Village Expanded Guidelines, 2005 Contact Info c/o Karla Caudell, 5162 Daisy Street, Springfield,Oregon 97478, Village Web List cvdrum@efn.org, Village Ear 541-344-3770, website http://www.efn.org/~comvill, WebMaster planetbubblesuniverse@yahoo.com or comvill@efn.org Offical Community Village Mission Statement In the midst of sparkling crystals, aromatic foods, and the river of people, rests an island of idealism, the Community Village. In the heart of the Oregon Country Fair, the Community Village promotes social/environmental awareness by providing a forum for the free communication of ideas. The process of putting together the Village is as significant as the end itself, as we organize cooperatively through consensus decision making. Beginning in 1976, we have grown from a modest display of appropriate technology to an intentional community involving the energies of individuals from many organizations. The Community Village is a part of the OCF Family dedicated to education, information access, and networking for progressive social change. We have created a spiritual center manifesting the Village Vision of love, peace, trust, justice, cooperation, equality and social service. Believing in dreams, thinking of others, valuing differences and experimenting with new ideas, we hope to expand our consciousness beyond our morning circle, growing beyond the Fair and out into the world. COMMUNITY VILLAGE HISTORY The Oregon Country Fair originated from a benefit for the Children's Community School. Today if that school was in the OCF, most likely it would be part of the Life-long Learning booth in the Community Village. To become a Fair member (so you can vote on Fair issues, general elections, and receive the Fair Family News) write to: PO Box 2972, Eugene, OR 97402., Or you may call the Fair Office at (541) 343-4298. Since 1976, the Community Village has been part of the OCF experience. Many basic services offered at the Fair began in the Village. We had the first Information Booth, the first area helping individuals with special needs, AAAA, the first non-smoking area, the first non-profit area, the first camping security, and the first 6-pack! Energy Park began in the Village. It is an outgrowth from what was once a single booth space. In 1988, Village members, with the direction of Elezar, built a new Come Unity House whose tree cornerposts will one day replace the human-cut boards to create a natural living house. The groups involved in Community Village reflect all aspects of life. The current booths are: Peace & Justice, Green Earth, Health & Healing, Life-Long Learning, Spirit, Little People, Alter-Abled Access, Youth, Art, Wild Edibles, Doors of Expression, Cooperative Fruit, the Village Restaurant, Intentional Communities, Information and the Come Unity House. The Community Village is separately incorporated from the Fair. BOOTHS * GROUPS * BOOTH COORDINATORS A booth is made up of organizations, cooperative businesses, associations and individuals sharing a common theme. Groups participate in the Village by conducting workshops, demonstrations, presentations, and staffing their booth or other areas, participating in the Village sweep, and sharing information with the public. Each group has a contact person (Booth Coordinator) who acts as a liasion between the group and the Village. All participants work together to form a cohesive booth that reflects their work in the community. Eligible Groups are democratically managed, use consensus, have a cooperative focus, are responsive to community input, open to social change, non-partisan and non-sectarian, and make a positive contribution to the community. Individuals must present a workshop or demonstration. All groups and individuals apply for eligibility by filling out and submitting an eligibility form to their Booth Coordinator by MAY 11. Eligibility is determined by the Eligibility Committee. A booth coordinator, selected by booth participants, should have a minimum of 2 years village membership, and must already be participating in the booth. Booth coordinators are responsible for the smooth operation of their individual booths. They facilitate networking among groups, participants and Council, Booth coordinators monitor meeting and work party attendance for their booth members. They will then determine a member's participation eligibility. Please see expanded booth coordinators responsibilitys below. CRITERIA FOR VILLAGE PARTICIPATION. Each person must belong to a group which passes eligibility, or pass elegibility as an individual, and attend a minimum of 2 meetings and 2 work parties for a worker pass/wristband, with one meeting before the eligibility deadline in May . For a worker day pass or an SO pass/wristband there is a minimum of 1 meeting and 1 work party before the Fair. To verify attendance, please check in with your Booth Coordinator at the General Meeting and at work parties. CONSENSUS. The Community Village reaches all decisions by consensus. Attendance at a consensus workshop is strongly encouraged for all CV members. Please see more below at VILLAGE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS COORDINATING COUNCIL The Community Village Coordinating Council