Water Filters and Staying Healthy

One of the ways we keep each other healthy is by drinking filtered water. Many people will argue that when we gather in the mountains, the water is clean.  Well not to burst your bubble, but the springs may or may not be safe to drink and the lines we lay to bring spring water from the hills down into the gathering are only as safe as the last time a dog or a horse shit on the line.  All it takes is one tiny crack and the spring water is now dog poop spring water.  Or bear poop, deer poop, horse poop, bobcat poop, etc.

Don't forget, that many people who gather drink city water during the year and their bowels aren't adjusted to live water. Even folks who drink live water on a regular basis have adjusted to the critters in their local water and a new set of critters can leave even the most hardened back woods homesteader leaving a trail behind them.  Just because you are young and healthy and can handled a week of diarrhea without a thought doesn't mean that all our family can. Small children, the elderly and people with chronic health conditions can end up in the hospital when from diarrhea.

If you or anyone you know is thinking of purchasing  Katadyn filters (.2 micron) for an upcoming gathering, please get in touch with Team Hydration to get the lowest price available.  Together our money goes further than it does separately.

In addition to trying to get us the best possible price on filters, Team Hydration sets up Hydration Stations scattered about the gathering so people can fill their jugs with clean and safe drinking water.   Having safe and clean drinking water is one of the most important things we can do for a safe and positive gathering.  The alternative is a gathering full of diarrhea.

I personally know the folks behind this effort and know that the money will be spent as intended.  

So what's it going to be family.  Together our $5 or $50 dollar donations will keep a lot of people safe and healthy.  Click here to donate.

Team Hydration will also accept donations for the water crew that runs water lines throughout the gathering, please leave a comment with your donation if you want the funds to go to the water line crew vs the water filter crew.

Finally don't forget that we can't just run down to the local general store and buy filters.  By collecting funds ahead of time, all the equipment we need can be ordered ahead of time so clean and safe drinking water becomes available as soon as possible after we land at home.  Click here to donate! 

Please feel to contact Jules or Team Hydration directly if you have any questions, would like to get involved, or would like to get a filter system for your camp or kitchen.  Please copy and distribute this information to all points of light.

Coffee with USFS on Tuesday April 16

If you are in or near Missoula, please make an effort to participate.

Coffee meeting @ Zootown (I'm guessing its a local coffee shop).

11 AM.  USFS LEO Jon and possibly others.

Scout Rendezvous April 20

Updated 4/20/13

Scout Rendezvous is a meet up for anyone who wants to plug into the scouting process. If you've not been before, please read Scouting 101 or Jules on Scouting so that you can prepared to contribute to the process.

This is not a gathering, campout or drum circle.  As with all things gathering related, no experience is necessary. Even if you don't have time to go scouting, but you do have time to make the Rendezvous, please come out and take the opportunity to learn from family who have lots of experience scouting.

*** Begin forwarded message ****

according to consensus from thanksgiving circle... there is to be some sort of get-together of scouting this weekend...

   for many of those in montana... who are, in fact, looking to scout... it is realized that snow is still in the high country... i.e. 5500 ft.... etc... and, in fact, actual beginning of on the land scouting is more likely to take place AFTER april 20th.. i.e. 4/20....

for those who would like to scout... hopefully, self-sufficient, capable.. with own transportation, food, etc.. who would like to jump in on the scouting scene...

   meeting 4/20... april 20   at the park in the town of Pony, Montana... south of Three Forks, Montana.. (on way to Petosi Hot Springs)... check your maps...




  there are people at the initiating scout rendezvous site ... go to town of Pony, Montana... south of Three Forks, etc.... check maps....

   and, there is all the weather conditions....
        please come, enjoy the "scout movie"... AND, please come prepared.... self-sufficient as possible.... food, warm clothes.. etc... transportation... what it takes...

        Sites.. as they open re: snow, etc.. will be checked out...
        and then, in early June.... whatever are even potential or possible Sites... will need to be checked out i.e. the Springs, and Water....  one more time... in  early June ----

           folks... no one knows where the Annual Gathering is going to be, yet... in Early June.... hope to know.... part research, scouting, and vision... spirit singing....

           major criteria this year... IF at all possible.. looking for lower elevation Sites, with all the good elements i.e. springs, recreation water... parking areas... common ground (meadows) etc...
   many older, frail folks be wanting to be Home this Year...
all to the Good..

          so, lower elevation, workable... is high on the vibe....

        AND... All viable Sites will be scouted, all elevations.. etc...
 

Hipstory

Hipstory refers to gathering related stories based on historical experiences of past gatherings and gathering related stuff. Every year at the Annual Gathering of the Tribes, we share Hipstory with each other in many, many ways.  One of my favorites is the night of July 5th when, starting at dark thirty at the Hipstories, we share stories of gatherings past starting with 1972 and working our way through the years.

Of late, this has been happening at the Granola Funk Theater stage, but in years past I remember it happening at the Spot Tent (the big white tent near Kid Village in Washington 2011).We take turns getting up in front of everyone and sharing our individual story from a past gathering.  I strongly encourage everyone to plan on staying at the gathering through July 6 to enjoy the stories. Some of the storytellers are amazing, some not so great, but each story is a glimpse into a moment of our past - a moment as seen through the eyes of the teller or someone who heard the story from someone else.

I would especially invite my beautiful family in their teens and twenties. You are an amazing wonderful force in this family and I hope you take the time to learn the hipstory and use the wisdom and mistakes of the past to greate a brillant future.

As Georgy Santayana wrote many years ago, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

If you're in the mood know to read some hipstories, click here for a great selection written by some of the earlies (folks who have been gathering since the early 70s).

Meet & Greet with Forest Service Folks on March 18

Taking place in the Missoula Public Library in Missoula, Montana. A room has been reserved for the "Rainbow Gathering and Forest Service...."

 Meeting takes place in the "ala de Juntas" -- Small Meeting Room, 10-12am, Monday March 18.
downstairs/accessible/near coffee spot....

Interested people are welcome to attend in a peaceful manner to meet  Regional Forest Supervisor Faye K., Deputy Regional Forest Jane C. and with Jon H. ... perhaps some other from Forest Service, etc...

 

Forest Service and Gatherings

As those of you who have been gathering for the last decade well know, the relationship between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and gatherers on the land has been contentious to say the least.   The last few years, the USFS has been willing to work more cooperatively with folks on the land and hopefully this direction will continue for this year's annual gathering.

To that effect, a long time gatherer from Montana has been in contact with the USFS and communications are starting.

This discussion is taking place through email and via the list serve "AGR."   If you are NOT being bcc'd on the correspondence, you can sign up for an account to the list server and read the archives or have the information sent to your email account.  To sign up for agr@welcomehome.org go to Welcome Home's Listserver registration page.

I would strongly encourage anyone who wants to get into the nuts and bolts of the gathering/USFS interactions, participate in the discussion by subscribing to the list server.

Let's continue to be the peace that we want to see in this world.

One of my all time favorite gatherings

What makes a gathering so special is the friends we make, the experiences we have, and the land on which we gather.  One of my all time favorites was Wyoming in 1994.  Best site ever.  Everything laid out like a wagon wheel.  My life was changed by this gathering and by the experiences which lead out of this gathering.

Here's a video someone put together - with footage from the Discovery Channel.  Enjoy!