Did you facilitate the monthly meeting only to freeze like a deer in the headlights when a conflict came up or someone acted inappropriately? This workshop will cover the essentials of what every meeting facilitator needs to know. After going over the basic principles, we'll practice skills such as reflective listening, how to intervene when someone is speaking too long, handling conflicts, and other situations as brought forward by workshop participants. This is a highly interactive (and fun!) workshop--come try out these key skills in a safe and supportive environment. 9am-5:30pm.

The Goodenough Community, a long-standing member of NICA, welcomes back Michael 'Skeeter' Pilarsky as lead instructor for our 3rd permaculture intensive at the Sahale Learning Center. This course will impart permaculture principals through lecture, field trips and hands-on activities on our beautiful 70 acres outside Belfair, WA, on the north shore of Hood Canal. For more information, please visit our website, or www.friendsofthetrees.net

NICA is pleased to have Karen Litfin offer her fascinating slide presentation followed by Q & A. Come and discover the common thread between people of different cultures as they work and live together in ecovillages around the world to create a sustainable future. Karen is Associate Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at UW. She is currently writing a book on the holistic consciousness that inspires the global ecovillage movement. Her research included a worldwide journey to ecovillages and interviews with hundreds of community members. One of her objectives in writing this book is to move her own life in a more holistic direction. Friday, February 27th, 7 - 9 pm Cost: by Donation Where: Jackson Place Cohousing Common House 800 Hiawatha Place South Seattle, Washington 98144 for directions: http://www.seattlecohousing.org/

This FREE event includes a Cohousing Fair of tables with representatives from different communities in the Puget Sound Region, a Presentation with an introduction to Cohousing, a tour of Clearwater Commons (this events host) and a Potluck dinner after the event. The Puget Sound Cohousing Fair is your chance to meet with members from Forming Groups who would love your input as they build new Cohousing communities. Members from established communities with units for sale or rent would also like to share with you. If you're new to the Cohousing concept, you can also meet with folks from the Cohousing Association of the United States, which is presenting a slide show on cohousing. Join us on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2009 from 3-6pm, followed by Potluck Dinner. The event will be held at the Clearwater School (across the street from Clearwater Commons) at 1510 196th St SE, Bothell, Washington 98012

The FORMAL CONSENSUS PROCESS WORKSHOP SERIES with celebrated North American consensus trainer and author CT Butler is here, along with a final call for walk-in registrations. This is a rare opportunity to catch CT Butler on the West Coast! Fri March 20th, 6:30-9:30pm Intro Lecture/Theory Puget Ridge CoHousing – West Seattle Sat March 21st, 9am-5pm Intro Exercises/Role Plays Vashon CoHousing – Vashon Island Sun March 22nd, 11am-5pm Advanced Exercises/Role Plays Meadow Wood CoHousing – Bremerton Mon March 23rd Private Workshop Kitsap Food Cooperative, Bremerton Tues March 23rd, 6:30-9:30pm Better Meeting Skills Workshop Puget Ridge CoHousing – West Seattle People may attend one, two or all three days, in any combination, so long as they attend for the full session on a given day (no discounts for partial days). $25 for evening sessions, $75 for Sat OR Sun, $100 Fri&Sat, $125 Fri&Sat&Sun Friday night only $25 Friday and Saturday $90 (Sliding scale $75-$125) Friday, Sat & Sun $125 (Sliding scale $100-$150) Saturday or Sunday only $75 (Sliding scale $60-90) Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. TO REGISTER 1) Contact Brian Allen at (206) 973-7374 to confirm space availability for the session(s) that you wish to attend, then… 2) Send your $25 deposit (by check, payable to "Brian Allen") to Brian Allen, PO Box 16307, Seattle WA 98116 ASAP.

In honor of Earth Day, Clearwater Commons invites you to join us for a neighborhood CLEAN UP AND POTLUCK. 11:00AM-1:00PM Neighborhood Street Clean-up on 194th St SE. Meet at the west end of the street. 1:00PM-2:30PM Neighborhood Potluck at The Clearwater School (1510 196th St. SE)

We are having our second meeting of Let's Get Together, a community of people in Portland, OR interested in forming an intentional community. To learn more about us and the event details please visit our new web page.

