[Dialogue] [SPAM] Re: Letter to Alumni of the kemper building communitiesof the last few decades

Tue Jun 17 10:08:51 EDT 2008

As a former and present resident at 4750 with scads of memories and stories
(my eightieth birthday was great fun last week), my concern is the present.
We (Keystone) need help in "how" to attract people "today" and "how" to
continuously energize ourselves with the confidence that we are meeting a
current need for figuring out how to be in community. (I think the social
contradiction of our time has shifted from the victim image to something
about the search for community.)

And please invite yourself to come to see us.  We love to have guests in the
"now."  So please keep your emails coming in response to George's letter.
You ARE the greatest!  Marge

On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 9:49 PM, frank bremner <fjbremner at hotmail.com>
wrote:

>  1)
>
> I'm a former resident of 4750 North Sheridan Street, Chicago 60640 (a
> memory for nostalgia and trivia, although I prefer "historian" and
> archivist"!)- July 1978 to September 1979, and then an occasional visitor
> from September 1979 to May 1980.  I applaud what you Kemper folks are
> working on.
>
> The other day I was wondering about our high-rise-residential work from
> long ago.  I remember seeing references to Doxiadis in the old Ecumenical
> Institute publication* ie*.  And references to some high-rise development
> in Hong Kong - early 1970s?
>
> As an apartment dweller I'm looking into (a) continuing to network with the
> neighbours (including a few refugees from Sudan and Nigeria) and (b)
> AeroGarden as a way of growing vegetables for myself (but maybe it uses too
> much electricity to be a good idea).
>
> Cynical and/or observant friends will ask "What happened to the book
> collection?"  That is to be established as a two-level library and work
> centre in a storage garage - unless an attractive benefactor takes a shine
> to me and can revive my Willunga Garden Village dream of the 1990s.
>
> 2)
>
> I remember Jane Jacobs' book being on the bookstall at the Australian S/69
> - January 1969 - at Nunyara Conference Centre and nearby sites.  For those
> Aussies who remember, and Carol Pierce and the Allerdings, and the Busses -
> Nunyara is still going as a Uniting Church (Methodist back then) conference
> centre - with that wonderful view over Adelaide from the hills.  St Barnabas
> College, one of two Anglican seminaries in Adelaide, closed about 10-15 (?)
> years ago.  Retreat House next door - run by an Anglican female order,
> clsoed too.  An Anglican primary/secondary school took over the two sites.
>
> I remember how these sites and Nunyara vaguely (maybe less vaguely) formed
> points of a wedgeblade - never let a chance go by!  The Barkers, the
> Bishops, the Hutchinsons, the Whites, the Banks, the Rees, the Oakleys, the
> Robins, the Martins, Raymond Spencer (and various offspring) were there -
> who have I left out, of our currently active colleagues?  I still remember
> Jim Bishop conducting a "Being forum" at 3.00 am - or was it after Daily
> Office at 3.00 am?  Daily Office had an audio montage of "sounds of the
> city" playing as we gathered.  Margaret Piper was there, but I haven't seen
> her since shortly after I returned to Down Under in mid-1980.
>
> The role of St Barnabas was taken over by the non-residential Adelaide
> College of Divinity (Anglican/Catholic/Uniting - although students come from
> many other traditions).  Ditto for the other Anglican seminary, St Michael's
> House at Mt Lofty, run by the Society of the Sacred Mission - the SSM guys
> with the triple red belt.  This building, and its library - the largest
> private library in Australia - was burned to the ground in the Adelaide
> Hills bushfires of 1983.
>
> Cheers
>
> Frank Bremner
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> > Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:17:47 -0700
> > From: jfwiegel at yahoo.com
> > To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> > Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [SPAM] Re: Letter to Alumni of the kemper
> building communitiesof the last few decades
>
> >
> > Not having been in meetings of this group, but from
> > informal contact, I agree that Ed "at least sometimes,
> > and maybe every now and then provides, not only
> > modicums of wisdom, but also good stories.
> >
> > Jane Jacobs, who wrote the death and life of great
> > american cities years ago, wrote a more recent book
> > (she died about a year ago) a couple of years ago in
> > which she pointed out that the predominant suburban
> > development pattern in North America almost ensures
> > there is not enough mass of people close enough
> > together to create urban community, and pointed out
> > that what will likely happen is similar to what took
> > place a century or more ago in older cities, where the
> > huge single family houses were cut up into multiple
> > units, first, for extended family, then for renters,
> > etc. and that is how mass was created.
> >
> > I was listening to the radio and concerns about both
> > the foreclosure epidemic and expectations of heating
> > oil price increases in the Northeast, and it occurred
> > to me that creating a humane and fulfilling image of
> > moving in together could quickly change our reality.
> >
> > Please paint a clear and viable picture of what you
> > all are working to create.
> >
> > Jim Wiegel
> > --- ed feldmanis <edfeldmanis at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > George,
> > >
