Gatherings

Annual WGC Gathering

Every year, those of us who can, attend the WGC Gathering. This is THE place where we meet face-to-face, share our stories, hold ceremony, sit in council, sing, dance, drum, eat, teach, learn, camp, sweat, make business sacred, practice consensus, volunteer service, live as a community, cooperate, organize, play, hike, relax, gaze at the stars and hang out with each other.

You may download this letter and the attached information sheets here.

JOIN FRIENDS AND FELLOW GUIDES

Wilderness Guides Council Gathering

February 25 - 28, 2010
Vallecito County Park, San Diego County, California

Gathering Together

Hexagram 45 of the I Ching

Over the receptive earth, the joyous lake

The image of Gathering Together

Thus the superior person renews their resources

In order to meet the unforeseen.

It has been two years since we last met in the deserts of southern California for a Gathering of Guides. Those two years have been full for all of us. The 4^th International Wilderness Guides Gathering has come and gone. Stan Crow and Miguel Batz have passed across the final threshold. Our economy nearly crashed and is wobbling slowly back to a new normal of some kind. Barack Obama was elected President. It has been two years of both great hope and great uncertainty.

Now we gather again to renew our connections, to speak of the past and the future, to discern how this work of wilderness guides can flourish in the year to come, and the years ahead. To this end we invite you to gather with us: To gather our voices together. To gather our wisdom. To gather our power, and our visions. What do we offer the people and the Earth in the times ahead? How do we as an organization fully engage in preserving and protecting the Earth and all her life, which are so crucial to our work?

We meet February 25 - 28, 2010 at Vallecito Park, about 30 miles south of Borrego Springs. Vallecito is a San Diego County Park, where we last met. The rangers and park host were very welcoming and collaborative, unlike some other venues. The wind was a challenge in 2008 and we making some adjustments to the location of the dome and kitchen that we hope will make things less troublesome.

Vallecito has 22 tent sites and 22 RV sites. The tent and RV sections are separated by a hill and some distance. The camp has many mesquite trees and has a rambling, relaxed feel to it. The mountains and washes to the north are fully accessible from the park.

We’ve made reservations for all 22 tent sites for Thursday night through Saturday night, and enough sites for Tuesday and Wednesday to cover the WFA class and those setting up. Although there is space for 2 cars per site, there is also a $2 per day charge for the 2^nd car (at the rangers discretion). Overflow parking is limited.

We’ll have restrooms, showers, fire rings and picnic tables. We will also be just 3.4 miles from Agua Caliente Hot Springs! $5 per vehicle gets everyone in it into the springs to use the showers and pools.

We are requesting that all newcomers attend a WGC orientation, as well as introductions to Council and Consensus, on Thursday. These sessions will provide a basic background that helps ground us all in an understanding and appreciation for the history, traditions, and communication structures of the WGC.

Our main business meeting will be Friday morning. We’ve planned time for several councils, including Raccoon council and regional Guide councils. We’ll also gather to assess our current state and where we want to go. More details will follow.
Saturday evening will be our usual banquet and celebration.

Gathering fees this year are the same as 2008:

Gathering fee, per adult member is $100
Gathering fee per adult non-member is $130
Gathering fee for an adult guest/partner of a solo member who does not attend fully is $80
Children 14 and under are invited to the Gathering at no charge
Families and those with teenage children (ages 15-17) should contact the Netkeeper to determine rates.

Pre-registrations are accepted through February 12^th, 2010. All registrations after this date will take place on-site, and there will be an additional $20 charge. A registration form will be emailed, and you can also pay membership and gathering fees on the web site: http://www.wildernessguidescouncil.org.

The additional late registration charges reflect the difficulties we have planning when we do not know in advance how many will attend. Please pre-register promptly!

Note that your registration covers Thursday afternoon through Sunday noon campsite fees only. If you are coming early and/or staying later, then you need to pay campsite fees for those nights – unless you are on a work crew or attending the WFA. We would be remiss if we did not mention that any extra contribution that you choose to make to the WGC when you register will be gratefully accepted.

Many Horses Café rides again!

Food costs will be $65 for the three days, which covers 9 meals. (about $7 a meal for GREAT food!) Meal registration needs to be in by February 12th to give our cooks time to plan. For those of you who are uncertain about enjoying the on-site prepared food, meals will be available for 10 additional folks who sign-up on a first-come/first serve basis. There will be an additional $20 charge for onsite registration for the meal plan. We still need cooks, so if you want to cook and save on some of your food costs, let us know! As always, we’ll also need volunteers for prep and cleanup. This is your community kitchen and it takes a village and all that….

The Saturday banquet is free and open to all attending.

In service,

Fran Weinbaum, Hana Maris, Judy Flavell, Noel Hernandez and Munro Sickafoose

2010 Gathering Council

The most recent past WGC Gathering was held
Sunday, April 12 - Monday, April 13, 2009
Location: Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Followed by:
4th International Wilderness Guides Gathering
Tuesday, April 14 - Monday April 20, 2009

Other information about the 4th IWGG Gathering can be found on the International Gathering Page

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