Recorded Copy

Doc #  0243441

07/21/2006

Lander County, Nv

COVENANTS,

CONDITIONS &

RESTRICTIONS

For:  Section 27, T29N, R45E

APN 07-690-01 to 07-690-15

Located in Lander County,

State of Nevada

THIS DECLARATION:  made this _____day of  ________, 2006 by Cedarwood Camp Ltd. LLC, hereinafter referred to as “Declarant.”

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS:  Declarant is the owner of certain property in Lander County, Nevada which is described as Section 27, T29N, R45E; APN 07-690-01 to 07-690-15.

NOW THEREFORE:  Declarant hereby declares that all of the Property shall be held, sold and conveyed subject to the following covenants, conditions and restrictions which are for the purpose of protecting and enhancing the value, desirability and attractiveness of all Parcels, which shall run with the land and be binding on all parties having any rights, title or interest in the Property, or any part thereof, their heirs, successors and assign, and shall inure to the benefit of each Owner thereof. 

ARTICLE ONE

 PURPOSE OF THESE COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.

The Purpose of these Covenants is to:

• Provide a basic outline of the Sage Valley Community;
• Define the Principles, Preferences and Boundaries that will apply to the caretakers of this land;
• Provide a foundation for relating in healthy balance with the local ecology and landscape;
• Provide a lightly organized structure for Community Members to interrelate regarding issues of mutual concern;

Those further details necessary for the implementation of the Principles, Preferences and Boundaries expressed within this Document will be more fully expressed within the Community Tradition as worked out by the Members of the Community.  The Community Tradition refers to whatever written or oral form the Community Members wish to express their standards for living together within the framework of these Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.

ARTICLE TWO

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is the creation of a solar-powered Community of privately owned plots with eco-friendly homes.  We envision a Heart Connected Community that co creates:

• in interdependence with one another and the broader community of life;
• in a simple manner close to the earth;
• in a way that combines the benefits of free autonomous living (privacy, freedom of personal choice) with the benefits of communal living (community support, companionship, connection and sense of shared cultural identity)
• in a way that creates continuous opportunities for personal, communal and global healing, learning and growth
• in a way that is a joyful celebration of life, in both its challenges and triumphs

ARTICLE THREE

PRIORITIES

These Priorities are in their order of importance as factors in all Community decisions.  Each Priority is stated below in its ideal form, with the understanding that members are committed to the process of moving their lives towards these ideals.

1. Peace Principles

·         Always Work for Peace

·         Always Work for Unity

·         Always Carry a Good Message

2. Heart Connecting

·         New Ways of Learning and Growth

·         Commitment to experiencing a Heart Connection with all of Life

·         Personal Accountability, Self Reflection and Growth

·         Commitment to Listening as a form of Potent Healing and Discovery

3. A Web as our Organizational Model

·         Shared Responsibility and Power

·         Dynamically Balanced

·         Co Creating with Nature

·         Interconnectedness of our Membership

4. Ecological Stewardship

·         Energy & Resource Efficiency

·         Healthy Land, Plant and Animal Relations

·         Integrated Scenic Profile

·         Sanctuary Atmosphere: Visual, Auditory, Social and Spiritual Harmony

5. Solar Power

·         Alternative and Sustainable Housing Styles

·         Minimizing our dependence on imported resources.

6. Individual Journeys

·         Support for the Individual Needs, Styles and Preferences of each Member

·         Recognition that each Member may wish to engage in Community Functions or may wish to live a more Private Life Style. 

7. Cultural Innovation

·         Openness to participating in Communal Projects and being a Good Neighbor

·         Living a New/Ancient Social Model

·         Openness to Outreach for Healing, Education etc… outside the Community

ARTICLE FOUR

THE WAY OF PEACE

The Sage Valley Community works to embody interdependence & communal growth by applying the Peace Principles in all matters.  These Principles were given to the Iroquois Nation and other traditional cultures by the Great Peacemaker.  

These Peace Principles refer to our relationship with our fellow Community Members, the Minerals, the Plants, the Animals, the Land, the Universe, and perhaps most importantly, with and within the Self. 

The Peace Principles simply stated are:

1)  Always Work for Peace.

2)  Always Work for Unity.

3)  Always Carry a Good Message.

The Peace Principles in Depth:

1) Always Work for Peace.

The Community recognizes the term “Peace” as carrying a meaning passed down from the teachings of the Peacemaker, that is to say, not only an absence of war, but the creation and maintenance of the Harmonious Balance of All Things. This form of Peace is signified by the healthy and vibrant functioning of the individual & society through the creation and maintenance of traditions and societal structures that work socially, politically, economically, culturally and spiritually.

2)  Always Work for Unity. 

The Community recognizes the meaning of this principle that each Member is more committed to the Unity of the tribe than to his or her own ideas of how a thing should be done.  Each Member is responsible for holding and speaking their Truth, honoring their own personal Health and personal Wisdom and offering these precious gifts to the group with a willingness to be fully Heard, and then Releasing Attachment to one’s own Ideas and Preferred Outcomes as the Community works to find what Choices work best in the Balance of All Things. 

3)  Always Carry a Good Message.