are OCF staff and are the liaison between the Village membership and the Fair. The Council facilitates the Village membership in creating the Community Village each year at the Fair. The Council is self selected. Call for Council is held at the January meeting and the Council is confirmed by the Village at the February meeting. Each Booth has a designated Booth Liaison on the Council who acts as an information resource for the Booth Coordinator and Booth members. Council members should be a participant of several years in the Village, preferably with Booth coordinating experience, and be familiar with both the operation of the Village and the Fair. COORDINATING COUNCIL SELECTION PROCESS   Separate Page Here... A BOOTH COORDINATOR, SELECTED BY BOOTH PARTICIPANTS USING CONSENSUS, should have a minimum of 2 years Village membership, and must already be participating in the Booth. Booth Coordinators are responsible for the smooth operation of their individual booths, promoting networking among Booth groups and participants and facilitating the eligibility and registration of Booth participants. Booth Coordinators attend Booth Coordinator meetings, and monitor meeting & work party attendance of the Booth participants. Booth Coordinators are responsible for sweeping their Booth, loft, and Booth camping area. WORK PARTIES Community Village work parties are scheduled for several weekends before the Fair, starting JUNE 11 WorkParty. When you arrive at the Fair site, stop at Main Camp to sign the OCF's Community Village attendance sheet. In the Village, check in with your Booth Coordinator. Bring your own drinking water, food, or tools that you will need. Heavy shoes are recommended because of nails in recycled lumber. BOOTH EMPOWERMENT Due to special circumstances (i.e. long travel distance) a Booth may alter work party attendance guidelines of an eligible Booth participant. The expectation is that someone from each Booth will attend 2 work parties for each camping pass the Booth receives. The Booth should reach consensus on exempting a person from work and be willing to pick up the slack for them. Booth Empowerment only deals with workshop attendance and Pass/wristband distribution, not eligibility. GRIEVANCE PROCESS The goal of the Grievance process is clarification, understanding, and resolution as early in the process as possible. The person who perceives a problem 1) talks with the person seen as causing the problem or not following an agreed upon process; 2)talks with their Booth coordinator; 3) talks with their Booth as a group; 4) talks with their Council Booth liaison; 5) talks with the Council as a group. The Council has the authority to impose consequences; 6) brings the issue to a Village meeting to appeal a Council decision, consequence, or for further discussion; 7) brings the issue to an OCF Board of Directors meeting to appeal a Village decision. NOTE: there are resources available to help facilitate the Grievance Process: Agents of Reality, a person you trust who is a fair/neutral observer, or a mediator acceptable to all parties. PASSES Each Booth is empowered, with the help of their Council liaison, to determine who, among the eligible participants, receives available passes. Diversity, reflecting the world, and Village participation are assessed toward pass allocation. For pass allocation only, "Booth" is defined as those groups and individuals who participated in the Fair the previous year. In all other cases, "Booth" is defined as those participating in the current year. Each group is permitted a Maximum of: two (2) Worker Pass/wristbands and 3 Day passes; OR one (1) Worker Pass/wristband and 6 Day passes; OR 9 Day Passes. The Village has a limited number of passes to give out to it's participants. Each group must return its completed registration form and payment for passes to its Booth Coordinator by JUNE 19th (TBA). Registration is at the Fair site on June 27th (TBA)The Booth coordinators will distribute receipts for passes to the groups/individuals. Please pay close attention to any date changes about registration. ADMISSIONS Make sure you get your receipt, and that you have it, and a picture ID, with you when you get to the Fair. You will not be able to get your pass without them. Only you can pick up your pass. All pass changes must be made prior to the Fair, by July 2 (TBA). Wristbands, which act as your camping pass, will be distributed at the Community Village Admissions Booth. Starting Wednesday you will not be allowed to enter the Fair without your Pass/wristband. WRISTBANDS. The non-transferable Pass/wristband allows a person 11 or older to camp Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Anyone 11 or older on the OCF grounds from Fair closing (7 pm or sweep) until 9 am must have a visible Pass/wristband whenever entering the Fair or during the evening sweep. SIGNIFICANT OTHER PASSES. SOPs are defined by the Oregon Country Fair as "a person who shares your tent". Historically the Village has have been allotted one SOP for each 6 Worker Pass/wristbands. TEEN PASSES. All teens, 11-18, must have a Pass/wristband, either a Fair Teen Crew Pass/wristband or a CV Teen Pass/wristband through the Village. Send a