The Witches' Ball was Saturday night. I wrote this memo to the Staff on Sunday:
Dear Full Circle folks,
I wanted to write a brief note and say congratulations! I think we put on one of the best Witches' Balls ever, and that this was one of the finest Pagan events ever held in the Bay Area.
Everything was magical, from the great attendees to the gorgeous decorations, to the talented, fabulous dancers & musicians. And wasn't the singer wonderful!
The organization was excellent, people thought on their feet, pitched in where needed, communicated with each other and made it all work. Thank you!
As for the crowd...Wow! I think we reached critical mass at around 7:30 and the "high" stayed with us until the very close. The energy was incredible; everyone was having *such* a great time. I could go on and on, but I'm exhausted, so I'll save it for the newsletter...but hey, what an evening!
Please send our best regards along to all of the FCE & FLARE volunteers & to our outstanding entertainers with whom you worked last evening. I will write our Vendors, the Sponsors and our DJ this week to send out thanks on your behalf.
People are already writing in to say what a great time they had and how special and unique it all was. You can all be proud.
The Humane Society, the Bat people and the Wildlife Rescue folks all went home very happy and every one of them took took back a wonderful impression of who we really are.
My favorite moments included dancing the Spiral Dance to belly dance music in the Fireplace Room, and watching that cute baby dance and play all night long. I also loved seeing those two wonderful little girls win the Costume Contest. I loved dancing in the Main Ballroom to the music the Dj played - he did everything, from Oldies, to R&B, to Pagan rock to World Music to Halloween favorites I think I did "The Time Warp" at least twice!
Thank you all for working so hard work this year and for showing such creativity, grace and style under pressure. You made something very wonderful and rare.
Blessed Samhain to you and yours,
Sia
http://www.fullcirclevents.org
Full Circle Events
Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, Create the Future
cc: Some well wishers
----------------------------------
It's Monday, and I'm starting to unpack the car and check in with people. I need to take our cash to the bank and do all the usual budgeting and business stuff. This week I will write Thank You notes to various people.
After that, we celebrate Samhain with a few close friends, and then I go to Medford, Or to see my family for a while. My father is very ill and I want to be with my folks. I don't know how often I'll be coming and going to Medford this year. My husband is taking leave from work as he needs to and I'll close up my own business until after the holidays.
After my father passes on, we may move to Portland to be closer to my Mom, who is 78. I don't know what the New Year holds, but whatever happens, I'm grateful and proud that I had a chance to work with such great people and that together we've done so much that was both fun and worthwhile.
Sia
Monday, October 25, 2004
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Just Us
The Samhain article is up at TWV:
This is the part that's key:
"To be Pagan is to find meaning, to know what is truly sacred, and to celebrate connection even when times are hard. While it is easy to become heated, it is much more difficult to make light. To us here at Full Circle, the job of any Witch or Pagan is to make light when we can and where is it most difficult to do so. As the Pagan Voting Project notes: "Lighting a candle is not enough". Sometimes, we have to stand up and speak our truth, whether that truth is popular or not."
This is the part that's key:
"To be Pagan is to find meaning, to know what is truly sacred, and to celebrate connection even when times are hard. While it is easy to become heated, it is much more difficult to make light. To us here at Full Circle, the job of any Witch or Pagan is to make light when we can and where is it most difficult to do so. As the Pagan Voting Project notes: "Lighting a candle is not enough". Sometimes, we have to stand up and speak our truth, whether that truth is popular or not."
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Encumbered with Help
Gobi the camel is here!
I bought Gobi at a close out sale on Monday. She is a cardboard camel, part of a Marrakesh display I saw at Cost Plus last month, and she is all decked out for a Grand Caravan. Gobi is 8 feet long and 6 feet high and she's gorgeous. She will now stand at the entrance to the Witches' Ball and greet our attendees when they arrive. Happy, happy, joy, joy.
People laugh at my affection for balloons, but they fill up a space and they bring color and a sense of play to any room they are in. This year, we are using purple, black, and gold balloons on one side of the hall for Venice and Red, black and gold on the other side of hall for China. Once they see the Chinese lanterns, the fairy lights and all the color in the hall, I think our people will be well pleased.
