VARIETY SHOW AND REUNION WEEK
ROUND MOUNTAIN RANCH
JUNE 6-15, 2009
Saturday - Celebration
Variety Show
10 min. to announce reunion
Announce Workshops "Reunion Research Week"
Sunday - Breakfast at Duplex
Plan for workshops: sign-up sheets for some specific topics, like solar intertie system or can we use water/wind power?
Insulating
Building a place for the RM caretaker (Phil).
Proposed Variety Show set list
Thymes Friends: EarlRhue (guitar), LynnSarafian (piano, maybe voice)
Acorn (guitar)
Uriel (piano)
Barry(harp solo, accompaniment on violin, poetry, maybe acting)
King (acting)
SteveSmith?
Marya?
Gabrielle(poetry and/or Irish air)
Interview: DougSmith - propose to build up shop - another door
water faucet, sink, drop-down light, shop lights
oil reservoir, hydro
$700 pm
Cost per car
One month
1984 Toyota pickup; Toyota Camry; Metro; Geo; electric
To do
Bar stools
Tables
Chairs (3 from chet) (circle?)
piano
lights
finish (refreshment center)
floor
stairs to stage
Interview: SandyTurner and LarrySheehy
Sandy
K: What business(es) could we create to sustain our community and our watershed? What kind of financial institutions (banks, credit unions, or other financial arrangements) should we set up to support cooperative sustainable production?
S: In my opinion, businesses and the mindset that businesses are autonomous from the community in whichh they exist are two huge aspects of the social and environmental problems we humans are facing. Ultimately, i want civilization to be villages (or small towns) and the level of technology to be similar to the end of the 18th century. in addition, i think it is vital that the human population drop to about 2 billion or fewer ASAP. How soon is ASAP?--well it is certainly prior to 2040. i think humans may be able to limp along with fascist corporations and governments in control for perhaps two more decades. if capitalism and its current mindset exist that long, it will be MUCH worse for the humans who are alive after 2030, and the number of plant and animal species that would be extinct or nearly extinct by then would be a HUGE number. SO, i believe that moving away from capitalism and towards small town or village community planning ASAP is vital to help save as many ecosystems as possible.
For the short term of the next three to five years or so, while capitalism is still reigning and people are still in the employee and consumer mindset, i think lots of cooperative, worker-owned businesses are the way to go. here are a few types of cooperative businesses that may do well loclly:
A restaurant (Larry: coop like the Cheeseboard) that is super political and environmental with its food and its presence;
A catering company that provides organic food (Larry: maybe part of the restaurant);
A bike store and repair business;
A solar oven manufacturing business;
A green car repair business whose workers encourage its customers to drive as little as possible and to ride bikes, buses, and carpool and walk lots (Larry: partner with Better World);
A solar electric installation business and perhaps a solar store to buy needed parts and equipment (Larry: with training in partnership with SolarLivingCenter);
A clothes making and repair business (Larry: shoes too);
(Larry: grain distribution coop like in Willits);
(Larry: house and commercial cleaning coop);
A mechanical and electronic gadget repair business
(Larry: Computers - partner with EdwinEkotech)
A business that makes bike powered household equipment such as washing machines, water pumps, blenders, electric generators, etc. (Larry: Arcata has something like this)
Furniture manufacturing with scrap wood and sustainably harvested wood (Larry: partner with Rebuild? Habitat for Humanity?)
A local Ukiah area meeting to discuss much of the above would be geat to have some time this summer. there are plenty of un- or underemployed folks who are likely to be interested. (Larry: visioning, brainstorming)
Resources: Craigs List; Dalite.com; Richard's radio show; Ann 459-1002; Netflicks movie…; WELL films on sustainability; library - 6 mos/yr.
Larry
Before individual businesses and coops can be expected to come into existence, there needs to be an overall en masse coordinating regional community development organization.
Start as a supportive network:
I.Community Economic Development Cooperative (like Mondragon)
II.Alternative Instition of Accumulation (bank, credit union, community land trusts, etc.)
III.Individual businesses, coops and small businesses
List: Pool of possible founding members of new CEDC (Community Economic Development Cooperative) Board
Proposal for NormDevall radio show.
Beginning tasks:
List of existing bioregional green businesses;
List of existing coops (consumer, agriculture, worker);
List of possible local financing institutions (credit union, Mendo Savings, etc.)
List of green and worker training organizations (SLC, MELC, WELL, etc.)
Check GEO website (Grassroots Economic Organizing)
Former Roundmountain members
EricIdarius (married to Betty)
468-0205 (Betty answered); cell 272-9072; 462-2547
FullCircleResourceCenter, 530 S. Main
Built yurt (Kristi's), Bodhi
Bought in with Claude and Darca for $2500
Bodhi, Ford Street
468-1425/272-2676
JeriJoAdarius
459-0241
Betty, 530 S. Main
463-3739
Interview KenBluhm
Health of soil
Biggest thing for success is an understanding of permaculture, which has changed
Soil/plants/people
Just learning about the microecology of the soil
Planning to come in November
Interview with FranBluhm
((Dearest Fran, Here's my first notes on our conversation. I so much appreciate your input and spirit. I hope you alter and elaborate these rough notes. I sure hope you and Kencome out here in November.