SASE to the OCF office, PO Box 2972, Eugene, 97402, for more information on the Fair Teen Crew. The earlier you ask the fair for a Teen Crew pass (rather than a teen camping pass) the more likely you can get one. VEHICLES. Vehicle stickers are required for all vehicles parked on site overnight. Cars without stickers will be towed. Historically the Village has been allotted 1 vehicle pass for every 2 Worker Pass/wristbands. THE SWEEP is conducted at 7 pm each evening to clear the Fair of the public. Booth Coordinators are responsible for sweeping their Booth, loft, and Booth camping area. The participation of every Villager is necessary to ensure that valuable, limited resources are not depleted by uninvited guests and to insure that the Fair stays within its allowed limits. Every Community Village person with a camping pass will do two sweeps, one on Saturday night. Let your coordinator know which one you will be doing. SNEAKERS POLICY. The Fair and Village policy reads: "Failure to cooperate with the sweep may result in probation, expulsion, or suspension." CAMPING. Fill up lofts and space in or behind your Booth, out of public view, first. Before you set up your tent pick up your camping tag from the camping coordinator at the Village Info Booth. Every tent must have a tent tag. It must be displayed on the outside of your tent. All camping gear in or near Booths must be stored out of public sight by 8 am. Camping in the Village is for CV participants only. Tent occupancy should reflect tent size. IN GENERAL, CAMPING IN THE VILLAGE IS LIMITED TO THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHTS BOOTH RECONSTRUCTION. The Community Village construction coordinator will flag Booths needing attention. Pressure treated wood, plastic, and plywood are not allowed. THE VILLAGE CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR MUST BE CONSULTED BEFORE ANY REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCTION WORK IS BEGUN. Please RETURN ALL BORROWED TOOLS to where you got them, the Come-Unity House or the Village Info Booth. CLEANUP AND RECYCLING. During the Fair, recycling barrels are provided for plastic/paper, food scraps, and glass/cans. BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAIR, YOU PACK IT OUT. Fair guidelines call for a $10 to $50 (TBA) fine on Booths left littered. All Booths will cut non-recyclable wood to 16 inch firewood size for pick up. STRAW, Rugs, Sofas. All straw must be removed from Booths and camping areas after the Fair. Also all sofa, rugs or other items brought for you or your booth/area must be taken home and never left in a booth or the garbage can. REFORESTATION. BRUSH CUTTING IS NOT PERMITTED, AND IS GROUNDS FOR PROBATION. Use existing campsites. Encourage growth of natural barriers between camps and elsewhere. Please observe and respect areas roped off for reforestation. LOFTS are for the use of Booth participants only; no public allowed unless invited by a Booth member. Children should be accompanied anywhere above ground level. All ladders need to be removed after the fair and nailed or chained in the loft. Most loft floors must be taken up and stored after the fair each year. CHILD CARE. The Little People Booth provides our children with a quality experience and to allow parents the opportunity to make their own explorations while knowing their child is safe. WILD CHILDREN If you see inappropriate behavior, be a responsible adult; intervene/redirect the energy. If you are not able to do this find someone who can. We will attempt to have a responsible adult available at all times to deal with wild youth energy. Although we collectively try to cope with youth energy this does not eliminate the need for parental responsibility. We also need to speak out against aggressive/inappropriate behavior at the Fair. A better way to restructure "young people's perception about behavior and relationships is adult modelling & practicing warm, genuine connection with young people. This means adults playing with young people and going in some positive direction that the young people want to go in." - Kerin Hoag 3/10/91 YOUTH BOOTH facilitates a way for Fair family youth to make money (or food vouchers) by connecting work requests and youth energy. WORKSHOPS & DEMOS. All workshops and demonstrations must be scheduled by May 1 TBA) so that the schedule may be compiled and submitted to the Peach Pit in time for publication. Food demonstrations must comply with the Fair food guidelines. ENTERTAINMENT in the Village is scheduled by our Entertainment Coordinator. RAIN When it is not raining, there can be no plastic visible to the public. Sometimes you will need to prepare for a rainy fair. Plastic for upstairs floor, tarps to cover area, clear sheets of plastic for wall displays (thus papers and display don't get wet and the rain runs down the plastic) OM Circle, Sunday @ 10:30 a.m. history: "om" is a cosmic vibration. The Vision is to physically encircle and embrace the entire mobius strip of the fair paths with Om. A prayer for peace and unity, a heartfelt reason for creating the Village. OM Song: Hear that OM a comin', Comin' round the Eight, No matter what I'm doin', I will not hesitate, to join