This Principle indicates the Power of the Word.  With the thoughts we hold and words we speak, we create the reality of our world.  Thus, to create a Peaceful reality, we must carry a Good Message.  That means to think and speak of all beings, including others, the self, institutions, cultures, members of the community of life, in a positive, life-building manner.

It is important to note that “Good Message” is not meant as a moral judgment, but rather as a functional preference. Carrying a Good Message is important simply because it Works.

No one is responsible for anyone else’s Good Message, but their own. Judgment of someone’s message is, in itself a form of a “Poor Message”.

The Way of Peace includes personal integrity and clarity of personal intention.  It is important that there is a congruency between what is happening inside one’s head and what one is manifesting to the outside world. 

ARTICLE FIVE

HEART CONNECTION

&

WEB

This Community is based on a Heart Connection between the members.  It is a priority for members to approach each other with open Hearts; to receive and support each other from this positive healing place.  We are committed to curiosity, vulnerability and gratitude.   With these ideals as our foundation we can sustain the process of a positive cultural model.

The Community recognizes that our organization is more clearly defined as a web than a hierarchal pyramid.  Everyone is on the same level in terms of importance, leadership and power.  The only differentiations are of Attention (in the case of the Community Stewards), and such roles are taken on voluntarily in service to the Web.  Members are similar to a thread in a spider’s web and as such, all members are equal in their import, no matter how much responsibility or leadership they choose to take on.  Movements, thoughts and actions by one person affect everyone else in the web.  The maintenance of this web is a dynamic balance between Earth, Spirit and all of the Membership.  It requires everyone to be coming from their Truth at all times and it requires everyone to honor the other member’s Truth. 

The organization of the web is a pattern that encourages everyone to step into their power, voice their feelings, and honor and share their gifts.

The maintenance of this Web is also based on a Heart Connection with all of Life.  A commitment to this Heart Connection is fundamental to the goals of the Community and will be supported by an atmosphere of learning, and self reflection for individuals and the whole community as paths towards greater understanding of how the Web works.

We are engaging in the process of acknowledging the power of our hearts and our purpose on Earth in order to:

·         more deeply understand the way we are all connected

·         increase our understanding of co-creation

·         embody and demonstrate a new consciousness  

We recognize that our ‘education’ to this point in our lives may not have led us to a deep connection to, bonding with and understanding of the Natural World.  We will be working together to define and fill this inner void.

ARTICLE SIX

ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP

The Community holds a central value of Ecological Stewardship, next in priority to the Peace Principles, the Heart Connection and the Web. We will be guided by listening deeply to the rhythms of the Earth and the Animals to make the choices as to how we will live and interface with this land for the future generations.

The Community defines Ecological Stewardship as a personal and communal intent to live with

• Consciousness of the effect that all human choices have on the ecological balance as expressed by plant, animal and elemental (water, soil etc…) health
• Conscious Intent to make Choices that, to the best of one’s ability, minimize the negative impact on the surrounding Ecological Balance
• Conscious Intent to make Choices that, to the best of one’s ability, maximize the positive impact and rejuvenative effects on the surrounding Ecological Balance
• Conscious Intent and Openness to Personally and Communally connect to the Natural Landscape, Flora and Fauna through Gratitude, Story, Ceremony, Work and Play

ARTICLE SEVEN

SOLAR POWER

The Sun will be the main power source for heating our homes and our water in the Sage Valley Community.  There are many ways to accomplish this.  All members are encouraged to bring new ideas to the community so as time passes we will become a center of Solar Power Information for anyone interested.

We will explore alternative housing styles, new building designs and any possibilities that arise which may lead to a more holistic lifestyle.  This includes finding the most efficient means of using the resources offered to us by the Earth and Sky. 

ARTICLE EIGHT

OWNERSHIP PROCESS

Anyone contemplating the purchase of land in this Community must be committed to the  Priorities, Principles, Preferences and Boundaries set forth in this document.  Potential owners must contact each of the Directional Stewards and have an in depth discussion with that Steward about the implications of their being an Owner/Caregiver of land in this Community. 

This process will evolve further in the Community Tradition as it develops according to the attention of the initial Owners.  This process is to protect everyone involved.  If any of the parties involved in these discussions feels a lack of Balance then additional discussions and visitations to Sage Valley by a Potential Owner may be called for.  If a Steward feels the situation is not in Balance regarding a Potential Owner, the Steward may call for a general meeting of the Community and the Potential Owner.  If the Potential Owner does not act in accordance with the Principals of the Community as decided by 80% of the community, the land will not be sold.

Potential Owners recognize the hazards of living in this area of Nevada, which include inclement weather, dangerous reptiles and animals, dehydration, etc.  Potential Owners realize that there are no mineral rights with this land and that a well and septic must be completed prior to the issuance of a building permit.  There are grazing leases in effect and Nevada is an open range state.  The grazing rights are reserved by Cedarwood Camp Ltd, llc for the benefit of the community as a whole.

Once a parcel is purchased, the new Owners will be introduced to the Community via the Steward of the East with the appropriate Welcoming, Ceremony and Feasting.  The integration process will be further detailed in the Community Tradition. 

