From ICWiki
Greetings Communitarian,
I've been an active member of
Songaia Cohousing Community since 1992. A couple of years ago, I retired from Microsoft as a Group Research manager (focused on
MSN); having joined the "big bad" after years as a software consultant and co-creator of various start-up companies. Before that, I was studying evolutionary approaches to understanding animal behavior. I'm now about 50 years old, am in a long-term marriage, and have an adult son who grew up
in community. I am excited about my future as an elder wanna-be, I get to help co-create our lives in community! I'm now fortunate to be able to focus much of my energy on community-building and Songaia's active life.
On a national level, I'm a member of the Coho/US Board, for which I recently hired its professional online staff. I have also worked on some FIC projects, including the Fall, 2006 FIC Art of Community NW event and this IC Wiki... some of my web weaving energy lives in its content and structure.
Craig & Nancy reach out to newcomers at
NICA gathering
I am also active with
NICA - as its webmaster, I am working with
User:Tony on a new database-driven website to replace our web 1.0 HTML site. This new site leverages the impressive systems and data that
so many hands have created over the years for the
wonderful IC website. In this context, I am retiring a large body of content from the NICA site - I moved, edited, updated, and wiki-fied most of the old Resources section of the
NICA website - it will live and morph into the future on this wiki. What I most value about
Community networks, like NICA, Coho/US, etc. is the chance to get together with other passionates who live in community... especially when we relax from "our business" of making good things happen. I love enjoying the spirit, the humor, and the joy of community that comes from people from different communities. That being said, I am a need achiever and simply
must co-create.
Aerial of Songaia and some neighboring properties
I've lived at Songaia since 1992 and am actively involved in the community. I see my most important roles (see
Passion principle) are opening new doors to explore what might be next... and leading ritual and song. In 2006, this playful work included Songaia's hosting of both the
FIC and
Coho/US board meetings. In 2007, I helped five Songaia families come together to buy, renovate, and rent a neighbor's home on a half acre property. This adjoining property now hosts a shared household of three fine folk who are becoming Affiliate Members of our community - that's right, low-cost living in cohousing (rooms rent for $375-600).
Some "Songaia Suitors" view early site plans created by our architect member.
I'm now instigating the formation of a new cohousing group with the intent of purchasing and adding new dwellings on property adjoining Songaia. This effort is variously known as
Songaia North and
Songaia Phase 2. The group is now calling itself
Songaia Suitors while we define our relationship with Songaia - a new name will be selected as we self-identify who we are. We do not currently seek new members while the vision and membership structure is defined by this small core group - and since we're getting to know each other and using
Consensus, of course, this is not a speedy thing). We know the fast action is yet to come as a new cohousing project gets underway.
In Community,
Craig Ragland (craig@songaia.com)
P.S. There's even more community stuff on my tribe.net profile - photos, lists, etc.
