will enable outflows
of resources from the Community to banks and large businesses
(eg supermarkets) to be reduced, and enable us to tap into the
resources of the worldwide co-operative movement. It will enable
us to harness our own resources of skills, creativity, energy
and money to further the development of the Community. And it
will channel a tithe of business profits into Community projects.
We'll keep you posted on progress.
Malcolm Hollick
Logo.
This design was created as an expression of the expansion of Heart
- that of the individual within the collective or our growing
cooperative community. In numerology, the triangle represents
the number 3, which is about expansion. This triangle has been
slightly rounded to give a feeling of expansion, and it is green
to represent the heart chakra where Love lives. The six-pointed
star forms the base of the 6-heart design in the centre. In numerology,
this represents the balance of opposites; of Heaven and Earth.
The simple, recognisable symbol of the heart, as well as the hand-written
title, were chosen because of their light-hearted and childlike
quality. It is a collective of hearts, complete unto themselves,
but together forming another whole - an Aquarian cooperative!
Also, the overall design resembles a Celtic knot, or a lotus blossom.
We hope you like it!
Elizabeth Hill
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