Meet members and other potential members! *Saturday Potluck *Hikes/tours * Campfires on the river *Circle Dance * Incredibly beautiful location RSVP is important to plan for site set up and food!

NICA ANNUAL MEETING May 2, 2009, 10 am – 5 pm. Hosted at Songaia 22401 39th Avenue SE Bothell, WA 98021 (see www.songaia.com for directions). * * * Whether you’re living in or looking for community, please come and join us as we explore and celebrate this year’s theme: INTIMATE JOURNEYS, Stories of Emotional Times in Community. Our Tentative Agenda: Opening Circle, Announcements/Introductions, Interplay, Community stories, Potluck Lunch, Interplay, Panel / Break-out groups, Closing Circle, Community tour of Songaia. Check website for updates or contact alline at nica@ic.org for further info

May 7, 3:30pm-4:30pm 258 Mary Gates Hall, University of WA. Take a walk through the growing Ecovillage movement in Europe with photographs and examples. Special focus will be on the ZEGG Community in Germany where both the presenters have lived and worked for the past 24 years. A special presentation with ** Ina Meyer-Stoll, Founding Member of ZEGG Community Ecovillage, former Executive Secretary of the Global Ecovillage Network of Europe e.V., and Peace and Environmental Activist. ** Achim Ecker, Chief landscape Designer and Ecobuilder at Zegg Community Ecovillage, Youth Camp Organizer, and Trainer for Non-violent Action.

The Global Oneness Project presents a series of free film events recognizing the role of local communities in global change. Join us to exchange ideas, foster relationships, and strengthen the changes already happening in our world. Where: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR. When:5:30 pm PreEvent Reception, 6:30 pm Main Event. Featuring: Short films from the Global Oneness Project; Interactive cafe-style conversations; Guest speaker Orland Bishop, founder of ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation in Watts, Los Angeles, and a pioneer of innovative approaches to urban truces and restoring community; Q&A with filmmaker Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee. The Global Oneness Project is documenting a growing understanding of what it means to be part of one interconnected, interdependent world. Since 2006, the Project has traveled to six continents, gathering stories from individuals and organizations working in the fields of sustainability, conflict resolution, social justice, spirituality,

The Global Oneness Project presents a series of free film events recognizing the role of local communities in global change. Join us to exchange ideas, foster relationships, and strengthen the changes already happening in our world. Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St., Victoria, BC. When: 5:30 pm PreEvent Reception, 6:30 pm Main Event. Featuring: Short films from the Global Oneness Project; Interactive cafe-style conversations; Guest speaker Orland Bishop, founder of ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation in Watts, Los Angeles, and a pioneer of innovative approaches to urban truces and restoring community; Q&A with filmmaker Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee. The Global Oneness Project is documenting a growing understanding of what it means to be part of one interconnected, interdependent world. Since 2006, the Project has traveled to six continents, gathering stories from individuals and organizations working in the fields of sustainability, conflict resolution, social justice,

Meet members of Daybreak Cohousing, a new community opening in Portland, OR in fall 2009 at Yetti's, a charming neighborhood wine bar down a few minutes' walk from Daybreak. Kids are welcome! The menu offers light fare and non-alcoholic drinks as well as wine and beer. The address is 1914 N. Killingsworth St. Want to find out more about Daybreak before then? Please contact Sterling at AskAboutUs@daybreakcohousing.org or call him at 503-310-7044.

Dear friends, This community forming and building event is open to the public and welcome you. This event open to the public that starts May 27th and ends May 31st, 2009. This event will take place in several cities. Z Magazine is a radical activist Magazine published by the organizers of the Z Media Institute (ZMI). ZMI speakers have included Amy Goodman, Noam Chomsky and many more speakers from around the world. Potluck food events, spontaneous radical workshops and/or open forum discussion are encouraged. This is an effort to create indigenous intentional community style open forum discussions and networking without formal, institutional conference procedures and without planned speakers or hierarchy.... while having fun working for a better world. To see a photo of some of the Mutualist group in the Z Living room, in addition to seeing printable Radical Media Convergence photos and schedules please go here: http://www.peacecommunities.org/5001.html

