Emerson Village Project

Transcription

1 Emerson Village Project Innovative solutions to world crises 1 Do not go where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and leave the trail Ralph Waldo Emerson Vision and Business Plan Fumiko Chikami, Dr John Lees, Robert Lord 10 March Emerson Village is a working title. Like any title, it has its limitations, but to date we have not found anything better. Please let us know your suggestions after you have read this document.

2 Vision Emerson Village Project is a metamorphosis of Emerson College and is thus a continuation of the inspiration of its founder, Francis Edmunds. The vision aims to be responsive to local, national and world needs and crises and open to the worldwide community of support and good will which already envelopes the College. It will be grounded in a miniature village economy on the current Emerson College campus and will incorporate several small financially independent organizations which will function and co-operate in such a way as to provide a cushion for the education programmes. It will also have a centrifugal gesture which will reach out into many walks of life in all corners of the world. Emerson Village Project is inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner. It will: provide a threefold social environment which will creatively enhance and expand the current adult education programme, develop transformational life learning skills in many areas of professional, artistic and practical activity based on the anthroposophical path of spiritual development, cultivate health by promoting bio-dynamic agriculture and care for the land, anthroposophic healthcare and Steiner-Waldorf education, The long-term hope is that the educational and learning aspects and the research aims of the project will link to the eleven sections of the School of Spiritual Science of the Anthroposophical Society. The aspiration of Emerson Village Project is to be experimental, innovative, inspirational, and environmentally-friendly. It is meant to be a beacon to other initiatives throughout the world which are concerned with the problems currently facing humanity and the trials, challenges and abysses that we will face in the coming centuries. Structure Emerson Housing Management Management of existing accommodation plus further accommodation (to be built) will be leased to the Emersion Eco Housing Community (the people living on the campus); each lessee would be able to purchase a house on the open market with the permission of the Housing Community (similar to the principles underpinning Hoathly Hill). Emerson Village Management Responsible for management of gardens, infrastructure, buildings, publicity and leasing land and buildings to: Emerson College and Conference Centre Responsible for hosting and carrying the existing self-sufficient programmes (Biodynamics, Sculpture, Storytelling), such further programmes as anthroposophical studies, Steiner-Waldorf education, including parent, curative and remedial education and hosting such other professional courses as biographical counselling and anthroposophical healthcare training, plus short courses and conferences 2

3 Businesses scheme Responsible for the co-ordination of a number of businesses including Emerson Kitchen (Restaurant/cafeteria), a shop, rental business, biodynamic gardening business, and other local businesses (some of which have already approached us) Bio-dynamic Centre Agriculture, horticulture and gardening Health Centre Provision for outpatients anthroposophic clinic, a Spa hotel and care for the elderly Research Centre Development of other research projects to supplement the research activities of the Healing Water Institute Education Kindergarten and special needs Initiatives proposal scheme Well thought-out and costed proposals which fit with the overall vision (several already received in basic concept form) which would be subject to peer review 3

4 Business and financial plan Management structure A new management structure will be introduced. Initially there will be a short-term crisis management structure and then, during the first three years, it will metamorphose into a long-term structure in order to realize the vision. Short-term Emerson Village Management, with three sub-groups: Crisis management group (CMG) Task of stabilizing cash flow deficit of 80,000 per month; regular SWOT analysis. Fund raising group (FRG) Task of raising up to 4.5 million (including funds in this appeal) to address deficit, including costs of stabilizing the financial situation. Estates development and planning group (EDPG) Responsibility for surveys, obtaining planning permission and constructing new buildings. Long-term During the first three years the tasks of Emerson Village Management will metamorphose into a new structure which will devolve its tasks in the following way: Emerson Housing Management will be specifically concerned with the residential housing and will develop out of the EDPG Emerson Village Management will manage the whole campus. It will have the following principal tasks: (a) the management of the site apart from the housing (devolved from the EDPG), (b) fund raising for the campus as a whole (devolved from the FRG) and (c) some of the tasks of the CMG. It will oversee the gradual dissolution of the short-term structure and the introduction of the new structure consisting of the following six sub-groups, as the crisis abates and the vision is realized: Emerson College and Conference Centre, Businesses management, Health Centre, Research Centre, Education, Initiatives proposal scheme. The sub-groups will be responsible for their own budgets and management. Worldwide Support Group consisting of Alumni and any other supporters of the new initiative. 4

