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.
Next upcoming WGC Gathering
(Note the change in the days)
Our 20th Anniversary!
Tuesday, February 19 - Saturday, February 23, 2008
Location: Vallecito Regional Park
(Outside San Diego and near Anza-Borrego)
If we think this is a conference, then we network. Here is where we meet our elders and marvel at their wisdom. Here is where new guides connect with experienced guides. Here is where our loved ones meet our colleagues and discover one of the reasons that we keep on doing this work – each other.
Some of the absolutely most wonderful folks in the world are to be found in our midst. There is no better way for us to interconnect than the Gathering. It is a primary purpose of the WGC for us to come together in one place, once a year. We come from all over the United States, and members from outside the country join us when they can.
In a very short time our connections run deep. We laugh together frequently, cry together as needed, honor our ancestors and pray for the future. We strengthen old friendships and forge new ones. We live on the Earth and make a village for a few blessed days. We have loads of fun.
The following email was sent to all WGC members in July:
Here is some news you may have been waiting for: the 2008 Gathering Council has set the dates and chosen a location for the next Wilderness Guides Council Gathering. This is a big one for us - Our 20th Anniversary and a Netkeeper Selection year - and so the timing has shifted slightly from previous years.
Tuesday, February 19 - Saturday, February 23, 2008
The WGC Gathering has been moved up in the week to allow for more ceremony (20th birthday) and so that we can all be more relaxed and leisurely in our departure. Arrive on Monday and help us set up everything (dome, Many Horses Cafe, lodge).
Noon Sunday has always come too quickly in the past and so many of us have had to rush back home. Not this year! In 2008 we finish on Saturday morning. Take your time going home and relish in the satisfaction of having just been immersed in community and ceremony.
We also have a new location this year, not far from Anza-Borrego. The choice was made to stay near San Diego. An alternative in Arizona was seriously considered and ultimately rejected because it is more remote and we want as many guides as possible to attend this year. So we are poised to take over the tent camping and youth group area at Vallecito Regional Park. Although not quite as large as Tamarisk Grove, this park is more open. We can have our sweat lodge here just the way we want it and much more freedom in general - except for quiet hours. It is also a bit less expensive. You asked for a new location for 2008 and here it is!
http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/camping/vallecito.html
Still to come... Registration, prices, agenda, sacred befuddlement, I mean business, etceteras. We usually send you this info in the Autumn (when the turning of the wheel sings with color) along with an invitation from the Gathering Council.
These folks have already put a in huge number of hours on the phone and email getting us to this point before the end of June. Jessica even drove out to the site. I commend them for their giveaway. I bless them for their large hearts and big north shields. I look forward to sharing our 2008 Gathering with them and as many other members of the Wilderness Guides Council as possible.
There is one more thing: Netkeeper Selection. Our Netkeeper, currently Scout, that's me, serves a 4 year term. Mine is over at the end of 2008. So now is the time to start thinking about whether you might want to be the next Netkeeper. We have some guidelines: been a member at least 3 years, been an active member, is or was a guide, 2 consecutive terms max, selected by concensus at Gathering before term begins, works with current Netkeeper on volunteer basis for much of year preceding term in order to learn the ropes, serves as Treasurer (requires bookkeeping skills), needs computer skills (especially email and internet).
We are also going to select, for the first time ever, an Alternate Netkeeper.
Go on a Medicine Walk. Take a shamanic journey. Open yourself to the possibility. If a spark comes through, nurture it a little to see if it grows into a dream. Consider it more than 3 times and you want to send me an email. This position is hugely challenging and equally rewarding.
Blessed to be of service... Scout, Netkeeper
netkeeper@wildernessguidescouncil.org
Additional information
Here is a link to another website that shows a picture of the campground. We will miss the big tamarisk trees from the past 2 years and we will not miss the loud traffic noise or the state park restrictions. Dogs for instance, are allowed in this campground (leased of course). Unlike the group campground in Anza-Borrego that we used for many years, there are at least some trees here. Check it out: http://www.desertusa.com/caacv/caacv.html
The most recent past WGC Gathering was held
February 22–25, 2007
Location: Tamarisk Grove (same as 2006)
Above is a picture of our Gathering Council for 2007 sharing a group hug in celebration of a splendid Gathering completed. In the background is the Dome. This 30 foot diameter tent-like shelter is owned by the WGC and has become a symbol of our full council meeting place at the annual Gathering. The dome has no floor, so we are close to the Earth. Each year it is assembled by volunteers just prior to the Gathering. It is taken apart and stored afterwards by our Domekeeper. Those who want to be part of the assembly or dis-assembly crew, arrive by Wednesday morning or stay late. Sturdy work gloves are required in addition to muscle power for this sacred Work.
In this shot, also taken at our 2007 Gathering, we are assembled inside the dome for our North Shield Council (i.e. business meeting). Those sheets of paper everyone is looking at are copies of the budget, which we discuss, modify and approve via a consensus process every year. The Netkeeper, acting as Treasurer, prepares the report and presents it. Although we are far from wealthy as an organization, we have had enough funds come in each year to support the WGC and put on the Gathering.
To see a copy of the minutes from our 2007 North Shield council on 2/23/07 click here to download a PDF.
Click on the menu link for Netkeeper to your left to see the 2007 Netkeeper report.
Click on the link to the Bylaws to see the updated version.
The invitation letter, agenda and other information about the February 2007 Gathering can be found on the Previous Gathering Page
For Last Year, see the Previous Gathering Page
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