Montana Gathering 2013: For Montana Residents (or what to expect from the gathering)

Saturday, June 8, 2013

For Montana Residents (or what to expect from the gathering)

What exactly IS the Rainbow Gathering?

The bottom video includes interviews with townsfolk and merchants of stores and lodges near past Rainbow Gatherings. They were asked for their honest opinion of how the event went, the effects it had on their business, and what advice they would give to people in towns near future Gatherings.

5 comments:

AnonymousJune 11, 2013 at 5:30 PM
I am sacrificing everything to be there this year! It'll be a wild ride, and it'll be great to be back where I belong. Only 20 years old and ill be journeying with a woman with whom I met synchronisticly. Can't wait to be guided there from within! -Sean{h}naeS-
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sandybJune 18, 2013 at 7:26 AM
Is there anyway you all could clean up before you leave? Last gathering it costs Montanans about 125,000 dollars to clean up the mess. You also left behind over 40 dogs that had to be taken to the humane society and cared for. Please try to understand the impact that many people make on such a small community and on the lands itself. You all just don't get it.
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AnonymousJune 19, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Seriously. Go away.
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AnonymousJune 24, 2013 at 8:59 AM
We Montanans love our land, follow simply the rules, pack pout what you pack in, keep it clean.please take your pets with you.
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AnonymousJune 30, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Have a good time; most Montanan's do not have a stick up our butt; just follow the rules, clean up after yourself, keep your hands off your neighbors belongings, don't bring your pet and then dump it, treat others the way you want to be treated. I hope my 40-something daughter is having a beautiful time...if anyone mistreats her...I will find you. PEACE & HAPPINESS!
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What do you think?

Coming Home (ride share)

If you have a ride to share, try your local Craig's list rideshare page, Star's Rainbow Ride Board, or the various groups on Facebook if you're so inclined. Another great way hook up with people is at your local Rainbow potluck, drum circle, etc. There's an old list of local circle light lines, here. Just a reminder, if you ride share with a new friend, make sure to meet in a public place like a coffee shop to get to know each other, discuss ground rules, what's cool and not cool. You may spend 2 to 5 days with your co-travelers at a minimum so having common habits and ground rules can make the trip a positive experience.

Getting Into the Gathering Safely

Getting into the gathering without getting a mandatory court appearance ticket
Every year the United States Forest Service Law Enforcement (USFS) Incident Management Team (the cops) attempts to write as many tickets to family coming home as they possibly can to justify their presence. They give out tickets for broken tail lights, failure to use a turn signal in a deserted parking lot at 2 AM, lack of seat belts, controlled substances (even just a trace amount), beads hanging from your rear view mirrors, prescription medications if the label doesn't clearly have your name on it and you can't prove who you are, dogs off leash, a vehicle missing a front license plate even if you live in a state that does not issue a front license plate and a lot more violations of the letter of the law.

However, these tickets are not the type of citation you would probably receive for any of these issues in your hometown. These are mandatory court appearance tickets. There will be special court dates set up just for us, so we can go to the local courthouse, fire station or visitors center and go before a magistrate. In the past, charges have been reduced, fines were often minimal and the court has allowed people to make payment plans ranging from 90 days to pay $75 to 18 months to pay $25 depending on the hardship cases people have expressed.

If you do not show up for your mandatory court appearance on the date indicated on your ticket, a Federal Bench Warrant will be issued for your arrest. Then the USFS LEOs will come into the gathering looking for you. If they find you they will arrest you and put you in jail until the next court date. If this happens on a Friday afternoon, you will be in jail until Monday. If they do not find you at the gathering, the next time a law enforcement officer for any reason stops you, your ID will be run through the database and you will go directly to jail.

Of course, everyone is free to manage this situation as they wish but I strongly recommend you go to your court date. I have seen people charged with crimes that could potentially result in a six years sentence walk out with a $500 fine and three years’ probation. Keep in mind that every year the dynamic is different and these results may not always be available. There are lawyers at the gathering (I am not a legal expert) who attend the court dates and will assist as best they can although I recommend you catch up with them before your court date to gain a better understanding of your specific charges and strategies to get the charges dropped or reduced. If you do not know these people personally, go to INFO and let them know you received one of the magic tickets and you need legal assistance.

Welcome Home.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

For Montana Residents (or what to expect from the gathering)

5 comments: