Wyoming Gathering 2008

USFS Report on July 3 Incident

2010-01-07T06:39:00.001-08:00

As a reminder, the USFS created an incident at Kid Village where they fired at and hit people with pepper spray guns. This is their investigation into the matter.

The main report in PDF format is available from this page. The document is FOIAd23.pdf It's 13 MB and requires Adobe Acrobat to read. I have FOIA'd the supporting documents for the report and they will be available on this page as I receive them.

There's a good collection of information on the other side of the story here.

Update on Wyoming Court Cases

2009-09-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

I received this email from Brian Michaels a few days ago and am passing it on.

Just an FYI, these cases stem from the incident created by the US Forest Service at Kid Village
on July 3, 2008 at the Wyoming gathering which occurred just about dinner time. (the videos you see all over the internet). Sky was the sister arrested in Kid Village. Roses was arrested up on the road following the entire parade that ended up by the USFS vehicles.

As Brian points out in his email, it was the video's that played such a huge part in this outcome. Keep them coming. I will disagree with Brian one bit - I refuse to use the word "riot" as that's the terms the USFS labeled what happened and as we all know, the cops are always the good guys in a "riot". I much prefer "incident" or "policy brutality".

At any rate, this is great news. Justice has prevailed.

******BEGIN FORWARDED EMAIL**********

Howdy

it is with great delight to announce ~~~~the cases against Roses and Sky have Been DISMISSED

I having been working with these attorneys from the beginning on getting these charges dismissed; discussing all aspects of videos, witnesses and why these cases will not be tried by a US Attorney, bringing them along, resisting any plea offers..

these two women were the only ones who were arrested after the kid village police created riot and did NOT take the deal everyone else took /..

they stood their ground for us all -- and WON ~!~ they deserve our gratitude and appreciation for their courage against these monsters.

once again--- our best defense against these unruly LEO's is the truth --- and our best proof of the truth is our Videos.

without these videos, our people and the truth stand much weaker against the force of lying LEO's in Court....

earlier on, around last November, Vermin and Osey's charges were dismissed... that is a pretty good track record or Wyoming..

B

************END*********************************

Legal Update From Free Assembly Project

2009-08-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

A big shout out to all the people helping family with legal issues. You rock!

Here's an update I received yesterday.

*****BEGIN ORIGINAL EMAIL*********

__PCU_//\_Free Assembly Project____
St.Louis MO - www.Free-Assembly.org
_//\_________________________________an Association of Volunteers__/

26 August 2009 PUBLIC INFO POST

Rainbow Charges Dropped in Wyoming
~ 2 of 3 Defendants are Off the Hook
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

During the infamous 'Kid Village Incident' at the Rainbow Gathering in Wyoming, Skye Laurel Riggs and Rose Stanley were assaulted and charged with 'Interfering' by Forest Service LEO's.

That was July 3, 2008... since then, the criminal proceedings have dragged for nearly 14 months.
Today, with trials finally set 5 weeks away, we were informed by defense attorney Ron Kopriva that these prosecutions would be dropped: Dismissals will be filed by the U.S. Attorney's office shortly.

The remaining case against Dale Kellogg -- pulled from a car in the parking lot, tazed and beaten the day before -- is reportedly in negotiations. The driver's license and 'Resisting' citations have been dismissed, and the Government has proposed a "pre-trial diversion" on the remaining 'Interfering' charge: a year probation, then expungement. Kellogg has not yet seen the deal or instructed his attorney on what to do, but it looks like the Feds want to duck his trial too.

There is good cause for a sense of relief, but don't call these 'victories'. After enduring police violence and perjury, then protracted burdens of criminal defense, denied speedy trial, these victims have only avoided further injustice. The core issues of LEO intimidation tactics against the Gatherings will not be aired or adjudicated, and the Perp-Cops are not in jail.

Still these outcomes are instructive: In these extraordinary cases in a remote venue, what the defense lawyers needed were good info on prior 'Rainbow' cases, ready reliable witnesses & evidence, and a bit of support (and scrutiny) in the public interest. That's what we gave them... last winter when we landed solid affidavits and authenticated videos on their laps, the winds began to change.

The upshot: Predatory prosecutions prey on the weak; if they can't eat you, they won't fight. So, strong defenses are better... put up good facts, raise the big issues, get 'constitutional' about it.
And the tenacity of these defendants standing up for their rights and sticking it out -- this has been decisive. It was Roses who got 'Fed up' with the lies and delays, and pushed her lawyer in July to set a trial date... and she told him to convey a message to the U.S. Attorney: "Bring it on."

Public outrage doesn't hurt either... if you think that the U.S. Attorney should show a bit more good sense and fully dismiss the last charge against Kellogg, call him and tell him so:

Jason M. Conder, US Attorney's Office:
P O Box 449 - Lander, WY 82520
(307) 332-8195; Fax: (307) 332-7104
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Keep On Keepin' On,

Incident Command Report

2009-07-14T19:44:00.001-07:00

A kind brother FOIA'd the incident command report from the Wyoming Gathering 2008.
It's available here in PDF format. WARNING! It's 44 megabytes. Please download and distribute freely.

Cleanup Report

2009-06-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

This is a cleanup report by a person who stayed to the very end of cleanup for Wyoming. It's in PDF format and very large as it has a narrative and pretty photos.

Click here for cleanup report.

There are lot of photos with voice narrative we did not use in the report. The photo name and the WAV file name are the same or similar. The Audio explains what you're seeing in the photo. You will need an appropriate media reader installed for your web browser.

To view all of them, click here.

Arrest Statistics from Wyoming Gathering

2009-01-07T17:27:00.000-08:00

I posted some information on another blog I have based on FOIA requests to the US Forest Service and the Federal Court in Wyoming. Click here for more info. You'll find summary statistics on citations, arrests, fines gatherers paid and more. In case you were wondering how much money the kangaroo court brought in, hope on over and find out. There is also summary information by the USFS year by year on arrests and cititaions.

Defendents who were arrested at Rainbow Gathering on July 3

2008-10-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

So the three people arrested have their court dates coming up and we are especially looking for a video that was taken up on the road as the cops were amassing and a woman was yelling at them.

I have spoken to one person who saw it at Kid Village right after the incident was over, but he does not know whose video it was or what became of it.

I have heard second hand that someone else saw it and it showed the woman being pepper sprayed.

If we don't turn up this video and/or witnesses of this portion of the event, a single mom could be sent to jail. PLEASE pass this info on to everyone you can think of. If you have info, you can send it directly to the usual Rainbow legal suspects or you can send what you have to me and I will forward it on.

Let's not allow our family to go to jail. United we stand ....

Love,
Karin

ACLU Report Direct From Linda Burt, Executive Director

2008-10-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Rainbow Family Gathering Participates:

As a result of a number of press articles regarding conflicts at the 2008 Rainbow Family Gathering in Wyoming the Wyoming Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union requested complaints, narratives or reports regarding individuals experiences at The Gathering. We were particularly interested in a conflict that occurred in “kiddy village”. Kiddy village is an area set-aside for those participants that have children and is particularly directed to children’s experience.

There are no official Rainbow Family representatives, documents or incorporations. It is my understanding they have been gathering since the 1970’s and generally believe in non-violence and alternative lifestyles. They gather once a year in national forests to pray for the planet and for peace.

One of the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) press releases regarding the 2008 Rainbow Family Gathering stated that “about 400” Rainbow Family members surrounded a squad of officers trying to leave the “kiddy village” area after an arrest. The press release also stated that Rainbow Family members threw sticks and rocks at federal officers. Both the USFS and the Rainbow family agree the incident started when officers arrested a family member for an alleged drug offense.

The accounts of the experiences of individuals at this years gathering came from a number of sources: many of the reporters were long time Rainbow Family members and participants, some were casual or first time attendees and others Wyoming residents that just wanted to see “what was going on.” Among our reporters were doctors, lawyers, National Guard members, a nurse, and a retired carpenter from Lander. One of the telling items in all of the reporting was how similar the experiences were. The similarities maintained=0 Adespite the date, time, number of people reporting, age, or place of occurrence. These similarities in experiences and allegations provided an added element of validity to the reporting.

The USFS has stated that they are simply at the gatherings to “handle the perimeter” and to deal with “specific problems”. The reality of their presence seems very different however.

*****Report continues - to read the rest and see the email headers, click here***************

NY Times: Report Says Forest Service Has Harassed Gatherings

2008-10-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A report by the Wyoming chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union contends that the federal Forest Service has engaged in systematic harassment of people who attend Rainbow Family gatherings on public lands.

The A.C.L.U. opened an investigation this summer after a clash on July 3 between members of the Rainbow Family, an informal group of professed hippies and peace activists, and Forest Service law enforcement officers.

About 7,000 members of the group attended its annual gathering this summer, held in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Big Sandy in western Wyoming.

Forest Service law enforcement officers fired pepper balls — like paint balls but containing a pepper substance — at Rainbow Family members during the incident.

Scores of witnesses told the A.C.L.U. that the officers had lacked justification. The A.C.L.U. did not talk to Forest Service officials for its report. The report also said that officers had taken the smallest violation as an excuse to search participants’ cars and campsites for drugs.

“This type of harassment and general overzealous enforcement appear to have been the pattern in the U.S.F.S. relationship with the Rainbow Family,” the report said. It reported that the Forest Service had set up roadblocks and safety checkpoints and had “searched and ticketed people on the narrowest of pretexts.”

Linda Burt, executive director of the A.C.L.U. in Wyoming, said her office had interviewed about 60 Rainbow Family members who attended this year’s gathering and reviewed court records of charges against members.

In response to the report, the Forest Service said officers had fired only after a crowd threw sticks and rocks at officers and otherwise interfered in the arrest of a man on drug charges.

John Twiss, the national head of law enforcement for the Forest Service, said Friday that he strongly disagreed with the report.

Mr. Twiss was among the officers who responded to the disturbance at this year’s gathering. He described as “nonsense” the notion that Forest Service officers searched people or vehicles for drugs without probable cause.

The agency wrote only 18 citations for traffic and vehicle violations, but wrote 139 citations and arrested eight people for drug offenses, he said.

The Forest Service is discussing whether to allow future Rainbow Family gatherings on Forest Service lands, he said.

“Their behavior is unacceptable, and it’s a tremendous financial burden on the taxpayers to keep the gathering safe,” Mr. Twiss said.

He estimated that it cost the Forest Service $1 million to patrol the gathering in Wyoming this year. He said the group had not paid any of the costs.

During the pepper ball incident, only one of the people the A.C.L.U. spoke with reported that they had possibly seen one person throw a stick at law enforcement. The rest said they had seen nothing thrown, Ms. Burt said.

In an interview on Thursday, Ms. Burt said the A.C.L.U. was not planning to pursue legal action, but she said she hoped Congress would look hard at the issue. The organization sent its report to members of Wyoming’s Congressional delegation.

“Certainly people do have that right to peaceable assembly under the Constitution,” Ms. Burt said. “It doesn’t state anything in the Constitution that only the ‘right kind’ of people can have peaceable assembly, or only the people who dress like we like to dress can have peaceable assembly.”

Garrick Beck, 58, of Santa Fe, N.M., was a participant at the Wyoming gathering. In a telephone interview Friday, Mr. Beck said he had been attending gatherings since 1972 and had seen increasing harassment from Forest Service law enforcement in recent years.

“I would say that the conclusion that there has been a consistent pattern of harassment is absolutely correct, and some of these consistent patterns have been extremely provocative,” Mr. Beck said.

He said confrontations would escalate more were it not for the peaceful nature of the Rainbow participants.

ACLU blasts Forest Service over Rainbow gathering

2008-10-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

By BEN NEARY – 1 day ago

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service systematically harasses people who attend Rainbow Family gatherings on public lands, the Wyoming chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union contends in a report.

The ACLU began investigating this summer after a clash between members of the Rainbow Family — an informal group of self-styled hippies and peace activists — and Forest Service law enforcement officers.

About 7,000 members of the group attended its annual gathering this summer, which was held in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming, about 260 miles northwest of Cheyenne.

Forest Service officers fired pepper balls — similar to paintballs but containing a pepper substance — at Rainbow Family members on July 3.

Scores of witnesses told the ACLU that the officers lacked justification, but the Forest Service said officers fired only after a crowd threw sticks and rocks at them and otherwise interfered in the arrest of a man on drug charges.

The report also said officers used small violations as excuses to search participants' cars and campsites for drugs throughout the gathering.

"This type of harassment and general overzealous enforcement appear to have been the pattern in the USFS relationship with the Rainbow Family," the ACLU report said. "The USFS has set up roadblocks, safety checkpoints, rolling gauntlets, and have searched and ticketed people on the narrowest of pretexts."

John Twiss, national head of law enforcement for the Forest Service, said Friday that he strongly disagreed with the ACLU's report.

"There's a lot of drugs at the gathering, a tremendous amount of drugs," Twiss said. "Which often leads to overdoses, violence and a tremendous amount of problems."

The agency wrote only 18 citations for traffic and vehicle violations but wrote 139 citations and arrested eight people for drug offenses, he said.

Linda Burt, executive director of the ACLU in Wyoming, said her office interviewed about 60 Rainbow Family members who attended this year's gathering and reviewed court records of charges against members. The ACLU did not talk to Forest Service officials.

During the pepper balling, only one person the ACLU spoke with reported that someone might have thrown a stick at law enforcement. The rest said they saw nothing thrown, Burt said.

In an interview Thursday, Burt said that the ACLU is not planning to sue, but that she hopes Congress looks hard at the issue. The ACLU sent its report to members of Wyoming's congressional delegation.

"Certainly people do have that right to peaceable assembly under the Constitution," Burt said. "It doesn't state anything in the Constitution that only the 'right kind' of people can have peaceable assembly, or only the people who dress like we like to dress can have peaceable assembly."

Twiss was among the officers who responded to the disturbance at this year's Rainbow Family gathering. He described the notion that Forest Service officers searched people or vehicles for drugs without probable cause as "nonsense."

Next Year in New Mexico

2008-08-21T06:03:00.001-07:00

Vision Council at the Wyoming Gathering On The Land reached a consensus that the 2009 Annual Gathering of the Tribes should take place in New Mexico.

Since this blog on the Wyoming gathering turned out to be a useful tool, I've created a sister blog called the New Mexico Gathering blog. So once you're ready to turn your sights to next year, stop on by.

Peace!

Cleanup is Done!

2008-07-30T19:38:00.001-07:00

I received an email from a sister yesterday (July 29) and heard from a friend today, that cleanup is done and everyone is heading out. My friend is going to hang around Pinedale for a day or two and see if he can get a cleanup letter.

Thanks to all who helped out. Cleanup crew rocks!

Electronic Version of Operating Plan

2008-07-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

Tom Florich sent me a Word copy of the Operating Plan. I've also created a PDF version for those who have trouble with Word documents. Please download and do as you wish with it.

Clean Up Help Needed!

2008-07-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

I pulled this message of usenet/agr today.
Please pass this info on to all your lists and especially to people near the gathering. Salt Lake City/Denver Crews - a big shout out to you to pitch in. Bring fruit and chocolate to share with those who are exhausted.

******BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE*******************

I just got a call from the clean-up crew at the gathering site and they asked me to post this message to a.g.r.

Clean-up is going slowly and more folks are needed to help. They request than anyone within a days drive of the site who can help please come back and pitch in for a few days. They could use about 2 dozen more people.

A lot of folks bailed after the FS put out the mandatory fire evacuation call and many more left on July 12. There are only 50 folks doing all this cleanup work since the 12th. If the usual 150 - 200 folks had stayed another week or so then the clean up would be a lot further along. Climbing up and down steep hills over the miles of the gathering site is burning these folks out.

There are no trucks on site to take out the garbage so last week they rented a u-haul to move out a big load and they are going to rent another u-haul tomorrow. The funds for this is coming out of the clean-up crews pockets.

What is left to do is the disappearing and water barring of the trails, getting the remaining garbage out, checking all the campsites to make sure they are disappeared, chopping up the compacted parking areas and reseeding.

Folks, it is important that a site be left without a trace and it takes a lot of work to get a well used gathering site to this point. How a site is left after a gathering is how the gathering will be
remembered. There is more to a gathering than just the party. If you can help in any way please do so now.

Beautiful Gathering in Wyoming

2008-07-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

LEO woos aside, we created a beautiful gathering in Wyoming.

We had a alcohol free Welcome Home at the lower trail head that brought together a diverse group of rainbows who normally don't hang out together and in spite of philosophical differences they created a great kitchen and camp.

We had an awesome and alcohol free Front Gate who took the time to share Rainbow lore around the campfire late at night with folks just getting home.