5 Longitudinal picture and action points: notes See charts on pages 6, 7 and 8 Year 1 Crisis management 1. The sections shaded in green indicate the last four months of the existing financial management system and Emerson College. These will then be closed down on 30 June. On 1 July the new vision will begin to develop. This new departure will create (a) a new form for the existing adult education courses (Emerson College and Conference Centre), (b) a new leasing vehicle for community housing (c) a new independent economic vehicle for the catering and (d) a new financial management structure. The launch of the new initiative would be financed by the injection of 500,000, which will provide working capital and funds for refurbishments Fund raising 2. A proposal to create an Alumni Membership scheme (organized by Alumni), Village Membership Scheme and Course Supporters Scheme (to raise funds to support existing and new courses): membership fee of 150 for first 3 years or 1000 life membership fee. Membership to include (a) membership of the Worldwide Support Group, (b) receipt of regular Village News informing the progress of the project and invited to fundraising events free of charge and (c) 10% reduction to any weekend courses and events at Emerson College. 3. Create targeted fund raising scheme (particular initiatives, housing, etc) Estates development and planning group/emerson Housing Management 4. Refurbish Pixton (grade 2 and thus only requiring building control regulations): includes building 2 nd staircase; use for visiting staff accommodation; refurbish Orchard and Pixton Lodge 5. Obtain planning permission for Windmill and Linden, up to four new houses on the site of Windmill Cottages, further housing on Campus, business use, and a restaurant/shop Cash flow See pages 9 and 10 5

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11 The Team We are committed members of the Anthroposophical Movement. Our motivation is to ensure that the Emerson Campus remains a creative and transformative space for future generations. Fumiko Chikami is a biography work trainer active in Japan and other parts of the world. Her background is education, organic farming and individual and social development. Her connection with Emerson College began with the international storytelling symposium in 1995 followed by a training in biographical counselling at the Centre for Social Development. As an educational advisor she has introduced Emerson College to many people in Japan in the past. Over the last five years she, along with John Lees, has been co-ordinating Manichean seminars at the Healing Water Institute. Also, last summer, both Fumiko and John, together with an international team, successfully organized a worldwide biography conference which was hosted by Emerson College. In the new chapter of Emerson College she wishes to help to create a space for dialogue with an awareness of each other and the environment. John Lees has been involved in anthroposophy since the mid-1970s. He joined the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain in 1976, worked in Anthroposophical circles in London in the 1970s and 1980s and worked closely with Rev Evelyn Capel between 1987 and 1990 at Temple Lodge in London. He then trained as a counsellor and subsequently an academic and anthroposophic psychotherapist. He is Chair of Counsellors and Psychotherapists Working out of Anthroposophy and a researcher in mental health at the University of Leeds. Since 2002 he has been living just over a mile from Emerson and has helped to organize several projects which have taken place in the College. He believes that the Emerson site still has great potential for healing and self-discovery in our much damaged, and rapidly declining, world. So his vision for the project is to help this healing space to become a centre of individual, social and environmental healing and renewal. Robert Lord (BSc Pure Maths) was an Emerson student from 1973 to He studied sculpture with John Wilkes and went on to work as a lazure artist & colour consultant ( He was a Trustee of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain for nine years and is currently a Trustee of the Bio-dynamic Agricultural Association. He has been the convener of the AS in GB Outreach Group for about ten years organizing exhibitions brochures website and much else. He lectures on a variety of anthroposphical themes especially concerning the afterlife in connection with Near Death experiences and similar phenomena. His vision is that Emerson Village would be a microcosm of all that is successful in the UK anthroposophical movement. 11