> > > Somebody told me it might be possible, that maybe,
> > > at least sometimes,and
> > > maybe every now and then Ed Feldmanis, formerly
> > > order member, provides at
> > > least a modicum of wisdom.
> > >
> > > On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 8:02 AM, George Packard
> > > <george.packard1 at rcn.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Mary et all;
> > > > Not sure whether you found a misspelling or are
> > > asking the KEUC mission.
> > > > Assuming the latter -- There are two or three
> > > persons from the days of the
> > > > Ecumenical Institute still in residence (Carol
> > > Pierce, Marge Philbrook,
> > > > Laura Spencer); and they do provide wisdom and
> > > advice in meetings and
> > > > discussions. However the forefront of energy and
> > > initiative is in a
> > > > relatively new influx of 20 or so singles who
> > > arrived in Chicago as Lutheran
> > > > or Jesuit volunteers, Peace corps grads, or
> > > working with Chicago Aids groups
> > > > or Not for profits. they have taken on an
> > > understanding of demonstrating an
> > > > *ecological* alternative to living in the urban
> > > area. In addition,
> > > > coincidently, there is a diverse religious
> > > spectrum within their current
> > > > membership
> > > > Hope that helps
> > > > George
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------
> > > > *From:* dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:
> > > > dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] *On Behalf Of
> > > *mhampton at att.net
> > > > *Sent:* Monday, June 09, 2008 7:38 AM
> > > > *To:* Colleague Dialogue
> > > > *Subject:* [SPAM] Re: [Dialogue] Letter to Alumni
> > > of the kemper building
> > > > communitiesof the last few decades
> > > >
> > > > ecological or ecrumenical? Both?
> > > >
> > > > Tricky depending.
> > > >
> > > > mary
> > > >
> > > > -------------- Original message from "George
> > > Packard" <
> > > > george.packard1 at rcn.com>: --------------
> > > >
> > > > The following is a letter to all who have had
> > > residential experience in
> > > > one of the many community manifestations of the
> > > last 45 years or so in the
> > > > Kemper building or to any interested. I am sending
> > > this as a current board
> > > > member and with the help of various colleagues of
> > > the present group
> > > > described below under the letterhead with a
> > > request for your assistance.
> > > >
> > > > thank you for your consideration,George Packard
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Keystone Ecological Urban Center
> > > >
> > > > 4750 N. Sheridan Road, 7th Floor, Chicago,
> > > Illinois 60640
> > > >
> > > > phone 773-305-2827, e-mail keystoneeuc at yahoo.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > June 5, 2008
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear Colleagues,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I am writing to you as former or
> > > present members of the OE,
> > > > the E I, and the ICA; and as former members of the
> > > RCX, and its successor,
> > > > the Keystone Community. I am writing to you as
> > > present or former
> > > > colleagues in village development who have given
> > > over large portions of our
> > > > lives in promoting and carrying into the future
> > > values dictated by our
> > > > varied concerns for the world.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *The Targeted Audience*
> > > >
> > > > The targeted audience for this e-mail
> > > letter consists of those
> > > > of you who are progenitors of KEUC the Keystone
> > > Ecological Urban Center the
> > > > latest incarnation of the RCX and the Keystone
> > > Community. We the members
> > > > of KEUC are the present manifestation of our
> > > lifelong community of people
> > > > who care for the earth, a community which all of
> > > you helped to create and
> > > > carry into the future. Though some of us are well
> > > into extended middle
> > > > age or beyond and related as board o! r aff iliate
> > > members rather than
> > > > residential members, we are modeling our
> > > developing residential
> > > > membership on young adults interested in lives of
> > > service.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *The Intentional Community*
> > > >
> > > > The Keystone Ecumenical Urban
> > > Community, NFP occupies the 7thand 8
> > > > th floors of the ICA (Kemper) building, and is
> > > recruiting young people
> > > > dedicated to greening the cultural practices of
> > > the urban world environment.
> > > > The residential core are but a few, at present,
> > > but one should never doubt
> > > > that a small group of committed people can change
> > > the world -- indeed, it is
> > > > the only thing that ever has. Specifically, we
> > > are currently recruiting
> > > > among such groups as the Catholic Worker Movement,
> > > the Lutheran Volunteer
> > > > Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year corps, and local
> > > seminaries. Generally, we
> > > > are on the lookout for individuals with an
> > > interest in ecology, such as
> > > > graduate students in Ecological Studies programs,
> > > city planning,
> > > > anthropology, and students of intentional
> > > communities or other people
> > > > looking simply for green communities to join.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Our Mission*
> > > >
> > > > Our mission is to research, develop,
> > > demonstrate, and
> > > > replicate ways in which individuals singly or in
> > > small groups can decrease
> > > > their ecological or carbon footprints in order to