Of course, there are always some Nit Pickers and Nay Sayers. They always seem to think that they they would have done a much better job if they had done the decorating ...but then, they never seem to have the time to get to meetings, so we work without the benefit of their artistic vision and do what we can.
There's a life lesson in this. Lots of people like to say what they would do. "Much cry and little wool" as my grandmother liked to say. I prefer Doers, not Talkers. Our people do a great job and we remain blessedly free of Diva's to this day, which means that we have fun working together, as well.
Meanwhile, I've talked to Eric over an Anubis Engraving. He is doing the Gaia's Guardian award for the Bat people. He now had the wording for the plaque and he is adding in a graphic of two (friendly) bats flying across a full moon. I think they'll like that.
I do have one grumble today. It's an annual sort of grumble. Every year, around this time some people decide to come forward with what we refer to as "bright ideas". Of course, these ideas would cost too much, are impractical, are too late to implement, would increase our insurance rates (or get us closed down), could easily be done if we had another 50 staff on hand, were already discussed and rejected for good reason, are already in place (and why didn't you read the memo or attend the meeting, hummmmm???) and/or they are downright dangerous to the attendees if implemented. It is my happy job to say "No" to these folks in as nice a way as possible. But "Why, oh why?", do they always have to come up with these ideas just before the Ball? I really don't have the time to waste right now.
Ah, well - other than that, things are going just fine. I'm going to clean house, catch up on the work for my day job and make dinner. (They can't bug me, if they can't find me, yes?).
At this point, anybody with a bright idea, can write up a detailed report, submit it in triplicate to our Director, and then wait upon the deliberations of the Council. By then, the Ball should be over and we'll all be off celebrating Samhain (And who says bureaucracy isn't useful?). (1)
"Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help?"
Sia
I bought Gobi at a close out sale on Monday. She is a cardboard camel, part of a Marrakesh display I saw at Cost Plus last month, and she is all decked out for a Grand Caravan. Gobi is 8 feet long and 6 feet high and she's gorgeous. She will now stand at the entrance to the Witches' Ball and greet our attendees when they arrive. Happy, happy, joy, joy.
The first time I saw her I felt she was made for the Ball. I'm so glad that she's ours. It took weeks of lurking, but it was worth it.
Best of all, she comes with "No assembly required" After spending 8 hours putting up French street scenes, with an Eiffel tower, and Can Can dancers for the Bohemian Ball in 2002, our Decorating Team now feels that simple, is much, much better. This also means that I finally get to have some balloons.People laugh at my affection for balloons, but they fill up a space and they bring color and a sense of play to any room they are in. This year, we are using purple, black, and gold balloons on one side of the hall for Venice and Red, black and gold on the other side of hall for China. Once they see the Chinese lanterns, the fairy lights and all the color in the hall, I think our people will be well pleased.
Of course, there are always some Nit Pickers and Nay Sayers. They always seem to think that they they would have done a much better job if they had done the decorating ...but then, they never seem to have the time to get to meetings, so we work without the benefit of their artistic vision and do what we can.
There's a life lesson in this. Lots of people like to say what they would do. "Much cry and little wool" as my grandmother liked to say. I prefer Doers, not Talkers. Our people do a great job and we remain blessedly free of Diva's to this day, which means that we have fun working together, as well.
Meanwhile, I've talked to Eric over an Anubis Engraving. He is doing the Gaia's Guardian award for the Bat people. He now had the wording for the plaque and he is adding in a graphic of two (friendly) bats flying across a full moon. I think they'll like that.
I do have one grumble today. It's an annual sort of grumble. Every year, around this time some people decide to come forward with what we refer to as "bright ideas". Of course, these ideas would cost too much, are impractical, are too late to implement, would increase our insurance rates (or get us closed down), could easily be done if we had another 50 staff on hand, were already discussed and rejected for good reason, are already in place (and why didn't you read the memo or attend the meeting, hummmmm???) and/or they are downright dangerous to the attendees if implemented. It is my happy job to say "No" to these folks in as nice a way as possible. But "Why, oh why?", do they always have to come up with these ideas just before the Ball? I really don't have the time to waste right now.
Ah, well - other than that, things are going just fine. I'm going to clean house, catch up on the work for my day job and make dinner. (They can't bug me, if they can't find me, yes?).
