Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Seven Sisters Work Weekend May 22 & 23, 2010

Seven Sisters work weekend is planned for this coming weekend, May 22nd and 23rd.

People can come on Saturday or Sunday and bring gloves, hats, an open heart, a smile, a song, and any other tools they may want to bring for ivy pulling, tree trimming, dirt shoveling, field clearing, yard/greenhouse work or roofing (hammers, etc.).

Folks are free to stay over Saturday evening (bring sleep gear) and, we will have dinner and a bonfire and or spirit trance dance as well as some star gazing.

Green drinks and sun tea will abound!

Namaste! Kim
Seven Sisters
302-598-7955
428 Leaman Rd.
Cochranville, PA
19330

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
~Kahil Gibran

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Transition Towns Established in Centre County, Pennsylvania

State College and Bald Eagle Valley have become the 63rd and 64th official Transition Towns in the United States. The Bald Eagle Valley is home to the largest SoL land trust of 323 acres. Members of the SoL land trust communities have been very involved in establishing these two transition towns and serve on the steering committee.
The Transition Towns movement was founded in the United Kingdom in 2005; the US office opened in 2008. There is now a global network 300 TTs in sixteen countries. Each TT is independent. There are now four TTs in Pennsylvania. Our goal is to promote a greater public awareness and involvement in energy and climate change issues. We choose to join a dynamic network of like-minded folks to draw on the vast collective experience and mutual support available. Transition Towns (TTs) are launched when a group of people in a local community form around the goal of seeking a dramatic reduction in fossil fuel dependence in response to rising cost and depletion of these non-renewable resources and the effect they have on climate change.
The two new TTs have been meeting jointly, and have been hearing from a number of interested people in several other local communities who are part of our network, so we are expecting more TTs to be forming in the coming months. All interested people are invited to attend and learn about the mission and process of Transition.
Guidelines for forming and operating a TT are found in Rob Hopkin’s The Transition Handbook (ask your local book store if they have copies). More information is available at our web sites — www.transitioncentre.org and at www.transitionus.org. You can contact us at info@transitioncentre.org

School of Living Supports Facilitation Workshop with Laird Schaub

The School of Living is supporting an intensive Integrative Facilitation Training Program with Laird Schaub. Details are below:

Every organization or business has meetings. Think about all the meetings you attend as part of your work – with board members, committees, staff, contractors, funders, clients, etc. We need meetings in order to get our work done. But often our meetings are not as productive as they should be.

Do you dream of meetings where the group feels energized, engaged, and solid decisions get made? Do you wish your group could work through conflicts to build positive relationships and make collaborative agreements? Help is on the way!

Laird Schaub and Ma’ikwe Ludwig have developed a proven program for making a quantum leap in your ability to run dynamic and effective meetings, and in understanding the nuances and challenges of how cooperative groups function. The training extends over two years, consisting of eight 3-day weekends, spaced about three months apart. You'll receive handouts, chances to practice the techniques and principles, and lots of hands-on experience facilitating live meetings.

The first weekend will be May 27-30, 2010, at Julian Woods Community in Julian, PA (near State College). $2800 for full two-year training program. Only $2400 if paid in full up front. $350 per weekend if paid quarterly. Audit individual weekends for $250 each.

To learn more about the program and register see:

About the Trainers:
Laird and Ma'ikwe are professional facilitators and have been involved in forming intentional communities and managing nonprofits. These experiences inform their unique, whole-person approach to meeting dynamics. Ma'ikwe has worked for 19 years as an organizer, director, teacher, and as a consultant. She has been working with consensus for 6 years. Laird has a national reputation in Integrative Facilitation, conflict management, and consensus. He has been a process consultant for 20 years and has worked extensively with cohousing groups across the country. For more information about his work visit www.sandhillfarm.org/canbridge.html.