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We are a group of people dedicated to creating a place where lives are simplified, the Earth is respected, children play together in safety, and living in community with neighbors comes naturally. We intend to retrofit a suburban home to become Oregon Ecobuilding Cooperative within a sustainable, ecological, green philosophy. www.nasco.coop "Statement on Cooperative Identity is recognized as the basis of any cooperative. ...First, cooperatives are member-owned and -controlled businesses, in which all members have an equal say in the governance of the business: one member, one vote. Co-ops stand in contrast to proprietary ownership, in which one person holds all of the authority, and "traditional" corporate ownership, in which bases control on the size of one's investment. Second, cooperatives serve their members, and not the interests of speculative capital. By establishing limits on the return of investment and on share holdings, cooperatives discourage profit-seeking investments. ...Third, cooperatives help the members actively govern their organization through education and help other cooperatives to better serve their members. This is done through buying goods from other cooperatives and providing development assistance to organizing groups. Finally, cooperatives exist not just for the benefit of the members but to serve, strengthen, and sustain local communities." Benefits: Cooperative Green Lifestyle means a nontoxic safe and supportive environment, opportunities for social interaction, sharing skills and talents, and affordability. By reducing living expense with shared equipment, . Cooperative living is ideal to lower energy use, lower food, travel costs with bulk buys and car pooling, time saved with less meal preparation and onsite activities. Use of Consensus decision making is empowering! Funding Objective: With the support of North American Students of Cooperation www.nasco.coop, we hope to organize, fund, manage, renovation at large home. Support will also be supplemented with grants, and donations. Planned legal framework is management thru Board of OEBN nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation. Green building targets include natural flooring as marmoleum, formaldehyde-free kitchen cabinets, solar hot water heating conversion, scent-free group laundry facility, low energy certified appliances, and use of non-toxic paints. We plan permaculture and organic vegetable gardens with a greenhouse and edible landscaping. Advantages to Location in Gresham Area: Easy commuting to city income, close by shops for biking or walking. Local Olympic Health Club, Fred Meyers shopping, Lowe's Building Supplies are walking distance. Drive10 minutes to Chinook Landing, Blue Lake Park, and Sandy River Parks. This neighborhood close to the Columbia River is among the best for outdoor air quality in metro Portland. Columbia River Gorge breezes clear the air. Some areas have Zoning of Neighborhood Commercial which is "small scale retail businesses in a pedestrian-oriented streetscape", which is ideal for many home businesses. Resources: Diana Christian "Creating a Life Together- Practical Tools to grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities" states: .."that nothing builds community glue like working together... Ideally, a community building ..created consciously...placed and quilted and kneaded and shaped by the users themselves." McCamant & Durrett: "The real power of community is in the hard times". Cohousing is "Creation of a traditional village in the midst of complex modern life in a sea of suburban isolation. In the US the model has deep traditions in American culture including neighborliness, cooperation, and independence." Cooperatives are currently a model for becoming personally sustainable in difficult times, and is thus valuable to the individual and to our society. Becoming an owner versus renter gives control over your living space, affordability, and investing in healthy remodeling alleviates the physical and financial stress of health problems from indoor air pollution. We have restrictive covenants for no use of herbicides, gas barbecues, fabric dryer sheets, perfumes, cleaning solvents, etc. on a green building agreement. With cooperatives, hard-earned money is invested for each person's retirement future, sustainability of society and not discarded in rent. Tragic stories multiply when there is no clean, secure, healthy place to live and work. You are welcome to join us! Any assistance in development of our team and referrals to potential funding sources are welcome. This is a community in the process of formation. Your membership includes notices of progress and meetings for advancing further in the process. We need first the people to get to know each other and work together, then the home to convert. When successful with your help, our nonprofit process could be a model for others to become OWNERS - not renters - as a much preferable investment for future years of friendship in community. Towards quality sustainable living for all, Board of Directors, Oregon Ecobuilding Network (Also read updated appeal letter)
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