There was lots of good filtered drinking water and fresh salad at dinner circle ever night through the 4th. Everyone who showed up to dinner on time got salad - Thank you Oji Kitchen - you guys rock.

There was a fantastic hipstory (Rainbow history/stories of gatherings past) on the night of July 5 and a changing of the guard. Plunker stepped down and passed the feather onto Glowing Feather and I look forward to hearing your hipstories in the future.

The younger generation took control of dinner circle and did an awesome job of keeping us on track and getting fed. The older generation took the time to share wisdom with the younger folks and then were wise enough to step aside.

There was beautiful music being played and rock art sculptures rising from the soil. There was a jugglers glen, a crazy bird stage at Granola Funk, sweet vibes at Warriors of the Light.

Let's not forget the anti-brunch at Loven Ovens. For those not in the know, the NYC Purple gang does a brunch on July 5th complete with mimosas. Unfortunately, you need a ticket in order to be fed. So the wacky folks at the Ovens, made up sack lunches with bologne sandwiches and took them to people waiting in line for brunch. Then came back and cooked up some killer ass food and fed those of us who were ticket less. Just some fun Rainbow pranks and more people got more food out of it. Thanks to both NYC and the Ovens. It takes two to tango.

Shanti Sena Councils/Circles happened in the meadow after dinner circle most of the nights I made it to dinner circle. Next year I'll be doing them again. Sharing our knowledge with each other is critical.

Our main meadow was full of blue and yellow flowers, granite rocks and small children playing with the occasional kite and hang glider.

Two fire pits aside, our relations with the USFS Resource people went very well - shame on whoever called Rebeca names - love everyone, love is our most powerful tool. The more we love, the more peace we create.

Our family created beautiful trails for us - thank you trail crew. We had a tooth brushing station - awesome idea. Yeast Man finally showed up and then dinner circle was complete. Who out there feels at home until they hear "YEAST" bellowed across the meadow at dinner circle? I was so happy to see Yeast Man, I even ate yeast. The beautiful spice couple where at the gathering sharing wonderful sauces to spice up those beautiful servings of rice and beans. I even tasted blueberry hot sauce - it was incredible.

A kind brother set up a way station in the match stick forest for tired or confused travelers hiking into the gathering. Thank you very much. Thank you to the kind younger brothers who helped me carry things when I was running out of steam. My beautiful family at Kid Village on July 3rd who taught peace under the most challenging of circumstances - you are my heroes.

Death Camp Kids - thank you for reminding me that I need to share love even when I'm getting frustrated.

Ogre & Joji - thanks for trying to keep me fed - I know I don't sit still enough but I loved camping with you guys and Sunshine, Stuttering Phil, Cassie, HeyJo, 4D, Jayhawk and the Okics. Everest, you kept me on my toes and you're one strong toddler.

Jesus Camp - thanks for sharing jesus songs with the brother finding god in the most difficult of circumstances.

Montana Mudd - you rock. Such good strong Shanti Sena energy popping up everywhere and keeping the family safe. Thanks for babysitting the LEOs, they can't seem to stay out of trouble without babysitters.

The circle on the 4th - we held the circle until the kids were in, all the way in, wrapped around the P^&$ pole. We always try to do it, but I'm not sure how long it's been since we've achieved it. The silence was strong. We are strong.

We held councils. We counciled on the boy scout issue, various times on Shanti Sena issues, with the Forest Service, with each other. We acknowledged our lack of house keeping in years past and people said yes, I'm a Rainbow who is willing to step forward and take peaceful action to create an amazing gathering and we did. We managed to get our disabled elders into the circle on the 4th and keep our children safe.

We went after our family who was taken to jail and brought them home if that's what they wanted. We went to court in peace and love and had citations dismissed or reduced to minimal fines.

To Circus who took a too high brother down in the most loving manner I've ever seen - a true Rainbow brother who proves that one can be strong and full of love at the same time. To Chris who dealt with everything life through at him and kept a smile on his face and a tune on his guitar.

We opened our hearts to the family of Garrett Bardin who disappeared on June 21 and was found deceased ten days later near the gathering of an apparent suicide. To send a card to his family, Garrett's Family, PO Box 22, Boulder, WY 82923. Donations can be made in his memory to Tip Top Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 400, Pinedale WY 82941. Also, an account has been set up at First State Bank in Pinedale for Garrett’s PALMS (Prevention, Awareness, Litigation against Medications that may cause Suicide). To Carol and Taylor, I hope the love we shared with you is still floating around those mountains. To Garrett, you must have been an amazing person to have so many people so worried about you. You are one with us now and forever.

To the many, many hands and smiles that created such a beautiful gathering - thank you and may you carry the cause of peace forward every day.

Blessings family.

Email me your law enforcement encounters

2008-07-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

As we work on stopping the oppressive tactics of the forest service law enforcement division, we need your statements. What happened to you! When and where did it happen! Who are you and how do we get in contact with you. Were you shot by the cops and do you want to be part of a lawsuit. Did you get a ticket for something X^K#@^%%. Please email me all the above information. I will share it with lawyers and others working to stop the harassment of our family.

On the Operating Plan

2008-07-18T07:57:00.001-07:00

In the fall of 1995, the United States Forest Service (USFS) amended their regulations to require a permit for use of National Forests when 74 or more people are involved. This regulation is an administrative regulation, in other words, Congress did not pass this is a law, it's just part of the Forest Service bureaucratic regulations.

Starting in 1996, the Rainbow Gathering has been on a collision course with the regulations. Some years a person has signed a permit, other years no one has. Many attempts have been made to change the regulation to accommodate non-hierarchical assemblies of people without success.

Finally in 2007, the USFS agreed to accept an unsigned operating plan in lieu of a signed permit. So with this very brief introduction, I'll jump into my report of the operating plan discussions on the land in Wyoming.

Due to the confusion about the boy scouts (to be covered in a separate post), we waited for days before the USFS was ready to discuss operating plans with gathering participants. In fact many gatherers contacts LEOs to ask them to pass a message to the USFS that we wanted to work on the operating plan. This went on for a few days before Tom showed up. As dates are hard to keep track of at the gathering, I'm guessing it wasn't until June 25th that we started this process. (Tom had been notified on June 10 that we selected the Big Sandy site).

Tom Florich of the USFS prepared a draft Operating Plan based on copies of operating plans used for Rainbow gatherings in years past. Unfortunately, the words "DRAFT" were not preprinted on the copies Tom passed out. I hand wrote "draft" on the copies that passed through my hands. We met three days with Tom to discuss the draft operating plan. I had requested numerous times that this council take place in Main Meadow or adjacent to INFO in the site, but Tom was insistent that he was short staffed and did not have time to go up there, so the councils were held at Welcome Home. Tom mentioned many times that the resource had a very small budget this year and was understaffed (too bad the same couldn't be said about law enforcement).

Our first day of counciling with the USFS started poorly with lots of shouting and yelling and energy directed towards past problems between the USFS and gathering participants. After an hour or two of this, we settled into working through the operating plan from front to back. Someone would read a paragraph and then gathering participants would discuss issues and concerns. We had 25 to 35 people in the council.

The second day of counciling went better as we jumped directly into our system and picked up where we had left off the day before. Day three, Tom delivered his latest version (unfortunately he neglected to date the copies he was handing out so there are many copies floating around without dates on them) but because that day was supposed to be his day off, he dropped them off and returned the next day. On the second day, I again asked Tom if we could move this council to Main Meadow or adjacent to INFO, but was given the same reasons for not doing so. As time was going on, more and more people were moving into the gathering and the hike back down to Main Meadow was 2.5 miles (the short hilly way) or 4 miles (the flat way) and we were losing participation.

By the third time we met, the council had shrunk to half a dozen people and as far as I was concerned, we never finished discussing the operating plan. Tom however felt like the discussions were finished. We discussed bringing the operating plan to main council. One person promised to block any attempt by main council to "approve" the operating plan. As I had to be in court on July 1, I do not know what if anything happened with main council and the operating plan.

There are a few things in the June 30th (next to last ) version of the operating plan that were left unfinished or that can be clarified so I'll attempt to answer them. Any copy of the operating plan that does not have page numbering in the lower right hand corner of the date of "30 June 2008" printed on the cover is not the last version.

Under Health and Safety, #2 - CALM will identify vehicles.....
There was a lot of discussion over the lack of need to identify vehicles since no road closures were in effect and in fact, the jeep trail through the gathering was open to all travel. I do not know if anyone ever identified any vehicles or not.

#5 - Trash will ... - despite the mention of burning wood and paper trash, I know of at least one person who received a citation for having paper trash in a fire pit.

Under Resource Protection, #1 - the original version of this paragraph made some reference to security being provided for parking areas only and seemed to indicate that LEOs would be responsible for security in other parts of the gathering. We discussed the fact that we provide our own security and the way it got written up was very confusing. My understanding of what the council who met with Tom wanted was gatherers will organize parking and Shanti Sena will provide security for the gathering. Because we never really finished the operating plan discussions the final version has very awkward wording that I don't feel represents what people in council had intended. On another bizarre note, I heard a brother focalizing parking at one of the upper lots was told by the LEOs to cease immediately.

# 10 - size of fire pits - the two giant pits that had been built by Early Bird and Oji prior to the first discussion of the operating plan. When the USFS expressed their horror at the amount of top soil destroyed in the creation of these pits. Gatherers discussed the importance of grandfathering in these two pits, preventing the creation of additional over engineered fire pits and restoring the areas impacted by these pits. At the time, Tom Florich agreed that we could leave this pits in place until after July 4th, but in subsequent days, the USFS tried to get the pits removed early and they became a huge point of conflict. The pit at Early Bird was shrunk a bit and that seemed to make the USFS happy. The district ranger, Tom Peters(son) flipped out when he saw the pit by Oji, and refused to discuss an cleanup strategy to minimize any long term environmental damage. PLEASE PEOPLE - LESS IS MORE - NO MORE HOOVER DAM FIRE PITS!

# 11 - discussions of fire danger were never finished. There was a difference of opinion between gatherers on what should be mentioned here - I wanted something to the effect if the fire danger escalates, the USFS and gathering participants should rediscuss fire safety instead of a blanket if A then B statement. This was another section that I felt never was worked on.

Under Animals, #1 - "Animals must be under control at all times. Verbal controls are not considered "under control" if the animal does not respond to verbal commands" - this was what we worked out, but unfortunately, I heard reports that law enforcement was enforcing leash laws.

On a good note, nudity was allowed everywhere except within view of Road 850 :)

Under Site Rehabilitation, #9 and 10 - the site specific needs and rehab plan were not complete per the operating plan because the USFS failed to show up. I left the morning of July 8 so they could have shown up late, but in our operating plan discussions Tom had said this had to be done no later than July 6 as that was his last date at the gathering. Also in the June 30th version, there was a reference to "rainbow volunteer representatives" and people objected to the word representatives and it was requested that the word be dropped.

Under Communication, #1, I was opposed to even having this section in the operating plan because the only person I know who brings communication gear that would fall under the scope of this section doesn't want his personal equipment to be mentioned in the operating plan. Tom Florich said someone on one of the conference calls earlier in the year had requested this be part of the operating plan. Some gatherers in the councils on the land also said there was nothing in there specifying anything specific. I asked a number of times if this section could be removed, but because gatherers were not united behind this idea, the USFS didn't take it out.

I never saw the final, final version, but have requested an electronic copy from Tom Florich who was our liaison with the USFS on this process. Once I get that I will distribute it widely.

Associated Press in Wyoming

2008-07-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

I just spoke with Ben Neary, the reporter from the Associated Press in Cheyenne, Wyoming. If the 800 number doesn't work for you, try 307-632-9351. At this point he's trying to collect names and numbers of witnesses to the July 3rd incident, but won't be writing anything else until after the Wyoming ACLU releases their report on the matter so if you just email him a brief statment with your contact info, he will get back to you at some point in the future.

If you were a witness to the event that took place in Kiddie Village on July 3rd, please contact the Wyoming ACLU. 307-637-4565, Wyoming ACLU, PO Box 20706, Cheyenne, WY 82003 or acluwy@aol.com http://www.aclu-wy.org/ and have your story included in their report.

July 10 Legal Eagle Press Piece on July 3rd Incident

2008-07-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

***Thanks to the awesome family doing media work this year - this is an excellant piece****

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Email info@coloradolegaleagles.org
Public List www.welcomehome.org/mailman/listinfo/gathering_info

CHILDREN, DOGS AND CAMPERS ATTACKED ON EVE OF DAY OF PRAYER

Feds attempt to incite another riot

Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyo (July 10, 2008) – Federal Law Enforcement Officers ("LEOs") of the United States Forest Service (USFS) committed multiple acts of violence against campers, their children and their dogs at the Annual Rainbow Gathering being held in the woods near Big Sandy, which unofficially ends today. The gatherers' entire purpose in assembling is to silently pray for world peace on the Fourth of July. The harassment included multiple tasering incidents, writing hundreds of tickets, searching many gatherer's vehicles, kicking sunbathers awake to search them for guns and poking into people's tents. The harassment culminated in an attack of 50-60 rounds of pepper ball bullets being shot both indiscriminately and specifically at campers in the Gathering's Kiddie Village (KV), a camp where children play gently and joyfully all day. This incident took place at dinner time while campers were praying before their meal.

At 12:00 pm on July 3, phalanxes of LEOs equipped with sidearms, tasers, pepper spray bullet rifles, mace, nightsticks and wearing bulletproof vests entered camp in flanking military formation. Throughout the day they swept through the site rousing people from their tents, handcuffing and searching them, writing many tickets for minor infractions and answering most people's concerned questions with silence. Gatherers with cameras kept watch of their movements from a good distance. A trombonist provided musical accompaniment for part of the way.

Around 6:00 PM, dinnertime in the main meadow was starting. As gatherers prayed before their meal, they witnessed officers moving towards KV. Moments later, main meadow gatherers heard the call "fire at KV" and saw smoke coming from the camp.They sprung into action grabbing buckets of water, responding to the call. They soon found out the smoke was really a cloud of pepper spray.

Meanwhile at KV officers invaded KV's kitchen, charged through it's food preparation area, tackled an approximately 50-year old man and apprehended him. When parents moved to shield their children from the officers with tasers and pepper ball rifles now drawn, shots were fired towards the ground. The LEOs continued to aim at gatherers who sat, prayed and calmly and repeatedly asked them to leave. One gatherer explained to the officers, "Kids are here, this is Kiddie Village, everything is fine." Others pleaded, "Please get your guns out of Kiddie Village," and reminded the officers, "We mean you no harm." The LEOs would not leave.

One woman begged the officers to say why they were arresting the man. A LEO pulled her to the ground by her hair while she was holding her dog, and she was also apprehended. The officers moved the woman in a direction away from the Gathering exit, to an area out of view of witnesses. Gatherers needed to keep witness to her and her dog's mistreatment, so they moved closer. Officers opened fire once again, this time striking people.

Gatherers with buckets of water arrived on the scene, and upon witnessing this violence realized that the call, "fire in Kiddie Village" was a different call, "Shots fired in Kiddie Village." They didn't know if they had come upon real ammunition being fired in a camp that had always been a safe haven for children, or what was going on. Upon hearing shouts such as, "Terrorists!" and "You're shooting at children," they became upset and tried to escort the LEOs quickly away from the children and onto the trail leading out of the Gathering, determined to protect the children. The LEOs would not cooperate and maintained position.

Officer Lampy (of the USFS) pointed out her non-violent targets to a LEO armed with a pepper ball rifle, who obeyed and fired. Multiple rounds of pepper ball bullets were fired indiscriminately as well. Pepper spray hit babies; the air in KV was thick with the irritant. Most people in KV were affected by the spay and suffered symptoms including respiratory distress, temporary blindness and breaks in skin integrity such as burns, bruises and welts. Nurse Practitioner Jane Albert said, "Many children were visibly upset, crying hysterically and had to be calmed down."

"The police then fired shots and hit a child, before turning to fire upon another man carrying a child on his back. The man went down and the child fell," explained witness Jeff Bender. "Both myself and my dog were shot repeatedly," said another witness named Michael. -Pissed Off Former Democrat Blog, July 9, 2008.

Peacekeepers tried to keep a safe distance between the LEOs and confused and agitated volunteers who'd just run all the way up from main circle with buckets of water. The peacekeepers held their arms out wide, walked backwards with their backs to the officers, close to the main meadow volunteers, and called out orders such as "Stay peaceful, people!" The "safe distance" was not safe enough for the satisfaction of the officers who continued firing aimlessly. While the peacekeepers reminded people that we are all peacekeepers, they were then specifically and deliberately struck by the LEOs with pepper ball bullets. One peacekeeper was shot in the back eight times. He turned around and asked, "Why did you shoot me? I'm trying to help you!" He was then shot three more times.

