Greetings!
This process for Prospective Residents is designed for you to become familiar with our community, and to help us get to know you. It is an opportunity to introduce you to our Equity Members, our vision, mode of governance, committee structure, to cohousing philosophies, and to our process to move you toward becoming a resident. It also allows you time to assess if living in our cohousing community is right for you. All Prospective Residents must complete this process prior to becoming eligible for Equity Membership.

Kids enjoying the new docks on our pond.

WHO WE ARE
Legacy Farm Cohousing (Ulster County Cohousing, LLC) is undertaking the development of 37 homes in Ulster County, NY (the "Project"). We are a group of households who have become Equity Members, ranging in age from 3 to 74. Equity Members have invested a substantial amount of money and time to further this Project. We are of all ages and lifestyles, sharing a common goal to live in community on our 56+ acres of beautiful land in Rosendale.

PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS/HOUSEHOLDS
A Prospective Resident (PR) is an adult (21 years or older) who is exploring the possibility of joining our community and purchasing a home. A Household is composed of one or more adults and their families who will share a unit.

ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN

GENERAL CIRCLE
The General Circle consists of all the Equity Members. Prospective Residents (PRs) are encouraged to attend open General Circle Meetings. Prospective Residents may join in the discussions and closing round evaluations. Participation in consent rounds is limited to Equity Members.

GENERAL CIRCLE MEETING SCHEDULE
Open General Circle meetings are held once each month; the schedule is posted on our web site. Please RSVP by the Thursday prior to the meeting to Ilyse Simon at ilysefood@yahoo.com. Tell us who you are and how many of you will be attending. If you will be needing childcare, please let us know the number and ages of children attending.  Cancellation or postponement announcements will be emailed. Check the website for updates on any meeting changes.  

BUDDIES
On the first visit to a General Circle meeting, a Prospective Resident will be partnered with a Buddy who is an Equity Member. Buddies are available for comments, questions, and to help address any concerns.

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
Legacy Farm Cohousing business is conducted according to the Sociocratic Consent Method. More information on Sociocracy is contained on our web site. In the consent process, anyone can voice a reasoned and paramount objection to a proposal. This provides an opportunity to rework proposals in an organic way until a proposal is within everyone’s range of acceptability. The organization consists of committees whose Chairs will serve on the Steering Committee, made up of Equity Members only. Prospective Residents are expected to participate in the work of committees.

HELPFUL TOOLS
The Self-Assessment Tool (available from your Buddy) is a questionnaire to help you consider your compatibility with the cohousing lifestyle.

Picnic by our big barn.

ORIENTATION PROCESS
To be able to apply to become an Equity Member, one must complete the Orientation Process.

Each household adult has:

1. Attended an Orientation Session

2. Attended at least 2 Open General Circle meetings within 6 months

3. Attended at least 2 Community Life events within 6 months

4. Engaged in conversation with your Buddy regarding your interest in LFC

5. Reviewed the Legacy Farm Cohousing web site

6. Submitted "Getting to Know You - A Member Survey" (available from your Buddy)

7. Attended a Sociocracy training

8. Participated in a wrap up conversation with your Buddy or other Equity Member(s)

9. Reviewed Rules and Regs (available from your Buddy)

10. Signed a Participation Agreement saying that he/she understands and supports the LFC Vision and Mission statements and is committed to contributing 6 hours/month of work responsibilities in the community.

One adult of your household has

- Read about Sociocracy on the website: www.sociocracy.info and links
   
- Read Creating Cohousing by McCamant & Durrett (2011) and/or The Cohousing Handbook by Chris     ScottHanson
   
- Read Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian

- Visited two cohousing communities.

- Enjoyed a tour of our land.

- Completed a mortgage pre-qualification with a bank for your household .

Dan Guenther, organic CSA farmer,
and advisor for our farm.

By fulfilling the Checklist above, it is possible to complete your Orientation Process within four months. You are then eligible to become an Equity Member. If you have not been attending meetings or committees for some time, you can reactivate your participation by attendance at two open General Circle meetings, and active membership in a committee for three months.
    On accepting an invitation to become an Equity Member through the NYS Attorney General’s Policy Statement 101 (and prior to investing), you will be supplied with full financial disclosure regarding the Legacy Farm Cohousing project