Love, King))
Just had the most exciting conversation with FranBluhm. I asked her how we at RM could make the best of our circumstances at Round Mountain and she opened up with a blossoming of great practical ideas.
I asked: If you were here, walking around this place---seeing the lake, the wild life, the fields, the barn, the new stage, the living units--- what would you suggest we do?
Fran:
In our area, northern Michigan, we have only a 3 month outdoor growing seasons, and yet we have several CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), with 40 - 100 families in each. It should be easier there in northern CA with a 9 month growing season, to have a
productive CSA, one that would provide good food and improve the health of everyone involved.
You could grow herbs.
Some agricultural products, like herbs, could be come a little business. For example, herbs in olive oil and attractively package would be a value-added product and a source of income.
The barn stage: IN n. n. Mich. old barns have been converted to public spaces and are totally filled with people paying to see wellknow mostly folk artists, holding events twice weekly for $5 to $7 donation. At these events they may have tables spread out for pot-luck (finger food and drinks).
((I explained that we now had the capacity to project movies in the barn}}: Movies are a great idea and the more you fix up the stage, the better it will work.
Workshops. seminars. And you could hold learning workshops, or seminars:
^Õ natural world: bird walks,
^Õ foraging
^Õ children's groups
^Õ renewable energy: solar heat, solar electric, hydro-electric, etc.
Workshop idea; Ken could put a "Build Your Own Greenhouse" event. Ken would design a greenhouse, make plans, and provide materials, Participants would pay for the workshop including materials and then build (and disassemble) their own greenhouse and take home. This could be done in a few hours. Ken has done this kind of thing before.
He and a friend did a workshop in which the participants each built a little 6-foot boat.
* * * * end of FranBluhm notes * * * *
Reunion Research Week--Round Mountain
Email sent june 7, 2009
The Reunion Research Committee met this morning and decided on this plan.
King and/or Gabrielle will meet with individuals or small groups during the next week and will prepare a report on these topicsTime and place of meetings is
being arranged with the individuals involved. Send an email if you are interested in any of these ideas.
^ÕCar maintenance coop. What would it cost to set up a well equipped auto shop and hire a mechanic. DougSmith who has been maintaining some of our cars has
agreed to submit a plan. (DougSmith, KC)>
^Õ Local theater, video, and poetry productions (media): AlRosen, LarrySheehy, MaryaLeGrand, KC, GW. We will view the video of the Variety Show made by Al
Rosen yesterday evening.
^Õ History of MendocinoCounty politics and communities like RoundMountain since 1960. An ongoing project, a more complete draft will be provided after
Reunion Week. See the current draft, at KC working with anyone interested, including prior residents of RoundMountain.
Will contact Norm deVall, RichardJohnson.
^Õ New eco-friendly buildings at RoundMountain. For some time RoundMountain has discussed building a new living and working space for PhilCool, our water
maintenance man.KenBluhm (architect, designer/builder), PhilCool, KC
^Õ Sustainable Farming: The future of farming in our eco-region and RoundMountain. Can we put more local food on the table. Should we have a CSA just for
Round Mountain? Interviews with local workers/farmers: Nate, Phil, Mathew, Ashley
^Õ Connecting with the Mexican workers. How can we have less exploitation and more communication. VivianPower, KC.
^Õ Improv Comedy. How to create good comedic anti-routines---spontaneous, extemporaneous, playing off each other. (Erick Fennette, 707-694-1954), Barry, KC)
^Õ Environmental Walks: rock hunt in York Creek with Gaby; Maybe a nature walk with Kate...
The Committee will create a report of our efforts, perhaps as an issue of the Round Mountain Gazette,
Looking forward to a bunch of good conversations, fun experiments and learning a lot about our local world.
King and Gaby
Reunion Research Committee
RMCC collapse
Bruce wound up owning a piece of the property…
Claude and Roger were a partnership to buy the property.
Interview MaryaLeGrande
Illuminated Elephants and other
Italians, Mexicans, Swedes
Core 6-7 had traveled together for years.
K: When did the IE officially occupy the barn?
M: June 1978.
Giovani and Kathy became members of IE while it was at RM.
Leora and Barie
Another couple joined IE while it was here.
Rosemary -- IE went south with her and traveled.
K: Why did the IE leave before contract was out?
M: the community (Bud and Jana; Claude; MaminFox and Ed; Bruce -- people who bought into the community).
AriCamerato (jazz music) with girlfriend.
