Page 20 - C.A.L.L. #45 - Summer 2019

Communities #180 – FALL 2018
The Federation of Egalitarian

Communities and Community Networking

By Sumner Nichols

The Federation of Egalitarian execute on, plans for new communal living
Communities (FEC) was formed by a situations is one of the many reasons I give
number of people, including founders of my time and energy to this movement.
Twin Oaks and East Wind. Its intended Movement may seem to be an

mission is to create and grow a network inappropriate word to some, in this
of income-sharing communities. You can context. How much larger is the FEC
learn more about the FEC at thefec.org. population since, say, 2000? How many
Here is the part of East Wind’s bylaws people have come in and out of these com-
that interests me the most: “We are munes and attempted to start their own? I
striving to be self reliant, especially in have little data, but we are not dealing
cooperation with other groups…and we with large numbers here (at East Wind, the
promote the formation and growth of past 15 years have seen about 700 people
similar communities.” As an Occupy burnout come in as official visitors or members).
(and subsequent college and workforce Think of a slow, geologically slow,
burnout) I wasn’t looking for unrealistic movement of income sharing and communal
and unattainable goals. East Wind having living from the late 1960s to today. Many

the stature of a four- FEC communities have
decades-old sustained for decades
establishment, institution and continue to
even, held great appeal to inspire. The back-to-
me during my first visit. the-land spirit that
The energy and idealism motivated so many
of the founders got a two generations ago is
boulder rolling that resurging as the
continues to this day at increasingly absurd
an even pace. The flavor “mainstream” society

and aesthetic of that fails to capture the
energy and idealism have interest of the new
changed and morphed generation. The living
over the years as people social experiments of
come and go, but the the large FEC
community habitat that allows these communities provide the accumulation and
creative forces to come together is still transfer of experiential knowledge needed
well intact (supported vigilantly by to accelerate new communitarians’
successful businesses). The opportunity to transitions into varied communal living
network with those who inhabit these arrangements.
special places and not only dream up, but