At this point, anybody with a bright idea, can write up a detailed report, submit it in triplicate to our Director, and then wait upon the deliberations of the Council. By then, the Ball should be over and we'll all be off celebrating Samhain (And who says bureaucracy isn't useful?). (1)
"Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help?"
Dr. Samuel Johnson in a letter to Lord Chesterfield
Sia
(1) Of course, if we really want to do something, it takes a few phone calls to key people, and about 10 minutes to decide....but you didn't hear it here.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Music & Meaning
I recently had a discussion with a great gal who is a very active and thoughtful Pagan. She wrote, concerned that would would not going to play "enough Pagan music" at the Witches' Ball, because she wanted there to be, as she said, "meaning" at this event. Now, my response to that was long-winded, so I'll digest it for and go on to what I think is more important. I replied that:
1) We play some and are always looking for more (thus the "suggestion link" on the Music page)
2) We have to be able to dance to the music we play
3) A really down and dirty back beat is the most "Pagan" thing I know of,
4) People are there to have fun, not be preached at, and that includes having to listen to "the right kind" of music
In the interests of keeping an open dialogue I left out my reason #5, which is that so much of what passes for Pagan music is sub par.
But this is the part of the dialogue that might interest people who work in community and/or know about the Witches' Ball. It has to do with how I think we find meaning and what is truly sacred.
-----------------------
Now, on to Meaning:
This is a huge issue for me and it always has been. I believe that we've included meaning at the Witches Ball in ways that are both powerful and unique.
I. Themes:
We choose a theme every year that can teach our people something vital. This fits in with what I said about "sneaking in enlightenment". We spend hundreds of hours building websites for the ball that go way beyond the norm or the basic needs for this sort of thing. Why? Because the meaning matters to us.
This year, the Silk Road theme is about tolerance, the exchange of ideas and we take a look a historical period in which the parties that are fighting now,once lived in peace and relative harmony. We ask people to take a second look at cultures they/we are prejudiced against right now, as well. Rather daring, I think.
I am especially proud of the writing this year - I found most of the links in 2003 (the year we took off) and Laurel set the mood with her wonderful text. So I say, "Let those who have an ear, hear", because this site has a great deal to say.
In 2002 we choose "The Bohemians: Where the Elite Meet the Street"; a theme that spoke to the very origins of modern Pagan culture. It also addressed (and this was very deliberate) the fact that there are Doers & Artists & Thinkers and there are Posers.
Many people romanticize the Bohemians, without knowing what they really stood for or even what they did. Others (like many of the Bohemians) want the credit without doing the difficult work of art. Some want to be "Pagan Leaders" without living in right action or with integrity. We wanted to address that. We also pointed out the ways in which Bohemian culture influenced The Beats, who influenced the 60's generation who greatly influenced modern Pagan culture (for both good an ill). I believe our people learned a lot from that theme if they paid attention.
In 2001, well... the meaning was originally about the true nature of fairies and our own connection with nature, but after 9/11 it became about the fact that the Earthwise community needed something life affirming to come to. As far as I (or our contacts) could tell, no one else was offering that, not in California, at least. Individual Pagan groups went into their bunkers and they may have taken good care of their own - at least we hope they did. That's fine as far as it goes, but Solitarys and others had no place to go and no one was reaching out between Traditions and Covens and Faiths. Paranoia was rampant then. So was fear.
Some people got so far into their politics they seemed to forget that people were truly hurting. Sadly, this did little or nothing to heal the shock, grief, hurt and fear our people were feeling just then.
But the 2001 Witches' Ball was a kind of joyful, empowering interfaith experience that our people were longing for. Volunteers came out of the woodwork, people were glad to help, and over 600 people attended that year - I've never felt such a great "Pagan high" before or since. We did a lot of good for many people at a desperate time and we did it in public so people could see what we stood for. For that reason, I am prouder of this ball then of any other we have done.
As for year 2000, that was our very first ball. We meant for it to be a social event for Pagan Pride. We were coming out of the broom closet in a very obvious way and we invited the public to come dance with us and to meet us. But the cat killings in the area, the blame TV stations put on Pagans(without evidence or cause) and our subsequent meetings with Animal Control led to the formation of the Gaia's Guardian Award. This is something the raises the spirits of our attendees every year. It also garners wonderful press for the Pagan community as a whole. But best of all, it reminds us that this event, at least, is not about 'being Witchy" or showing off. Its' about doing good and giving back and taking a stand for what we believe it. We "walk the walk" at this event - I don't know of a better meaning then that.
