Like our Fall/Winter 2003/2004 edition, this issue of Talking Leaves is thicker than normal. Publishing fewer, longer issues saves us substantial amounts of printing and shipping costs over issuing the same amount of material in smaller chunks. Currently, income would not support producing more than approximately three issues per year. We welcome any financial support you are able to offer. Contributions to this magazine (and to Lost Valley) make a real difference in what we are able to do. While we are committed to continue publishing, we will be able to reach more people, more often, with each substantial boost in the income we receive from subscribers and supporters. We would also welcome assistance in increasing our income from other sources--advertisements, grants, etc. Our one half-time, non-business-oriented staff person (me) is not adequate to fully realize the potential of this magazine--at least not from a business or distribution standpoint. Please contact the office if you believe you could be of help. One positive development is the arrival of a new conference coordinator who is also dedicated to lending his expertise and assistance to related projects at Lost Valley, including Talking Leaves.
The theme of this issue developed from the material we received-not the other way around. Nevertheless, it all seems to hold together uncannily well--but that is ultimately for you, the reader, to judge. As always, we welcome your feedback and responses to this issue of TL.
Submissions Requested:
A Day in (Your) Life
The Summer 2004 issue of Communities magazine (see www.ic.org) will have as its theme "A Day in the Life" in intentional community. Both Chris and Dianne have submitted articles (about Lost Valley, and about a Syrian monastery Dianne visited this winter). But editor Diana Leafe Christian's idea sounds so good to us that we would like to take it even further, and try our own version of it in Talking Leaves. We will feature a selection of the submissions we receive either in our next issue (due out in late summer or early fall), or spread out over several issues. For our version of "A Day in the Life," submissions need not be focused specifically on intentional community, per se, but on however you, a Talking Leaves reader, are living. How does an individual who resonates with the basic values articulated in this magazine spend a day? We encourage you to describe an actual day, not to fabricate a day from bits and pieces of other days--although if you need to take that second approach in order to convey what is important in your life, that is also acceptable. Please be sure that the "Day in the Life" you describe could happen, in all its details (or, preferably, did). Please also let us know (either approximately or exactly) what date you are describing, since we may choose to assemble articles in chronological order.
Your article can be anywhere from 750 to 3500 words in length, although shorter articles may have more chance of being included. If you wish, you can send us several versions, of different lengths. We also reserve the right to edit for length. If possible, please also send us photos or other illustrations to accompany your article. (See home page for submission details; our tentative deadline is June 30, but submissions after than are also welcome.) We hope to hear from you.
Thanks again for reading TL, for sharing it with your friends, and for helping keep it a vibrant and vital publication. In today's world, the evolution of ecological, cooperative, peaceful human culture has become not just a pleasant idea or nice-sounding dream, but a practical necessity. We can all play a part.
©2004 Talking Leaves
Spring/Early Summer 2004
Volume 14, Numbers 1 & 2
Person and Place: Adventures Here, There, & Everywhere