gathering@thegrove

Attention, Gatherers. 

There will be a Gathering @ the Grove in 2020! 

When life appears out of focus, when the future becomes a bit fuzzy, sometimes we need to adjust our prescription so we can see clearly again.  Gathering @ the Grove – 2020 Vision is our opportunity to come together and do just that.  We can simultaneously acknowledge how life has changed and honor the importance of communities like the Gathering.  There is work to be done, there are advancements to be made…and we need each other. 

Like many other areas of our lives, the Gathering will look a little different this year.  Sure, we won’t be able to meet face-to-face, but that just means we get to be creative and have some fun with this year’s format.  So, what do we have in mind?

Well, for starters the Gathering will primarily be hosted online during the week of October 12^th.  We’re working on an agenda which includes some standard Gathering traditions, but also introduces some new ideas and ways to connect. Maybe some of those new ideas will become Gathering traditions!  We know that nothing will replace the in-person Gathering, but we also think this year’s format has some really awesome benefits, like:

• We can spread events out and avoid overlapping sessions that occur at the same time, so you don’t have to choose between two or more interesting topics.  
• We can make this year’s Gathering FREE to attend! 
• We can make progress on something else we have wanted for a long time – ongoing opportunities to connect with the Gathering Community throughout the year, not just during the event. 

We started this with Virtual Campfire Chats, and we plan to continue those.  The next one is on a special date, July 15^th, but after that they will recur every second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm.  Check out the events section of our Facebook page(s), or the Upcoming Events section of this blog for the link to join.

So, as all of the details for this year’s Gathering come into focus, what can you expect to see from us?  Well, we know that right now updates about all kinds of things in the world can feel unpredictable and overwhelming.  We’d prefer to share updates that are consistent, easy to digest, and give you something to look forward to! So, we’ll be putting out updates on the same Wednesdays that we host the Virtual Campfire Chats.  That means you can join us later that day in the Campfire Chats to catch up on the news or talk about the updates.  We’re trying to decide on a name for these regular updates – what do you all think of Squatch Droppings…?  Ok, sometimes your first idea is not your best idea. 

Join us for our next Virtual Campfire Chat on July 15^th, and until then, take care of yourself, stay tuned, and stay well!

**UPDATE 6/10/20 , 7:25 pm: Hey, everyone! In part due to incoming storms, many of us had some serious connection issues during tonight’s Campfire Chat. We’re going to call it and reschedule, so stay tuned for detail about that.**

Here’s the link to join tonight’s Campfire Chat at 7 pm: https://msngr.com/Qqsm1beqcM8VXLZQ

And here are some questions to think about in advance:

1. We know it’s going to look different, but what parts of the Gathering do you think we should preserve this year?
2. What can we try that’s new this year to make the most of this opportunity?

See you tonight!

Join us for another Campfire Chat when we get together, check in with one another, and talk about what we want the Gathering to look like this year! We will probably use Messenger Rooms for this chat, so stay tuned for details about how to join (you don’t need Facebook to participate).

Adaptation: a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.

1. The Gathering won’t take place in-person this year. Yes, this makes us sad and we will miss seeing each other face-to-face, but we’ve always adapted. This year is no different. Necessity is the mother of invention, and this is presenting us with a lot of cool new opportunities to explore. Like…
2. We will be creating online/virtual Gathering events this year. We think there’s a lot of flexibility in this approach, and we’re excited about the creative ideas we’ve heard so far. We’ll start with recurring Campfire Chats every second Wednesday of the month at 7 pm. Don’t worry if that time doesn’t work for you, because we’ll be scheduling more events at different times and on different days in the near future. This is just to get us started. Keep your eye on the Events page!
3. We still want to humanize and personalize the Gathering experience, so for those who are interested, we’re going to explore things like a Pen Pal/Collaborative Art Project, maybe a gift exchange, and even writing a Gathering theme song together. We’re really only limited by our ideas, so share yours with us!
4. We’re pretty sure we can pull off the Live Auction online as well! This could be the best Live Auction yet!

Thank you for being a vital part of the Gathering Community. Let’s tend to it together so it continues to grow and thrive.

Don’t forget: CAMPFIRE CHAT tonight at 7 pm! Check our previous post for details.