Suggested reading for Potential Owners of Land in Sage Valley is “Ishmael” (and other books) by Daniel Quinn and “The Spirit of Intimacy” (and other books) by Sobonfu Some.  These two books capture the Spirit and the Direction that this Community is headed. Additional educational resources will unfold via the Community Tradition.

ARTICLE NINE

PREFERENCES AND BOUNDARIES

The Boundaries set forth below are mandatory and the Preferences are recommended conduct (see Article 14).

Chapter 1: Buildings

Boundaries:

• The Lander County Building and Zoning Codes are in full force and effect in Sage Valley.  The Zoning presently is a minimum of 20 acres per home.  Two homes can be put on any 40 acre lot. 
• For the purposes of Energy Efficiency and Low Scenic Profile, all buildings in Sage Valley must be partially in the ground or bermed up with earth.  All buildings must have 3 of the 4 walls a minimum of 1 foot into the Earth or bermed with Earth.  That is the level of the floor must be a minimum of 1 foot below the earth level at the side of the building on three sides or 70% of the perimeter must have earth 1 foot above the floor level.
• No building can rise more than 16 feet above the pre existing ground level.  That is the highest point of any building can not rise more than 16 feet above the average height of the pre existing ground imprint where the building is built.  The lowest possible building height is preferred.
• No buildings can have galvanized metal roofing or side walls.
• All roofing materials must be white or of earth tone colors.  No bright colored roofing is allowed.  Roofing may be metal, shingles, tiles, transparent materials or living earth.
• There are no minimum or maximum building sizes.  Note that fully underground buildings are allowable but most buildings will probably have a conventional roof with earth bermed on the sides as noted above.
• All buildings, barns, sheds, for any use must conform to the standards set forth herein. 
• Building plans must be available to members of the community and the community stewards for review before sending to the county for approval.
• No trailers over 32 feet in length are allowed at any time for any reason in Sage Valley.
• Manufactured homes, double wide trailers or modular homes are not allowed in Sage Valley.
• In order to access the overall visual impact of any building, a preconstruction silhouette must be made with 4 corner poles to define the perimeter and wall height with additional poles if necessary to define the roof line.  This framework must be in place for 7 days for community review before submitting construction details to obtain a building permit.  This is for the owner and the community to have a visual sense of the impact of the structure on the overall setting of Sage Valley.
• There are no time limitations for the start of construction.
• Any building must be completed within 2 years of the issuance of a building permit by Lander County.  Please plan ahead and design your building size to meet your budget and time constraints so you will have an adequate living area within 2 years.  Additions can be added to a basic structure if necessary.

Preferences:

• Insulation is R-40 walls, R-60 ceilings for the purposes of Energy Efficiency.
• Insulating shutters to be installed on all windows.
• All buildings to be of one story.
• The floors be 2 or more feet below the ground level at the sides of the building
• Buildings to incorporate the principles of thermal mass in their design.

Chapter 2: Motor Vehicles

Boundaries:

• There is to be no outside storage of unlicensed motor vehicles or trailers.   This includes motor homes and camping trailers.  Farm equipment etc. can be stored outside.  Each lot can have a maximum of one unlicensed operational farm truck stored outside. 

Preferences:

• Everyone agrees to a speed limit of 25 mph on all roads within the Sage Valley Community. 
• Licensed motor homes & trailers are stored where there is minimal visual impact to the entire Valley.

Chapter 3: Waste Management

Boundary:

·       Littering is not acceptable, this includes everything from candy wrappers and cigarette butts to cans, bottles, old appliances etc.

Preference:

• Recycling and composting, where feasible, is preferable.
• Wherever possible, organic cleaning compounds be used (soaps, detergents etc…)

Chapter 4: Land Use

Boundary:

·         General accumulation of any kind of building materials, personal effects, junk or rubbish on the landscape outside of buildings is not allowed.

·         Motorized vehicles, atv’s and/or motorcycles are to be kept to roads or operation on one’s own lands keeping in mind Chapter 5 regarding noise.

·         The natural vegetation must be preserved as much as possible.  All grading, excavation and building shall reflect the goal of protecting the natural vegetation and ecosystem.  Overgrazing of the landscape is not allowed.   Firebreaks as noted below are necessary. 

Preference:

• Organic fertilizers are preferable wherever possible.
• All community members may walk or ride a horse throughout the property in a respectful manner and at a distance of 200 or more feet from any building.  Each community member is responsible for communicating their personal stance regarding use of their land by the community for such purposes. Unless stated otherwise, this guideline will be expected.
• There may be a need for small transmission stations to relay electronic information throughout the Community.  Persons with the appropriate sites are asked to allow that usage on their land.
• There are patterns of livestock and animal movement through this land.  Members of this Community are asked to work with the local ranchers when installing fencing to not disrupt major livestock and animal movement.
• Any fencing constructed to limit livestock movement is to be built according to accepted fencing standards in the State of Nevada.
• Sacred Sites or any other resource beneficial to the whole community that is located on a Members’ personal property be allowed for communal and ceremonial use.
• The Sage Valley Community recognizes that the lines drawn on the subdivision map do not supersede the integrity of the Sage Valley Ecosystem.

