Living Here
New View employs a management company to help maintain our property, but residents do much of the work of running things through committees. Households pitch in on the following committees:
Besides work, of course, there is also play. The Common House is the center of community social life, providing a place we can gather for meals and social events. On any day, one might encounter a neighbor or two out walking the dog, or just out for a walk, and decide to join them. Kids take advantage of the shared open space: playing pickup soccer on the grass field, riding bikes around the pedestrian-friendly roads, building snow forts and sledding runs in winter. Going to a neighbor's to "borrow a cup of sugar" is not a cliche here, as one can put out a request for just about anything - a missing ingredient, use of a car, an obscure item to be used as a play prop, recommendations for a doctor or an auto body shop - and receive multiple responses in a short period of time.
All communities must balance homogeneity, which provides a shared sense of purpose and values, with diversity, which provides vibrancy and resilience. Within the community, relationships between individuals are as different as the individuals themselves. Sharing physical space and promoting interdependence engenders a certain amount of conflict, and community members must be committed to working through it constructively. Living here requires patience, openness and a sense of humor.
- Steering - the equivalent of a Board of Trustees, acts as the legal representative of the community and sets the agenda for our monthly community-wide meetings
- Maintenance - responsible for maintaining community property, including the exteriors of buildings and roads
- Landscape - responsible for maintaining plantings and grounds
- Finance - draws up the annual budget and oversees bank accounts
- Common House - manages the upkeep and use of the Common House
- Process - concerned with how we do things and how conflicts are resolved
- Facilitation - runs community meetings
- Membership - manages the process when a house is for sale
- Nerds - maintains the community's internet service and handles technology matters
- Garden - maintains a community garden
Besides work, of course, there is also play. The Common House is the center of community social life, providing a place we can gather for meals and social events. On any day, one might encounter a neighbor or two out walking the dog, or just out for a walk, and decide to join them. Kids take advantage of the shared open space: playing pickup soccer on the grass field, riding bikes around the pedestrian-friendly roads, building snow forts and sledding runs in winter. Going to a neighbor's to "borrow a cup of sugar" is not a cliche here, as one can put out a request for just about anything - a missing ingredient, use of a car, an obscure item to be used as a play prop, recommendations for a doctor or an auto body shop - and receive multiple responses in a short period of time.
All communities must balance homogeneity, which provides a shared sense of purpose and values, with diversity, which provides vibrancy and resilience. Within the community, relationships between individuals are as different as the individuals themselves. Sharing physical space and promoting interdependence engenders a certain amount of conflict, and community members must be committed to working through it constructively. Living here requires patience, openness and a sense of humor.
|
|
|