Long time gatherer David Alexander English guided the officers towards a short cut out of the Gathering which they eventually used. "We're making a left," he said calmly. A LEO pointed a taser with an aiming laser at English's face from three feet away and warned, "Come any closer and I'll shoot you!" English responded, "Dude, I'm trying to lead you out." The officer said, "Oh, okay." English later reflected, "It was a really heated moment." Another woman was held while she was maced in her face.

More rifles were pointed deliberately and directly at children and a baby. One gatherer reported that on the LEOs' way out, they shot up a camp on the road, sending "vets scattering into the woods for safety!" -Wyoming Gathering 2008 Blog, July 4, 2008. Reinforcement officers also did not hesitate to point their assault rifles at the campers. The LEOs left with their arrestees. The gatherers collected information, wrote depositions, and then shook it off and had a great and spirited Fourth of July.

It has been printed widely that 400 gatherers threw "rocks and sticks" after LEOs arrested someone at main meadow, that a government vehicle was damaged and that an officer was injured. There were about 100-200 gatherers present at the height of the incident, no LEO incidents took place at main meadow this year, no government vehicle was damaged and no officer was hurt. Video shot from the beginning of the incident on through has already left the Gathering, and will clearly show whether any rocks or sticks were thrown; not one gatherer said they witnessed anything being thrown.

Smears in the press regarding the "rocks and sticks" accusation were rampant and went as far as one headline stating "...Forest Service officials stoned by hippie group..." -World Net Daily, July 7, 2008.

USFS Law Enforcement and Investigations director John C. Twiss contradicted the release sent by his own agency by saying, "About 70 people were yelling profanities," and said "no officer was hit." -Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 7, 2008.

Twiss added, "They've (Rainbow gatherers) been attracting a different kind of crowd in recent years." -Casper Star Tribune, July 8, 2008. It should be noted that this statement is commonly given by law enforcement agencies right before instigating a non-stop campaign of continuous police presence and harassment towards any number of events they wish to squelch.
http://times-up.org/index.php?page=article_rel-041028_dailynews_extremist_kelly
http://preview.tinyurl.com/567kcw

Twiss ended by stating, "When you're throwing a rock at somebody's head, you're potentially looking at hurting somebody seriously or killing them. Our officers certainly could have been looking at using deadly force, but they didn't." -Casper Star Tribune, July 8, 2008.

In fact, officers already used deadly force when they struck at least three peaceful gatherers in the face, "at somebody's head," with pepper ball bullets shooting from rifles at a much higher velocity than any arm could ever throw. One witness reported that a peacekeeper "was shot six times in the back (no wounds in the front!) one shot went through his arm entering his bare tricep and exiting his bicep leaving two holes with blood pouring out the entrance wound in the back and the exit wound in the front requiring on site medical and bandaging." -Wyoming Gathering 2008 Blog, July 4, 2008. Many other gatherers were also hit in the back and front repeatedly; photos were taken of one individual who had 11 pepper ball welts.

Gatherers reported being tasered on their way in to help set up the Gathering prior to June 24. On the July 3 "The Rule of Law" radio program, a gatherer named Rob reported live via a satellite phone belonging to the show's co-producer, that they (the USFS) "tasered and assaulted a guy last night (July 2)...Multiple officers tasered him. We spent the entire morning trying to figure out what jail they took him to because they don't really want to tell us anything. They supposedly tasered somebody else again this morning. We're still trying to verify that one." The USFS also refused to answer questions from the press regarding the whereabouts and status of arrestees. Agency spokeswoman Rita Vollmer stated, "we're not releasing that information. It's sensitive information for investigations. They're still in custody."-Billings Gazette, July 6, 2008.

Another taser incident happened on July 2 around 2:00 PM when the 50 year old passenger of a vehicle moving between parking spaces was dragged out of the car, tasered repeatedly, handcuffed and then tasered some more. There is footage of this incident.

Also on July 2, yet another taser incident was reported by the clerk of the federal court in Casper. "'One defendant on Wednesday apparently got out of hand and was subdued with a Taser,' she said." -Casper Star Tribune, July 5, 2008.

Even more witness accounts of harassment were reported. If drivers forgot to use their wipers before being stopped by officers, they received tickets for having dusty windshields. A couple returning from town counted 20 LEOs along a 4 mile stretch of road. Almost every officer they saw had at least one vehicle pulled over each with all of its occupants outside. There were also reports of tainted dog food being deliberately left on trails for babies and pets to get into. This atrocious act resulted in the death of one dog.

Many gatherers were upset to see such provocative violence occur in, of all places, the sanctuary of Kiddie Village, and at such a time as dinner prayer on the eve of the gatherers' annual day of prayer. Immediately following the KV incident, witnesses called in to the live radio program from the Gathering and gave their reports. Rainbow gathering supporter Dan from Illinois reacted upon hearing the reports from the Gathering streaming in: "If you can disrupt prayer, you can disrupt mankind. These demons (LEOs in parking lot) high-fiving each other, it just brings tears to my eyes. What is going on in this country?"

But most gatherers weren't surprised; they'd been through this before.

A year earlier, also on July 3 at dinnertime at the Annual Rainbow Gathering in Arkansas, USFS LEOs drove multiple sports utility vehicles into main meadow which is the heart of the gathering and also a strictly spiritual area like KV where violence is absolutely not tolerated. They parked in the middle of the river that ran through the meadow and again made a scene by making arrests and tasering a man in the back. They remained parked in the main meadow; when they became impatient that a sizable crowd still had not formed, they proceeded to repeatedly blare their sirens which instantly drew a crowd and a loud reaction. They attempted to instigate a violent reaction from one of the Rainbow gatherers by holding their position, waving their rifles around and waiting for something to happen. When nothing did, the LEOs left. The entire riverbed was lined with rocks. Video of this incident is enclosed with this release.

Although Wyoming gatherers were upset with the LEOs' behavior, many expected this show of force, recognized its pattern, and kept cool. They know the USFS is trying to get a rise out of the gatherers, so in return, the gatherers give them the exact opposite response; non-violence. Some gatherers who were at the scene know the purpose of these intimidation tactics; the USFS indeed carries out regular training exercises on the Rainbow gatherers.

In U.S. v. Wirtshafter (July 5, 2007), FS officer Gene Smithson gave sworn testimony that crowd control training is done at Rainbow Gatherings. Smithson identified himself as "Special Agent with the U.S. Forest Service currently assigned as an Incident Commander (of the Incident Command Team)," and during cross examination, when asked if there is any ongoing training that officers receive in crowd control, Smithson answered, "Every year we are -- we are going to be recertified in it." When asked if "they are receiving training credits for being out here (at the Rainbow Gathering) this week?" Smithson answered, "Every officer on the team."

Smithson was then asked, "Can you describe a little bit about the training that officers are receiving while they are here at the Rainbow gathering?" Smithson answered while still under oath, "Basically they have received training in formations and how to protect themselves, how to dissipate crowds, how to deal with crowds."

The Associated Press reported that "in 1998, the Forest Service established a national response team (the Incident Command Team) to deal with the group." -Houston Chronicle, July 5, 2008. The Rainbow gatherers have had and continue to have enormous success in self governing, far surpassing the invention and/or need for any governmental "national response team," especially one staffed by LEOs. The "Incident Command Team" (ICT) succeeds in "commanding" its officers to create an "incident" far from the public eye, which then forms a crowd. Then the "team" attempts to incite the crowd to riot, with the hopes that it will so that the team can "respond" by getting a chance to practice "how to dissipate crowds," all with the intent to train on easy, non-violent targets relaxing in the woods.

Another long-time Rainbow gatherer named Jasmine expressed, "The USFS has been trying to intimidate us since day one. Now with the creation of the ICT, supposedly under the USFS, the harassment has gotten worse. Still their tactics haven't worked, as we continue to exercise our First Amendment right to peaceably assemble on public lands. It seems that finally their behavior and the validity of the ICT as an organization of 'responders' is being brought into question in the public court."

Regarding the ICT's training exercises being carried out on Rainbow gatherers, she exclaimed, "We are not lab rats! We are a peaceful people with over 36 years experience holding gatherings completely on our own, and we wish to keep it that way. We want this harassment to end now. Not one more cent of taxpayers' dollars should be spent on funding policing of a self policing event." Jasmine ended by stating, "Instead, the LEOs involved in this harassment should receive felony convictions in federal court on counts of inciting a riot, assault and battery, child abuse, reckless endangerment, child endangerment, false arrest, infringing on civil liberties, and animal cruelty, to name a few."

Tomorrow cleanup will start, yet harassment towards gatherers often continues when they're in small numbers; less witnesses. Reports have come in that subsequent arrests are being made days after the KV incident, in which people are being ordered by USFS LEOs to "lift up your shirt" and anyone with a pepper ball welt on their skin or traces of pepper spray on them is being apprehended.

Travel advisory for getting to and around camp: most of the Gathering is a hike from the parking lot. To get there you will need to park and then walk about 1-3 miles, so be prepared with good shoes, water bottle, etc. The shortest trail into the site is from the "Middle Back Gate Bus Village Parking Lot." You will find there are many gatherers who love interacting with the media and will gladly be filmed. But in respect for people's freedom of religious expression, it is requested that anyone taking photographs or film images first ask permission from each individual to be included in the shot.

Links:

Directions to the Wyoming Gathering
http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/sites/annual-site.html

Footage of USFS' Attempt to Incite Riot, July 3, 2007 at Annual Rainbow Gathering in Arkansas
First link contains arrest, quiet part, sirens at main meadow, reaction. Plays audio only; video peculiarly missing as of this press release
Part One http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=12590276
Part Two http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvvcwcHkYQA&feature=related
Part Three http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD6bX-36Fbc&feature=related
Part Four http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uklob4ooh1w&feature=related

U.S. v. Wirtshafter transcript of Motion to Suppress Hearing, July 5, 2007
http://www.free-assembly.org/gather/courtstorms/ar07-ozark/us-v-wirtshafter/hrg-transcript-5jy07/view

"Rainbow Family & Christians Unite to Give Hope After Katrina" film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3tT5F9ECpA

"Effects of Rainbow Gatherings on Local Residents" film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VwVjvSSn5I&feature=related

"The Rule of Law" radio program, July 3, 2008
Hour One http://mp3.wtprn.com/Kelton/0807/20080703_Thu_Kelton1.mp3
Hour Two http://mp3.wtprn.com/Kelton/0807/20080703_Thu_Kelton2.mp3

FS Taser purchase document
http://www.peer.org/docs/fs/07_4_12_taser_justification.pdf

Additional video evidence of the USFS's harassment campaign against Rainbow Gatherings can be made available to the press.

Shanti Sena (Peace Keepers) PEACE WINS!

2008-07-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

My goal in Wyoming for Shanti Sena was to do basic workshops/circles every day at Dinner Circle. Due to my involvement with the Front Gate and a lot of Cop Walks, I didn't achieve a nightly Shanti Sena workshop as I didn't make it to Dinner Circle that often, but the Shanti Sena workshop did happen a few times. In each case, I announced the workshop/circle while people were eating and we circled in the meadow and talked about each person's experience with Shanti Sena and how different techniques may help a situation.

For those of you who missed the workshops, here is a short version of what we covered.

Q. How high is too high?
A. We need to look out for our family who may be high and wandering about alone. The Wyoming Gathering was cold at night and it was easy to get lost in the woods. A high lost person can get hypothermia easily and die. So when you see someone who seems to be too high and unable to make good decisions about their safety, either hang with them or get them to a kitchen where the person can hang around a campfire until they are a bit more focused.
Sometimes people need to be restrained lovingly so they don't dance in the fire, jump off boulders and crash through people's tarps, or harm themselves in some way. NEVER DUCT TAPE ANYONE. Hold people down with strong and loving arms in the least restrictive manner possible.

Q. Neighborhood disputes
A. When you're camped in your camp and you notice some of your neighbors not getting along, take the time to talk to first one and then the other separately, find out what the issues are and see if you can come up with a solution that meets the needs of everyone. Don't wait until the screaming and yelling starts. However, once that happens, trying Oming. Oming is a general purpose calmer for a variety of situations. I have been in many situations where Oming made the yellers realize how silly they were being. When in doubt, Om. The more people who Om the better. Sitting down and Oming is less confrontational.

Q. Radios
A. Having a radio doesn't mean a person has a clue. Don't put all your trust in people with radios just because they have a radio. Some people with radios are experienced in Shanti Sena, some are not. If in doubt, go to INFO or CALM with a major problem.

Q. Cop Watch
A. See the long post I wrote a few months back on Cop Watch. READ IT! That being said, here's the short hand version. NEVER CIRCLE THE COPS. Give them a way out of every situation. A scared cop shoots. Get people to sit down and OM. Oming de-escalates the situation. Keep your back to the cops and back our family up (some of us aren't as good at the peace vibe as others). DON'T YELL! Keep the video cameras rolling. Be the peace we want to see in this world. Don't interfere with their arrests. One or two people taken to jail can be dealt with by lawyers. Keeping the peace will minimize the arrests.

Q. Lost Kids
A. If your kid is lost, get to a person with a radio and get a description out ASAP. If you find a lost kid, take her/him to Kid Village.

Q. Keeping the Peace
A. Walking. Walk the gathering every day and observe what is where, stop at all the camps and kitchens and talk to people. Get to know what areas may be a bit sketchy before a problem erupts. Prevention is the best medicine. Walk the gathering at night looking for family who may need some gentle nudging to get them to a kitchen with a campfire and some good music. Come to Shanti Sena Councils/Circles/Workshops so you can meet other people. When a situation erupts, it's awesome to know who you're working with.

Front Gate Fun & Friends

2008-07-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

So when I arrived at the gathering the night of June 19th, the Front Gate was a blue tarp tipee and a bunch of guys I know including Plunker, Quiet and Kudzo (sp). I felt doubly blessed to see Quiet because I think of him as my baby - he learned to hold the gate with me doing Welcome Home at the Full Moon Circles in San Diego going back to the mid-nineties. Always a brother you can count on!

The brothers held the gate, greeting people with information on parking, cop movies and how to not get pulled over. And it was alcohol and spange free!

The Front Gate was on BLM land and subject to a fourteen day camping limit. Plunker had set up his vehicle and considered the camp his camp but needed someone to "camp" there after his fourteen days were up, so my trusty 1956 Ford Step Van took over. The hard working crew built a tarp structure using my van as a foundation and from then on, I became one of the "happy shiny" people at the Front Gate. I alternated nights in my tent by Oji Kitchen with nights at the Front Gate. The core crew was Quiet, Red, Blue, Stale Fish and Chris and these are the best brothers I've ever hung with at a Rainbow Gathering - you guys rock!!!!! And the sisters - Susan, Ellen and a bunch whose names I don't remember - WOW! Working front gate with sisters is the bomb.

We had a fire pit and once it was dark, encouraged people to camp with us for the night before heading into the gathering. Many nights we had a wonderful bunch of happy hippies, singing songs, or talking about road trips and gatherings past and always shouting out "Welcome Home" and "We Love You" while those that had been hanging around for a while shared the 411 on danglies from rear view mirrors (illegal and used as an excuse by the LEOs to pull you over) and the monumental importance of using turn signals even when there was no one to signal for. We also shared info on the various parking lots and access points to the gathering.

I never made it past 2:30 AM before crashing in my comfy bed in my van, but the rest of the crew held it until dawn night after night after night - and shuttled people up and down the road besides. I bow down to you!

Having a alcohol free gate was a major accomplishment and thank you family for doing it. I hope this is a new tradition that carries forward to New Mexico and beyond. Love and hugs family. Love and hugs.

Generations Holding Hands, A Strong Family Makes

2008-07-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

This year's theme was bridging generation gaps and learning how to meet the needs of all generations of family. Plunker's swan song hipstory that went on for hours in a cold mosquito infested meadow was followed by Garrick's recounting of the Grandfather David's epic speech in the heat in the 1970s. And so the torch is passed and at the time I felt like the bus had left me on the side of the road with one piece of luggage and no direction.

And then Vermin Supreme changed everything with the soon to be legandary "Donughts for Death Camp" movie. I missed experiencing this stroke of genus first hand, but heard about it from the mouth of the supreme one himself. In a nutshell, Death Camp is a family whose parents provide minimal guidance or supervision to their children and the kids dedicate themselves to outrageous behavior just to gain the attention of someone. A lot of this behavior was verbally or physically violent this year, but all attempts to bridge the generation gap failed. Of course it's hard to have a conversation with a nine year old who just called you a F%#(* and a B%#* and a C@&$^ and every other word that was invented to belittle another human being.