Chapter 5: Noise

Boundaries:

• Any noise from any source that is continually disrupting the serenity of Sage Valley is not allowed
• Continuous noise from a domestic animal that is annoying to a neighbor is not allowed. Brief noise from domestic animals is acceptable. 

• The discharge of rifles, pistols or any kind of firearms is not allowed in the Sage Valley Community.  There is ample BLM land nearby for this activity.

Preferences:

• No sources of audible sound from one building that can be heard at a neighbors building at a level of 50 or more decibels except from the hours of 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. (ie loud music, partying, tools, barking dogs or other domestic animals, generators etc…)
• Noise from construction & farming activities done at times agreeable to surrounding community members.

Chapter 6: Occupancy

Boundary:

• Camping trailers, travel trailers, house trailers, and motor homes can only be occupied as a living space during the construction phase of your home building with an active building permit.  Licensed trailers and motor homes can be parked on your land after construction for use outside of Sage Valley.

Preference:

• It is not the intention of this community to have a large number of people living in any single family home.  Lived in is defined as occupying a building for eating and/or sleeping for more than 60 days per year.   
• This community prefers that no more than 4 unrelated people live in a home. 
• This community prefers that the maximum lived in occupancy of any home is a mother, father, their sons and daughters and 3 other people 
• Any number of people may stay for up to 60 days per year as guests in any home.

Chapter 7:  Animals and Nature Conservancy

Boundary:

·         All domesticated animals, pets, horses, livestock etc must be treated in a humane fashion.

·         No animal shall be allowed to become a public nuisance or serious threat to other members of our community.

·         All manure and animal waste must be disposed of in a manner that is not offensive to other members of the community or the ecosystem.

·         Animals shall not be kept in a manner that leads to excessive damage to the ecosystem.

Preference:

• Should the occasion arise, members would consider sharing their lands for holistic grazing management and animal welfare.

Chapter 8: Commercial Enterprises

Boundary:

·         Any large scale commercial enterprise is subject to community review.  Home occupations and cottage industries are allowed. 

·         Any business operated outside of the walls of your home and garage that grosses in excess of $20,000 per year is subject to community review.  There is no limit to business conducted within the confines of a normal house and two car garage.

·         Any business that requires a separate building aside from your home and two car garage is subject to community review. 

·         If necessary, the 80% voting procedure will answer unsolvable issues.

Chapter 9: Fire

Boundary:

·         All fires are to be built in a contained, safe, respectful manner due to the inherent fire danger of this ecosystem.   At certain times of the year fires require special permits.

·         Fire breaks must be built and maintained around all buildings.

Chapter 10: Personal Behavior

Boundary:

·         All behaviors within the community must abide by the city, county, state and federal legalities.

Chapter 11: Gatherings

Preference:

• Gatherings or Parties will be held in a respectful manner in the spirit of Sage Valley.

Chapter 12: Ceremony & Spiritual Practice

Boundary:

• Spiritual practices or ceremonies that prohibit or exhibit judgment or degradation of the spiritual path, gender, sexual orientation, race or appearance of other individuals or spiritual practices are prohibited
• Spiritual practices that includes degrading (in actuality or in attitude) of the Natural World.are prohibited.

Preference:

• All ceremony and spiritual practice includes an honoring on some level of the Natural World.

ARTICLE TEN

OUR COMMUNITY

The following Community Recognitions are articulated to create a deeper communal frame of reference for honoring all Truths relating to Community Life.

Mission Statement

The Community recognizes the need for the Awareness that Balance is a Dynamic, Ever Changing, Flowing State.

The Community recognizes that there is no one right way to manifest our Mission. Therefore, we will be in constant pursuit of finding what works best in each circumstance.

The Community recognizes that starting a Community in a new climate, with new people presents a number of challenges, The Community recognizes that “getting to know” each other and this place will be important and will take time, energy, attention and intention.

The Community recognizes the importance of Clarity . As such, all members are asked to strive for Clarity of Intention and Clarity of Communication in all aspects of relating.

The Peace Principles

The Community recognizes that the Peace Principles were born of another Culture, under specific circumstance, at another Time & Place and seeks to adjust the Teachings in a way that their Essence is Accessible and Transferable to the Experience of Life at Sage Valley.

Membership

The Community recognizes that the process of the Community choosing a Member and a Member choosing the Community is one that will require time, energy, attention and intention.

Using our Local Resources

The Community intends to make the most efficient use of local renewable resources as possible.  We will work with this land and ecosystem to live in this place in a sustainable fashion.

Grief and Grievances

The Community recognizes that, in many traditional societies, the systems in place for dealing with Grief & Grievances revolved around the accumulated cultural, traditional and personal wisdom often carried by Councils of and Individual Elders.

The Community recognizes that the experience of being wounded and healing, experiencing loss, grief & condolence are all aspects of the human journey.

The Community may form a Healing Council to meet and discuss ways to Recognize and Condole Grief.  The Community will be open to whatever opportunities arise to incorporate the healing of Grief into our lifestyle.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

COMMUNITY STEWARDS

The Role of the Community Stewards is a voluntary position of Attention and Service to the Web of the Community. The role is as follows:

Facilitation:

The Community Steward is responsible for Facilitating Opportunities and Open Forums for Addressing Issues related to their Direction by those Members of the Community that want to take Action, Leadership or Contribute in any way to the Manifestation of Peace and Balance regarding those issues.