II Contacts in the Community:
When people come to the ball, they will find that that the Humane Society has a table there. So does the Wildlife Rescue group. The Bat Conservation Society will also be in attendance, as they are winning the Award this year. The general public sees these people supporting us and knows that we work with them as neighbors and friends. I don't know of any other Pagan group in the country or abroad that can say this.
I'm very proud that these other non-profits know and accept us. The HSSV for example, does not fear us as other animal shelters do. You won't hear them going on about so called "Pagan sacrifice" at Halloween and that is a direct result of our work with them. ( In fact, the Humane Society of Silicon Valley will adopt out a black cat to any Pagan family we recommend.) These animal groups work with us, they mention us in their websites and they stand up to certain of their volunteers who are prejudiced against us. They have chosen to take a stand, and it's for tolerance. They can do this with confidence because we do the same sort of good work that they do, and for the same reasons.
III. Interfaith Work & Pagan community.
I know that you do Interfaith work on a national and international scale, so I know you'll appreciate the fact that we invite everyone to this event and that all Pagan Traditions and many other Faiths come together to work on and attend the ball. In fact, the Director of our year 2002 ball is a devoted Christian, as is her husband. These people were more then tolerant, they were friends with most of our staff. The biggest problem I had was making sure that certain Pagans outside of our immediate group did not insult them.
I am also proud of the fact that Pagan parents feel safe bringing their children to our events. This was a rare thing when we started; either Pagan groups were using drugs or alcohol or they didn't welcome children at all. But our event is for families and it's good to see kids have fun and also be inspired by what we do here. I see a lot of meaning in that, as well.
Anyway, I think all this makes the ball a "sacred" event in ways we never could have imagined.
These days, we do our best and then step back and see what the Goddess has in mind for us. She never fails to surprise me.
Well, I've gone on too long, as usual. Thank you for the chance to have this dialogue. It's made me put down on paper some things I've mulled over for many years now. After the ball, I'm going to work on an article on the sacred and the secular in our community. If you have further thoughts on this subject, I'd love to hear them.
Sia
1) We play some and are always looking for more (thus the "suggestion link" on the Music page)
2) We have to be able to dance to the music we play
3) A really down and dirty back beat is the most "Pagan" thing I know of,
4) People are there to have fun, not be preached at, and that includes having to listen to "the right kind" of music
In the interests of keeping an open dialogue I left out my reason #5, which is that so much of what passes for Pagan music is sub par.
But this is the part of the dialogue that might interest people who work in community and/or know about the Witches' Ball. It has to do with how I think we find meaning and what is truly sacred.
-----------------------
Now, on to Meaning:
This is a huge issue for me and it always has been. I believe that we've included meaning at the Witches Ball in ways that are both powerful and unique.
I. Themes:
We choose a theme every year that can teach our people something vital. This fits in with what I said about "sneaking in enlightenment". We spend hundreds of hours building websites for the ball that go way beyond the norm or the basic needs for this sort of thing. Why? Because the meaning matters to us.
This year, the Silk Road theme is about tolerance, the exchange of ideas and we take a look a historical period in which the parties that are fighting now,once lived in peace and relative harmony. We ask people to take a second look at cultures they/we are prejudiced against right now, as well. Rather daring, I think.
I am especially proud of the writing this year - I found most of the links in 2003 (the year we took off) and Laurel set the mood with her wonderful text. So I say, "Let those who have an ear, hear", because this site has a great deal to say.
In 2002 we choose "The Bohemians: Where the Elite Meet the Street"; a theme that spoke to the very origins of modern Pagan culture. It also addressed (and this was very deliberate) the fact that there are Doers & Artists & Thinkers and there are Posers.
Many people romanticize the Bohemians, without knowing what they really stood for or even what they did. Others (like many of the Bohemians) want the credit without doing the difficult work of art. Some want to be "Pagan Leaders" without living in right action or with integrity. We wanted to address that. We also pointed out the ways in which Bohemian culture influenced The Beats, who influenced the 60's generation who greatly influenced modern Pagan culture (for both good an ill). I believe our people learned a lot from that theme if they paid attention.