that Holy Chorus, when it comes around. Love that Sunday mornin', when the OM goes Down. CRISIS INTERVENTION training is offered to all by the Fair. It is strongly encouraged that all Villagers attend crisis intervention training. They usually are on the weekends just before the fair. FIRE. In all camping areas there are escape routes (small trails) that lead to safety. Find them when setting up your tent. Ask the camping coordinator if you don't know where to look. (This information will be updated closer to the fair, please keep your ears open.) All Booths and camping areas must have a shovel and two 5 gallon buckets filled with burlap bags (buckets and bags provided by the Village, the Booth supplies the shovel) to soak up the water and slap out fires. All camping areas must have a fire extinguisher. Know where the buckets are and be sure they are filled. Be aware of candles. If a fire gets out of control, use burlap bags to smother the fire and send someone to the nearest phone, located at the Village Info Booth. CAMPFIRES. Community Village has a village campfire Saturday night. A responsible adult from Community Village must monitor the fire at all times with a water bucket and shovel within reach. FIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CAMPING AREAS NO SMOKING in Community Village. Don't be shy about asking visitors to extinquish cigarettes, just be polite. PETITIONS can be offered for signature in the Village as long as they do not support or oppose a candidate for office, a ballot measure, or specific legislation VENDING. The Community Village is not a sales or fundraising area of the Fair. Only the Village Restaurant and Cooperative Fruit are permitted sales in the Village. 4 HUGS PER DAY is the minimum required for basic human maintenance. As the population increases the minimum daily hug requirement (mdhr) also increases! NUDITY. Folks are required to cover their genitals during public Fair hours. CLOSING and OPENING CIRCLE: Join us Friday morning at 10am and Sunday evening after sweep for a final circle, and song to welcome and end this years Fair with love. Morning Circle: The Village meets every morning at 10 am, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday for gathering & announcements of the day. It gladdens the heart to see as many folks at the Village morning circle. We usually have an opening ritual led by Spirit booth to open the Fair in the Village on Friday morning. The fair opens at 11am. THE OCF CODE OF CONDUCT STATES: "Failure to abide by the Oregon Country Fair Code of Conduct, the Guidelines,, or State, County and Federal laws may result in expulsion from the Fair, Booth penalty, removal from staff position, termination of membership, or being turned over to the proper officers of the law, as the situation requires..." DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. The OCF BoD has adopted a policy for the 1999 Oregon Country Fair that it be a drug free Fair with alcohol consumption not allowed in public places.The public will not be allowed to bring in large coolers or glass containers. NO DECISIONS AFTER APRIL MEETING. Items requiring decision by the Village will not be placed on the agenda for the May and June meetings without the consent of the Village . General Meetings. General Meetings are held in the Head Start cafeteria on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. There are no General Meetings from July through September and in December. Be sure to check the web page for any updates. Childcare is provided for General Meetings. Council meets on the Tuesday night the week following the General Meeting (or the third Tue. of the month when no General Meeting is scheduled.) The OCF Board of Directors meets the first Monday of each month at 7 pm in the EWEB Community Room, Eugene. EMERGENCY PROCEDURE & FIRST AID Stay calm and use your training. Do not become part of the problem. Observe, report, wait for help. Describe clearly: what is happening; where help is needed; what help is needed. Do not run in the loop. We have a minor first aid kit at the Info Booth. For greater problems contact White Bird via the Info booth phone. White Bird is across 13th Street just before you hit Main St VILLAGE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS Village Decisions are made by consensus. We believe each person holds a piece of the truth. If you have something important to say to the group, please share it. However, due to time constraints and the number of Village members we often do not have the opportunity to hear each member's opinion. Freedom to speak is a precious gift. A moment's reflection may keep you from abusing your rights. Some of the basic ideas are to start meetings on time, listen well, speak loud enough for all to hear, be succinct, let others speak with respect, and offer clear presentations and written porposals. According to trainings by Alpha Farm, Consensus is about what we agree on, not what we disagree on. To find out what we agree on we need trust, common purpose, psychic glue, and a desire for honesty. The "Three Elements of Consensus" Sense of the Meeting - This is the agreement the group has reached. Stand Aside - As opposed to the