Care-Giving:

The Community Steward is responsible for taking care of any and all materials related to the Energies of their Direction.

The Community Steward is also responsible for taking care of the Energy itself. That means, when issues are being discussed, or simply existing in the course of Community Life, the Community Steward is responsible for keeping present the Questions, Considerations, Responsibilities and Actions of their Direction and Keeping Tabs on the Balance of those Issues related to their Direction primarily and related to the other Directions as necessary.

Assistance:

The Community Steward is responsible for Assisting any Community Member that feels drawn to taking Leadership or Action in regards to their Direction in such a way that allows that Action and Leadership to best be channeled towards the Harmonious Balance of the Community. This may mean actual activity, or simply acting as a Point Person for whomever feels an Inspiration regarding any particular Issue.

Safe-Guarding:

The Community Stewards are responsible for safe-guarding the integrity of the Community Priorities. This is mostly in regards to the handling of Manifesting Projects proposed by any Community Member that has the potential to effect other members or the land’s experience of the Community Priorities (ie building a structure, creating a community tradition, limit or structure, holding an event to the outside world).

Advising:

The Community Stewards gather in Council for in depth processing of any Community issues to come up with Advice that may be useful to the Community in making decisions. The Stewards are in advisory capacity only, and do not have decision-making power.

These definitions and structures are general so that they may be expanded or adjusted according to what works best in the practical realm.  Additional clarification will be found in the written form of the Community Tradition.

The following Responsibilities of Leadership, Power and Wisdom are not held by Community Stewards:

• Leadership: The Community Steward is not, by rights, a Community Leader. The Community Steward has as much right as any other Community Member to take Leadership on an issue or activity for which they feel so Inspired. Whatever Leadership they choose to take is as a Community Member and not by rights of their role as Community Steward.

• Action: The Community Steward isn’t responsible for making things happen in the Community. Rather, they are there to make sure whatever needs to happen can happen in a Good and Balanced way. All Members share equal in responsibility for making the Community what it needs to be in the spirit of co creation.

• Power: The Community Steward has no more decision-making power than any other Community Member. No Member in the community has authority over another.

• Wisdom: A Community Steward does not, by right rights of their position, carry Wisdom for the Community. The Community Stewards are chosen as persons willing to learn about and to work with the powers of their Direction and to assist the Community to the best of their ability from this place.

Bill Record will begin holding the Northern position and will choose the first of the next three Stewards, the Steward in the East. Together, these two will choose the next, the Steward in the South, together, these three will choose the next the Steward of the West.  Bill Record will act in the capacity of any missing Stewards as the Community starts to grow. 

The initial Stewards will serve until the Steward of the West is chosen.  Starting from this date, the Steward in the East will serve for 6 months, the Steward in the South for 1 year, the Steward in the West for 18 months and the Steward in the North for 2 years.  Each six months one Steward chair will be up for renewal and each Steward will serve for 2 years.  A new Steward will be chosen by the consensus of the existing four Stewards.

Responsibilities of the Directional Energies  

These responsibilities are a starting point and will be expanded or modified as the community grows and gains experience in the functioning of the Circle of Stewards. 

Eastern Steward-New Beginnings

• New projects at Sage Valley including review of building plans.
• Inspirations and New Ideas of Community Members
• New Members, Visitors, Getting to Know each other and the local ecosystem and broader community
• Settling in to the Community
• Hazards of any sort.

Southern Steward-Action

• Any project that needs Work Parties or Gathering of Materials
• Financial Interaction, anything that has to do with the Community Economy, Bartering, and Employment (including anything to do with Gardening, Water sources...anything that is about how one earns their living)
• Shelter and Earth, and so, all issues of Shelter and Community Infrastructure
• Directing the written form of the Community Tradition as it unfolds, including finding assistance in this area.

Western Steward-Completion

• Completion of projects and ideas. 
• Any event that needs Cleaning up or wrapping up in any way
• Coming together of Members for Fun and Celebration
• Introspection on the personal or Communal level
• Community programming

Northern Steward-the Big Picture

• Anything having to do with the Community Process and Association
• Overview of the entire Community
• Overseeing any meetings of the Community Association.
• Initiating the Remedy and Consequence process for any Boundary crossed
• Responsibility for managing the voting procedure if an issue must be resolved by a vote.
• Accumulation of traditions, stories and cultural wisdom to be passed down for posterity
• Relating to the world outside of the Community
• Learning and Knowledge
• Spiritual Growth and the spiritual side of any project
• Responsibility of any unassigned, or untended to positions 
• Stewarding the training and smooth running of the Transitory Elderhood

The Diagonal Axes (Southeast, Southwest, Northwest and Northeast)

NOTE:  Though not initially part of the Stewards Council, as the Community grows, additional Stewards may be selected to represent these and other energies by full consensus of the existing Stewards.

• Honoring personal and communal Transformation
• Processing Grief, both personal and ancestral
• Rites of Passage
• Ceremonies
• Inner Work and Growth
• Communication
• Gratitude
• Honoring of the Land
• Healing and Medicine

Should any Steward act in a manner that is not within the principles of the Sage Valley Community that Steward can be asked to resign or be removed from the position by an 80%vote of the shareholders and residents.  If the Steward of the North is in question, the vote will be managed by another Steward who volunteers for the task.