In 2001, well... the meaning was originally about the true nature of fairies and our own connection with nature, but after 9/11 it became about the fact that the Earthwise community needed something life affirming to come to. As far as I (or our contacts) could tell, no one else was offering that, not in California, at least. Individual Pagan groups went into their bunkers and they may have taken good care of their own - at least we hope they did. That's fine as far as it goes, but Solitarys and others had no place to go and no one was reaching out between Traditions and Covens and Faiths. Paranoia was rampant then. So was fear.
Some people got so far into their politics they seemed to forget that people were truly hurting. Sadly, this did little or nothing to heal the shock, grief, hurt and fear our people were feeling just then.
But the 2001 Witches' Ball was a kind of joyful, empowering interfaith experience that our people were longing for. Volunteers came out of the woodwork, people were glad to help, and over 600 people attended that year - I've never felt such a great "Pagan high" before or since. We did a lot of good for many people at a desperate time and we did it in public so people could see what we stood for. For that reason, I am prouder of this ball then of any other we have done.
As for year 2000, that was our very first ball. We meant for it to be a social event for Pagan Pride. We were coming out of the broom closet in a very obvious way and we invited the public to come dance with us and to meet us. But the cat killings in the area, the blame TV stations put on Pagans(without evidence or cause) and our subsequent meetings with Animal Control led to the formation of the Gaia's Guardian Award. This is something the raises the spirits of our attendees every year. It also garners wonderful press for the Pagan community as a whole. But best of all, it reminds us that this event, at least, is not about 'being Witchy" or showing off. Its' about doing good and giving back and taking a stand for what we believe it. We "walk the walk" at this event - I don't know of a better meaning then that.
II Contacts in the Community:
When people come to the ball, they will find that that the Humane Society has a table there. So does the Wildlife Rescue group. The Bat Conservation Society will also be in attendance, as they are winning the Award this year. The general public sees these people supporting us and knows that we work with them as neighbors and friends. I don't know of any other Pagan group in the country or abroad that can say this.
I'm very proud that these other non-profits know and accept us. The HSSV for example, does not fear us as other animal shelters do. You won't hear them going on about so called "Pagan sacrifice" at Halloween and that is a direct result of our work with them. ( In fact, the Humane Society of Silicon Valley will adopt out a black cat to any Pagan family we recommend.) These animal groups work with us, they mention us in their websites and they stand up to certain of their volunteers who are prejudiced against us. They have chosen to take a stand, and it's for tolerance. They can do this with confidence because we do the same sort of good work that they do, and for the same reasons.
III. Interfaith Work & Pagan community.
I know that you do Interfaith work on a national and international scale, so I know you'll appreciate the fact that we invite everyone to this event and that all Pagan Traditions and many other Faiths come together to work on and attend the ball. In fact, the Director of our year 2002 ball is a devoted Christian, as is her husband. These people were more then tolerant, they were friends with most of our staff. The biggest problem I had was making sure that certain Pagans outside of our immediate group did not insult them.
I am also proud of the fact that Pagan parents feel safe bringing their children to our events. This was a rare thing when we started; either Pagan groups were using drugs or alcohol or they didn't welcome children at all. But our event is for families and it's good to see kids have fun and also be inspired by what we do here. I see a lot of meaning in that, as well.
Anyway, I think all this makes the ball a "sacred" event in ways we never could have imagined.
These days, we do our best and then step back and see what the Goddess has in mind for us. She never fails to surprise me.
Well, I've gone on too long, as usual. Thank you for the chance to have this dialogue. It's made me put down on paper some things I've mulled over for many years now. After the ball, I'm going to work on an article on the sacred and the secular in our community. If you have further thoughts on this subject, I'd love to hear them.
Sia
Friday, October 08, 2004
Apathy Isn't Sexy
Update on the Pagan Voting Project: Over 4,000 people have visited the Voter Registration Page alone. The Pagan community is more interested and involved in this election than they were in 2000. Now, let's hope that they remember to vote!
Tonight I'm going to watch the 2nd presidential debate with my fella.
Meanwhile, The Wave Magazine is going to do a small item about the Witches' Ball for their next issue. I sent them the sexy Witch jpeg and a jpeg photo of my friend, Jamaica, a very beautiful Belly Dancer from Montery - I'll be interested to see which one they use.