> > > promote environmental
> > > > consciousness, protect and improve the urban
> > > environment, and promote the
> > > > creation and restoration of diverse, compact, and
> > > vibrant urban communities.
> > > > Pilot projects to date include bicycle maintenance
> > > and safety classes as
> > > > promotion of cycling as viable urban
> > > transportation, and raising red-worms
> > > > as soil composting agents to provide soil rich in
> > > nutrients for urban
> > > > gardening.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *What We Hope To Achieve*
> > > >
> > > > Our intention is to become a part of
> > > the urban green movement,
> > > > promoting environmental stability in densely
> > > settled, urban neighborhoods.
> > > > Our particular interest is in developing and
> > > enhancing practices and
> > > > methodologies which can be accomplished within the
> > > often shelter-skelter
> > > > scheduling of artists, craftsmen, and
> > > professionals sometimes living alone
> > > > or in loosely affiliated groups and frequently
> > > working independently or on
> > > > contract.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Our Website*
> > > >
> > > > Our website is now under construction.
> > > Developing both the
> > > > website and many of the programs that will be
> > > described on it has taken a
> > > > back seat to legal and organizational matters
> > > including our IRS filing for
> > > > 501))(3) tax-exempt status, which we expect to
> > > receive shortly. A link to
> > > > the present website is
> > > http://www.geocities.com/keystoneeuc.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *How You Can Help*
> > > >
> > > > Like any startup venture, we need
> > > backing in the form of
> > > > emotional support, ideas, and cash. The timing of
> > > our startup was
> > > > dictated by unforeseen external circumstances, and
> > > startup expenses were
> > > > particularly onerous because circumstances beyond
> > > our control required us to
> > > > absorb a number of unexpected financial costs. In
> > > order to maintain our
> > > > present housing accommodations at 4750 N. Sheridan
> > > Road, we were required to
> > > > absorb significant legal costs traditionally
> > > absorbed by the landlord. Some
> > > > $10,000 in legal bills remain outstanding, and our
> > > present circumstances do
> > > > not allow payment of t! hese and certain other
> > > operating costs in a timely
> > > > manner.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Our Board of Directors and certain of
> > > our members already have
> > > > contributed more than their fair share of capital,
> > > and any additional
> > > > monetary contributions from alumni of the OE, EI,
> > > ICA, RCX, and Keystone
> > > > Community would be greatly appreciated. Indeed,
> > > the start-up costs require
> > > > that we invite the wider base of support.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > KEUC is a membership organization, and
> > > we hope to have the
> > > > costs and benefits of affiliate membership soon
> > > published. Anyone who
> > > > contributes in the meantime will receive full
> > > credit toward membership, and
> > > > when we receive notification of our tax-exempt
> > > status such contributions
> > > > should also be deductible. Checks may be made
> > > payable to Keystone EUC and
> > > > addressed to Travis Downs, Treasurer, 4750 N.
> > > Sheridan Road, 7th Floor,
> > > > Chicago, IL 60640.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > We are poised at the beginning of a
> > > new leg of the journey we
> > > > began over 40 years ago. This time, perhaps the
> > > most critical leg, in
> > > > that the very survival of human life on planet
> > > earth hangs in the balance.
> > > > We realize that as we begin, we are the
> > > beneficiaries of the wonderful
> > > > legacy which you, as present and former community
> > > members, have bestowed.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > It is with sincere respect for the
> > > past, enthusiasm for the
> > > > present, and hope for the future that we would
> > > like to reconnect with you,
> > > > our alumni, as we embark on this new journey. We
> > > value your wisdom and
> > > > support, and hope you will make this journey along
> > > with us, as least in
> > > > spirit. We are enthusiastic about the
> > > possibilities, and hope you will be
> > > > as well.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Sincerely,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > George
> > > > R. Packard
> > > >
> > > >
> > > KEUC
> > > > Board and Affiliate Member
> > > >
> > > >
> > > Santa
> > > > Fe, NM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > June
> > > > 10, 2008
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Dialogue mailing list
> > > > Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> > > >
> > >
> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > Dialogue mailing list
> > > Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> > >
> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
> > >
> >
> > 401 North Beverly Way
> > Tolleson, Arizona 85353-2401
> > +1 623-936-8671
> > +1 623-363-3277
> > jfwiegel at yahoo.com
> > www.partnersinparticipation.com
> >
> > Strangely enough, this is the past that somebody in the future is longing
> to go back to. Ashleigh Brilliant
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Dialogue mailing list
> > Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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