Vermin and some other folks took donughts and hung out and that is the beauty of this idea. It's simple. Food and people hanging out. Now I'm not claiming it turned the Death Camp scene into a Mister Rogers campout, but it was a critical step.

Our incredible Rainbow family is filled with people who have dug shitters, chopped wood, healed the body and mind, and parked cars for years and in the process have filled their brains with a bounty of Rainbow wisdom and now their bodies are weary. So I'm asking you, the earlies as Plunker says, to share your minds by leaving your comfortable chairs at Loven Ovens and Montana Camp and spending a few hours a day hanging out with your younger brothers and sisters at Shut Up and Eat It, Mence to Sobriety, Phat Kids and Trade Circle. Bring some donoughts, chocolate bars or fruit and just hang out and LISTEN to what the kids have to say. They don't need elders, but they do need someone to hear their dreams and concerns and maybe offer a small suggestion from time to time or some sugar for zuzus.

And so the generations will unfold one hand clasping one hand until a strong chain is formed.

Pinedale Paper looking for Eyewitness Accounts of July 3 Incident

2008-07-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

***Forwarded Message***
Hello all ...

I am a reporter for the Pinedale Roundup newspaper and I am in the process of working on an article regarding the treatment of the Rainbows during the July 3 pepper bullet incident and the ACLU?s investigation. If any of you would like to share your thoughts or eyewitness accounts of what happened, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you much. Please email me.

Jennie

Back in San Diego

2008-07-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Finally made it home yesterday. Lot's of stuff to report on but today I'm exhausted and trying to unload and cleanup. I'll be writing up my thoughts on Front Gate, the Operating Plan, Shanti Sena and more - to me this gathering was about the changing of the guard and the generation gap. Stay tuned for my thoughts on these and other matters. To everyone I met in Wyoming, I LOVE YOU! To those who missed the gathering, next year in New Mexico! Here's a photo of me at INFO with my "blue teddy" (thanks to Dawn of the Pinedale Online).

July 3rd Incident & Stuck in Mesquite, Nevada

2008-07-09T16:19:00.001-07:00

I'm enroute to my home in San Diego in a 1956 Ford Stepvan. It's 113 today and too hot to drive.
So we're hold up in a motel room and I'm checking email, etc.

As far as the incident in Kid Village on July 3rd, I was not an eye witness so will leave others to tell their stories. That being said, one of the brothers who was there will be meeting with staffers of congressional representatives on July 15 to show video of the event and review eye witness accounts with the hopes of asking Congress to hold a hearing.

To that end, if you have an eye witness statement, please email me a complete statement of what you witnessed along with your legal name, phone number and address. If you have video or still photography of the incident, I will have an ftp site setup in a day or two or email me links from You Tube.

Just a reminder family, never circle the cops. Sit down and OM!

Did You Witness the Kiddie Village Incident?

2008-07-08T16:42:00.001-07:00

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to
investigate how federal law enforcement officers
treated members of the Rainbow Family during their
annual gathering this year in western Wyoming.

If you were a witness to the event that took place
in Kiddie Village on July 3rd, please contact the
Wyoming ACLU. Their contact info is on the top
right corner of their webpage which can be found
here:

http://www.aclu-wy.org/

They say they will be taking collect calls for the
next two weeks from witnesses.

Incident with LEOs at Kiddie Village

2008-07-04T15:26:00.001-07:00

It seems that an incident took place on the late afternoon of July 3rd, on site at Kiddie Village
involving the arrest of some Rainbow Folks, the law enforcement officers being surrounded by an Om Circle, and then the firing into the crowd by LEOs of some sort of projectiles while the LEOs exited the site.

This information was gathered from an Internet radio show called We The People Radio Network. The show can be found here:

http://mp3.wtprn.com/Kelton08.html

The show has a pair of co-hosts, one in the studio and one calling in from on site. The show is
broken up into two parts, Hour 1 and Hour 2.

12 minutes into Hour 1 you can hear Rob Savoye telling the studio co-host about a tasering
incident on the road when he actually gets the call that there is a "riot" going on at Kiddie
Village and he leaves the satellite phone.

The on site co-host seems to follow him to KV as the show moves to another topic for awhile. Later in Hour 1, they cut back to the on site co-host who is handing the phone off to witnesses of the event who tell what they experienced. Hour 2 has quite a few witnesses talking about what they saw.

The gist of the event seems to be that an arrest of between 3 and 5 people was happening near or in Kiddie Village just before dinner circle. Rainbow folks came and surrounded the arresting officers who began to feel threatened. More and more Rainbows arrived at the incident as word spread.

In an attempt to exit with their arrested people, they first began shooting into the ground with
what appeared to be machine guns (but were not). When people began putting themselves between the officers and where the kids were, and did not back down or disperse, the LEOs began shooting into the arms and chests of the Rainbows. They did this as they exited up the hill, and down a path off site.

It is not clear what, exactly, was being shot from those guns. It has been described as "pepper spray pellets" and also as "rubber bullets".

In the Forest Service press release, it is stated that Rainbows first began throwing rocks and
sticks at the officers. Their statement can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/5gltp2

There was apparently lots of video taken of the incident and names and statements of witnesses are being collected.

Photos From Wyoming

2008-07-03T10:55:00.001-07:00

Thought you all might want to see some great
pictures of the Wyoming Gathering. The Pinedale
Online Website is doing a great job reporting on
the Gathering and lots of pictures can be found at
this link...

http://tinyurl.com/54ngft

Scroll down to see even more once you get there,
and click on them to make them larger! I even see
a picture there of Karin, the creator of this
blog! If you find any more links to great pics of
this years Gathering, please feel free to add them
to the comment section of this post!

Report From the Gathering #3

2008-06-29T23:04:00.001-07:00

Hey there, this is The Other Karen. I got another
call from Karin, the creator of this blog, from
the Gathering in Wyoming. She gave me lots of info
about what is going on there and how to prepare
for the drive and the hike in.

Again, I apologize for lack of apostrophes and
parenthesis. Karinâ™s blog, for some reason,
prints gobbledy-gook when I write them.

Here is the newsâ¦

THE ROAD IN
The drive in is difficult because the cops are
stopping for every little thing and then, often,
are searching cars. One person has a court
appearance for not having brake lights, even
though she does, because the low sun was shining
on them and they are a bit dim. Another person has
a court appearance because he did not apply his
brake while on a corner, even though he was going
slowly because a cop was following him.

There are four parking lots.

TERRAIN
There are two trails into the site. The WAGON
TRAIL is 2.5 miles of flat hiking and then a half
mile on a very steep incline going up. The SNAKE
TRAIL is only 2 miles but goes up and down a lot
and then straight up at the end.

FRONT GATE IS NICE!! You need to seriously allow
yourself 6-8 hours to park, hike in, have
something to eat!, find a campsite, and set up. If
6-8 hours has you hiking or setting up in the
dark, SERIOUSLY consider camping by your car the
first night, or by the fire at Front Gate. Its a
nice scene. Stay and enjoy it.

Karin âœhustled itâ from Main Meadow to the
front gate, down hill, and it took her two hours!

Once you are in, its level land. There are Aspen,
Pine, and Fir trees. There are blue and yellow
flowers in the fields and big gorgeous granite
boulders. On-site there is minimal cop-movie. They
come through about once a day on ATVs for an hour
and are gone.

ALTITUDE
This has been a SERIOUS problem this year. There
have been lots of people who have found themselves
with severe headaches and vomiting on their first
day onsite. This includes some long-time Rainbows
who are used to occasional high elevations and
living outdoors.

Allow for altitude sickness when you plan what
time of day to hike into the site. This is another
good reason to hang at Front Gate the first night
and acclimate before the crazy hike in.

Some of the older folks are bitching and moaning
because they feel ineffectual because they cant
walk around too much.

RADIOS
Rob is getting radios together today. This makes
lots of folks happy because the amount of hiking
to pass information around has been very
strenuous.

C.A.L.M.
There are currently 3 CALMS set up.

WEATHER
It tends to be in the mid 70s during the day. The
nights are still very cold and some folks arent
sleeping at all well because of it. Bring long
johns for sleeping and possibly double sleeping
bags. Bring a hat to sleep in. Please bring any
extra blankets or bags for folks that need it!

GASOLINE
The nearest gasoline for sale is UNUSUALLY FAR
away from the site this year. Be sure that you
fill up to the TOP before heading up so that you
can get back down. If you have gasoline jugs,
please fill them up and bring them in for your use
or for other folks. This will save on the usual
situation of having to siphon out of some cars to
get other cars back to town.

POPULATION
Its surprising how few people are currently
onsite. There were about 500-1000 at dinner last
night. Population seems sparse and less than
expected as does the quantities of cars coming in
per hour.

OTHER MISC.
There is lots of meat in some of the kitchens.
Warriors of the Light was very recently built.
Yeast Man has not been seen. Some folks are sad.

MISSING SON OF THE SHERIFF
Garretts mother is on site nearly every day
because there have been rumors that he has been
seen onsite. His mothers family -his parents are
apparently divorced- loves the Rainbows, are very
appreciative of all the work that is being done to
find Garrett, and is coming in a lot to walk the
site and chat folks up. They often bring meat for
the kitchens.

So, the unreported story is that Garrett allegedly
had a fight with his friends the night before he
disappeared. He -I believe she said- came home
that night but was gone by morning. No one was
worried until he failed to show up for work.

When his truck was found at the end of a dead end
road in the forest, there was a bullet hole in the
windshield and one in the fender.

There are flyers with his picture going around the
site and some folks claim they have seen him. But
its getting to the point that he would likely know
he was being searched for.

NOTES ON SHANTI SENA
In my last report you read that the cops deemed it
illegal to yell âœShanti Senaâ because it might
incite a riot. This has now been amended. Folks
are allowed to yell it as long as they really are
NOT trying to incite a riot. This of course, is up
to the opinion of the nearest cop.

It is believed that this will be interpreted to
mean that you can call for help if someone is
beating up someone else, but likely not allowed if
there is a cop-action going on and you are calling
for other Rainbows to come witness the action.

So! It is advised that if there IS some sort of
cop-action and you feel compelled to call for
Shanti-Sena to witness the action, that you step
back into the woods, away from the fray, make your
call and then disappear, coming around again to
another place in the circle. Dont stand beside the
nearest cop and call.

SUMMARY
Other than the horrendous hike in, the altitude
sickness, the missing locals, and the difficulty
in finding a vegetarian meal at times, there is an
awesome Gathering happening. You should come home.
Come.

Minimal Information

2008-06-26T23:56:00.001-07:00

I am going to attempt to write this post with no
apostrophes or quotes as my last post here on
Karins blog included a lot of odd characters in
place of the apostrophes.

I received a voice mail on my cell phone from Jai
(Just Say Hi). Karin seemed to have written some
notes down for Jai to read to me over the phone
for inclusion here on her blog. I hate to admit,
though, with some static and difficulty with
translation, I feel strongly that some of what
Karin wanted to say did not come through. For
instance, I got some email addresses from her but
was not clear what it was that I was supposed to
send to these addresses.

Here is what I did surmise...

* The hike into the Gathering site at Big Sandy is
pretty darn strenuous. Even without a pack, from
Parking Lot to Main meadow it is about 1.5 to 2
hours of hiking because it is UP HILL. Be
prepared.

* Apparently, the folks onsite have been informed
that if they ever shout Shanti Sena (our call for
help) that the person calling may be arrested for
inciting a riot. Apparently, they are not aware
that the call is used to gather many people who
will surround the situation with a circle of calm,
peaceful council members intent on defuseing the
situation and come to a peaceful resolution.

* The road to or possibly into (or near) Snider
Basin (the other site) is apparently terrible. Not
sure which road this is exactly. Sorry.

* There currently is no proper plan in place to
evacuate severely injured or sick people from the
Big Sandy site.

* Jai was busted for having a string of beads
hanging from his rear-view mirror while driving
in. Please have your vehicle registered with no
violations. Wear your seat belts, go the speed
limit. Of course, that is good advice driving into
ANY gathering.

That is about it. I wish I had been there to take
the call instead of having it go to voice mail. I
could have asked a lot of questions and made this
report more clear.

On-Site Report from Karin

2008-06-21T12:33:00.001-07:00

Hello! This is The Other Karen. You might know me
from the Info Booth at the Gathering, but I am not
able to go to Wyoming this year. I did, however,
get a phone call this morning (June 21) from Karin
Zirk (the one and only). She was able to reach me
on her cell phone from the back entrance to the
site, on the hill. (She was using Creedo which she
thinks is through Sprintâ™s service. There was a
good deal of static, but I was able to pretty
easily converse with her.)

*At the town hall meeting with the Forest Service,
the situation regarding the Boy Scouts and their
planned work on the land (at the site where we are
gathering) was discussed. It seems that the Boy
Scouts did not plan to arrive until the 26th of
July, well into our clean-up process. It is
unclear as to whether they will cancel their
rehabilitation. Karin said there is a âœslim
chanceâ they will go ahead with it.

*The Forest Service asked us to move to another
site. The Rainbows at the meeting agreed to go
back to the land and call a council about the
matter. They did. About a hundred people were at
the council (coming and going) and in the end, the
council was unable to come to consensus about
whether to stay or go. Because of this, the old
consensus still stands (reached by Spring Council)
to gather at the current site.

*There is some disagreement on the landâ¦ some
folks, including Garrick and Summer Breeze, feel
the Gathering should move to the 1994 Wyoming site
at Snyder Basin. Some folks plan to move there.
Lots of people are definitely staying where they
are.

*Mark Rey, (the Under Secretary of Natural
Resources and Environment, US Dept. of
Agriculture) said that their will be no
repercussions whether we stay on site or move to
another. They would prefer that we move, but are
not forcing the issue and are being, according to
Karin, âœnice and accommodatingâ.

Karinâ™s two cents is that the site will either
be where it currently is, or that it will be a
split gathering, but that it will most likely not
be moving completely. Also, she says, âœIf in
order the maintain the spirit of cooperation with
the Forest Service, we have to abandon our
consensus process, then what is the point?â

Last night (Friday the 20th), there were 180
people at dinner circle, the Magic Hat was passed
for the first time, and 5 kitchens served at
circle. A good time was had by all!

It is estimated that there are 1000+ people
currently on the land (July 21st, â™08).

THE FOLKS ON SITE ARE ASKING FOR EXTRA BLANKETS,
SLEEPING BAGS AND TENTS!!! Many folks came
unprepared for the cold night whether and there
are kids with not enough bedding. Please help.

Andâ¦

âœTHEEEEEY LOOOOOOOVE YOOOOOOOOU!!!!!â

Karin's Update for too early in the morning

2008-06-19T05:09:00.001-07:00

So this morning, I'm in Salt Lake City trying to leave for the gathering with my group that rendevoused here. (it was a long hellish hot drive up the I-15).

Tonight at 11:30 PM Eastern Time there is yet another conference call with Mark Rey. Rumors I've heard is that if we don't move, the Boy Scouts project will be cancelled. These are all rumors. The number is 866-742-4928, code 6246993.

Some people on the site are rumored to be willing to move, some not.

So Mark Rey will be in Pinedale for the town meeting this evening at 6 PM.

I will try to post an update this evening based on what I find out then. If you're heading this way, check this site before you leave the highway in case there are updates.

Local Transit in the Area

2008-06-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the SubLink Stage Website
For travel between Pinedale, Daniel Junction, Marbleton, Big Piney, La Barge, Kemmerer, Evanston & Salt Lake City...

Schedules & Fares
Call 307-367-7433 or 1-800-542-2632.

Gathering Site, Boy Scouts and Next Conference Call

2008-06-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

To make a long story short, the boy scouts have been planning on using a similar area as we are using to do restoration work on the Continental Divide Trail. At this time we do not know how close their location is to ours and what the outcome of this concern will be. We are hoping to work out a cooperative solution to this issue

The USFS will provide a map of the area the Boy Scouts had reserved and additional information on their project which has been in the planning stages since 2003. When I get that information, I will post it here as well as a transcript of today's call so you can hear the issue out of the mouth of Mark Rey.

Here's some info on the boy scouts project or more information.

A brief summary of the issue: This is part of a five year thing the Scouts have been doing, and they have already applied for and received a special use authorization (permit). About 1000 of them will be coming for a week starting July 26th. Mark Rey (an undersecretary of Agriculture (the Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture)) told us that we was concerned about this putting time pressures on "the usually excellent job of cleanup that you guys do", as well as there being two large events in the same area in the same summer, "something we would not normally allow".