Introduction to Permaculture Weekend Workshop When: May 29 - 31, 2009 Where: At the Bullock's 30 year old Permaculture Homestead, Orcas Island, WA Instructors: Douglas Bullock, Sam Bullock & Dave Boehnlein Includes: Tour, lecture, hand-on projects, presentations, group discussion, and networking. We will cover Permaculture design theory & practice, forest gardening, perennial food systems, plant propagation, efficient water & energy systems, fertility management - beneficial plants/healthy soils, and ecological systems as a model for human communities. Course Tuition: $200; includes delicious, mostly organic meals & materials. Camping space is provided. Payment is due upon course registration. Course is limited to 50 participants. For more info or to register contact: Dave Boehnlein 360-840-8483 info@permacultureportal.com http://permacultureportal.com

Daybreak Cohousing is holding a special 'social' and tour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the community site as part of the lead up to the National Cohousing Conference in Seattle. Throughout the afternoon, our common house will be the central location for the Open House. This is a place to get to know us as we host you in our future home which will open in fall 2009. The tour will consist of a number of stations throughout the property that visitors can move between freely. Members of our community will be available at these strategic locations to offer information about these locations, how our values are met by aspects of the project, and how we envision our values being lived. Future tours will be held on July 5 and August 2. Want to find out more about Daybreak before then? Please contact Sterling at AskAboutUs@daybreakcohousing.org or call him at 503-310-7044.

Learn about sustainable living in a 20-year-old community in Oregon. This course explores sustainable living as individuals, as a society, & as communities. The permaculture curriculum includes: ethics, principles, philosophy; reading the landscape; recognizing patterns; waste=resources; using rainwater, greywater; growing soil; natural building & retrofitting; appropriate tech; ultra-local food; social & economic sustainability; rural, urban, & suburban applications. The program also explores the question, “What is sustainable community?” through 4 aspects of life: social, economic, ecological, & worldview. The course covers how to join and start ecovillages and other communities. Students explore the permaculture of the “inner landscape” and of relationships through workshops on personal growth & communication. Throughout the course students work on group on-site design projects—a great opportunity to integrate course material. Learn more & register online.

Ananda Community in Lynnwood will host an open house and solstice celebration that includes tours of community homes, gardens, common areas; free yoga sesssions; literature and friends from other local intentional communities; a (free) buffet dinner; a universal celebratory service with the theme of "Communities: Hope for a Better World;" evening chanting and meditation.

NICA is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2009 National Cohousing Conference. Register now for the 2009 National Cohousing Conference on June 24-28 at the University of Washington in Seattle. This is THE EVENT to efficiently learn more about cohousing. Meet the shakers and movers in the Cohousing world. Come LEARN, Come NETWORK. Pre-conference workshops (on June 24-26) include half-day ($20-$60) workshops, 3 full-day workshops ($95) and a 2-day workshop on Senior Cohousing ($195) by Chuck Durrett, who wrote the Senior Cohousing book! Bus Tours of Puget Sound Cohousing Communities ($60-$105)are also available on Wed, June 24 & Thu, June 25. The main conference runs from Fri, June 26 - Sun, June 28. It includes three featured speakers, including a keynote by Jan Gudmand-Hoyer, founder of the cohousing movement in Denmark, speeches by Mark Lakeman (City Repair) and Robert Gilman, who defined Ecovillage. Please come learn from over 30 world-class experts and community activists. Share your vision and learn how to make it real by a life in cohousing.

Diana Leafe Christian, the former editor of Communities magazine, and author of 'Finding Community' and 'Creating a Life Together,' presents an evening of international ecovillages on Monday, June 29th. This inspirational slideshow will be at Sharingwood Cohousing Community in Snohomish, starting with a potluck at 6:00 p.m., slideshow at 7:00 p.m.

The UBC/UW Summer Institute in Sustainability is designed for those taking a leadership role in developing policy, creating plans and implementing sustainability projects in large businesses, colleges, universities, and local, state and provincial governments. This intensive professional development program provides participants with the perspectives and practical skills necessary to make sustainability the foundation of an organization’s on-going operations. The program consists of seminars by sustainability experts and practitioners, applied case studies and guided field excursions to sustainability projects; applied workshops focusing on sustainability planning, open space sessions that allow participants to address their own issues and ideas, and opportunities for networking. Please visit our website for more information and to register.

