Additional Information for Participants

This information has gone out by email to registered participants and we're uploading it here to try to keep communication in one place as well as transparency on what is happening.

Hi all - in a week we'll all be together for the Convergence, we are hoping the weather holds!

This message has just two new requests:

- please bring a folding chair or chair, mat, etc of some sort that you can use for sitting outside.  We have enough chairs indoors but don't have enough for everyone for outside.

- if you didn't mark down in registration that your accomodation plan, we are assuming that you are pitching a tent.  If you are not and are bringing a campervan or RV, please let us know so we can properly plan the space.

And one ammendment - some of you may have received an agenda that said we were providing Sunday supper but no mention of Saturday.  That was a typo:  Saturday supper is provided, but not Sunday.

I've copied the previous message below so all the information is in one place and again, don't hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions or concerns.

Brenda

on behalf of the hosting team.

Dear all - we hope you are looking forward to the Convergence as much as we are.  We have an average of 2 registration a day coming in which means we should have a lovely sized crowd to learn with.

This email is provide a bit of an update on the weekend and to confirm some key details with you.  If you have any questions or concerns, please be in touch with us.

Location:

The hosting location is THE County Cocoon - home and farm of Connie Barritt.  However, we are fortunate that across the road is a one-room-school-turned-community-hall - Ripley School - which we have decided to use as the base for the weekend.  This is where those wanting to camp where they can have a fire and cook food will be located, where the showers and toilets will be set up, where the keynote and group sessions will be held, meals served, and more.  The directions to this remain the same as we've given for THE Country Cocoon - if you follow those, we know you won't miss us at the school.

Location: http://abconvergence2011.blogspot.com/2011/02/location.html - we are located in the countryside and your GPS may have a hard time finding us so we suggest that you make sure you know where you are going before you leave home.

Camping:

Most of you have requested to be near somewhere you can have a fire or cook food so we will have you camping around the schoolhouse.  However - if you would prefer to be away from people and more out in nature, you are welcome to camp on the conservation area of the farm however no fires or devices with heat are allowed in there (jetboils, etc)... unless conditions change and it is wet enough that we feel it is safe.

We are setting up solar showers at the school site and they should be able to accommodate 3-4 people showering at the same time (in separate stalls) if we all respect each other and don't take too long of showers.

Agenda:

We won't copy it here because it can be found and is updated as we go here: http://abconvergence2011.blogspot.com/2011/07/emergingupdated-agenda.html

We do want to reaffirm the principles we've used in designing:

a) everyone has something to teach and everyone has something to learn

b) whoever come are the right people 

c) the law of two feet - nothing is mandatory, be where you need to be, the schedule is to guide us but no one is policing you on where you have to be and at what time

We asked in registration questions that allowed us to get a sense of what people are looking to learn more about, what conversations are starting to bubble up and who might be the right people to host or lead these areas.  From there - we've asked a few people to step in and host workshops on the Saturday and more of this are likely to be planned as we get closer. 

The weekend is low-tech so there won't be much opportunity to show presentations or to print out materials.  We ask that if you have information you will want to distribute that you print it before hand (in a way that uses little paper, please) or bring along a computer and USB stick and gather/share information that way.

Friday:

- You are welcome to start to arrive from 2pm onwards.  We will be ready to direct you to camping spots and whatever else you need.

- For those of you coming for the composting workshop/set-up, please be at the Ripley School to start at 3pm.

- Supper this evening will be a potluck, you can warm items in the kitchen at the school or over the campfire, barbeque, etc.  

Saturday - Sunday:

- those of you coming for Saturday only, feel free to join us from 8am on.

- lunch is provided on Saturday and Sunday; supper will be provided on Saturday

- we will be providing eggs if you would like to have these for breakfast however are leaving breakfasts to be self-catering so please bring what you need.  There will be a fridge set-up for participants to store anything that needs to be kept cool.

- Sunday afternoon we have confirmed a local naturalist to join us for a native prairie walk however if you need to leave earlier, we understand.

Other:

- Dogs and other pets are welcome but need to be kept close to their owners as the site is not far off a fairly busy road.  Also we would like to make sure they don't chase the chickens as that will mean less eggs for breakfast.

- If you are interested, bring along a cage and take home a live chicken.  We have broiler/fryer chickens on the pasture that will be close to ready if you would like to go home with one.  We also anticipate having some already in the freezer if you would rather transport them home that way. 

Again - don't hesitate to be in touch with us if you need anything or have more questions/concerns.

We're looking forward to hosting you in a few weeks  - 

Connie, Vance and Brenda