Besides the morass of degenerating house plans, many of us were now facing actual graduation from college. Being so rudely thrust into full-fledged adult life was pretty much the final nail in the coffin of the Blackwood commune.
I’d like to finish this reminiscence with a look at what life in the commune might have been like. We all knew that establishing rules up front was crucial to ensuring domestic tranquility, so we drafted a contract that all prospective members would agree to. Sadly, only the first three pages of this historic document now survive. I can’t remember if we never finished, or if the remaining pages were just lost.
HOUSE CONTRACT
I. The Community. Membership.
The Community is the body of persons inhabiting the House on
a permanent basis. The Community will consist of members and
dependents. Any others living in the House are guests (see I.G
below).
A. Members of the Community to date are:
James Purnell Davenport, Jr.
Elliot Thomas Grant
Peter Acton Hammond
John Parker Manwell III
Matthew James Shibla
Sheila Kent Smith
Katherine Irene Sullivan
Jon Claude Thomason
B. The only way to become a member is by a unanimous vote
of acceptance by all existing members.
1. Any member may nominate any non-member for
membership.
a. If a consensus vote of all members agrees to
the nomination, the prospective member (or
candidate) will become a member immediately upon
fulfilling the obligations of article I.B.4.
b. If a consensus vote denies membership, that's it.
c· Alternatively, the candidate will be allowed
to live in the house as a guest for a grace
period of one week. At the end of the grace
period, all members must reach a unanimous
decisian whether to accept the candidate as a
member, deny membership to the candidate, or
extend the grace period (exact length to be
determined by consensus). If the grace period is
extended, the same decision must be made at the
end of the new period specified.
2. Any non-member who is or will be the spouse of a
member (or common-law partner) is a candidate for
membership.
a. If the candidate is accepted, the couple is
entitled to inhabit a double bedroom in the House.
If one is available, the couple may take
possession immediately. If not, the Community is
under obligation to make one available (whether by
remodeling, addition, or internal moving).
i. If the marriage or partnership
subsequently dissolves and the ex-spouses
agree to continue living in the House, each
is entitled to a single bedroom.
a'. If both ex-spouses agree, one may
retain possession of the double bedroom
(unless a couple of members are waiting
for a double). If they cannot agree on
who will retain the double, both must
move to singles.
ii. If the marriage or partnership
subsequently dissolves and the ex-spouses
cannot agree to continue living in the House, all
members must reach a consensus decision on which or
both leave. Whoever leaves forfeits his/her membership
entirely and unconditionally.
a'. If all members feel that the House
fund (q.v.) will allow it, a
contribution will be made to the
departing individual(s) to enable them
to begin a life outside the community.
3. Any candidate denied membership may not be re-
nominated for a period of one year.
4. Any candidate accepted as a member must, if able,
make a contribution to either the House fund (q.v.) or
a departing member.
a. Ability to contribute shall be determined by
the existing members, as will the amount of the
contribution (said amount shall not exceed a
percentage of the House construction and
maintenance costs equal to the percentage of the
candidate's potential ownership).
b. The contribution may be paid over a period of
time (length to be determined by concensus vote of
all members). The original amount of contribution
will not increase from interest, inflation, or
other adjustment.
C. A member is entitled to a single bedroom to him/herself
or a double bedroom to be shared with the partner of her/his
choice (subject to I.B.1-2 above and I.G below).
D. Any member may choose to leave the community at any
time.
1. A member who chooses to leave the community
permanently forfeits her/his membership entirely and
unconditionally. Any money spent towards House
construction and maintenance is likewise forfeited.
a. If all members feel that the House fund (q.v.)
will allow it, a contribution will be made to the
departing individual to enable him/her to begin a
life outside the community.
b. Should that individual wish at any future time
to become a member again, he/she will be treated
as any other prospective member (see I.B.1-2).
i. Upon reacceptance, the individual must
return any contribution reeceived at his/her
departure.
2. A member who wishes to leave the community
temporarily for a period of fqur months or more must
receive approval from all other members.
a. During the member's absence, she/he must
continue to meet all financial obligations of
membership. Failure to do so will result in a
loss of membership.
E. Should a member, by his behavior or temperment, prove
impossible to live with, a concensus vote by all other
members can strip him/her of membership.
1. If all members feel that the House fund (q.v.) will
allow it, a contribution will be made to the departing
individual to enable him/her to begin a life outside
the community. As with voluntary departure, all money
spent towards House construction and maintenance is
forfeited.
F. Individuals who are younger than 18 years and/or do not
share the Community's financial obligations are dependents.
G . Any individual living in the house and not belonging to
the Community is a guest.
II. Responsibilities.
Each member must make available towards construction
(including purchase of land, equipment, labor, legal fees, etc.,
up until the the community
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