Category: Cooperation

More on the simplified conference

I mentioned the concept of the Esperanto weekend before. Think low-cost, lightly pre-programmed meetings with a focus on fellowship. Perhaps the container for an unconference. Two more thoughts. 1. The next Esperanto weekend will be in Richmond, Virginia. (details in English and Esperanto). Here is a how-to, if you read Esperanto. 2. Buses. Megabus, the… Continue reading More on the simplified conference

Co-housing question

This isn’t for me. Really. But in a larger sense it may be for all of us. Does anyone have experience buying a house or apartment with a non-relative on a cooperative basis? Since strong households — in concert with, but also optionally apart from, families — can be a protection against poverty and deprivation,… Continue reading Co-housing question

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Categorized as Cooperation

Now! the new Unincorporated Nonprofit Association act in D.C. (and other business organization forms)

Back in June I assumed the Unicorporated Nonprofit Association act become law in the District of Columbia. See, we have this window where the Congress can zap legislation so it’s not always clear until the “birth announcement” is made. The change was a part of an omnibus bill that revamped Title 29 of the D.C.… Continue reading Now! the new Unincorporated Nonprofit Association act in D.C. (and other business organization forms)

The new national weight loss plan

Over the years, I’ve tried to lose weight and am fully aware of what works for me (eating high-fiber, low-fat vegetarian food; counting and recording calories) and what doesn’t (everything else). My reasons for trying to lose weight, however, have changed. The vain reasons of youth have become the health-preservation demands of middle age. Why,… Continue reading The new national weight loss plan

Being better than valueless, worthless

Today, I read an interesting and compelling article in The Atlantic magazine website called “The Bitch Is Back” by Sandra Tsing Loh. If you’re menopausal, perimenopausal or know someone who is, do read this because it asks — with women’s lifespans being so much longer than they once were — what hormonal or nuturing normality is. In… Continue reading Being better than valueless, worthless

Having banks on the brain

A person I respect — wise, patient and politically savvy — asked me credit unions today. It seems the excesses of the large, national banks, epitomized by their recent collective fee increases, led him to consider a credit union in place of the large national bank that he uses. I mention this, not to suggest… Continue reading Having banks on the brain

Conferences, simplified

I believe I’ve praised the Esperanto culture of membership organizations and conferences. (You have to love a language that makes membership blank a basic vocabulary word. And for any number of internal cultural reasons, Esperanto conferences tend to be very, very good value. After all, the goal is to have Esperanto speakers meet and (since… Continue reading Conferences, simplified

Forming new organizations for service and fellowship

It isn’t easy to organize people for fellowship or to engage in a common purpose, but there’s no reason it needs to be made any harder for lack of resources and perspective. This is the first part of an occasional series about the simple organization of religious groups: churches, but also support organizations for groups… Continue reading Forming new organizations for service and fellowship

Credit union revisited

I started working on this blog post three days ago, and the economic reality keeps changing. First, I’m not happy with the banking situation, but it’s a piece of news unrelated to the mortgage bailout that sticks in my craw today. From the Seattle Times via the Neatorama blog, we learn that Alan H. Fishman,… Continue reading Credit union revisited