IC R&D will research and discuss all aspects of intentional communities: mission, strategy, goals, governance, finances, resources (land, housing, facilities, infrastructure, equipment, supplies...), membership, etc. Rubrics for site and membership. Membership, funding and site searches. IC R&D will create &/or incubate site(s), if there is sufficient understanding, agreement, interest and "intent".
This group arises from the research I have done related to diaries on Affordable, Sustainable Housing:
Affordable, Sustainable Housing I: As Direct Action
Affordable, Sustainable Housing II: Materials & Methods
Affordable, Sustainable Housing III: In Communities
Someone Need a Home/Community?
These diaries came from an interest in looking at a problem and an opportunity that exists in the space where the class (jobs, economy) and climate (sustainability) wars intersect. As it turns out, much of the home development occurring in this space is taking place in intentional communities -- ecovillages, cohousing, cooperatives, communes, etc.
As a result, my research now includes intentional communities. I have discovered that there is some interest in this topic here on DKos. Apparently more than a few of us are thinking that such communities may help address shortcomings in the economy and im making progress on sustainability, as well as the underlying ways in which we can work together in groups to make better, more sustainable long-term decisions.
Topics of discussion may include (but are not limited to!) the following as they relate to intentional communities:
Types of existing communities
Mission/Vision
Case studies - what's been and is being done? What's planned? What works, what doesn't, what's known, what's not?
Legal structures
Governance, decision-making
Principles
Funding
Financial management
Income
Cottage industries (onsite)
Permaculture
Housing
Community buildings
Infrastructure
Food production
Water reclamation and distribution
Energy production and use
Communications
Site evaluation rubric
Expectations of members
Member evaluation rubric
Recruiting
Community Plan
Skills
Time
Capital
Equipment
Supplies
If there is sufficient "understanding, agreement, interest and 'intent'", the group or some portion of it may then proceed with developing a community or starting an incubator to foster the development of communities.
I encourage participants in this group to collaborate by producing diaries, participating in comments and even just lurking (with enthusiasm!)
Some Resources:
Intentional Communities website of the Fellowship of Intentional Communities
Communities magazine
Directory of Communities
Intentional Community (wikipedia)
Global Ecovillage Network
Ecovillage (wikipedia)
Cooperative Living (wikipedia)
North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)
citisven's How the Coop Movement Can Help Us Win Together
Cooperative Business Structure (SBA)
National Cooperative Business Association
Commune (wikipedia)
Cohousing (coho) (wikipedia)
Direct Democracy (wikipedia)
Participatory Democracy (wikipedia)
Consensus decision-making (wikipedia)
Participatory Economics (wikipedia)
Sustainability (wikipedia)
Permaculture (wikipedia)
Permaculture Principles
Ethical consumerism (wikipedia)
Ecovillages:
Dancing Rabbit
Earthaven
O.U.R. Ecovillage
The Farm
Related:
Transition Towns (wikipedia)
Transition Towns USA
Transition Network
citisven's Bring Transition Town-style Sharing to your Community
Employee-Owned Business Incubator