|
Gathering
Of
Circles |
|
GOC Planning Meeting April
4,
2009 - San
Antonio, Texas |
|
|
Gathering
Of
Circles |
|
GOC Planning Meeting April
4,
2009 - San
Antonio, Texas |
Minutes of Planning Meeting by Jazz Jaeschke.
Discussions:
Attendees
Shawna & Tony Hayhurst
Sue Rodriguez Poggensee
Laura Barrerra
Virgie Ravenhawk
Debbie Drumhawk
Mike Andrews
June Davis
Cliff Buchanan
June Baldwin
Sandra Martinez
Gary Kendrick
Jazz Jaeschke
Coordinator
Positions
The following 2009 coordinator positions are open opportunities to get involved with the GOC community:
Give-away
Workshops
Children’s
Activities
Talking Stick
Circle
The following 2009 coordinator assignments have been confirmed:
Sweatlodge – Shawna Hayhurst
Raffles – Virgie Ravenhawk Family
Porta-a-potties – Cliff Buchanan
Welcome Table – Jazz Jaeschke and June Baldwin
T-shirt – Jazz Jaeschke and Gary Kendrick
Cleanup – June Baldwin
Sweet Medicine Dance – Virgie Ravenhawk Family
Speaker – Cliff Buchanan / Sandhi Scott
Drumming Team – Susan Murray
Wood – Cliff Buchanan
Feast – June Davis
GOC Concepts – Pamela Scheler
Pancake Brunch – June Baldwin
Meeting
Topics
Following a round of in-depth introductions, the following topics were addressed. Decisions and Actions are noted in bold.
Theme 2009:
The following themes were proposed:
New Beginnings
Dancing with Spirit
Celebrating Our Oneness
Celebrating our Diversity
Different Walks ~ One Spirit
Stepping on Sacred Ground
While all seem very GOC-attuned, New Beginnings is the most in-synch with current trends in the United States.
DECIDED:
New Beginnings
– with secondary notation of: faith, hope, love, joy, awareness, peace
Logo/Design
2009:
Donna Pounds has submitted a design candidate. Shawna Hayhurst has suggested a tree of life design [to be developed]. More designs are needed before we vote.
ACTION:
Jazz submit overall design & t-shirt timeline to Cliff
email soliciting designs [sent by Cliff]
Web voting to select design
Speaker
2009
Wind Daughter is our 1st choice based on prior exchanges with Cliff and on Regina Waterspirit’s recommendations. Sandhi Scott has also strongly recommended Harlan Geronimo, who sounds like a strong alternate.
ACTION:
Cliff to contact Wind Daughter and determine if she is available; if not,
then Sandhi Scott will pursue commitment from Harlan Geronimo
Main-tent
Tarp
Debbie Drumhawk has this in process – the new uni-tarp [no seams to leak!] will be 40 x 50 with a 4-foot central “chimney” – similar to but larger than the tarp at Virgie and Debbie’s campsite last year.
ACTION:
GOC funds will cover the cost
Debbie will deliver the new tarp
Schedule
We discussed the pros and cons of starting a week earlier or a week later vs. staying with the first week of August; we also discussed satisfaction with the current Wednesday – Saturday schedule vs. prior Thursday – Sunday schedule.
DECIDED:
Wednesday start? YES
Shift earlier or later? NO
This year’s GOC will be August 5-8, 2009
Book Exchange
We discussed the popularity of last year’s “book exchange” and everyone wants to repeat this as a Welcome Table offering.
ACTION:
Jazz will update Welcome Table coordinator description
[to include space for books]
Reminder to all to bring books included in Cliff’s notes to attendees
Raffle Tickets
The Raffle coordinator controls raffle ticket sales and will proactively promote sales [as always]. In addition, raffle tickets will be available at the Welcome Table.
ACTION:
Jazz will update the Welcome Table coordinator description.
Feast
We discussed the value of a coordinator for this activity – a focal point for announcing the location and explaining the significance of the Spirit Plate.
ACTION:
Renew emphasis on this important closing event in emails to attendees
National Forest Location
Thus far we think we will be in the same location as prior years. The National Forest plans cutting in this area which will make it unavailable for a period of time, but to date the cutting has not been scheduled. The Park Service has assured us they will provide an alternate location nearby if necessary.
ACTION:
Cliff will confirm location as part of his permit coordinator activity
Camp Etiquette
In response to concerns expressed by a few prior participants who no longer attend, we discussed the need for healthy boundaries so that all feel safe in their own beliefs while interacting with a broad variety of other beliefs. The GOC honors all paths and we want to encourage all those who attend toward reciprocal learning and honoring of the diverse paths.
We want to encourage attendees to visit other camps and mingle, especially extending friendship to those who are attending for their first time. When approaching another’s camp, it is courtesy to be sensitive to the needs and preferences of those who may desire privacy or solitude at the time you’re feeling gregarious. Ask “permission to enter camp” or “is this a good time to visit” if you are unsure.
We also discussed the need for emphasis [especially to those attending for the first time] to leave the area as clean as when you arrive – good housekeeping rules.
DECIDED:
Debbie Drumhawk will offer a brief summary on the first evening [following the GOC concepts talk] covering:
Leave Mother Earth as you found her – housekeeping 101
Be sensitive to others’ need for solitude and privacy
Be willing to extend the hand of friendship to those you haven’t met
Attendance
Patterns
The GOC mailing list is quite a bit larger than the typical attendance at gatherings. Many people come one or more times and then do not return. There is concern that we may be missing feedback as to WHY they don’t return – that perhaps we are not meeting their needs and could increase participation if we made some changes that would better meet these needs. We acknowledged that for many, attendance depends on time available away from work, on what is going on with other family members, and on changing personal priorities.
We talked about doing an online survey to gather feedback on what would get people to come back, what people like about the GOC, what they might suggest we change, etc. No action item resulted, but there was general consensus that a survey would be useful.