A community vision of Breitenbush for the future.

Since my arrival as a fill-in at Breitenbush in 2000 I had a clear vision of it’s destiny.I could not accept full time employment because I held the position of night cook in a friends restaurant in Veneta near the country fair. I only worked each month on Monday and Tuesday as the lunch cook and also at CRD’s at Breitenbush.As I walked the land I would hear the words, “Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home” from the song Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel.I had several powerful dreams showing me that this community and land was created to a “shelter from the storm” so to speak of what was to come down in the future.So in 2005 I decided to become regular hire.Peter Moore and Tom Robinson had become directors and the business began to prosper.Paul Westfall(now clearfire) got the internet and phone systems going and We were off and running and all was well.The following year I became a member thinking that it was a way to help to keep the co-op going in the right direction.I had a chance to vote on important business decisions about projects bank loans and other things.What I noticed is that only small group of people were steering the meetings and we got to vote on what had already been discussed planned  by this  group days weeks and maybe months before the meeting.I felt that many decisions were not in the best interest of the community even though these decisions received the majority of votes.I feel that the membership lacked a cohesive vision of what they really wanted to see happen on that land.Most were not in for the long haul and did really have a feeling of ownership.It’s hard to feel like a real owner with only a $500 investment so most people just went along with what was decided.John Holley and I talked about the difference between renting and actual  ownership and how much better we care for own property when we own.In the the future it might be a good idea for the business to offer the chance for members to really invest in Breitenbush if they choose and that would create more in what happens and real vision of the future of the land and community.There will remain a work camp mentality and there will not be a strong core  committed workers until they have vested interest.Housing has to be upgraded where all needs are met with running water and other necessities so that people will desire stay for a long time.When you take care of the people the business will prosper and happy employees make for good public relations and better quality service.Profit is very important but proper care of the people and the land are more important. Nature has gracefully spared most of the property so that this amazing place could remain as a gathering land for our tribe and for thousands to continue to reset their lives from the craziness of the world.A German guest named Ludwig  nailed it with the expression that, “Breitenbush is an island of serenity in a world of Chaos.” Peace, John Strunk