block. this is a personal statement. The person who has stepped aside is not to be bound by the group's decision and is not expected to implement it. Block ("Standing in the way") - At the most basic level, this means any group member may veto the group's decision. Ideally, this is an action done for the group. If any person, after hearing everything said on an issue, feels certain that the group is making a mistake, that person may properly block the decision. Water/Toilets: The Village has filtered water for drinking . Hand-washing is available by all toilet areas. The closest one to the village is in Shady Grove. Water/ misters used for dirt control and heat. Be aware, though, not to spray people with cameras or musical instruments; these can be damaged. It is often quicker to use the toilets in Politics Park at Main Stage. There is a children's potty our Little People booth. Signs & Banners : Connect with the Signs and Banners during booth breakdown at our meetings or at the work parties. You have to make the signs, but they will help you with paint, wood and material. Please contact the signs and banner people early so they can best help you. Flowers: Bring flowers to add color and beauty to the booths. Bring extra for other booths! Directory The Village Directory will contain a bird's eye map of the village on one side with the booths listed, as well as the name of each group in each booth with a contact name and number. This sheet proves excellent for post-fair networking. This will be located at the Information booth in the Community Village. Lost and Found, Return all tools or anything else you find to the Info Booth, home of Lost & Found. Candle Lanterns and Light. Candles are not allowed at the fair anymore, since the fire danger is so high. : The beautiful chinese lanterns can quickly go up in flames. Use them only with a flashlight or a glow stick inside.Other options at night are LED battery powered holiday lights, solar lights, and other personal lights without flames. Remember, light is alive. You may order a Community Village T-shirt to grace your bod all year long. Come to meetings, read the minutes to find out order deadlines, etc. T-shirts will be delivered at the fair if you ordered one. To receive your shirt connect with the shirt coordinator. (currently there are no t-shirts) Safe Sex: Free condoms are available at the Village Health & Healing Booth and WhiteBird. Crisis Intervention training is available to all. Check with the Fair Office for specific date & time. Sun: Avoid overexposure. Drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruit to avoid dehydration. Get enough rest. Expectations for Booth Coordinators (BCs) Read and be familiar with the Country Fair guidelines, available at the OCF office. Read and be familiar with the Village guidelines, and make sure all booth members understand the Village guidelines. Understand eligibility criteria; insure all booth members submit eligibility form. Comment on eligibility form regarding groups and individuals, RE: contributions so far this year, contributions in previous years, eligibility of group, etc. Be accessible by phone to booth members and council liaison. Be a member of a group, or an individual, in the booth they represent. Take attendance and facilitate during booth breakdown, or arrange/appoint an alternate. Participate in booth coordinator meetings or send an alternate. Find out from alternate what happened. Identify and record their group's contacts and make sure they all have all necessary information. Help with outreach by aiding new group's entry coming into the Village. Help with networking by being the coordinator for groups and individuals in the booth, aiding in the communication and cooperation among them. Encourage group members to participate in the planning process and build cohesiveness in the booth. Encourage development of displays and demonstrations within the booth. Help encourage and coordinate workshops from your booth for the fair. Communicate regularly with your council liaison. Collect registration forms and fees; distribute the day pass and camping pass receipts. Help coordinate use of living space around the booth. Loft space must be filled before camping spaces are allotted. Attend workparties and take roll of members of the booth attending workparties, or appoint an alternate for this task. Coordinate booth staffing during the fair and anything else that comes up that needs doing. Help with the sweep each evening, encouraging others to help with this important part of village responsibility and tradition. Help with needed cleanup after the fair. Have participated in the Village at least two years and with the booth one year, or co-coordinate. Notify council of booth members who do not earn their pass. Hold at least one booth meeting not during village meetings unless circumstances forbid. Coordinate construction on booth: Get diagnosis from construction coordinator or other qualified person as early as possible. For major projects, arrange preparation of written plans and cost estimates by Feb. 1st. Extract commitments for projects. Draw from talents of booth members whenever possible. Back to Your Home in Community Village