Membership Process
Information for prospective members
1. Check out your resonance with our description:
We are a group of families and individuals aspiring to compassionate and eco-mindful living, some of us balancing our time here with creating livelihoods elsewhere. We are developing conscious and authentic community within a culture of singing, meditating, working, eating, gardening, celebrating and learning together, as well as hosting events for the wider community.
Some things that inspire us:
· Developing our resonance with each other and our surroundings.
· Singing together.
· Authentic communication and respect for individual spirituality.
· Coming together to share our feelings and challenges, and resolve any conflict.
· Living in a beautiful place in touch with the spirit of the land.
· Growing our own fresh fruit and vegetables.
· Celebrating sound, movement, art and skills for sustainable living.
· The alchemy of doing things together.
2. Read all the website info about Bowden www.bowdenhouse.co.uk.
3. Put yourself on the email list for updates of what’s happening at Bowden, using the respective webpage on the site or email us at info@bowdenhouse.co.uk.
4. Tell us something about yourself, preferably by email info@bowdenhouse.co.uk.
Letters to: Rhiannon Hague, Bowden House, Totnes, Devon TQ9 7PW with S.A.E. if response is required. (We do not have hard copies of Bowden information to send via snail-mail.)
5. Take part in Action Days if possible.
6. Attend other open events at Bowden to get to know us.
7. Find ways to spend time with members and stay with us or nearby for periods of 2 days or more. (For this you will need a ‘buddy’ to connect with. No one can stay without one or become a member.)
8. If still interested, you will receive a detailed questionnaire to fill in and your buddy will discuss all the necessary steps with you.
Community members will then look at your application in our Monday meeting and your buddy will discuss the next steps with you. These will include meeting all members and residents who are available, attending at least one business meeting, a sharing meeting, morning singing, a shared meal, choir and any other regular groups that become key features of the community. In exceptional circumstances, some people may not be in a position to complete this process until they move here. In which case, they need to check out what happens at any events they’ve missed, make sure they feel comfortable with the structure and take part in those events soon after they move here.
We are looking for people who:
· Are resonant with our vision
· Are focused on community as well as housing
· Have the required finances (changes according to accommodation available)
· Accept and enjoy that singing/sounding is at the core of this community
· Are able to step flexibly between leadership and support roles
· Have something to give the community
· Take responsibility for any personal support needed
· Are willing to take part in resolving conflicts
· Are committed to optimising their communication skills
· *Can prioritise Monday evening members’ meetings
· Contribute at least 6 hours a week for working within the community
· Choose to participate in community building activities
· Accept meal blessings, sharings and attunements*Attendance at both Business and Sharing Meetings, which happen on alternate Mondays, is a condition of membership (except occasional absences). In families with young children it is usually acceptable for one adult from each household to attend business meetings as long as they update the other adults with important information and everyone reads the minutes. If possible, all adults in each household will attend some meetings, rather than the same person attending every meeting and there are 3 meetings a year to discuss agreements where everyone needs to attend.
Bowden is unsuitable as a second home or as a base for going off travelling for long periods.
Some members have found ways of creating a livelihood at Bowden House. Others work outside the community. It is each new member’s responsibility to provide for the needs of their family. Whatever is created here, e.g. shared childcare or emotional support is dependent on the goodwill of members, not on any individual’s expectations or needs.
In order to get a sustainable balance of people, we take into account age/gender/adult-child ratio/skills/lifestyle/experience. At this time, we are specifically looking for adults/families who have stamina and available time to put into co-creating community life.
Many of us have noticed that living our dream involves letting our preconceived ideals and agendas crumble and reshape themselves. We consider the art of balancing the needs of the group, the individuals, and the task at hand an essential one for healthy community living.