A Steward may take on two positions only as a temporary measure in the case that another Steward is unable to fulfill their responsibilities. Temporary is not defined by a certain time amount, but by the fact that, if, at any point, a Steward is carrying two positions, it then becomes a top priority of the whole Council to find an appropriate replacement or some other such solution.

ARTICLE TWELVE

CREATING AND MANIFESTING

A Community Member can Create and Manifest for Healing, Community Building, Fun, Functional Improvement, Conflict Resolution or any other Purpose.

Community Creating & Manifesting is Guided by the Community Stewards. Anytime a Community Member would like to Create or Manifest something that has Community-wide effect, they first go to the Community Steward of the related direction to receive Facilitation and Assistance in conceptualizing the idea, getting the word out to the community and actualizing the space. This is also an opportunity for the Community Steward to document anything that might be worth doing so for posterity.

It is the responsibility of the Community Stewards to makes sure that any Member’s approach to Creating and Manifesting remains in support of the Principles, Preferences or Boundaries of the Community. If there is any concern, a Steward may pause the forward motion for discussion among the full Steward Council.

In such cases, a Member may not implement ideas outside of their personal property until all concerns have been worked out between them and the Steward Council. The Council must be in support of the effort with 100% consensus.

All members are free to create whatever manner of opportunities within the autonomy of their homes and land without going through the Community Steward, so long as it does not infringe on any of the Community’s Principles, Preferences or Boundaries.

The responsibility for the success of the Community, both the large scale development and the nitty gritty details is in the hands of the Community Members themselves. If something needs addressing, each person is endowed with the potential, to take responsibility and leadership for following through to creating the appropriate opportunity.

Thus, if any intention or concept set forth in this document is not able to manifest in the daily realities of community life, it is up to those Members that notice the incongruence to “make a space” for the issue to be raised, brainstormed and addressed.  All Members agree to take responsibility and leadership, through the appropriate community channels for Addressing, Creating and Manifesting Solutions for any issues or needs that the Member feels need attention.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REMEDY AND CONSEQUENCES

The Community recognizes that, even when making space for Peace to live, we are human, life is challenging, and conflicts can and do arise.  In the event that any of the Community Boundaries are crossed or other situations arise the following procedure will be followed to restore the Balance. The Community acknowledges the importance of embodying solutions that are systemic as well as immediate stop-gap, band-aid solutions to any problem.

Should any problem arise that is beyond the scope of an individual to solve, the problem is brought first to the Transitory Elders, and if it still needs more Community attention, it is then brought to the Community Stewards.  The Community Stewards will review any issues that come up and work towards the goal of a Remedy for the Situation that restores the Balance, Peace and Harmony.

In the event that Remedy can not be found through a means of Healing or other such Agreements, after careful study with all members voicing their ideas in the Remedy Process, then the Stewards are authorized to initiate a process of Consequence.  Stewards must come to full consensus amongst themselves regarding the appropriate Consequence.  The Consequence is then put to a vote of the shareholders with an 80% majority necessary to enforce the Consequence.  Consequences may include fines, responsibility revoking, denial of privileges or exile, though still in the spirit of restoring Balance in the Community.  An 80% majority vote by the shareholders can be enforced by attaching liens to a property if the owner will not pay the fine.  Fines are to be donated to a worthy cause outside of the Sage Valley Community. 

Should a desire for blame, judgment, punishment or repentance surface even after the problem itself has been considered resolved, it is a sign that Healing, Condoling, Grief and Reconciliation are still Needed and it is the responsibility of the Stewards to make sure there is energy put into addressing these feelings. Therefore, the Community embraces the continuous question regarding any issue, problem or conflict, “What can we learn from this issue that we can use to improve the way in which the Community functions?”

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFINITIONS

Preference

A Preference is any practice or behavior that is seen to afford, in general, benefit to the Community. It is suggestive in nature and indicates an area where every member is encouraged to find the most appropriate way to express their choices in the best possible accordance with the Priorities.

It is the responsibility of the Community Stewards to observe if ignorance of any Preferences is causing tensions or problems and it is the responsibility of the Stewards to make space to address the issue in such cases.

If preferences are not adhered to, there will only be recourse if any Community Members take issue with the associated behavior or practice.    

Boundary

A Boundary is a NON-NEGOTIABLE line that the Community draws according to those behaviors or practices that are agreed to be against the best interests of the Community.  Crossing a Boundary will result in actions that will lead towards Remedy or Consequences, Remedy being the preferred path.

It is the responsibility of the Members and the Stewards to observe if any Boundaries are being crossed and to make space to address this issue towards Remedy (as described below).

Boundaries are choices made by the Community towards the ends of creating a certain kind of living experience. They are not an issue of right or wrong, they are simply an issue of what this Community chooses to be. Therefore, they are non-debatable and non-negotiable. If a Member takes issue with a Boundary, it is simply an indicator that the Community and the Member may not be an appropriate match for each other. All parcel owners must fully read and understand the Preferences and Boundaries established by this community and be in agreement with these Preferences and Boundaries before purchasing land at Sage Valley.

