Becoming a Trailblazer Member gives you a 120-day opportunity to focus on the issues that are relevant to you, attend at least three business or circle meetings, and other social events. Your non-refundable Trailblazer membership fee of $150 will be applied to your full membership of $1,000. NOW is a GREAT time to see if Altair is a good fit for you, as we move forward to exciting next steps. If you feel you are ready to become a Full Member in 60 days, you may request an interview with the Membership Circle to review this.
By becoming a Trailblazer, you gain:
An opportunity to get to know us and our project firsthand and to start getting involved.
One-on-one briefing of written materials related to Altair EcoVillage with an experienced buddy to guide you.
Access to the Altair Library, to check out books to read, including Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities, the definitive book on cohousing written by Katie McCamant and Chuck Durrett. We have some digital resources and are happy to mail books or drop them off.
The opportunity to participate in our regular member and Circle meetings. This will enable you to observe our decision-making process and to offer your opinions about what we are considering.
You will be able to take part in one of our Social Teams, which take turns planning monthly social events, with the intent of inspiring our members to get to know each other better and to have some fun. (Social events are being hosted virtually on Zoom during the pandemic.)
Trailblazer orientations and site tours are by appointment (call Margo at 610-608-9281 or email margo.ketchum@gmail.com).
You will receive a number indicating your “place in line” to select the particular home of your choice. You will keep that number until you decide not to become a Full Member.
How do I become a Trailblazer?
Send a check for $150.00 to: Altair EcoVillage, PO Box 353, Kimberton, PA 19442
Make checks payable to: Kimberton EcoVillage (KEV)
Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and mail your check separately. Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, and why you're interested in cohousing and our community.
Questions? For technical information, contact Joel Bartlett at altairecovillage@gmail.com or call us at (610) 220-6172. Being a Trailblazer Member tells us that you are serious about considering becoming a Member of Altair EcoVillage. We look forward to getting to know you and learning about your interest in this community!
Full Members
After signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Members pay a non-refundable community membership fee (KEV)* of $1000 ($850 balance after the initial Trailblazer fee of $150). Members play an active part in shaping Altair’s community, contributing to management, design, and process decisions. Members participate actively in Altair’s work by joining one or more of the Circles. They each have a voice in the Sociocratic “committees”, as well as in larger meetings. Membership dues are $25 a month. For a complete listing of Membership requirements, ask us about “Trailblazer Steps to Membership.” Full members are required to deposit into an escrow fund to meet their down payments. (See Reservation Deposits below.) *(KEV - Kimberton EcoVillage)
Altair has a policy of non-discrimination. No person shall be discriminated against in application for membership, or other participation in the activities of Altair, on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, citizenship, or any similar grounds. Altair, however, reserves the right to choose, as Members, those who will be responsible participants in its EcoVillage. We believe that we’re all enriched by sharing our many paths, and cultivating a warm and inclusive community.
Reservation Deposits
We have Township Ordinance approval, so now Members can make fully-refundable reservation deposits to reach the $10,000 milestone level. In alignment with Altair’s timeline, members have added $2000 into their escrow accounts at each milestone workshop (now up to $8000).
Note: This is not an offer to sell real estate, which may only be made by a Public Offering Statement given subsequent to recording both an approved subdivision plan and Declaration under the Pennsylvania Uniform Communities Act. All deposits will be fully refundable until a Unit Purchase Agreement has been signed subsequent to receipt of the Public Offering Statement.