Discussion ensued about precisely where the Scouts would be relative to where we would be, and the Tom and Mark said they had to get additional information. Apparently there are several large meadows in the vicinity, and it could still be possible to use only some of them, and keep the areas the Scouts will use roped off to gatherers.

If you want to hear the issues presented by Mark Rey and the conference call that happened today, click here (thank you Marty).

Eventually it was agreed that there had to be input from people who are on the land, so Jai, who was at the time in Little America and on his way, as well as Tom, would get the word to the land and then get some of them to come to a ranger station and some phones and participate in another conference call.

Because no one from site was able to participate in today's conference call to discuss these issues, a follow up call has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 17 at 4:30 PM EASTERN TIME.

call 866-742-4928
Participant code is 6246993

We have a messenger going into the site today to make sure people on the land are notified and I hope the bulk of tomorrow's call will be composed of people who are on the land as those are the people who need to work this out with the USFS resource folks.

If you are headed towards the gathering, today or tomorrow AM please take this information with you.

If you are leaving in a few days, I will try post updates here so check that site before you head home.

Love you family!

Snow & Cold!

2008-06-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

It's cold. Be prepared for snow. Bring extra warm blankets to share with those who didn't bring enough. Bring extra tarps and if you have an old tent you don't want anymore, bring that to get away.

Human Beings Will Answer Your Questions

2008-06-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

If the information on this or other websites doesn't answer your questions, email gathering_info@welcomehome.org and a wonderful and experienced gatherer will respond to your question or concern. Or just send them an email and say hey!

Town Meeting on Thursday, June 19

2008-06-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

A town meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 19th, at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale at 6:00 PM. All interested parties are encouraged and invited to attend.

The Undersecretary of Agriculture Mark Rev will be in attendance along with members of the U.S. Forest Service Incident Management Team. Representatives from the Wyoming Governor's office and Attorney General's office are expected to attend. The Wyoming Department of Health should have representatives there as well.

The purpose of the meeting is to allow members of the community to have an opportunity to ask questions of the Rainbows about the annual gathering which will be held at Big Sandy in early July.

Let's show up and meet the local community - share the love.

Hitchhiking is Illegal in Wyoming

2008-06-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

The nearest public transit (Greyhound).point to the gathering is Rock Springs, Wyoming. So please, please, please if you can squeeze just one or two more people into your vehicle from Rock Springs to the gathering, let's help our family get home without getting ticketed.

If any locals know of a legal way to get from Rock Springs to Boulder without a private vehicle, please let us know.

Tips & Tidbets for Those Heading Home

2008-06-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

Rock Springs is a good place to stock up. While the closest town is Boulder, I've heard some rumblings that the proprietor may not be that happy with gatherers. In addition to Rock Springs, there's a store, gas and a restaurant in Farson, which is between Rock Springs and the turn off to the gathering.

One person reported being unable to use an out of state credit card for purchasing gas at the pump - don't know if that's an isolated incident or not.

It's snowing a bit every day and nights are COLD! Be prepared.

Life is calm and the gathering is unfolding.

On June 19 in the afternoon or early evening, there will be a meeting with gathering participants, local towns folks, federal, state and local agencies including Mr. Mark Rey, the Undersecretary of the USDA (boss of the forest service). Details will be forth coming. Let's put our best face forward and show everyone that we are nice and loving folks.

Calling all folks from California

2008-06-12T13:39:00.001-07:00

To come camp at Oji Camp (Northern & Southern Cali tribes). Cooking for main circle and doing the raw foods thing. Oji should be there by this weekend.

Blast from the Past (Wyoming 1994)

2008-06-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

This from a friend and posted here with his permission

Hey Family,
After the Wyoming national in 94, I created and networked a printed circular of news about the gathering and other stuff, through a band (Whole World) I was doing at the time. Anyhow, I included quotes from locals, FS reps, LEO's, etc, that might be of some kind of minor
use in PR for this years gathering.

QUOTES

"Its a really well run outfit, considering we're out in the middle of the woods" - Jim Nothnagel, Wyoming Health Dept

"I haven't heard any complaints. I went up there the other day. I had fun" - Dennis Wagstaff, Big Piney firefighter

"I think it was an experience I wouldn't want to have done without. It was an interesting group of people, and it just goes to show that it takes all kinds" - Jackson Police Chief Dave Cameron

"In the beginning, I think a lot of people had reservations. Actually, it's turned out to be kind of interesting. It's been an experience, a cultural exchange" - Randy McNinch, 3rd generation resident

"It's an interesting experience. Rainbow does a great job of cleaning up after itself. You couldn't tell anyone was at the Paonia (Colorado site, 2 years prior) a year after that gathering. It would be a mistake to think that because they were different, that they were stupid. They include every kind of professional, doctors, lawyers, people from every walk of life. Don't judge them by the way they look, the way they smell, or what they have pierced" - Ron Jablonski, Forest Service spokesman

"Most of the experience has been really positive" - Rory Mack, Mini Mart owner

"Normally, we make about $500 a day. During the peak of the gathering we averaged $3,500 a day" - Judy Marx Sage Cafe owner

Love Is The Answer,
Greg

What to Bring With You to wyOOMMing

2008-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

The basics:

Tent
WARM Sleeping Bag
Coat
Sturdy boots
Rain Poncho
Cup
Bowl
Spoon & Fork
Sunscreen
Flashlight & solar recharger
Toilet Paper
Sun Hat
Trail mix
Apples
washcloths
Feminine supplies if applicable
Personal medications - (if you have special health needs please check in with CALM when you arrive so if something happens, people will already be familiar with your situation.)
I always recommend people bring two gallons of water per person so you have safe drinking water until you get settled and know where at the gathering to fill up.

If you want a bit more comforts:
Some sort of sleeping bag padding like a ThermaRest or foam
Something to sit on - (the gathering provides the ground, you provide the rest - towel, blanket, folding chair, etc.)
Be prepared for warm sunny days, cool rainy days and cold nights.
Sun shower
Water Filter (.2mu)

Remember, what ever you carry in, you will need to carry out.

Communal needs
(Organic) fruits and veggies that can take a few days without refrigeration and can stand a bit of banging around
Bubbles, face paint, acoustic instruments
Toilet Paper
(Organic) Sugar, nuts, whole wheat flour
Cash donations for the Magic Hat
Hugs & Smiles

Gathering Directions

2008-06-11T13:51:00.001-07:00

Spring Council happened on June 10 and the consensus was to go to a site, which is south /southeast of Pinedale, Wyoming.

Directions From Southern California, take Interstate 15 north to Salt Lake City. Take Interstate 80 east to Rock Springs, Wyoming.

From Rock Springs, take US-191 north to WY-353 (near Boulder, Wyoming). Go EAST on WY-353 for 18 MILES to the end of pavement where it turns into County Road 118.
KEEP GOING on CR-118 (dirt road) for another 10 MILES (towards "Farson"). This will take you across the river at Buckskin Crossing, then watch for a junction with CR-132 where a sign points left to "Big Sandy Campground 15". Turn LEFT (east) on CR-132 (Lander Cut) and then FOLLOW the SIGNS to "DUTCH JOE G.S." -- After 7 MILES, there will be another LEFT, then go 2 MILES -- WELCOME HOME!!!

[Note: The site is NOT at "big sandy campground"-- it IS near "Dutch Joe GS" on the Big Sandy River]

For a map, click here.

For printer friendly directions in PDF, click here.

WARNING! There is snow on the road today and the road in is a bit messy. Be prepared or wait a few days as it's supposed to warm up this weekend.

If you're riding Greyhound - you want to get off at Rock Spring Wyoming. If you're flying or doing Amtrak, it's Salt Lake City, Utah - you can catch Greyhould from SLD to Rock Springs.

If you want to Map Quest your travels, make your destination Boulder, Wyoming and that should give you an estimate. Gatherings tend to be located many miles from the nearest Interstate and paved road. When planning your drive, realize that the last 50 to 100 miles may be traveled at 20 MPH and plan accordingly.

Always plan to arrive early in the morning. The roads into the gathering are generally in poor shape and it's easy to get lost at 1 AM in the dark when you've been driving for 12 hours. Kick it at a camp site for the night, get up at dawn and come on home.

It can take 4 to 8 hours from the time you park your car until you've gotten to your campsite and pitched your tent. If this is your first gathering, I'd plan on 8 so you can figure out what's happening and where you want to camp.

~ Welcome Home Everyone ~

~ Be the Peace You Want to See in this World ~

~ Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization! ~

A Site Has Been Found

2008-06-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

Spring council yesterday reached consensus on a site. Directions to follow. FYI it was snowing at the site last night and they were expecting a foot of snow.

Rap on Kids

2008-06-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

For people with kids, if you've never been to a gathering plug in with Kiddie Village - a kid friendly space with lots of parents willing to share how to sanely and safely parent at a gathering. If you've never camped with kids before, read up an that to make sure you're prepared. Read the rap on kids at Gatherings to be prepared.

Rap on Access

2008-06-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

For people with special needs, ask for Handicamp - a space for people with mobility and other related disabilities with lots of folks willing to help you make the most of your gathering experience. While the trails can be tough and conditions vary from site to site, there's usually a couple of friendly folks just waiting to assist with the rough spots. Sometimes we have cool things like rickshaws to assist people in getting around. Bring your own personal supplies (catheter, wraps, chair, medical supplies, diapers, cleanup, etc.). Bring own attendent if you need assistance with personal care (bowel programs, skin, transfer, catheterizations, wounds, etc) or supervision issues or other issues (mobility, access, safety) as needed. Please, ask for help when you need it and give another gatherer a chance to be of service.

USFS Follow Up from Conference Call on June 6

2008-06-09T18:33:00.001-07:00

One of the areas of concern expressed by participants in the conference call with the USFS on June 6 was the USFS's policy on use of tasers specifically and use of force in general. I've attached three PDF documents, which is what I received today in various formats. The email from Amanda is the cover email to the other two documents. The only thing I removed from the email was the "to" and "cc" email addresses plus Tim Lynn's phone number.

Amanda's Email

FSM 5387 - Non Lethal Defensive Equipment Policy

FSH 5309.11_54 Use of Force Policy - Non Lethal Defensive Equipment

Workshop Leaders Needed

2008-06-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

A great Rainbow Gathering is full of great workshops. Great workshops are led by you. There's no one in charge of workshops at a Rainbow Gathering. If you want to do one, you do it. Many people make announcements at Dinner Circle for workshops happening that evening or the next day. There's usually a workshop board at Information. And you can make cool signs and hang them around the gathering.

Where do workshops happen? Anywhere you desire. If you're camped at a kitchen, ask the crew if you can use their bliss pit for a workshop. If it's a yoga or meditation workshop - Main Meadow or Yoga Healing Arts are great places to hold a workshop. If it's a workshop for kids and their parents, talk to the folks at Kid Village and see where would be a good place. If it's a workshop on accupressure, Reiki or other healing modalities, talk to the folks at CALM and see if they have space for a workshop.

At Rainbow, workshops are informal and usually the participants contribute a lot. What kind of workshops would be appropriate?

Here's a list of some workshops that have happened at previous gatherings:
* Herb Walks
* Yoga - a lot of different types
* Drum Making
* Belly dancing
* Biodegradable composting shitters
* Meditation
* Bible study
* Elvis Healing Studies
* Torah Study
* Krishna Study
* Non-Violent Direct Action
* Tree Sitting Direct Action
* Shanti Sena (Peace keepers)
* Ocarina Making
* Edible Plants
* Art projects
* Sufi Dancing
And I'm sure there's a bunch more I'm forgetting about all together.
Let's get this knowledge circulating! Share your brain with others.

Video of 1994 Wyoming Gathering

2008-06-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Bumped into this today. It's a video of the last Wyoming Gathering in 1994. Click here to play video!

Calling all health care providers and healers

2008-06-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

If you're a licensed health care provider or do healing work such as massage, reiki, spiritual work or any other modality that helps heal the body or the mind, CALM needs your help.

What is CALM?
~ Rainbow Health Care aka the Center for Alternative Healing Medicine.

For more information or to plug in, visit the CALM Website.

If you want to reach one of the CALM crew, email them.

CALM IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PLACES ON THE PLANET TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE HEALING!!

June 6 Gathering Update

2008-06-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

Spring Council starts Tuesday, June 10 at Stokes Crossing Campground.

From Highway 80 near Rock Springs, Wyoming, Exit Highway 191 North towards Pinedale/Boulder. Drive approximately 85 miles to Highway 353. Take Hwy 353 two miles east to Boulder Lake Road (Gravel Road). Go 7 miles north on Boulder Lake Road. Look for a sign on your left for Stokes Crossing. If you reach Boulder Lake, you passed Stokes Crossing.

This is BLM land. No potable water on site, minimal trees. Bring one gallon of water per person per day you plan on being there. Bring extra water for those less prepared.

For a map of the area

Remember to be prepared for pre-gathering conditions! It's still wet & cold in Wyoming & gas is $4/gal. -- try to be self-sufficient with food, supplies and gear for springtime mountain camping!

Forest Service Conference Call Happened Today

----Begin Forwarded Message----

Here’s Summer Breeze’s Take on it

For those who were on the call today, please add your two cents and pass this on. Please send me an amended copy every belly so I can have the completed dialogue to post back on mountainspirit. Thanks and lovin you all. On my way to Wyoming.

Today's phone conference went well, in my opinion. About twenty individuals were on the line, some identified and some not. I was on the call but did more listening than talking today. Some folks were really tuned in to what needed saying, so I felt it was better to listen to the folks with intent.

The outcome of the call included the following: Mark Rey agreed to meet folks (rainbows, individuals, town folks in Wyoming) at a town meeting- the location to be decided once spring counsel selects a site- the Wyoming Governor and Attorney General will also be in attendance. A daily meeting to walk Law Enforcement and resource folks into the gathering from the front gate was agreed upon by some who will naturally volunteer themselves to this act. A daily meeting was agreed upon to take place within the gathering, probably at Info, so watch for these meeting times and places to be posted on the gathering bulletin boards.

It was agreed that representatives from the Forest Service would make regular visits to C.A.L.M. to discuss issues of medical importance. Mark Rey agreed to issue a directive that Law Enforcement would not hinder or interfere with medical procedures in action. The Good Samaritan law was discussed along with the topic of laws governing medical practitioners being licensed in the state of Wyoming.

Tasers and their use inside the gathering was a gigantic topic of discussion. It was admitted by John Twiss and Gene Smithson that Law Enforcement will be carrying tasers as part of their regular equipment, and that the use of tasers will be according to the directives of law enforcement guidelines, whatever that means. Gene Smithson said he will not disclose those guidelines to the folks. However, Mark Rey said there is a public document available through FOIA that he would forward out to the folks which describes the laws governing tasers and their uses.

Jane from C.A.L.M. put out her heart felt plea for acknowledgement by Incident Command and the Forest Service of trained, licensed medical practitioners who attend the rainbow gatherings and plead for a no interference agreement from Mark Rey. Jane also asked for proper medical attention to be given in the event that someone is tasered before being transferred to custody. A lot of these issues will be hot topics in regular counsels on the land and will be part of the "operating plan", the living document by the folks on the land made in co-operation for peace with the Forest Service, and subject to amendments continually as a "living document" according to the will and desires of the people.

This is just a quick summary. A transcript will be available sometime in the near future. An audio file will be made available on agr/alternate.gathering.rainbow on google groups.

Just because....(in honor of Papabear Rainbow who passed away last fall) I thought you might want to know. Summer Breeze

--- End forwarded message ---

Town Meeting Thursday, June 19 at a town near the gathering

There will be a town meeting with local residents, gatherers, Undersecretary of the USDA, Mark Rey, as well as the Governor of the State of Wyoming (or representatives) and the Wyoming Attorney General (or representatives) sometime between 4 PM and 6 PM on Thursday, June 19 at a town near the gathering. All are welcome to attend and make some new friends.

Idea for a Healing Circle for our Warriors

2008-06-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

So I read this great article in YES! Magazine about healing our warriors to break the cycle of violence. Wouldn't it be cool if we had a healing circle in Wyoming to honor the sacrifices made by our brothers and sisters in this and all previous wars?

"Almost all cultures, past and present, have had warriors. They have also had complex stories and rituals to help them recover from combat and guide them through the life cycle. The occurrence of warriors is so universal that depth psychologists understand Warrior to be one of our foundational psycho-spiritual archetypes." and
"These war-healing rituals and practices serve us all. They bring home to us the need to break the cycles of war-making and violence both within the individual soldier and within the society. When we return to our veterans their silenced voices, when we accept our true responsibility as individuals and communities, we will no longer see war as an adventure or a legitimate tool of power politics. Then, perhaps, we may see that all over our country and world, we share the same legacy of war-wounding. When we join together to address those wounds wherever they appear, we will finally “study war no more.”