Sia
Tonight I'm going to watch the 2nd presidential debate with my fella.
Meanwhile, The Wave Magazine is going to do a small item about the Witches' Ball for their next issue. I sent them the sexy Witch jpeg and a jpeg photo of my friend, Jamaica, a very beautiful Belly Dancer from Montery - I'll be interested to see which one they use.
Sia
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Hills for Climbing
The City Council heard our arguments on Tuesday and voted to ban leg traps for coyotes in San Jose.
....and there was much rejoicing.
There is a great deal more community education to do on this issue, but at least now we've stopped the train before it got out of the station. If San Jose had gone with leg traps, the other cities would have followed their lead. Now, we have time to offer other, more humane ways for people to protect their pets when they live in the foothills.
It was a good day - I had the pleasure of hanging out with nine astonishing women for five hours while we waited to speak on this issue. Each of these women is dedicated to rescuing and caring for wild animals and/or companion animals. They are all tough minded, knowledgeable and funny.
On another note, I had several talks with that Vendor and we've come to an agreement. (I'll keep Plan B handy, just in case, but it looks like we're now set in the Vendor Hall).
Meanwhile, ticket sales look very good and we now have more Tribal Belly Dance performers for the Garden Stage then we can shake a stick at. It's wonderful how generous the Bay Area performers are with their expertise and time, especially when you consider that they are buying tickets and dancing, as well. (1) Petra says that it's partly because the dancers just love this theme.
Ravensong talked to the "Bat people" and they are excited about coming and receiving the award. Three of them, including the Founder who is in frail health, will be coming in from Novato that evening. We've agreed to set the award time back an hour, so that they can get home at a decent time. This will change the performance time for our Main Stage, but we'll find a way to work around all that.
I've also talked to the new VP of Community Development over at the Humane Society, and she is coming to the ball with some other staff. They will be sharing a table with the Wildlife Rescue folks. We've given these two groups a table for free so that they can sell some items, hand out literature and do some meet and greet at the ball. Hopefully, they will garner some new volunteers, as well.
I want these folks to meet our people and once again see that they are "just folks" and I want our people to meet them and be reminded that this evening is about a lot more then dressing up and showing off.
Sia
Never loved your plains, your gentle valleys
Your drowzy country lanes or pleached alleys
I want my hills, the trail that scorns the hollow
Up, up the ragged trail where few will follow
Up over wooded crest and mossy boulder
Strong thigh and heaving chest and swinging shoulder
So let me hold my way, by nothing daunted
Until at close of day, I stand exalted
High on my hills of dreams, dear hills that know me
And then how fair will seem, the lands below me
How pure at vesper time, the far bells chiming
God give me strength to climb and hills for climbing.
(words, Arthur Guiterman, music: Pete Sutherland
CD "Nightingale Three" by Nightingale)
(1) This is true for everyone. The volunteers get a small discount on their tickets, but even people who have put in hundreds of hours of work on the ball don't get in for free. This is a charity fundraiser, after all.
....and there was much rejoicing.
There is a great deal more community education to do on this issue, but at least now we've stopped the train before it got out of the station. If San Jose had gone with leg traps, the other cities would have followed their lead. Now, we have time to offer other, more humane ways for people to protect their pets when they live in the foothills.
It was a good day - I had the pleasure of hanging out with nine astonishing women for five hours while we waited to speak on this issue. Each of these women is dedicated to rescuing and caring for wild animals and/or companion animals. They are all tough minded, knowledgeable and funny.
On another note, I had several talks with that Vendor and we've come to an agreement. (I'll keep Plan B handy, just in case, but it looks like we're now set in the Vendor Hall).
Meanwhile, ticket sales look very good and we now have more Tribal Belly Dance performers for the Garden Stage then we can shake a stick at. It's wonderful how generous the Bay Area performers are with their expertise and time, especially when you consider that they are buying tickets and dancing, as well. (1) Petra says that it's partly because the dancers just love this theme.
Ravensong talked to the "Bat people" and they are excited about coming and receiving the award. Three of them, including the Founder who is in frail health, will be coming in from Novato that evening. We've agreed to set the award time back an hour, so that they can get home at a decent time. This will change the performance time for our Main Stage, but we'll find a way to work around all that.
