USTU strives to create a culture of participation, stewardship and skill-sharing, interdependence and cooperation. USTU members regularly participate in activities that contribute to the ongoing functioning of the community. Visitors are also expected to participate in the community during their stay. Visitor participation is essential to facilitate a mutually beneficial relationship where visitors both learn about and contribute to the USTU community. The Visitor Committee will assign you a community member liaison that will help you connect to other members and opportunities to participate in the community.
To help set concrete expectations and guide participation, here is what we see as a minimum level of participation, although visitors are encouraged to find ways to participate that meshes with their skills and goals.
Community meetings take place weekly every Monday from 7:30 – 9pm. Community meeting is a space to observe and participate in the functioning of intentional community and consensus decision- making. It is also a good place to get a deeper understanding of the work that happens on committees and to connect with community members on opportunities to meet visitor participation expectations.
Community potlucks take place every Sunday beginning at 7pm. They are held either in the courtyard or community room depending on the weather. Everyone that attends a potluck is encouraged to bring something to share with the group. The potlucks are generally informal, social gatherings but are also in place to further our goals of living intentionally in community.
A work party can be scheduled anytime based upon the needs of the community. They are often held Sat. or Sun. mornings to maximize participation. Some common examples are organizing/cleaning the grounds and gardening and other outdoor projects. Feel free to propose your own ideas or discuss ideas with community members and your liaison.
Below is a list of our current committees. Based on your interest and availability, you should identify 1 or more committees to assist while staying at USTU. Please contact a committee when you move in. You can contact the point person to find out when the next meeting is and whether you can attend. You can also coordinate with your liaison and outside of committee meetings to work on ongoing projects/needs that have been identified by the committee.
Committee work can change based on the current needs of the community. As part of your visit, you are expected to take initiative to engage in the work of committees. Your liaison and the Visitor Committee are here to answer any questions and support your ongoing participation.
In addition to your participation of committee support, you are encouraged to learn about and engage in our various ‘multiple centers of initiative’ that are part of the social, economic and ecological fabric of the intentional community.
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This page transferred by request from the old urbansoil wiki archive on 2025-08-27 @15:25 by Nils H., with changes/corrections to formatting only.
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