Blue Star (Marshal McElhenry)
Marya and Arc
Marya moved off the ranch (May 1980) to 959 N. Oak
Chris didn't want to go.
Marya joined with $10,000 buy-in to the co-op and a month membership (dues). The total was to be $25,000 (possibly). We needed $25,000 x 20 members = $500,000.
Process of creating a place to live (Marya got the sheep shed).
Right to share community space, lake, etc.
Buildings existing at start of community:
1. Main house
2. Farm house
3. Metal Barn
4. Wood barn
1976 relationship between roger, mimi, and claude (see julie puffer)
Relationship between marya, mimi, and blue.
Summer - party - marya brought four Illuminated Elephants and Claude became great friends with Andres, Pernielle
See for photos, contacts, etc.
RMCC
Questions for interviewers
Name:
Age:
1. How did you come to be involved in RoundMountain?
2. Who did you know from RM?
RogerPerry
ClaudeSteiner
……
3. Do you have any photos of RM
Early…1976-78
Others
4. Do you have any documents, letters, lease agreements, land sales, deeds, etc.
5. Who owned RM before Claude et al?
Before that…?
6. How was Heartland purchased or created?
7. What businesses started at RM?
yurts
what was the name of the yurt business?
who was involved?
what buildings (yurts) were built?
8. What buildings were constructed after 1976?
RogerPerry
lived in main house
was caretaker
MimiMcCarthy
Now married and at Running Springs Ranch
had relationship with RogerPerry
was working at main house as…
Mimi's boyfriend (who built Mimi's house at Running Springs)
Greenfield Ranch (when did it start?)
Bud and Jena
Mimine and Babiche
PatHart
JudithAnacka
Darca
------
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:40:10 -0700
From: GreenMac <>
Reply-To: RMlist <>
To:
Subject: Saturday pot-luck and pictures
Talked to Steve about having the Saturday (June 13) potluck down at
the barn and he thought it would be cool.
Does that sound okay to the assembled? Any objections.
That would be Sat at 6pm in front of the bar with some tables and
chairs set up for the potluck.
Marya is leaving the curtains and lights until Sunday.
Anyway, I want to take some pictures. I don't have any pictures of the
stage with lights on.
and maybe someone will pose upon the stage. And we will have a mini-
sound system to try out, if we want to.
Films? Anyone have some ideas about films or maybe a computer assisted
presentations that we could do in the barn.
Anyway, RM folks are welcome. I think some friends of Marya's will
also be coming. So, if it's okay with everyone, the juicebar will be
open and a table spread for the pot luck. Woozle and who know who else
will be there to entertain us, Who knows, maybe this time the honky
tonk piano player will show up.
KC,
-----
Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:16:39 -0700
From: GreenMac <>
Reply-To: RMlist <>
To:
Subject: ReunionResearchWeek-RoundMountain
Parts/Attachments:
1 OK ~67 lines Text (charset: WINDOWS-1252)
2 Shown ~59 lines Text (charset: WINDOWS-1252)
------
The Reunion Research Committee met this morning and decided on this plan.
King and/or Gabrielle will meet with individuals or small groups during the next week and will prepare a report on these topicsTime and place of meetings is
being arranged with the individuals involved. Send an email if you are interested in any of these ideas.
^ÕCar maintenance coop. What would it cost to set up a well equipped auto shop and hire a mechanic. DougSmith who has been maintaining some of our cars has
agreed to submit a plan. (DougSmith, KC)>
^Õ Local theater, video, and poetry productions (media): AlRosen, LarrySheehy, MaryaLeGrand, KC, GW. We will view the video of the Variety Show made by Al
Rosen yesterday evening.
^Õ History of MendocinoCounty politics and communities like RoundMountain since 1960. An ongoing project, a more complete draft will be provided after
Reunion Week. See the current draft, at KC working with anyone interested, including prior residents of RoundMountain.
Will contact Norm deVall, RichardJohnson.
^Õ New eco-friendly buildings at RoundMountain. For some time RoundMountain has discussed building a new living and working space for PhilCool, our water
maintenance man.KenBluhm (architect, designer/builder), PhilCool, KC
^Õ Sustainable Farming: The future of farming in our eco-region and RoundMountain. Can we put more local food on the table. Should we have a CSA just for
Round Mountain? Interviews with local workers/farmers: Nate, Phil, Mathew, Ashley
^Õ Connecting with the Mexican workers. How can we have less exploitation and more communication. VivianPower, KC.
^Õ Improv Comedy. How to create good comedic anti-routines---spontaneous, extemporaneous, playing off each other. (Erick Fennette, 707-694-1954), Barry, KC)
^Õ Environmental Walks: rock hunt in York Creek with Gaby; Maybe a nature walk with Kate...
The Committee will create a report of our efforts, perhaps as an issue of the Round Mountain Gazette,
Looking forward to a bunch of good conversations, fun experiments and learning a lot about our local world.
King and Gaby
Reunion Research Committee