Linda, Diane, Julia, Joel, Mary, Susie, Carole, Stephanie, Jacque, JR, Don and Mike, welcomed Steve, Jeannie, Laura, Frank, Elizabeth, Ben, Andy, Jerrod, Lovella, Renee and Mark to their first meeting.

The meeting began with a brief round of introductions. Interest in attending included attaining enough financial freedom to break from the corporate world, spirituality, purpose, ideas for weaning from shopping, balance (how to keep from getting caught up), income options, and getting together with others who share same/similar philosophy and philosophical values/views of Simplicity (i.e., community).

Mike reviewed the Simplicity Group's meeting style -- a very open and informal discussion, with topics evolving at the meeting from those in attendance. Mike, Joel and JR assist in coordinating the meetings -- Mike as email contact/web site keeping and meeting note distribution, Joel as telephone contact and meeting facilitation, and JR with meeting facilitation and facilitation of "Your Money Or Your Life Study Guide Groups". Mary coordinates a Simplicity Group Roster, and passed around the latest edition of the Roster. Supplying information for the roster is voluntary -- the Roster is just a way for all of us to stay connected.

Mike asked the Group what they would like to talk about. Items included discussion on:

• ~ The Ever Increasing Expectations of Children and Adults
• ~ Purpose in our Lives (perhaps have a workshop on this...)
• ~ Share practical tips on what we've done (to simplify our lives)
• ~ Materialism and the Holidays
• ~ What was discussed at the 11/21/98 "Simple Holidays, Happy Holidays -- How Can We Have Both" meeting
• ~ Are there any groups that meet on the North Side?

• ~ "Your Money Or Your Life (YMOYL) Study Guide" Group
  (Group #4 planned on having it's regular meeting during the Simplicity Meeting)

Lots of good discussion, insights, and ideas were shared and generated by everyone. During the discussion on Expectations, Mark brought up the importance of teaching his children to be content with the basics of life -- to be grateful for what they have-to learn how to be satisfied with the basics of life so they can learn how to really enjoy the world around them. When discussion moved to materialism and the holidays, the group raised several concerns about gift giving and their families-how can they help their families understand there is more to the season than bigger, better and expense. Don observed, "... we're trying to change them when it is us who have changed... ".

And on the topic of purpose, there appeared to be a lot of energy/interest to discuss "purpose", Perhaps we should hold a workshop style discussion. (Note from Mike L.: Perhaps we could have an Open Space Discussion on this topic at the January Meeting-would you be interested??) .

We concluded our discussions and meeting at 11:50.

Our next meeting is Saturday, January 9, 1999, 9:00 AM to 11:50.

--- From the book, Voluntary Simplicity, by Duane Elgin

can be." -- Paramahansa Yogananda

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