Thanksgiving Council 2009 Notes for Gathering 2010

Thanksgiving Council 2009 Notes for Gathering 2010

'Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts.' -
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)



Thanksgiving Council
Rainbow Noon
November 28, 2009
Hedgesville, West Virginia


Approx. 30 individuals


Om Circle


Feather is passed and individuals make introductions and Heartsong.


-----------------------------------------------------


Council on Bank and Mailbox:


Discussion on concern about transparency and accountability of bank.


Consensus: NY Rainbow will hold the bank and setup a PayPal
account for Gathering 2010 until Spring Council
NY Rainbow Post Office Box will be used for Postal Mail concerning
Gathering 2010 until Spring Council
A Banking Council comprised of three experienced individuals
from the NYC/NJ area, Bob from the Ovens, Joanee and
Rick Purpleboy
will handle the off-season bank and Gathering Mail until
Spring Council. Other individuals can be added as
advisers and/or observers.
Green Energy sent by Postal Mail will be transferred via NY
Rainbow's account to the Rainbow Gathering PayPal account.


------------------------------------------------------


Scout Rendezvous Date:


Discussion on date and location of Scout Rendezvous addressed
the large area consensed upon, on the land, at Vision Council in
New Mexico, comprising the states of New Hampshire, Vermont,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and
Tennessee and the logistics of this scouting effort. Council rejected
suggestions of abridging or eliminating certain states from being scouted.


Consensus: Scout Rendezvous will be April 1, 2010 at the southern
end of that range of states at a location consensed upon by
individuals involved in scouting.


Council expressed it's confidence in the individuals scouting
and it's trust in their judgment. Council also called for greater
participation in scouting by individuals in those states
consensed upon. Individuals interested in exploring the forest
can leave contact info on the following lightline: 908-I-Gather (442-8437).



-------------------------------------------------------


Spring Council Date:


Discussion on concerns about "seed camp" and "holding camp
" involved speculation that an early "holding camp" could bring
negative energy to the local areas ahead of the gathering.
This raises social and environmental questions for the upcoming
gathering. In addition, with such a possible broad range of sites,
over 1000 miles end to end, there is a concern that a large
holding camp in one region may draw energies away from
better sites in another region Also expressed was the need
for a timely site announcement to accommodate for long
distance travel plans.


Consensus: Spring Council June 4 - 6, 2010 at a location
to be determined by consensus of individuals
involved in scouting.


--------------------------------------------------------


Rainbow Press Crew:


The Council suggested that the individuals calling
themselves the "Rainbow Press Crew" revise their identity.


There is a key problem with the name: Calling it
"Rainbow" Press Crew implies that it is connected
to or an ongoing function of the (alleged) "Rainbow Family"
as an organized group entity, and this compromises the
gatherings. "Rainbow Legaliaison" was abolished in 1994
for the same reason. It was understood that this media initiative
comes from a voluntary collective or affinity group that is
independent, operating 'in the world' and outside the gatherings.


While the council cannot make any consensus or interfere
with such efforts, it was the general sense of those present
that the name should be changed to reflect this reality, and
protect 'rainbow' from complicity. It was agreed to
acknowledge and encourage this media initiative in
the record, and to state these concerns... and a few
participants agreed to follow up and communicate
privately with the proponents, toward a workable solution.


Council definitely wants the media to see all the peace,
love, cooperation and heartfelt commitment going on
at the gathering, to see the beautiful children, hear the
singing, smell the food cooking and feel the good intentions.
Support was expressed for individuals to continue countering
incorrect reports about the Gathering by sending
out their own reports.


--------------------------------------------------------


Other Discussions:


Since 2004 individuals have tried to negotiate a
solution to the Forest Service Non-Commercial
Group Use Permit requirements, but the "permit
accommodation" largely failed: It did nothing to
control law enforcement harassment of a peaceful
public assembly, and still locked in the
"Rainbow Family, et al." as a fictional 'group' party
in the Operating Plans. Now the Forest Service
again requires a signed permit, with official
notice and meetings far in advance.


There were no Forest Service Representatives
present at Thanksgiving Council.


Recent administrative changes in the Department
of Agriculture and the Forest Service include a new
Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, a new Under
Secretary, Harris Sherman, replacing Mark Rey
, as well as at the Forest Service, Tom Tidwell,
Forest Service Chief and David Ferrell, Director
of Law Enforcement DC Office. The hope was
expressed that with these changes will come an
extra effort, by all involved, to communicate and
'Walk, as well as Talk, the Path to Peace' and
mutual respect.


Also last January William "Doubting" Thomas of Peace Park
, inveterate vigiler in front of the White House for 27 years,
passed away. He was a pioneer in 1st Amendment policy
& law, did important work as a Rainbow "Legaliaison"
volunteer 1987-93, and with PCU_FAP
(Free Assembly Project) for a few years thereafter
. At the Memorial ceremony last March, his partner
Ellen Thomas got a consensus among concerned folks
in attendance to convey his 'Rainbow' research & lega
l files to a concerned individual.


---------------------------------------------------------


Council adjourns.


--------------------------------------------------------------------




'Strive to serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to
selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life.
Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind
.' - Bhagavad Gita 3:19-20



Send all Postal Mail to:
Rainbow Gathering 2010
c/o NY Rainbow
P.O. Box 1554
New York, NY 10009


Checks or Money Orders should be written out to
New York Rainbow with a memo saying
'gathering 2010' on the check.


Contact by E-mail: gathering2010@nyrainbow.org




PayPal:
Send Green Energy using PayPal to
gathering2010@nyrainbow.org and please use
the 'Personal' option menu to name the transaction.
Go to PayPal Help - How to send money or
http://bit.ly/4RtWQj for instructions.


'Treat the earth well, It was not given to you
by your parents, It was loaned to you by your
children.' - Native American Proverb




WE LOVE YOU!


-purpleboy