Co Creation

Co Creation is a recognition of the Power of Spirit as a source for inspiration and guidance in any decision making process.

Heart Connection

Heart Connection is the energetic connection between our deepest selves and the deepest self of whoever we are addressing, person, animal, plant or mineral.

Community Steward

The Community Stewards are an Advisory and Administrative Council in service to the Community and arranged according to the Four Point Medicine Wheel.  Community Stewards carry the responsibilities of Facilitation, Care-Giving, Assistance, Safe-Guarding and Advising.  A Steward is a volunteer who has no specific power or authorization to speak for the Community as a whole.

Transitory Elders

A Transitory Elder is a person who has volunteered to be available as an impartial, empathetic, open ear, allowing any person the space to process any personal and/or communal challenges, especially where there are potentially negative thoughts and feelings towards the end of finding how it can all be channeled back to the ways of Peace as well as potential Healing, Growth and Learning.

Transitory Elderhood means that the Archetypal Elder is momentarily embodied by the Volunteer when that volunteer is called upon by another member or members to serve in that Capacity.

The skills and guidelines of a Transitory Elder are further detailed in the Community Tradition and a separate training will be offered to those wishing to offer themselves in such a service.  Transitory Elderhood is available to all individuals who feel called to offer themselves in service, regardless of age, sex, race etc…

All volunteers are held accountable to their Role without regulation, enforcement or contract, as a Member will obviously only approach those volunteers with whom they feel comfortable, enriched, safe and confident.

When working in their capacity, Transitory Elders are responsible for setting up and securing a location to support the work at hand.

Remedy

The Community holds a value of Remedy in all situations in which conflict or discordance exists. The approach of Remedy is to take whatever measures necessary to reinstate Peace and to Heal any damage or trauma incurred through the conflict. Remedy does not include blame, punishment or revenge

It is the responsibility of the Community Stewards to lead the Community Process of finding the appropriate measures necessary to achieve Remedy in any particular situation. Such measures must be approved by 100% consensus of the Stewards. Any such measures that come in the form of Consequences (as described below) will require an 80% vote of support by the Shareholders and Resident Members.

The Community also embraces one step beyond Remedy, that is to say, Improvement. In addition to the pursuit of a restoration of Balance and a Healing of any Trauma, the Community will use all Discordance as an opportunity to reflect as individuals and as a Community towards the Goal of Community Improvement.

Consequence

A Consequence is an appropriate action taken by the Community as a whole if a Member, Owner or Shareholder exceeds any of the Principles, Preferences or Boundaries set forth in this document.  These Consequences may include fines, liens, etc.  Owners hereby agree in the Spirit of Peace and Unity to accept any Consequences that are presented by an 80% vote of the Shareholders and Resident Members.

It is the responsibility of the Community Stewards to Create the process of Acceptance of such consequences if and when there is difficulty doing so as well as for making sure the Community learns something from the experience towards the ends of Continuous Improvement.

Membership Definitions

A)  Member

A Member of the Sage Valley Community is anyone who is living on the land for any period of time who agrees to the Principles, Preferences and Boundaries of the Community or anyone who has visited Sage Valley, or anyone who simply connects with our Vision.  A person can consider themselves a Member of the Sage Valley Community even if they are located outside the physical area of Sage Valley as long as they are living the Principles, Preferences and Boundaries of this Community.

B)  Owner

An Owner of the Sage Valley Community is a person whose name appears as an owner on the deed to a parcel of land.  There may be more than one Owner of a parcel.  The Owners of the land are responsible for any occupants or visitors to insure that they comply with our Principles, Preferences and Boundaries. 

C)  Shareholder

A shareholder is the owner who represents all the owners of any one parcel.  The shareholder is the person who votes for the parcel in any Community Decision.  The parcel may be of any size from 20 acres up.  Each parcel has one vote in Community Decision Making and the shareholder is the person who brings that vote to the Steward of the North.

D)  Resident Member

A Resident Member is a person who is an owner and who has lived at Sage Valley for 90 out of the previous 120 days prior to a vote on an issue.  A  Resident Member has a vote on any issue.  There is a maximum of 2 Resident Members per parcel.  There can be a maximum of 3 votes per parcel one vote by the shareholder and one vote by each of two Resident Members.  If a parcel has two owners and two of those owners are residents, those 2 owners each have a vote and the Shareholder for that parcel has a vote.  A person can be a Resident Member and a Shareholder with a total of 2 votes from that one person.  If a parcel has a single owner and that owner is a Resident Member, that person has two votes on any issue.  If a parcel has more than two owners and more than two resident members, they must decide amongst themselves who will have the two resident member votes and who will have the shareholder vote.   In this instance, the three votes must be cast by three different people.

E)  Supporting Member

A person who has contributed financially or otherwise to the growth of Sage Valley can be recognized by the Community as a Supporting Member. 

The Sage Valley Community Association

The Sage Valley Community Association will be the forum used to meet and discuss and arbitrate any concerns of a community nature.  Meetings of the Association will be called for and chaired by the Steward of the North. 