SEMINAR August 8, 2009, 9AM-8PM Suggested donation $25 which covers everything including private sessions Handicapped folks and seniors 70 and older can enjoy this event for free. The event includes opening (9am) and closing (5pm) circles Potluck Lunch (Noon), and Evening Meal (6pm) prepared by the participants… Workshop periods are 10am, 1pm and 3pm Featuring Lori Smith – Yoga Trish Nelson – Energy Medicine Narada – Tai-kido Peaceful Spirit – Reiki April Moon – Internal Cleansing through diet and herbs (also available for massage) Afri-I – jin shin do & tapping points Stargazer – astrology Larry Smeltzer – energy balancing B. Z. Isreal – “Heal our Farmers and Farms” a wakeup call to what is happening to our food supply including discussion of possible solutions. Presenters are available for private session healing work also. CONTACT Feather 509-732-4301

During this 15 day course, we will experience the whole process of transforming inhabited wild landscape into an anthropocentric ecology in the midst of conserved Oregon Coastal Rainforest. Learn about water supply and storage, drainage, access, food forest design, soil building, tool use, perennial multi-story horticulture, solar and hydro power, siting, natural building, forest complexity restoration, commercial ecoforestry and more! Join us as we continue to design and implement the rest of our 12 year old, 3.5 acre homestead. The 400 acre site is home to both Mountain Homestead Intentional Community and Cob Cottage Co., who began their Natural Building School here in 2001. vegetarian/vegan meals and camping w/showers provided. Graduates are welcome to stay after the course on a work trade basis to continue projects.

Empower Yourself to Advocate for Change Through Whole Systems Design and Teaching! In this dynamic and interactive course, you will learn significant teaching techniques to communicate Permaculture principles and strategies in a wide variety of settings. We are committed to encouraging and inspiring your unique strengths and talents by demonstrating diverse teaching modalities such as lecture, facilitating class discussions, storytelling, and using visual aids. In this setting of active learning, you will experience essential hands-on practice by preparing and co-teaching several presentations. As a final course project the class will organize, promote and present a workshop to the public: An Introduction to Permaculture. This event will be sponsored by the Cottage Grove Permaculture Guild. This is a Certificate Course offered by the Cascadia Permaculture Institute in Collaboration with Permaculture Institute USA Prerequisite: Permaculture Design Course Certificate Tuition: $700-$775

Bringing compassion into our everyday lives is a matter of negotiating with others to do for others what we know works well for us. Practice being mindful and effective in what you do for others and allow yourself to receive healing and empowerment from those you serve. That’s the heart of it! You already serve at work or in your household. You, then, have something to contribute to this laboratory where giving and receiving gracefully will be a natural part of our lives. You Can Expect... A rich, intergenerational experience that includes programs for children, youth and adults. Social creativity in play, drama, dance, music, and song. A rejuvenating, healing experience of living for a week on this magical land. A week living with others who are interested in learning from what is happening now. An opportunity to learn and practice non-violent communication and friendship with encouragement from others. A plan for bringing it all

How can we create comfortable homes that will continue to support us and all the living beings around us? How does your home stack up? What alterations, modifications or changes can you make that will make a difference? This 2 1/2-week course in a 20-year-old community in Oregon offers a broad overview of the elements of home building and design with a focus on sustainability & permaculture principles. The course covers topics such as foundations, wall structures, ventilation, heating, lighting, roofs, water systems and energy systems, presenting a variety of alternatives & ecological elements through a combination of classroom & hands-on activities. All levels of experience are welcome. Participants will create their own customized eco-home design plan. Learn more & register online.

