--------------- Subject: NERG regional Howdy FolksWe, who are brothers & sisters, families of life on earth, friends of nature & of all people, children of the New England Rainbow Gatherer's 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 a Northeast Regional Rainbow Gathering, during which we will assemble peaceably on public land. This Gathering is to take place August 8th- August 18th at Garvins Bowl on Trudeau Road in Bethlehem New Hampshire.We would like to remind folks of the following: In gathering, we want to be kind to the land, the community, and each other. What you bring in, needs to leave again with you. Pack out what you pack in, please! Additionally, we ask that you avoid panhandling/spanging in the immediate area that the Gathering is in so as not to deplete local resources. Lastly, in honoring our traditions, this gathering will remain an alcohol free space.
Information pertaining to upcoming gathering...
N.E.R.G (or Northeast Rainbow Gathers) are NOT
N.E.R.F (North East Rainbow Family)
(Some folks may be both).
It was NERG who, two years ago, in private councils, consented to promote a Vermont regional every year. This was not an open to "anybelly" process. Some of us felt that, Yes, IT's fine to have a regional. But, by keeping folks out of the process, issues involving the reality of a happy safe gathering aren't addressed. NERF has not had council in a long, long time nor have any NERF folks that I know of been informed of any, pass-the-feather, circle meetings about this Rainbow family reunion. There must have been some Council who consented to be the "host" kitchen(s). Who ever that is? I assume, NERG.
NERF is not the host of this gathering!. Even So, NERF will probably have our kitchen, carried by bus, set up in Bus Village at this gathering. And, It is my belief that most of us remaining NERflings who may show up, do not want the beautiful experiment called, "Rainbow Family" to be characterized by the ugliness of alcohol, of garbage, or lack of respect.
Let's hope other aspects of a gathering like safe water, like a thorough cleanup, like calm, like supply, like parking etc. will be addressed by those few people who, alone, are focalizing this gathering?? Myself and others I know, don't want a "gathering" like the one G. experienced.
Thanks for your account of the fucked up regional of two years ago, G. and the less fucked up gathering last year. If we have a vision of a sweet, healing, soul energizing gathering, maybe it will happen.
—Beans & Rice, K.
We walked around the gate and about another 100 yards along the flat gravel road. I walk with a four-wheeled walker now. It worked well on the flat road. There were two meadows, each with a small kitchen set up. We didn't know anybody at the first kitchen. The second one was the NERF kitchen, and there were a few people we knew there. We set up our tent in that meadow.
Nerf kitchen had some 5 gallon jugs of drinking water that had been carried in, but no other water source. There were some plastic pipes, and a small stream somewhere (we never tried to get there), but it was not clear that the pipe would reach from the stream to anyplace near the kitchen. There seemed to be no water filter.
Somebody cooked Tikka Masala sauce, but I couldn't eat it because it contained some ingredients I am forbidden to eat. We ate the bread and cheese we had brought with us while most others ate the cooked food. There was no way to wash dishes, due to lack of water.
Friday night and Saturday morning we sat around the kitchen on lawn chairs, being useless. F. came by and said that ey had been talking to the Forest Service. There was a signed "Operating Plan". I saw it. I did not read it all carefully, but it seemed reasonable. Latrines should be dug first and filled later. Cleanup should be done. That sort of thing.
The amazing thing is that the Operating Plan was signed by the Forest Service representative! No Rainbow camper had signed it.
Saturday afternoon I took my walker off-road, up the hill, and through the tall weeds to the shitter. Everything seemed fine, but on the way back I slipped, rolled down hill and twisted my ankle. It hurt, but I could still walk, sort-of.
Saturday there was a dinner circle with contributions by both kitchens. We did the OM, and servers walked around the circle. One of the dishes was something I could eat. That was nice. I think dinner circle is one of the most important traditions of the Rainbow, and it felt good to be part of if.
Sunday we left, as planned. When we got back, before we even went home, we went to the Emergency Room and got X-rays of my ankle. There are no broken bones, but a bad sprain. It hurts worse than it did at first. Doctors tell me not to walk.
—Webmaster
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