Quoted from the article, click here to read it.

Carbon Usage for Travel to the Gathering

2008-06-05T06:59:00.001-07:00

Someone on the Usenet side of AGR brought up the issue of our carbon footprint in getting to the gathering. So in the spirit of reducing our carbon foot print, think about how you're getting to the gathering and try out one of the many websites that will help you calculate your footprint. Google "Carbon Footprint" and you'll find a bunch.

To the folks who are riding their bicycles to the gathering - you rock! Train is generally much lower in carbon usage pound for pound. Amtrak will get you to Salt Lake City on the California Zephyr that runs from San Francisco and Chicago to points in between.

Greyhound will get you to Rock Springs, Wyoming in the vicinity of where we are heading.

Ride sharing will reduce carbon usage and save us on parking at the gathering - for those who don't know, one of the hardest things to find in a site is adequate parking. Or try posting on your local Craigs List - they have a ride share section an many people use it.

Of course, it's not enough to only worry about your carbon impact on getting to the gathering, but it's a start and I hope you think about it every day in the purchases you make, the daily transportation you use and how you choose to live. Let's be the change we want to see in this world. Shop locally.

Scouting Update / Spring Council Info

2008-06-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Word from the scouts this morning is that all the sites under consideration at this point are in western Wyoming. Spring Council will happen within 50 miles of Pinedale, Wyoming and exact directions to Spring Council will be available at the end of the week. If you're flying, Salt Lake City is the airport.

June 1 Gathering Update

2008-06-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

Happy June Everyone!

As we’re all working on fixing our cars or working out rideshares with each other, I just wanted to take a minute to update you on a few things.

If you are offering a ride or have a ride to share, please take the time to meet with the people you’ll be traveling with ahead of time at your local coffee shop and work out the travel rules: smoking, no-smoking, who pays what, who drives, etc. Please make sure your car is 100% legal and you have a valid driver’s license, registration and insurance. The last few years there have been checkpoints coming into the gathering and people have been hassled pretty badly. Last year in Arkansas, a brother even got a mandatory court appearance ticket for a broken taillight. So cross your ‘t’s and dot your ‘i’s and you’ll come home safely. Many people seem to be using their local Craig’s list for rideshare.

The Undersecretary for the United States Department of Agriculture, Mark Rey, wrote a letter outlining the United States Forest Service guidelines for creating an “unpermitted” yet “legal” gathering. If you want a copy of the letter, visit SCROLL Wyoming Info.

The next conference call with Mr. Rey and his staff is taking place on June 6. To participate, on Friday, June 06, 2008 @1:00 PM-1:30 PM US Eastern Time. Call 866-742-4928 and then enter the code 6246993. This has been toll free call and you can be an anonymous caller.

From one of our earlier conf calls this year there was the suggestion that we come up with a list of the most offensive LEO’s - who we would like to 'be assigned duty elsewhere' during the whole of the gathering time. If you have anyone that you have found especially difficult and won’t be able to make the call, please send me the person’s name, the gathering, and a summary of their behavior that you found problematic. Or feel free to share the information on the call yourself.

A great brother has been in contact with the Governor and Attorney General for the State of Wyoming and invited them to a town hall meeting that hopefully will happen shortly after Spring Council so public relations work is happening.

There’s a small huddle of gatherers working on a media campaign – doing outreach to print and broadcast media. One of their goals is to do a daily press release from the gathering. To that end, they are looking for someone(s) who plan on spending the bulk of their gathering at the Front Gate to count the number of cops coming in every day so that this information can be included in the daily briefing. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll hook you up.

I started a blog to share useful information with people for this year’s gathering. I’ve included most of this updates I’ve been sending out, but also many other cool things like links to some awesome videos and general chatter of interest to all. I even have a poll going, which asks the question ‘Are you going to the gathering?’ Visit the blog if you like: http://wyominggathering.blogspot.com/ and would love your vote.

And in the world of Rainbow and politics, Vermin is not the only Rainbow running for public office. Election Day in California is Tuesday, June 3. If you’re in San Diego, there is actually a candidate who has been to a Rainbow Gathering and has very long dreads – and you thought San Diego was all military – At any rate, if you’re interested in checking out Eric Bidwell, visit his website at http://revolutionarymayor.com/.

Please share this information freely. Ignore all rumors of cancellation and organization. Be the peace you wish to see in this world.

Carla's Two Cents on Working with the USFS This Year

2008-06-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Carla's response was to an ongoing discussion of how to work with the forest service at the gathering in Wyoming this summer. Because she raised some really wonderful points, she's given me permission to repost this here for all ya'll.

********Begin Carla's Two Cents**************

Good points.

I would especially like to address the concept of "a daily meet at front gate." I, too, saw in Secretary Rey's letter a commitment that the USDA/FS will meet daily with gatherers, and that is a good thing--but this was not confined to front gate, nor should it be. There is a big difference between "a daily meet at front gate," and gatherers being available daily at the gate to meet and greet the ICT for an initial briefing as they walk into the site together for a sit-down in a place more accessible to the folks at the heart of the gathering.

What I heard voiced in the conference call was some folks' idea that "Shanti Sena" (not exactly sure who all that might be) should meet the ICT at the front gate every day as they arrive. While I have no problem with the idea of interface at the front gate, and see some definite reasons why it is a good idea, I would caution folks to remember that front gate is usually far away from the center of the gathering. As such, it offers limited opportunity for the wide participation that is vital for robust operational discussions.

I am absolutely opposed to "a daily meeting"-- as defined by a open discussion to resolve operational issues-- happening at front gate, as this would de facto exclude many people. I also disagree with Sailor that the ICT could use folks at the front gate to transmit information to those inside. Regardless of how inconvenient it might be for them to walk into the site, or how many other "more important" things they have to do, in my opinion it is far more important to re-start the long-gone practice of the guys in charge meeting in some sort of accessible council process with gatherers.

I would invite folks at this juncture to think into the years ahead, and to look at this gathering as the first step in creating a new dynamic between the USDA/FS and the gathering. What happens at this gathering will matter very much in terms of establishing communication patterns and practices that may endure for many years. Yes, the gathering is flexible in nature, and change is inevitable in any case. But inertia is a powerful force, as are expectations.

If something that is not well thought out gets established this year--say, for example, a practice of folks meeting at the front gate with ICT and LEOs to hash thing out--it may last for many years and be difficult to change down the line. The reason this matters--think ahead, folks--is that, regardless of the personal intentions of individual gatherers and USDA/FA personnel this year, different people will be at the front gate in years to come. If problems arise at the front gate (or the back gate, or anywhere on the periphery of the gathering) due to the nature of individual personalities--and I am sure they will--there will be little effective process in place to absorb and deal with it.

We all know what I am talking about. Any peripheral spot, camp, or outpost can be too easily dominated by one or two personalities. If meeting daily at front gate stops at the front gate and goes no further, and that becomes the norm, think about the disastrous possibilities for the coming years.

That is why any discussion of operational, safety, or logistical issues must take place in the center somewhere. In any circle in the center, council process can happen that has many voices. Collective wisdom is shared, personal agendas and idiosyncrasies less dominant.

This does not mean such discussions cannot take place also in other areas. It makes sense for the ICT to meet with CALM at CALM, for example, to speak about emergency evacuation procedures, or at Front Gate about traffic and parking problems. But unless that information is also shared at the Co-op circle (or Main Circle, or other larger, focalizing forum by whatever name folks choose to call it), there can be serious problems. I am thinking of the last Wyoming gathering, when some CALM folks agreed--in good faith, no doubt--on certain emergency evacuation plans with the ICT and did not share that at large with other folks, largely because there was no identifiable process for doing so. They also had HAM radios, and had exclusive communication with the ICT. This led to confusion and conflict down the line. I personally was kicked in the shins by a wingnut with a HAM radio who thought she was doing the right thing by doing what the FS was telling her to do. When I asked her to consider listening also to what gatherers were saying about other options, she turned to violence. This could have been avoided by the simple sharing of information ahead of time.

I realize there is reluctance to expose the ICT to our council process, which is often chaotic and can sometimes be verbally abusive. These problems have arisen, I believe, due to the legal conflicts of recent years. Many folks did not feel they could council in the open without risk of being seen as a "leader" of some sort, being targeted for prosecution under the permit regulations, and perhaps going to prison. Unfortunately, some of our most experienced and articulate councilors/counselors stopped coming and modeling appropriate council process out of this fear. The result has been that many folks don't know what appropriate council behavior and process is.

We have a great opportunity this year to restore the functionality of our council process, especially in respect to communications with the ICT. If many people commit to being at these circles, and if participation is robust, I have every confidence that relationships will take a positive turn. Yes, there will probably be folks unclear on the process who want to yell at or argue with the ICT about wearing guns, or rehash issues from the past ad nauseum. Good facilitation and good Shanti Sena-ing can help with that.

What I have in mind is a focused, respectful process whereby it is agreed upon at initial sit-down that this is a business and not a heartsong type council, and that some sort of personal self-restraint is called for in terms of staying on focus, no one person dominating the conversation or speaking for more than 2-3 minutes at a time, and refraining from aggressive language.

I'm also thinking that agreeing upon a facilitator and an initial agenda would be an excellent way to begin. Facilitation can rotate, and agendas be changed or added to, as necessary.

I also think it would be helpful if individual folks in the circle would intervene with someone being disruptive and take them off to the side to let them vent. to explain to them what is trying to be accomplished. and to ask that they observe the flow of the circle and respect the vibe that is happening when they return to the circle.

We used to do this all the time, folks. We just need to remember how to do it, and that it can be done. We all need to take responsibility for it.

As for the ICT, I would ask that they be patient and not leave the circle if there is a bit of disruption, to wait and see how it is dealt with before deciding it is somehow "dangerous" to them. I guarantee that their safety will be assured within any council process, and that they will learn a lot about how well we deal with difficult situations when they arise--without force, and without violence.

As for the proper forum itself, I think everyone knows that I favor a Co-operations Council process. Main Council may just be too big and unwieldy at this point, and once again, many folks have lacked the modeling necessary to learn how to council effectively. Certainly, as has been traditionally done, anything that effects the whole--that is, any "agreements" such as Operating and Rehab plans--need to be taken to Main Council for discussion. Co-op Council (or, as formerly named, Operations Council) does not co-opt Main Council, but can be much more appropriate and efficient when discussing such things as where to put the parking lot or the need for additional protection of the springs.

But certainly, Operations Council (I am also in favor of a return to that term) should happen in a place where most gatherers could easily come if they wished to. Time and place need to be regularly established, and ample notification made.

So that's it for my viewpoint. Discussion welcome.

Mark Rey Letter

2008-05-28T17:22:00.000-07:00

The Undersecretary of the United States Department of Agriculture wrote a letter outlining the United States Forest Service stance towards the gathering. Find all the info at the SCROLL Wyoming web page.

Jacque Betz's Memorial Day Statement

2008-05-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

Jacque Betz is a long time gatherer and wonderful sister who shares my birthday. She's an activist with Code Pink. Here's what she did for Memorial Day: watch the video.

Memorial Day Gathering Message

2008-05-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Memorial Day and I leave it to each one of you to meditate on what that means and how that meaning should be manifested.

Tribes from Northern and Southern California are joining to create a California Family Camp and Kitchen in Wyoming called Oji. A California Family Council is planned for July 1^st at a location to be announced at the gathering. All California family are invited to camp at Oji and create one kick ass kitchen.

Yesterday at our Back to Basics Circle in San Diego, we discussed the often fuzzy idea of sex between consenting adults and how to help our younger sisters feel in control of their own sex lives and how older sisters and loving older brothers can be supportive.

One of the issues we discussed was how some brothers might share food or other goodies with a sister and then expect some sharing in return and how many sisters, especially younger ones, are not prepared to use the word “NO” in a strong and focused manner because they have altered their minds in some manner or because the brother is very insistent.

First off, the message we want to send to all our family, young and old, male and female, is that your body belongs to you. And you have a right to say “NO” when ever your heart desires. If your “NO” is not respected, then you can call “Shanti Sena” and your family will be there to support you in your decision. A “NO” can come after talking to someone, after sharing food or other goodies with someone, even after making out with someone for an hour. You have the right to set your own boundaries and change your mind when ever you wish.

We also discussed some ways in which people can avoid situations where things may get out of control, either because a “NO” is not being respected or because a person isn’t able to express their wishes. So first off, any time you use mind-altering substances, please use the buddy system– hopefully with people you have known and trusted for more than the last hour or two or if not, then at least with a group of people who are prepared to stick together and look out for each other. Or hang out at a larger camp or kitchen and enjoy the fire and the music.

Be aware that while most people who come to the gathering do so with love and respect in their hearts, we all come to be healed and some of us need more healing than others. Some of the trippiest looking and talking people are also the most manipulative. Take the time to get to know someone before you get too close. Have your friends meet someone before you get too close. Closeness can wait until the next day. Things often look different at 2 PM than they did at 2 AM.

If you need help with a situation, before, during or after an unwanted encounter, yell Shanti Sena or go to the nearest kitchen, Info, or Calm and ask for help. We have many people sensitive to the emotional, spiritual, physical and legal needs of a person who has had an unwanted encounter and we stand ready to support you.

Rap 121

Rainbow Rap 121 from http://rainbowguide.info/

Brothers:
Respect our sisters and help create a safe place for everyone.
Nudity is natural; not a sexual invitation.
Ask before hugging or touching women & remember: “No means No!”
Brother Circles offer support & encourage understanding.
Love happens – Carry condoms.

Sisters:
Respect yourselves & trust your instincts.
If you don’t feel comfortable being intimate or alone with a man it’s OK to say “No.”
Sister Circles share strength & support between women.
Love happens – Carry condoms.

Everyone:
This is a society based on love & respect.
We’re here for a spiritual purpose; Respect each other and do no harm.
Brother-Sister Circles create trust & understanding.

We are all Shanti Sena – “Peace Keepers”

Krishna's in West Virginia

2008-05-22T19:07:00.001-07:00

There is a very fun video of the Krishna bus trip to the West Virginia Gathering in 2005. Shows the Krishna bus arriving, building a kitchen and of course lots of chanting. Click here.

~~ Hari Bol! ~~

Tony's 2 cents

2008-05-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

Since Tony wanted this distributed to places that don't take attachments, I've posted it here in PDF format for people's review. To comment on it, email Tony .

Wyoming Gathering Green Energy Plea

2008-05-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

On May 2, I sent out an email to all of you on my list with information on how to donate green energy (US dollars) to some critical infrastructure needs before the gathering.

As a result of that email, a lot of discussion has been happening between various people and I wanted to get back to you - but the short answer is we need serious money and it can be donated at this website. (the website is not up-to-date, but any funds donated via this paypal link will be used for the 2008 Annual Gathering Equipment purchases). I give you my word on that! I even heard from one of the CALM focalizers, that replacing and updating this equipment is of critical importance to the health and safety of the gathering.

Now for the long response:

For many years, a couple of amazing brothers have been focalizing filtered drinking water systems and radio communications for emergency use. Much of this equipment was stored in a trailer on private property on the east coast. Unfortunately, last year the trailer was stolen along with the thousands of dollars worth of equipment it contained.

As it takes a while to purchase the necessary equipment, build the water systems and prepare for the gathering, donations are desperately needed immediately to fund clean and safe drinking water for the gathering as well as communications equipment for CALM (First Aid).

Also, the people focalizing radio communications and clean water are burned out and the gathering needs new human energy to learn and enhance what we have. If you're into helping and don't know how to connect up, email me and I'll hook you up.

A safe and happy gathering means a gathering with filtered drinking water. No clean water means a lot of people are going to ends up with the shits - don't let that be you.

Please please please, if one thousand gatherers donate $10 each, that's $10,000 and we can start this gathering with our water needs and CALM needs in good shape. For the victim of a heart attack, this can mean the difference between life and death.

Please pass this information on to all your lists and talk to your friends. I've included a summarzied accounting of the equipment that was lost in the trailer theft
below.

Love you all!

Karin

**********************From one of the focalizers***************************************
Here's an update on specifically what was lost:

We lost many of the larger antennas I use for base stations and the cross band repeaters used to get emergency help from other outside repeaters (that saved lives in Arizona for example). We did loose some family radios and family stuff as well as our back up supplies.

