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Click Here 50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 5, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 1, 2004 Local group organizes for community-building By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune Saying they’re tired of their isolated, self-centered lifestyles, some 50 Ashland and Talent residents gathered Monday night to start an experiment in community-building — giving people the means to launch projects ranging from craft swaps and youth mentoring to tango classes and poker nights. The gathering, called "My Village," was the brainchild of Talent artist Tej Steiner and Ashlander Bill Kauth, creator of the nationwide New Warrior men’s movement. They’re looking for 250 people to form a core group for a Jan. 24 start of the four-month experiment The project has no doctrine or political agenda, said Steiner, but will just provide a monthly meeting and potluck dinner. Then, any participant can start an "affinity group" on just about any topic if he or she can get enough people to "gather around them" and pursue the project. The meeting at Hidden Springs Wellness Center in Ashland ended with an unintentional demonstration project when Kayla Zyss, 21, Ashland, told people she needed $1,000 to go through Ashland Massage Institute and would repay any donors with twice their investment in massage. To the applause of the group, she raked in $425 on the spot. "This kind of serves the function of church � the community, but without the ideology," said Steiner. "This overwhelming response affirms how hungry people are for deliberate community building. It’s about empowering people to find out what they love in life and what kind of community they want and to act on it." Advertisement Steiner said the My Village project will also be used as a professional networking center, where participants "find out what each other’s business is and keep that here with people we know, rather than sending it outside to places like Wal-Mart." An Internet bulletin board, called "I Want Ads," will allow members to do things like start a band, share a ride to San Francisco or share the cost of a chainsaw. In a "gaming" session on possible uses of My Village, participants suggested weekly community meals, a barter system, caring for needy neighbors, shared parenting — "so my son gets his needs met by someone besides my wife and me," — affordable housing, alternate power, a community newspaper, conflict resolution, community based health care and insurance, storytelling, biologically sustainable cars, lifelong education and many others. "It brings another much-needed dimension to life here," said Pete Young of Talent who wants to use it to start a community garden, shared woodshop and poker night. "It’s pretty awesome and surprising to see how many people want what I want," said Arin Ingraham, Ashland, who suggested the program could provide friends and resources for child care. "I want to feel I’m part of something and not alone, not an outsider and rebel." "I’m real surprised," said Caryn Gehlmann of Talent. "It’s working. I feel it will enrich and expand my life. I feel my energy rising — and I also want to tango and need help building a chicken coop." John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. My Village information Next meeting: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Jan. 24, at Hidden Springs Wellness Center, 1651 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. Registration required. Dues are $20 a month. For more information, contact: Tej Steiner, 535-1859, [email protected]; or Bill Kauth, 482-2335, [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times