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, our mode of governance, our committee structure, to cohousing philosophies, and to our process to move you toward becoming a resident. All prospective residents must complete this process prior to receiving the Offering Plan - the official prospectus on our Project as approved by the Office of the Attorney General of New York. After reviewing the Offering Plan, a prospective resident is Eligible to Apply to Purchase a unit in response to the Public Offering, when units are officially offered for sale. This process is not associated with any queue for unit selection, and does not guarantee the acquisition of a unit.

Bellingham Cohousing, Bellingham, WA.
33 households.

WHO WE ARE
Legacy Farm Cohousing (Ulster County Cohousing, LLC) is undertaking the development and construction of 29-41 duplex and single family homes in Ulster County, New York ("the Project"). We are a group of nine households (the "Cohesive Group") who have become Equity Members, ranging in age from -1 to 74. Equity Members have invested a substantial amount of money and time to further this Project. We are single, married, gay, straight, from various backgrounds, sharing a common goal to live in community on our 56+ acres of beautiful land in Rosendale.

The Cohesive Group is a term designated by the Office of the Attorney General of New York to denote the charter people in the Project. All in the Cohesive Group have been involved for one-four years and share an informed long-term perspective of this Project. Any Cohesive Group household may choose to invest in the Project and become an Equity Member at any time. As dictated by New York Law, Prospective Residents may not join the Cohesive Group.

ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
GENERAL CIRCLE
The General Circle consists of everyone in the Cohesive Group. Prospective Residents are encouraged to attend open General Circle Meetings. Prospective Residents who have not yet completed the Orientation Process are able to observe meetings, but need to hold their questions and comments for the appropriate time. Prospective Residents who have completed Phase I and have attended a Sociocracy training are invited to participate in all facets of the open meetings except consent rounds. Everyone attending General Circle meetings will have an opportunity to participate in the closing evaluation round.

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.

SOCIOCRATIC CONSENT METHOD
Legacy Farm Cohousing business is conducted according to the Sociocratic Consent Method. The principle of consent governs the decision-making process. Consent means that no General Circle Member has a reasoned and paramount objection to a proposal. The organization consists of committees, each of which defines its own aims, functions, and responsibilities. The committees operate according to the Sociocratic Method. Prospective Residents are expected to participate in the work of committees or working groups, as described below.

GENERAL CIRCLE MEETING SCHEDULE
Open General Circle meetings are held once each month. Please RSVP by the Thursday prior to the meeting to Ilyse Simon at ilysefood@yahoo.com or by calling 845 943-9005. Tell us who you are, how many of you will be attending. If you will be needing childcare, we need to know the number and ages of children attending. Because we have participants who are sensitive to perfumes & aftershaves, we ask you to refrain from wearing these at our meetings.

Inclement weather:
Call the Legacy Farm Cohousing voicemail at 845-943-9005 or check the web site for updates on meeting changes.

PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS/HOUSEHOLDS
A Prospective Resident is an adult (21 years or older) who is interested in purchasing a unit in the cohousing community. A Household is composed of one or more adults and their families residing in one unit. We have coined the term FOLC (Friends of Legacy Farm Cohousing) for Prospective Residents showing significant interest in our Project.

FOLC will have opportunities to:

• Discover compatibility of values with other FOLC and Equity Members.
• Become familiar with the Sociocratic Method.
• Take a tour of our community land.
• Observe and participate in committee and working group meetings.
• Attend trainings and workshops such as Sociocracy, Permaculture, and GreenBuilding.

The plateau with the white pine stand where
the units will be built.

ORIENTATION PROCESS
To become Eligible to Apply to Purchase a unit, one must complete the Orientation Process:

1. Attend an orientation session.

2. Read through this web site with particular attention to our Vision Statement.

3. Observe two open General Circle meetings and attend two community life events (social or educational gatherings) within six months.

4. Complete a Prospective Resident's profile/biography ("Getting To Know You").

5. Have a conversation with your Buddy regarding your interest in becoming a Friend of Legacy Farm Cohousing (FOLC)

6. Observe one or more committee or working group meetings.

7. Participate on a committee or working group. One adult from each household is required to participate on a committee or working group, as described above. This will help train prospects about Sociocracy and give an inside view of our process, which we will continue when our community is built. Membership, Community Life, and Rules and Regs are the current Committees available for participation. Working Groups are forming as we develop.

8. Engage in Self-Education about Cohousing, Community Building and Sociocracy:

• Familiarize yourself with the National Cohousing Listserv for insight on daily issues and process comments from other cohousing communities across the country.
  You may subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web or via email.
• Read A New Power Structure for Ethical Governance by Sharon Villines (or attend a Sociocracy workshop)
• Read Cohousing by McCamant & Durrett or The Cohousing Handbook by Chris ScottHanson
• Read Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian
• For those interested in learning more, there is also a bibliography of recommended optional readings on our web site.

Our farm field where we hope to establish
an organic farm.

ORIENTATION PROCESS CHECKLIST
1. Attended an orientation session
(date) ________

2. Attended two open General Circle Meetings
(dates)____________

3. Attended two Community Life events
(dates)____________

4. Submitted Prospective Resident Profile (Getting to Know You)
(date) ________

5. Participated in Buddy Conversation
(date) ________

6. Observed Committee or Working Group Meeting
(date/group)____________

7. Participated on a Committee or Working Group
(name)___________________

8. Attended a Sociocracy training or read A New Power Structure for Ethical Governance
(date) ________

9. Learned about Cohousing, Community Building and Sociocracy:

• _____Familiar with the National Cohousing listserv
• _____Read A New Power Structure for Ethical Governance by Sharon Villines or attended a Sociocracy workshop
• _____Read Cohousing by McCamant & Durrett or The Cohousing Handbook by Chris ScottHanson
• _____Read Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian

Upon completion of Orientation Process and learning about Sociocracy, all Prospective Residents may attend and participate in all open meetings and join in all discussion rounds other than consent rounds.

To begin the Orientation Process, contact us!