There are no Association dues at this time.  If the Association decides to purchase land and build a community building this will be coordinated and dues assigned by the decision of the Association members at that time.  (80 % majority vote)

Community Traditions

This term refers to the Document or Oral Tradition that will evolve to define and clarify the Community as it evolves from the cultural threads woven by these Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.  As the Community develops the Steward of the South will oversee the writing of a Traditions Document to address the implementation of the details of these Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.  This Document is subject to an 80% majority vote.

80% Majority Voting Procedure

To carry a majority vote in any decision of the Community an 80% majority of the available votes is necessary.  The definition of 80% is as follows.  The number of available votes is multiplied by .80.  The resulting number is not likely to be a whole number.  This number is made into a whole number by removing the numbers after the decimal point.  If there are 11 available votes, .80 times 11 is 8.8 which is rounded off to 8; so 8 votes of the 11 must be in agreement for any actions to be taken.  If there are 34 available votes, .80 times 34 is 27.2 which is rounded off to 27 so 27 of the 34 votes must be in agreement for any actions to be taken. 

Shareholders and Resident Members are the voting people for any lot.  Cedarwood Camp Ltd., the present owner of these lands, has no votes in the Association and unsold lots are not yet a part of the Community.  Bill Record as a shareholder and/or resident member has votes for each lot in his personal name. 

If a forty acre lot is legally divided into 2 - 20 acre lots, each 20 acre lot has a shareholder and a vote and possible resident members.  If a lot is held by more than one person, there is only one shareholder for that lot.  Multiple owners will have to elect and advise the shareholder of the lot  (or parcel) as to how to vote for that parcel.

All shareholders and resident members must be contacted for any vote and do not have to be at a meeting to vote.  If a shareholder or resident member wishes to refrain from a vote, it  reduces the number of available votes and changes the number to carry an 80% majority.  There must be a quorum of 80% of the available votes to carry any issue.

It is the responsibility of the Steward of the North to oversee and manage any voting procedure.  This person will set the date for the vote and determine the number of resident members and shareholders based on this date.  Everyone will be contacted and informed of the issues.  Ample time will be allowed to fully process the situation before the voting date is set.  The Steward of the North will determine the number of available votes by polling all of the Shareholders and Resident Members. 

After the votes are assembled the total of the yes and no votes will be tallied.  This total is the number of available votes which will be multiplied by 80% as noted above to determine the outcome of the vote.  If a shareholder or resident member does not wish to vote on an issue, or can not be contacted, this lowers the number of available votes.  The voting will be done on pieces of paper and the count will be done openly in the presence of other Stewards and community members.

It is an expectation that the outcome of living by the Peace Principles and the Ideals set forth herein that the Community will eventually adopt a procedure whereby all Community Decisions will be made by Full Consensus.  This is a sign that the Members are being heard, that Members are Communicating, that Members are connecting in the Web, that Members are actually Living the Peace Principles and that a Holistic Lifestyle is Occurring. 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MISCELLANEOUS

Women’s and Men’s Circles

The Sage Valley Community recognizes the power of gender specific circles, gatherings and ceremony.  All such events are honored as long as they are held within the Principles, Preferences and Boundaries of the Community.

Traditional Elders

The Sage Valley Community recognizes the wisdom and teachings available from recognized elders from many traditions.  The Community is committed to exploring the opportunities that these elders may open for us via teaching seminars or as Community Advisors. The Community is committed to exploring any opportunities for bringing wisdom or teachings to the Community that are in balance with the Preferences, Boundaries and Principles of the Community.

Changing this Document

Once recorded in the deeds of the Sage Valley Community this document can only be changed by an 80% majority vote of the shareholders.  These shareholders must also be willing to pay for the legal costs of any changes.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.)    Enforcement:  Declarant and any Owner shall have the right to enforce, by any proceeding at law or in equity, all restrictions, conditions, covenants, reservations, liens, and charges now or hereafter imposed by the provision of this Declaration.  Failure by any Owner to enforce any covenant or restriction herein contained shall in no event be deemed a waiver of the right of other Owners to do so or of that Owner to do so thereafter.  The remedies available under this Declaration shall specifically include the right to injunctive relief.  The prevailing party in any action brought pursuant to this Declaration shall be entitled to recover its costs and attorney’s fees. 

2.)    Amendment:  The covenants and restrictions of the Declaration shall run with and bind the land for a term of one hundred (100) years from the date this Declaration is recorded, and after which time they shall be automatically extended for successive periods of \twenty (20) years.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Declaration may be amended or terminated at any time by an instrument signed by not less than eighty percent (80%) of the Parcel Owners as defined by the voting procedure explained in Article Fourteen above. 

3.)    Invalidity:  Invalidation of any of these covenants, restrictions, reservations, conditions and servitudes by judgment, court order, or otherwise shall in no way affect the validity of any of the other provisions of this Declaration, all of which shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said declarant has hereunto signed and sealed these presents the day and year first above written.

BY:_____________________________________________          ________________                                                                                  Declarant, Daniel B Record,  Owner, Cedarwood Camp Ltd, llc                     Date:

STATE OF            }                                                                        ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
COUNTY OF       }

On this ____day of ______, 2006, before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared Daniel B Record, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.


_____________________________
Signature of Notary Public