I also lost all the solar panels and batteries that CALM uses for recharging batteries, CPAK equipment and other medical gear as well as lot of shovels, rakes and other implements of destruction.

That is basically what happened. We lost about $2000 of filters, about $300 in pre filters, and perhaps $3000-$5000 in water parts (hard to come up with a real number on that one). I lost some housings but not most of them, other than pre-filter housings. Some of this was custom made parts and some odd ball stuff that was found and collected over the years that is hard to replace. I also lost all my connector hose.

Forest Service Discussions

2008-05-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday there was a conference call with the USFS to discuss the annual gathering taking place in Wyoming with the goal of having a "legal" & "unpermitted" gathering and having the USFS cooperate with the gathering to protect the resources and minimize USFS/gatherer confrontations.

The first hour or so was recorded by a kind brother and is available online

One of the points of discussion was a letter to be written by Mark Rey. I've included the lastest draft.

If you have time to comment this weekend, please do and sent your comments to Amanda (Amanda.Lockwood@usda.gov), please do so.
Comments need to be to Mark Rey's office by noon Eastern Time on Monday, May 19. If you email Amanda, please cc agr@welcomehome.org

----- Original Message ----- From:

Greetings!

Attached you will find the letter with suggested changes from yesterdays
conference call. With everyone's agreement, Under Secretary Rey will
send the letter out on letterhead this Friday.

If you have any comments or questions, please me at your earliest
opportunity.

Thank you,

--Amanda

**********LETTER****************
To All:

As we prepare for the 2008 National Rainbow Family Gathering in Wyoming, several Family Members have suggested that it would be helpful to again clarify the Forest Service's approach to the 2008 Gathering:

The Agency's authority to require group use permits is in place and has been upheld by the Courts. However, the Forest Service does have discretion with respect to the enforcement of this authority. Pursuant to that discretion and a previously negotiated protocol recognizing the unique nature of the Rainbow Family, we will implement the following process to facilitate a Gathering in accordance with the Forest Service Regulations:

* The Forest Service has forwarded several sites on the National Forests in Wyoming for the participants in the 2008 Gatherings to consider as gathering sites.

* The participants in the 2008 Gatherings will select 2 or 3 alternate locations for the Forest Service to consider as soon as possible. Initial scouting of sites is being done in cooperation with local Forest Service personnel.

* The Forest Service will quickly evaluate the sites (if other than the recommended Forest Service sites) and give the participants in the 2008 Gatherings an answer on suitability before Spring Council.

* Beginning at Spring Council and after a site has been mutually agreed upon, an operating plan would be prepared in advance of the Gathering in collaboration with the participants in the 2008 Gatherings. The plan would be subject to mutual modifications as the Gathering sets up. For this purpose the Forest Service is committed to meeting on the land daily with participants in the 2008 Gatherings during the Gathering.

* No permit would be issued. The Forest Service would exercise its discretion and refrain from any enforcement of a permit requirement provided that the operating plan is followed. Failure to comply with the operating plan will result in enforcement of the current regulations.

* All laws will be enforced on the National Forests similar to other recreation gatherings and forest visitor use.

* The Gathering will be managed thru the Forest Service Incident Command System for the purpose of addressing social and resource impacts.

Please feel free to circulate within the region and with members of the Rainbow Family and participants in the 2008 Gatherings. Welcome home.

MARK REY

Email List for Gathering Planning

2008-05-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

So there is an email list that is heavily used by people planning for the annual gathering every year. It is a subscription only list to prevent spam, but other than that it is completly unmoderated and uses Mailman technology - so no Yahoo crap. If you want to subscribe, here's the info.

American Rapid Rainbow Response & Myanmar

2008-05-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

American Rapid Rainbow Response (ARRR) was formed during Hurracaine Katrina when a bunch of people from the Rainbow Gathering went to New Waveland Mississippi and set up a relief effort. They are currently working to assist the people of Myanmar. For details, visit their website or email them.

ARRR is a network of people who recognize the obligation of service to our brothers and sisters that are faced with catastrophe in their communities. With years of experience providing food and clean drinking water for thousands of people at cooperative festivals, we are uniquely prepared to share our skills, time, and assets with those in serious need.

While our main focus is on physical needs such as clean water and food, we also try to provide for the emotional and spiritual care of a community. We encourage our volunteers to lend an ear along with a hand, we encourage cooperation with the appropriate agencies for psychological assistance, and we reach out to local religious communities to foster cooperation in meeting the needs of survivors of natural disasters.

Getting Involved

2008-05-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Just because it's Friday and I want to share all the good things that people are planning to do in Wyoming.

San Diego Family is planning a night at the Front Gate - July 2 dusk until July 3 dawn - music, dancing and what ever needs to be done. We're hoping to get 25+ people to participate.
All you need to do is show up at the Front Gate about sunset on July 2nd or anytime there after and join the fun. Musicans, dancers, parking crew, bubble blowers, and singers wanted.

Some of the California kitchens are joining together to make a huge Rainbow kitchen. Some of the plans include a Raw Food Station, Buddha's Tea House, food for main circle, a Rainbow Reading Libary and much more. To plug into the fun ahead of time, email Joji or for all the details, click here.

IDONNO Cafe will be hosting an art walk on the July 1st ..so bring some ....also it'd bee cool if other kitchens wanted to join........show the Fams great art........ To plug into that, click here.

Lots of chatter on getting people to video cops to keep them on their best behavior. Especially people with equipment and the skills to get it all on tape. So if you know anyone who likes to video cops, rope them into helping. To plug into this effort, email me. For more in cop watch, click here.

And remember folks, everyone is doing their best to create a safe, beautiful and fun gathering for all. So let's uplift each other and share the positivity.

Please share this information freely.

Peace out!

1978 Video on the Rainbow Gathering

2008-05-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

There's a wonderful film from the 1978 annual gathering in Oregon available on You Tube called Experience the Rainbow.

Check out family sharing the vision. It's in five parts. Here's part one or go to You Tube and search for "Experience the Rainbow." Some of the people interviewed are still coming home every year.

My Friends Focusing on Front Gate

2008-05-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

This is a message from my friends who are planning on focusing on positive energy at the Front Gate. Posted with their permission.

**************************

Hi,

Catherine and I (Sailor) are focusing our energy this year on doing the front gate in Wyoming. We hope to make everyone's arrival "home" a much kinder, gentler experience than it has generally been the last few years. We feel that some of the problems people have experienced at gatherings can be effected in a positive way by presenting a different initial encounter than what has become accepted as the norm. So we are sending out this missive to those of you we consider "creative" folks and asking you to share with us your thoughts and ideas about the front gate. What we're mostly looking for is your perspective of what visually establishes to those arriving the sense that they are at the beginning of the gathering, all is well and a great time awaits. We want to hear from folks what they feel helps to visually establish a difference --- something that says or reflects a feeling of order, security,welcome,peace. What folks see as a service or need at the gate. So please, close your eyes and visualize, tell us what you want to see when you come around that last bumpy, dusty, curve? And please, don't mention drugs being sold, beer being hustled, etc. we will deal with the small stuff, we're counting on you for a bigger vision,lol.

Also Catherine is putting together a spread sheet for actual day/hours for anyone interested in volunteering a few hours of their time at the gate. The spreadsheet runs from June 25th to July 3'rd. If interested and ready to commit, please contact her direct . Thanks

------------------------- C&S

Funds for CALM, Drinking Water and Scouting

2008-05-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

So when going to a gathering, people often donate money to the Magic Hat to cover food and other supplies. This is awesome. However, for some supplies, it's easier for the money to be available before the gathering as needed supplies aren't always available adjacent to our gathering sites.

So for those of you who want to donate to CALM (First Aid) there is a link to a PayPal account on a CALM Website. (and lots of other cool information). The folks focalizing this are great and trustworthy people and work long and hard at the gathering to heal all of us. Let's help them out by sharing some green energy.

A incredible brother named Hawker does a huge amount to bring safe drinking water to the gathering. Find out about his systems and how you can help with your energy - both physical and green at his website. Plus this is an awesome resource for folks interested in safe drinking water systems.

Folks are out scouting now. Due to the high cost of gas, every donation to scouting is appreciated. Montana Mudd is helping in this area. Contact them for information on
how to contribute.

May Day Update

2008-05-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Happy May everyone!

Every Sunday at 1 PM (in San Diego) we are circling and discussing ideas on how to create an awesome gathering. Various friends of mine both locally and beyond are stepping forward to focalize functions at the gathering, but they all need help.

In Eugene, folks are also trying to plan for Wyoming. There will be a Rainbow Family Meeting to discuss the Gathering in Wyoming this summer.Grower's Market Building (upstairs) , 454 Willamette Street- Thur, May 8, 2008 6-8pm- FREE

So today's update is a wishlist of sorts. If you want to connect up with any of these functions before hand, please email me and I will forward your message on to the focalizers. If you arrive at the gathering and want to help, just go to the area and say you want to help. As always no
experience necessary. I can promise you that your involvement will greatly enhance your gathering experience and teach you a thing or two about yourself.

Front Gate - some kind family have stepped up to faciliate a peaceful and welcoming front gate, but are looking for people to help out by parking cars and creating good music or just helping out with the million and one needs that happen at the Front Gate. Folks in San Diego are making a committment to take one all nighter at the Front Gate and we'll be talking about the specific night this Sunday at our circle. http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/BacktoBasics.pdf

Media Tent - there's some folks wanting to focalize a Media tent where Media can stop by, get an escort and ask questions. More people needed.

Cop Watch - one of our biggest needs for Cop Watch is people who KNOW HOW TO FILM cops and have the equipment necessary to do the filming. We especially need people who can arrive
by Spring Council (June 10) as there are often a lot of problems with law enforcement early on.

Welcome Home - Some kind family have stepped up to faciliate a wonderful welcome home with raps and information on gathering safely and sanely while still having fun.

Shanta Sena - More people trained in Shanta Sena are greatly needed. The plan is to have a Shanta Sena Council after dinner every night in Main Meadow.

Information - has been shorthanded in two areas in recent years. First is the building of the Info Structure. Anyone planning on getting to the gathering early is encouraged to help build a great info structure. In addition, the gathering needs more people sharing information at INFO especially the late night/early morning hours - In Arkansas, we were so
shorthanded and shortfooted that INFO was closed at night - not a good thing.

Happy May Day, Cinco de Mayo and Beltane.

Please distribute this information far and wide.

Creating an Amazing Gathering in Wyoming

2008-04-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Week Family!

I hope everyone is taking the time to be a local activist for the earth.

Questions of the day:

What is Front Gate?
What is Welcome Home?
(Answers are below)

As a follow up to Rainbow Magic & Patch Adams video, a long, long, long time gatherer
(going back to the first Rainbow Gathering in 1972 and before) sent me this story
from days gone past.

******Begin Patch Adams Story*********

Patch Adams talking in council at the Rainbow Gathering in Arizona, July 1979

I listened to Patch's rap in the council. It was all about hygiene and how simple things like handwashing and better dishwashing could help keep us healthier. He explained the fly-feces-food connection and how we had to break that string of connections in order to keep from getting the runs.

When he finished people cheered and clapped and he stepped outside the circle. I went up to him. "Patch, that was terrific. That was exactly the kind of thing this council needs to hear," I told him.

"No, you're wrong," He told me. "They didn't get it. They understood it. But I wasn't clear enough to get this circle to tell everyone else so the message really makes a difference."

"No, Patch, you did great," I said trying to be encouraging.

"Uh-uh." He shook his head smiling. "You come back tomorrow. I'm going make myself more clear."

The next day Patch returned to the council with a troupe of mimes. They were all dressed up in outlandish costumes. When Patch's turn in council came, first two people mimed using a latrine at the edge of the circle and there appeared two giant 'turds' - really people in gunny sack outfits - lying on the ground. Then two big ol' flies came a buzzin' round and round the circle. The crowd was in stitches. The flies landed on the poop. Munch, munch, munch!

Meanwhile the two people come returning from the dinner circle carrying a gigantic bowl. Oh, they're tired! Let's skip getting this dirty bowl washed...we'll just leave it outside the tent. So they lie down to sleep, zip the imaginary tent door and here come the flies! Buzzing onto the food crud dried on the edge of the bowl.

Patch is explaining how this why so many of us in camp have diarrhea. And how dishwashing can save the day. Everybody told everybody. In fact we're still telling everybody. Real teaching. Patch in his element, healing people by making them laugh.

*********END PATCH ADAMS STORY********

@@@@@@ GREAT NEWS FAMILY!

We have focalizers for creating a positive, loving Front Gate and Welcome Home!
However, they can't do it alone. So if you've been having an itch to make sure
folks coming home get greeted in a kind, loving fashion with a cup of coffee
or a pot of soup, please plan on helping out (volunteering) in these areas. If you want to be
involved in the pre-gathering planning for Front Gate and Welcome Home, send
me (kzirk at earthlink dot net) your contact info and I'll pass it on to the people I know involved in these efforts.

@@@@@@@@@@ SCOUTING HELP NEEDED

We need folks to go scouting (no experience necessary, just a willingness to learn).
We need folks to contribute some green energy to buy gas for people who are going scouting.

If you want to plug into the scouting effort, email
lovmontanamud at yahoo dot com
and attend the rendezvous with other scouts at the scout fire in Pinedale Wyoming the first week of May.

If you want to send some green energy - Money Orders can be sent to
Jim Anderson P.O.Box 2355, Livingston Montana 59047.

##### Join the movement for an amazing gathering in Wyoming

Don't forget, we're circling for Wyoming and building energy in San Diego every Sunday @ 1pm.
If you want to plug in, please join us. http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/BacktoBasics.pdf

As always, please copy and distribute this information freely.
Visit http://www.welcomehome.org or http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo for more information.

######FRONT GATE ANSWER###############
Front Gate is on the road and you hit it driving into the gathering. The Front Gate Crew directs traffic on the road and gets you set up with a safe and legal parking spot (so you don't
get towed). The parking lot crew greets the world with hugs and info. They maintain an organized and secure parking area, and make an around the clock commitment that involves: greeting new arrivals, giving out information, traffic control, security, minor auto repair, maintaining a kitchen and fire circle, & an active Shanti Sena.

######WELCOME HOME ANSWER##############
Welcome Home is set up past the front gate, just before the main camping areas to meet & greet people as they enter the site on foot. It provides a place for people to rest from their journey, be informed about site specifics conditions, and receive copies of "Rap 107" and " Rap 701". A site map is posted.

Peace Symbol/Creating peace energy in Wyoming

2008-04-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Imagine having peace symbols made with rocks and pinecones and flowers all over the gathering. Wouldn't that be cool? PEACE SYMBOL TURNS 50 THIS YEAR!

We all know the Peace Symbol, which Americans of a certain age associate with the protests against the Vietnam War. Fewer know that the symbol is much older than that, dating back 50 years to an anti-nuclear protest in Great Britain!

Peace Symbol Turns 50!

Rainbow Magic & Patch Adams

2008-04-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

What does Rainbow Magic Create?

Here's a forwarded email from a long time gatherer on Patch Adam's trip to Afghanastan so you can see for yourself.
Clowns not bombs on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olFbPClkufU&feature=related

Love,
Karin

This 1 hr docu. of Patch's 2002 trip (with full clowning entourage) to Kabul was just uploaded to YouTube in 6 parts about 3 weeks ago. It was uploaded to the Italian channel misterno1978. While I'm sure Patch has no problema with this, someone else might get uppity and have it pulled (as happened to Farmer John just a week ago). So watch it soon just incase:
Patch Adams, Clown in Kabul
For anyone unaware, Patch was active with CALM back in the late '70's & early '80's. Then the Hollywood movie based on his life story, starring Robin Williams came out in 1998. Patch has been clowning around the world and campaigning for peace and better health care non-stop ever since.
---
This is a repeat of what I sent out on Patch last Dec, 2007:
Haven't seen him at Rainbow for many years, but he's still out cavorting around the planet, working for peace. Just talked to him by phone on Thanksgiving and thought I'd check at YouTube. He'd just returned from Russia and was home for a few days, before heading out to Venezuela. Enjoy! <>
Hilarious: (7 min.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNakIQLNuR4&NR=1
more:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=patch+adams

San Diego's Rainbow Back to Basics Circle Round 1

2008-04-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

So Sunday was the first day we held the Back to Basics Circle.

We were small in number, but in true Rainbow Magic the San Diego
version of Glowing Feather or Diamond Dave showed up and joined us.
Now mind you, this man had never heard of Rainbow before (or open mikes
for that matter), but he held hands with us as we circled,
then let loose with some beautiful love and spirit filled poetry raps
that would challenge the best the gathering has to offer
and he was a 40 to 50 year old self professed virgin.