I've also talked to the new VP of Community Development over at the Humane Society, and she is coming to the ball with some other staff. They will be sharing a table with the Wildlife Rescue folks. We've given these two groups a table for free so that they can sell some items, hand out literature and do some meet and greet at the ball. Hopefully, they will garner some new volunteers, as well.
I want these folks to meet our people and once again see that they are "just folks" and I want our people to meet them and be reminded that this evening is about a lot more then dressing up and showing off.
Sia
Never loved your plains, your gentle valleys
Your drowzy country lanes or pleached alleys
I want my hills, the trail that scorns the hollow
Up, up the ragged trail where few will follow
Up over wooded crest and mossy boulder
Strong thigh and heaving chest and swinging shoulder
So let me hold my way, by nothing daunted
Until at close of day, I stand exalted
High on my hills of dreams, dear hills that know me
And then how fair will seem, the lands below me
How pure at vesper time, the far bells chiming
God give me strength to climb and hills for climbing.
(words, Arthur Guiterman, music: Pete Sutherland
CD "Nightingale Three" by Nightingale)
(1) This is true for everyone. The volunteers get a small discount on their tickets, but even people who have put in hundreds of hours of work on the ball don't get in for free. This is a charity fundraiser, after all.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Leg Traps
Got this email from our contacts over at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, requesting that we gathering some of our people together and attend.
On Tuesday, October 5th, the proposed leg hold trapping and killing of coyotes will be discussed on the City Council Agenda as an urgent item that has been added at the last minute.
We welcome your attendance, as well as a two-minute public comment at Tuesday's meeting, or just come for a show of support.
Six coyotes have already been trapped and killed using leg hold traps in Los Gatos and if this isn't stopped, San Jose will soon follow. Vector Control seems to be pushing hard for this to happen instead of using any sort of humane abatement.
If you can not attend, you can always contact your city councilmembers, or for non-San Jose residents, contact Mayor Gonzales. See link below:
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/council.html
City Hall -- Council Chambers at 1:30 p.m. on October 5
801 North First Street, Rm. 600, San Jose, CA 95110
This morning will be spent talking to other wildlife rehabbers and researching arguments for humane ways of vector control. That, and working on more PSA's for the ball.
On Tuesday, October 5th, the proposed leg hold trapping and killing of coyotes will be discussed on the City Council Agenda as an urgent item that has been added at the last minute.
We welcome your attendance, as well as a two-minute public comment at Tuesday's meeting, or just come for a show of support.
Six coyotes have already been trapped and killed using leg hold traps in Los Gatos and if this isn't stopped, San Jose will soon follow. Vector Control seems to be pushing hard for this to happen instead of using any sort of humane abatement.
If you can not attend, you can always contact your city councilmembers, or for non-San Jose residents, contact Mayor Gonzales. See link below:
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/council.html
City Hall -- Council Chambers at 1:30 p.m. on October 5
801 North First Street, Rm. 600, San Jose, CA 95110
This morning will be spent talking to other wildlife rehabbers and researching arguments for humane ways of vector control. That, and working on more PSA's for the ball.
The council meeting was fun, as usual. We've voted to have Petra perform on the main stage prior to the Gaia's Guardian Award. Her tribal belly dance troupe will do a "Cane dance" and she will do a sword dance.
She describes the Cane dance this way:
This is something you don't see too often and it's very fun - a bit silly,as women's cane dance pokes a bit of fun at the men's seriousmock-battle cane dance. ;)
I can't wait to see that.
Meanwhile, we haven't heard back from that one Vendor. I think it may be time to round up some more. What kind of Pagan Vendor cancels on a Pagan Charity event at the last minute? Good grief, they've had that booth since February! I could have sold it 10 times over by now. At this late date, it will be hard to find anyone to fill the space. It's time to call my friend Thalassa, the Vendor Coordinator over at PantheaCon for some help.
SiaSunday, October 03, 2004
Shake what Momma gave you
I put flyer packets together today to send to stores. It's sad how many of the old stores are gone, especially here in the South Bay. Some new ones have opened up in the East Bay and Boulder Creek and they seem to be doing good work.