"From Eden to Ecotopia" -- The 36th annual Communal Studies Association conference will be held in Aurora, Oregon, on October 1-3, 2009, sponsored by the Aurora Colony Historical Society. Papers and panels on any aspect of communalism are welcome. Deadline for submission of paper and session proposals is May 1, 2009. Send your presentation title, a 150-word maximum abstract, and a brief (100 word) biography and contact information to: Jim Kopp, Watzek Library, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, Portland, OR 97219-7899, kopp@lclark.edu

Construction of the Daybreak Cohousing community is nearing completion. Members will start to move into the community in October. Daybreak Cohousing is currently seeking additional members. On October 4, 1:30-3:30 pm meet members of Daybreak and tour available units at the 30-home site, 2525 N. Killingsworth St, Portland, OR. The community is offering a five percent incentive for new members who join by Dec 15. Take the Yellow line Max to the Killingsworth station or the #72 Killingsworth bus. Closed toes required due to construction site. Next social and tour, Tuesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Ken at AskAboutUs@daybreakcohousing.org, 503-310-7044 or visit www.daybreakcohousing.org

Learn about sustainable living in a 20-year-old community in Oregon. This course explores sustainable living as individuals, as a society, & as communities. The permaculture curriculum includes: ethics, principles, philosophy; reading the landscape; recognizing patterns; waste=resources; using rainwater, greywater; growing soil; natural building & retrofitting; appropriate tech; ultra-local food; social & economic sustainability; rural, urban, & suburban applications. The program also explores the question, “What is sustainable community?” through 4 aspects of life: social, economic, ecological, & worldview. Students explore the permaculture of the “inner landscape” and of relationships through workshops on personal growth & communication. Throughout the course students work on group on-site design projects—a great opportunity to integrate course material. Learn more & register online.

Got Problem Kids? Here's your Problem Student Problem-Solver Conference. You name the problems and this workshop delivers hundreds of immediate, problem-stopping answers. You will leave with innovative, more effective strategies for school failure, truancy, dropping out, work refusal, violence, delinquency, bad attitudes, depression and more. College credit and clock hours available. Free sample interventions, and free monthly Problem Student Problem-Solver magazine available at our web site, http://www.youthchg.com, or via email (dwells@youthchg.com), or call toll-free to 1-800-545-5736. Work-study financial aid available for all classes. Call for details.

Join us for a day of community stories, singing and Universal Dances of Peace as well as a tour of Ananda, our hosting community. Ananda is located at: 20715 Larch Way, Lynnwood, WA. Guided by the theme, "What makes your community hum?," we will explore together the question, "What creates and sustains the cultural life of our communities?" Agenda and directions: http://nica.gatewaycommunications.org/agenda-and-directions-for-nica-fall-gathering/

Members, prospective members, and guests will gather the weekend of October 24th to celebrate the harvest with organic food and common cause! Campfires, site tour, camping & lots of time to socialize. Join us for organic turkey, wild salmon and lots of veggies from the garden. It's important to RSVP. Email for detailed directions.

NICA is exited about Date: Sunday, October 25th, 2009 Time: Event runs from 4pm-6pm. Location: To be announced on website at www.weinviteyou.org More details and online community: To join our online community with Member Profiles, Discussion Forum, Event Listings, Photos & Slideshows, Custom Video Players, Real-time Activity Stream and much more please click here: http://www.peacecommunities.ning.com This event is completely free of charge. If you are interested in building and living in ecovillages, housing co-ops, landtrusts, affordable student housing, tent cities, educational housing, hostels or any type of shared housing group, please join us at this event! We will have a free table area for people to place their flyers. If you are in an ecovillage or community group (formed, forming or reforming) and would like to make a 10 minute presentation please contact us. It is a Finger-food (snack food) Potluck style meeting. Open to all. As we are an ecovillage group, please bring your own cups,

Portland, Oregon’s newest cohousing community Daybreak Cohousing is officially open! Members are now moving into their new urban village in North Portland. They are actively seeking new members and invite you to the next social and tour, Sunday, November 1, 1:30-3:30 pm on site at 2525 N. Killingsworth Street. (#72 Killingsworth bus or Max to the Killingsworth station) Daybreak Cohousing provides a physical design that encourages social interaction while respecting personal needs for private space. Homes have most of the features of conventional homes, and members also enjoy extensive common facilities. The community is offering a price incentive for new members who join by Dec. 15, 2009. For more information, contact Ken at AskAboutUs@daybreakcohousing.org, 503-310-7044 or visit www.daybreakcohousing.org