Aging in Community in Asheville Meeting
October 22, 2006                                                                         
GreenLife Community Center

Notes thanks to Bobbie Kelsten, 41 people attended, 8 people for the first time

Introduction: Marianne briefly introduced herself and Alex
   Recap of the last meeting- handouts of email sent to group in hard copy for new people
   Report on the results of the informal  “affordability” survey which included a range of  $400/month –
$400,000  taken at our last meeting together. This made clear the need for various projects within our group.

Handouts: Marianne provided several handouts covering subjects and groups relevant to community
 building in the Asheville area including outline of Aging/Living in Community class and  Happenings in Asheville.

Sites:Alex introduced information about 2 other sites (besides Altura (North) and Artisan Park(West)) under consideration: They are
S&W building (downtown)
      Governors’ View East)- (exact location not revealed on purpose)

Open Space Exercise- Use of group wisdom
Question: What do I need to know before I commit to living in community?
   10 groups:
      #1 How will we pick our neighbors?
      #2 How much “co” in cohousing?
      #3 What about pets?
      #4 Diversity? (merged with #1)
      #5 Transportation?
      #6 How can we form and foster a collective consciousness?
      #7 Location?
      #8 What will be my financial responsibility?
      #9 Size of the group?
      #10 Guidelines for resolving conflict?

Each person began in a group that interested them but was free to move to other groups.
We meet for 45 minutes. In general people felt that the experience was helpful and positive. They liked the casual, less structured feeling and felt that the exercise was helpful in clarifying and articulating some assumptions.
We will make a more detailed report of each group at the next meeting, which will be at the potluck on:
  Sunday, Nov 12 from 4-7 pm at The Friends Meeting House  227 Edgewood Rd. in Asheville

Each person should bring food to share (type determined by the first letter of your last name) and your own dish and silverware. Contact Sherry for questions at 828 658-2627.

Conclusion: They group seems to be feeling a need to begin separating into different groups, determined by the type of “community” that interests them, eg. Cohousing, NORCs, cluster housing etc; location preference and other factors. The Sunday group will continue to act a s a “mother” or feeder group. An Altura group is already meeting separately.

Marianne will start another introductory group on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 4 pm at Earthfare for new people interested in Living/Aging in Community.