The Dj is set. I'll send his retainer fee tommorrow. I love his song list. This guy "gets it" that people like to listen to one kind of music, but that they will get out and dance a very different sort. If you want to fill a dance floor you need Oldies, Motown, sexy, rhythmic Rock, the less offensive Disco, etc. He has the funky Halloween stuff, as well like Werewolf of London, Time Warp - we have several versions of that one - , The Monster Mash, etc.. We'd use a little Techo (just enough to make the younger folks happy) and no Rap. (The last thing I need is for some young punk to be ripping on "Bitches" in a room full of "Witches". Or course, Queen Latifa, now, that's another thing entirely. She's a goddess.
Just now, I'm looking for Pagan music that will get people moving. In 5 years of doing this, we've found very little Pagan music that you can really dance to. Oddly enough, people always suggest Enya. It's lovely music, mind, I have every CD she's ever made, but it doesn't make you want to shake what Momma gave you, not like Aretha can. We'll use a bit of Enya in between sets for mood music, but when we want them to really go, it's going to be down and dirty music. That, or the fun stuff.
Sia
The Dj is set. I'll send his retainer fee tommorrow. I love his song list. This guy "gets it" that people like to listen to one kind of music, but that they will get out and dance a very different sort. If you want to fill a dance floor you need Oldies, Motown, sexy, rhythmic Rock, the less offensive Disco, etc. He has the funky Halloween stuff, as well like Werewolf of London, Time Warp - we have several versions of that one - , The Monster Mash, etc.. We'd use a little Techo (just enough to make the younger folks happy) and no Rap. (The last thing I need is for some young punk to be ripping on "Bitches" in a room full of "Witches". Or course, Queen Latifa, now, that's another thing entirely. She's a goddess.
Just now, I'm looking for Pagan music that will get people moving. In 5 years of doing this, we've found very little Pagan music that you can really dance to. Oddly enough, people always suggest Enya. It's lovely music, mind, I have every CD she's ever made, but it doesn't make you want to shake what Momma gave you, not like Aretha can. We'll use a bit of Enya in between sets for mood music, but when we want them to really go, it's going to be down and dirty music. That, or the fun stuff.
Sia
Friday, October 01, 2004
Going Postal
The PSA's (Public Service Announcements) have gone out. Captain Lightening is going to send some sexy Witch art on the The Wave magazine tonight to go with our calendar listing.
The October newsletter is done and that goes out tonight, as well. Snakemoon and our new writers have done a great job.
Captain Lightning bought me a copy of Going Postal, as a present. I'm going to take a bit of a break and read it this weekend.
Spent some time on the phone yesterday with Quark. His father just had serious cancer surgery. I've sent a memo to the staff to let them know that he might not be working the ball this year, and asking them to give him as much support as possible. I'll see if he wants to go out to a movie or something this weekend, but I think he'll want some time alone.
Do I send DragonLady's notes out to the Voice as an humorous article? - she says it's OK. hummmmm.
I dropped off flyers are various spots this week and we've added some new sponsors.
Today, I need to contact Lucie Stern about insurance and double check their figures. They seem to have some of the math wrong. Meanwhile, I need to contact the belly dancers & the DJ.
One of the Vendors threatens to cancel at the last minute. I'm not pleased about that. We may have to scramble in the next few weeks. I'll call Thalassa about that today.
Some nice weather would also be good - it threatened to rain last night.
Sia
The October newsletter is done and that goes out tonight, as well. Snakemoon and our new writers have done a great job.
Captain Lightning bought me a copy of Going Postal, as a present. I'm going to take a bit of a break and read it this weekend.
Spent some time on the phone yesterday with Quark. His father just had serious cancer surgery. I've sent a memo to the staff to let them know that he might not be working the ball this year, and asking them to give him as much support as possible. I'll see if he wants to go out to a movie or something this weekend, but I think he'll want some time alone.
Do I send DragonLady's notes out to the Voice as an humorous article? - she says it's OK. hummmmm.
I dropped off flyers are various spots this week and we've added some new sponsors.
Today, I need to contact Lucie Stern about insurance and double check their figures. They seem to have some of the math wrong. Meanwhile, I need to contact the belly dancers & the DJ.
One of the Vendors threatens to cancel at the last minute. I'm not pleased about that. We may have to scramble in the next few weeks. I'll call Thalassa about that today.
Some nice weather would also be good - it threatened to rain last night.
Sia
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