He sat with us in circle and shared thoughts and ideas in
poetic rap format. Amazing. And very mystical. He apparently
lives near the park and there's been a Rainbow Circle in
that approximate location for over ten years and yet
the first time he connected with us was to join the
Back to Basics Circle.

My hope for Sunday's circle was to talk about the importance
of non-tangible connections and energies in creating
a safe, fun and meaningful gathering for everyone. To that
end, I told a story from the last Wyoming gathering in 1994.
A beautiful sister suggested that lots of people are more
plugged into the Internet than the park and that I should
make this story available electronically, so here goes.

The 1994 Wyoming gathering was in a beautiful bowl shaped
meadow with a creek running through it. Unfortunately, there
was no rain. And things got dry. Very dry. And the fire danger
rose. Family counciled on how to handle the situation. We
talked a lot about root fires and evacuation routes and how
to fight a fire. Not that fighting is very Rainbow, but
sometimes... Fire patrol was in full force and 5 gallon
buckets of water and shovels were the most commonly spoke
about tools.

The general plan was that should a fire break out, those
prepared to fight were going to put on boots, long pants
and long protective shirts and head towards the fire with all
the buckets, shoves and axes they could carry. Everyone
else would evacuate into the meadow and follow the creek
down hill and out of the area.

A few small fires erupted here and there but were always
adjacent to a camp and were put out as fast as they started.

So one day I'm sitting in a Southern California family council
and the call of fire rings out. We stop what we're doing and
my friend and I run back to our tents. Put on our boots
and jeans. We grab shovels and all the buckets we can find.

Then we head up the hill, which seems to be the way everyone
was going. Things were a bit chaotic at first as first people
were running up the hill along the trail, then turning back,
then running up, then turning back. I later found out
that there were some people who felt it was too dangerous
for gatherers to fight a forest fire, but in the end that
big loving beautiful rainbow can do attitude won out
and we all charged up the hill.

This was not a little fire. This was a fire in dry trees.
A real forest fire and I had never been near one before,
let alone helped to put one out.

As we ran up the trail, there was a small tree and four or
five old men with long grey hair and long grey beards dressed
all in flowing white clothes holding their hands up to the sky.
"Om for the wind to stop," they called out. "Om for the wind to stop."

My friend and I stopped, looked at each other and scoffed. We
had a forest fire to fight, we didn't have time to Om. So we
continued up the hill and joined the bucket brigade. Hundreds
of people passing five gallon buckets of water from the creek
below up to the fire above. Some of them naked or next to naked.
Others covered up a bit more. Sparks flying. Ash everywhere.

At some point after things were settling down a bit and
the fire seemed to be somewhat contained, the Forest Service
brought in a plane to drop fire retardant on the area that had
burned. I was able to get some great photos of the drop.

After that we just kept slinging the buckets full of water. Family
came by with food and passed zu zus and water up and down
the line. A beautiful magical crew came by and gave five minute
shoulder and neck massages - thank you beautiful family, it was wonderful.

And then it was over and we were drop dead exhausted and collapsed
into bed. I didn't hear that night or the next, but at some
point I heard that all the people in the know: family with experience
in forest fires, the Forest Service resource people, and others
that the only reason we, meaning family on the ground working our butts off,
were able to contain the fire was because the wind, unexpectedly and
unusually, died down.

Just some food for thought.

So join us every Sunday in April and May, 1 PM in Balboa Park
at the usual place except for April 20th - the day of the huge
Earth Fair and the huge drum circle by the Museum of Art.

As always, http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/

Be the peace you want to see in this world.

Love,
Karin

Please distribute freely.

Rainbow 101 Back to Basics Circles starting up

2008-04-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder, the Rainbow 101 Back to Basics Circles are happening every Sunday in April and May. Please note that April 20th is the big Earth Fair, so I'm guessing just go play at the drum circle by the Museum of Art and no council that day.

Calling all new family ~ Calling all old family ~ Calling all people with dreams for a peaceful future ~ Calling all people trying to save the planet

If you are in or near San Diego, join us for a Rainbow Gathering 101 Back to Basics Circle
Every Sunday in April & May ~ 1:00 PM to ? @ the Balboa Park Weekly Get Together

The 2008 Annual Gathering of the Tribes will take place in Wyoming over the 4th of July. In order to create a safe, fun and meaningful gathering for all people, we can start building positive energy now by taking the time to circle, discussing gathering basics, sharing ideas on how to contribute, healing our own family, and learning to create the gathering the way we want it to be.

For full details and directions, http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/BacktoBasics.pdf

All the info on the Wyoming gathering is at
http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/wyoming.html

I got a shout out from some Washington folks who are going to start a similar circle in their area - so the vibe is spreading all ready beautiful family!

Rebirthing in Wyoming

2008-03-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Rebirthing in Wyoming

We all know the annual gathering of the tribes of the Rainbow Family of Living Light is taking place in Wyoming this summer.

Many people have been commenting on the ways in which we have been failing to live up to the vision in recent years. Some of us have been talking locally in San Diego and we’re having weekly circles in April and May to try to at least bring our higher energy to Wyoming. In conversations with others across the country, I sense this feeling of wanting a time of rebirth is felt by many.

I hope to share some of the thoughts and ideas that come out of our local circles with people as this journey progresses; however, in the hopes of jump building energy towards reclaiming our vision, I wanted to share a couple of thoughts.

At the last Wyoming gathering in 1994 (and many other gatherings circa the 1990s and earlier) a few kitchens served breakfast in Main Meadow to help focus our morning energy.

Communal breakfast in the meadow served many purposes including but not limited to:

creating positive energy in the center of the gathering mid-morning,
making it easy for people to find breakfast,
providing an opportunity to meet and great with each other and share the Rainbow way,
allowing camps and kitchens that need help that day with shitter digging, food preparation, or other activities to get volunteers with full bellies and immediately go off and do the work.

I believe it would go a long way to helping us rebirth our energy if a few kitchens would be willing to go back into the future and find ways to bring us all together in the morning. Of course it’s easy for me to say. But a couple of large pots of oatmeal in the morning and some granola served in a circle would go a long way to helping us raise our vibrational energy and uniting our camps.

Just to get us in the mood for loving each other, I’d like to share something be friend Gary wrote last week.

“Rainbow ain't about politics.... or religion....or sexual preference....or the environment or rights to gather or (pick your topic).... its about peace ... wanting peace...praying for peace ...practicing peace....working towards peace .... thinking globally....and acting locally.... ..... can you not see that even someone to has different perceptions about how life works ... can still want and desire the same things you yearn for ....peace .... a loving circle....the company of loved one and a sense of safety in their lives .... can you not see that empathy knows no political loyal....not economical social level....... or that there are good decent loving kind and compassionate persons of all persuasions ..political or others.....I’ve personally known compassionate conservatives and tress hugging lumberjacks personally....and we agreed to disagree..... yet find common ground to come together and agree to what we agree too.... I can’t see how anyone could be rainbow and not be open-minded enough to allow a brother or sister to believe what they believe....”

Planning for Rainbow Gathering in Wyoming

2008-03-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

Howdy everyone,

Here in San Diego, we're trying to focus energy on a safe, fun and meaningful gathering in Wyoming. To that end, we're having some special circles in April and May. If you're in the area, please join us. If you're not in the area, please try to do something similar where you are so we can start building energy for a great gathering.

Rainbow Gathering 101 -- Back to Basics Circle

Every Sunday in April & May ~ 1:00 PM to ?

@ the Balboa Park Weekly Get Together

Calling all new family ~ Calling all old family ~ Calling all people with dreams for a peaceful future ~ Calling all people trying to save the planet

The 2008 Annual Gathering of the Tribes will take place in Wyoming over the 4th of July. In order to create a safe, fun and meaningful gathering for all people, we can start building positive energy now by taking the time to circle, discussing gathering basics, sharing ideas on how to contribute, healing our own family, and learning to create the gathering the way we want it to be.

Join us as we reclaim our vision.

No experience necessary!!

For all the details and a downloadable PDF flyer you can print and distributed,
see the PDF flyer. Or just show up at 1:00 PM on Sundays in April and May.

Please distribute this information freely.

Where will the gathering be?

2008-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Usually when someone gets on my email list, this is the first information I send them. So to you out here in blogsphere, here's that same information.

WHERE WILL THE GATHERING IN WYOMING BE?

From the invite to the very first Rainbow Gathering in 1972:

We, who are brothers & sisters, children of God, families of
life on earth, friends of nature & of all people, children of
humankind calling ourselves Rainbow Family Tribe, humbly invite:

All races, peoples, tribes, communes, men, women, children,
individuals -- out of love.

All nations & national leaders -- out of respect

All religions & religious leaders -- out of faith

All politicians -- out of charity

to join with us in gathering together for the purpose
of expressing our sincere desire that there shall be peace on earth,
harmony among all people. This gathering to take place beginning July 1, 1972, near Aspen, Colorado -
or between Aspen & the Hopi & Navaho lands - on 3000 acres of land that we hope to purchase or acquire for this gathering -- & to hold open worship, prayer, chanting or whatever is the want
or desire of the people, for three days, but upon the fourth day of July at noon to ask that there be a meditative, contemplative silence wherein we, the invited
people of the world may consider & give honour & respect to
anyone or anything that has aided in the positive evolution of
humankind & nature upon this, our most beloved & beautiful
world -- asking blessing upon we people of this world & hope
that we people can effectively proceed to evolve, expand, &
live in harmony & peace.

WHERE WILL THE GATHERING BE?

The truth is no one knows where the gathering will be at this time.

In July 2007, Vision Council called for it to be in
Wyoming

Thanksgiving Council

In November 2007, Thanksgiving Council (T-Council) took place
over the four day holiday weekend to discuss planning
for a healthy and safe gathering and they came up with the
following dates for the next councils:

For T-Council notes, visit http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/TCouncil2007One.html

Specific dates for future councils where set as

May 1st - Mobile Scout Fire (First scout council)

All the scouts and anyone interested in being involved
in site selection show up. No experience necessary, but
you must be able to pay your own way, contribute to food,
gas, etc.

June 2nd - Second Scout Rendezvous

All people who have been scouting will come together
to discuss what they found and possibly revisit sites
that hold great promise.

Spring council
Starts June 10

Spring Council is when people get together and share
the info on the possible sites available for the gathering, discuss the prons and cons of each location and then reach a decision. It generally takes one to seven days. If you come to Spring Council,
please be self sufficient and and prepared to feed and water yourself.

As soon as the site is selected, information is widely
distributed. All the information I have is located
at http://home.earthlink.net/~scrollinfo/wyoming.html
I also email updates to folks on my email list.

Until spring council reseaches a decision, there is no
answer to the question "where is the gathering?"

Once Spring Council reaches a decision, Seed Camp begins.
Seed Camps is when we create the infrastructure to support the
gathering. This means building kitchens, digging shitters,
laying water pipe and building water filtration stations.
Seed camp generally finishes by the end of June.
If you come to seed camp early be self sufficient and be prepared to work.

The Annual Gathering of The Tribes

The main day of the gathering is July 4. Some people come
a few weeks early to create the gathering. Some stay a few
weeks late to help with clean up. Plan on spending at least
a week so you have a chance to get settled in, make friends
and get involved.

Gatherings tend to be located many miles from the nearest Interstate
and paved road. When planning your drive, realize that the
last 50 to 100 miles may be traveled at 20 MPH and plan
accordingly.

Always plan to arrive early in the morning. The roads
into the gathering are generally in poor shape and it's
easy to get lost at 1 AM in the dark when you've been
driving for 12 hours. Kick it at a camp site for the
night, get up at dawn and come on home.

It can take 4 to 8 hours from the time you park
your car until you've gotten to your campsite and pitched
your tent. If this is your first gathering, I'd plan
on 8 so you can figure out what's happening and where
you want to camp.

KIDS:

For people with kids, if you've never been to a gathering
plug in with Kiddie Village - a kid friendly space with
lots of parents willing to share how to sanely and safely
parent at a gathering. If you've never camped with kids
before, read up an that to make sure you're prepared.
Read the rap on kids at Gatherings http://rainbowguide.info/Raps/RAPeng.php?id=13

ACCESS:
For people with special needs, ask for Handicamp - a space
for people with mobility and other related disabilities with lots
of folks willing to help you make the most of your gathering
experience. While the trails can be tough and conditions vary from
site to site, there's usually
a couple of friendly folks just waiting to assist with the
rough spots. Sometimes we have cool things like rickshaws
to assist people in getting around.
Bring your own personal supplies (catheter, wraps, chair,
medical supplies, diapers, cleanup, etc.).
Bring own attendent if you need assistance with personal care
(bowel programs, skin, transfer, catheterizations, wounds, etc) or
supervision issues or other issues (mobility, access, safety) as needed.

FOR EVERYONE:

I recommend that you read the Mini Manual of
Gathering Consciousness to prepare for a positive gathering.
You can find a copy on online
at http://rainbowguide.info/PDFs/Mini-Manual2004.pdf
If you can't read PDF files, email me and I'll send
you an ASCII text copy.
There's other great raps at http://rainbowguide.info as well.

For general information on the gatherings,
http://www.welcomehome.org

If you're looking for a ride to the gathering, or can make
room in your vehicle for one more person, please check out
http://kindrideshare.net/rainbow/ - Let's help all our family get home safely.

If you want to get up to speed on what's been happening, visit
http://wyominggathering.blogspot.com/

If you have any other questions, please ask. If you'd like
to be on my email list and receive Rainbow updates,
just ask.

Love,
Karin

Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization!
Live Lightly with the Land and People!

Minimizing LEO Harassment at Gatherings

2008-01-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

There are things that we can do to minimize the negative
impact of LEO presence at gatherings and render them
relatively impotent.

First off, every cop that sets foot anywhere in the
gathering should have an escort. Escorted cops can't do much
damage. However, it's very important
that police escorts be done appropriately.

I'm sure there are many other ideas floating around, but
as someone who has been spending a lot of time walking
with cops these last few years.

People escorting police
should not interfer in their actions and keep a safe distance -
generally 25 to 30 feet - maybe a bit further if you're a young man.

Someone should run ahead and yell six-up to warn our family
that cops are enroute.

Hopefully, someone has video equipment and is capturing the entire
thing on tape, computer chips or whatever. You never know
when a calm cop walk will blow up and the camera needs to be working
before the blow up.

People doing escorts should not have any outstanding warrants or be carrying
anything on their person that would be judged illegal by a court of law.

It helps if you have can display a non-confrontational demeanor and remember
to walk like Ghandi or Robin Williams.

It's best to have three or more people doing this on each escort, but due to a lack
of folks helping with cop watch these last few years, I've spent a lot
of time on my own with 6 or 8 cops in the woods - definitely not a
great situation and one I don't recommend unless you have a lot of
practice under your belts.

If you can carry on a friendly low key conversation with any of the officers,
that helps minimize tension.

Horse cops need escorts and that's a great job for people looking for a
good workout or for people who brought horses.

If anything happens, video, write down details and if someone is arrested,
make sure someone knows and will go after them to town and bail them out.
If you don't know the person being arrested or their friends,
go to INFO and post an announcement, let the INFO crew now and please
announce it at main circle.

We all know how hard scouting is and access roads are both a blessing
and a curse. They provide ease of access for disabled family and
kitchens bringing in supplies in hand carts. Unfortunately they also
allow ease of access for the USFS LEOs.

As we don't know what this year's site will be, there's a couple of things
we can do to minimize problems. Keep kitchens and camps off the road.
Just cause a road goes through or near the sites, doesn't mean everyone
needs to set up there. Explain to people before the gathering, at the
front gate, at Welcome Home and when you see them setting up that the
folks camped near the road or hanging out there are easy pickens for cops.

If you don't deal well with cops, then please don't. When someone yells
six-up, just fade into the woods and let them pass. Talk about passive
resistance.

OK Here's my pitch for middle aged + women. I'd love to have a tight
crew willing to do cop walks together and even do it naked if we need to.
Nothing like some nice cellulite and saggy breasts to take the fight
out of the cops. I think middle aged + women make awesome cop walkers.
The cops generally aren't threatened, we tend to be good at idle chit chat,
and it's a great way to walk off those extra pounds.

Finally, cop watch is not an organized thing. If you see cops walking
or driving and they are not being escorted, then tag you're it. If you
get tired, try to recruit replacements before you drop out.

And my desperate plea. If someone walking with the cops taps you on the shoulder
and asks you to run a message to someone, please take this seriously
and do as you are asked - the person you keep out of jail might be your
husband, wife, brother or daughter. We need to work together on this.