Proposed Agreement for Ocala 2013

The Ocala Gathering, known by some as the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering or the Winter Gathering of the Tribes as the largest regional Gathering of its type, is honored to present this agreement between conflicting tribes within our larger community. In addition to the agreement comes a request, a call if you will, for a return to the old ways and traditions. We are inviting our elders and those who have not returned to Ocala in some years to return this year, 2013, and share with us your spirit and wisdom. This will be a year of healing and education, of workshops and art in the forest, a year of magical sharing by your family and you are more then just welcome, you are needed. Join us as we heal the forest, our family and ourselves, each in our own way, and help this agreement and the peace that it represents manifest in the Florida sunshine!

I. This is an agreement regarding the 2013 Ocala Gathering also known as the Ocala Regional Rainbow Gathering (ORG) between two groupings of unnamed individuals, Old School Florida Family (OSFF) and Front Gate, also sometimes known as A-Camp (FG). It further affects those individuals who camp in the woods during that time period, known to some as “Rainbow Land” (RL) and the camps where drinking is encouraged but are not affiliated with the Front Gate or A-Camp (DK)

II. FG long standing participation in ORG is recognized, but in addition, so is its impact and the fact that over the past few years that impact has prompted a need for change. All sides agree on a need to end violence during the ORG and are and will working to make it so. In an effort to manifest this change, FG agrees to take (back) those responsibilities, with FG elders, leading and supervising these efforts to insure peace within the DKs. They will also lead internal efforts within their own camp. RL will do the same. Both sides recognize each others long standing traditions such as meat being served inside the FG kitchen and only vegetarian food and no alcohol at main circle. Both FG and RL shall have Shanta Senas and both shall answer to council and observe all raps, rules and traditions. In the event that council feels that either, any or any such individual who call themselves shanta sena and not behaving in a manner appropriate shall be addressed directly and through council process.

III. Because of said recognition of Impact FG and DKs will maintain a 100’ buffer zone from the road and main trail. From 100’ to 600’ from the road, or however so designated by council on the land shall be known as the A-Zone, where alcohol drinking is permitted. FG Shanta Sena shall have the primary responsibility to insure that no drinking takes place outside of the A-Zone. Further a non-commercial drinking area, known as ARRR shall be assembled in a closed manner (and treated as an interior private space) inside the A-Zone, to further mitigate the impact to the forest, locals and RL. The Buffer Zone and A-Zone shall be formally codified and added to the Operating Plan.

IV. Welcome Home, shall be staffed by RL and focalized by a person of their choosing, who may or may not act as a liaison with FG. The Parking Crew shall be well trained, not intoxicated, and be located along the road, a reasonable distance after welcome home and have the additional responsibility of providing searches and safety related actions. Welcome Home shall designate a signal, such as colored paper in the car window allowing for either unrestricted egress, without search or immediate search for safety reasons. These areas will be supported by FG shanta sena who will have the additional responsibilities of removing those camps or kitchens who continue to allow or promote violence or other unacceptable behaviors. Only daily Main Circle council shall have the responsibility of determining which camps or kitchens shall be asked to leave except under extraordinary circumstances or conditions, which, if occurring must be discussed within twenty four hours (rainbow time). The right, by Main Council, to ask, demand or forcibly remove a camp, kitchen or group of individuals based on unacceptable behavior shall be codified in the Operating Plan as well.

V. It is well understood that this agreement is an ongoing effort and it is engaged with the understanding that there will likely be unanticipated problems to overcome and situation(s) that require well thought out solutions. This agreement in recognizing that fact is designed to allow internal and external adjustments without rendering the entire document and agreement null and void. This is a working and living document and agreement and must be considered as such.

 

I Am Rather Disturbed By The Repeated Use Of The Word

"Violence" In This Thread....



Cheers Glen.

 

I too was disturbed by the need to use the word "violence" repeatedly, but it was and is the center point of the discussion, although alcohol is/was a big part of it as well. Much Love Down Under!

Barry

 

what are searches ?

 

in the old days ppl were searched by fam for alcohol. i did it a few hrs.

 

the ppl i searches were newbies & were kinda used 2 it frm other festivals.

 

it all semed 2 work out well. this was approx `86.

 

gee ... i hope this works out. tho i live just up the road from the Ocala National Forest i haven't been to the Ocala Gathering in yrs due to the threatening antics of some A Campers.

 

Operating plan=permit=another broken treaty. I hope language is not added to "codify" anything. Council decides such things, not some Internet message board. By creating drinking zones, buffers,& a responsibility of searching I believe will set up the framework of more police harassment thru the supposed authority they think they receive from some operating permit. And yes, I come every year and work/love my butt off to help make this a wonderful family gathering/reunion & not the festi that some mistakenly believe it
Is.

 

righto. drunken A Campers should continue to be free aggressively spang, beat each other up and sexually harass women who try to make it thru the A camp gauntlet. after all ... freedom is what rainbow is all about!


i guess i'll continue to be free to stay away from the annual Ocala Rudebow Gathering. "welcome home" yeah right.

meh. don't worry about it. who needs "rainbow" anymore anyway? the rights of the drunk, the rude and the violent have superseded my rights to peaceful family communion for years now and i've found other stuff to do.

 

Normally when u quote something u address some specific issue within the quote. Don't use my opinion as an excuse to not attend, something u made it clear u were Planning anyway. U are free to express your own. But the things u said had nothing to do with my comment, nor did I say what you insinuated I said.

 

lol sheesh! don't flatter yourself. i don't need YOU as an excuse not to attend a chaotic drunk fest. i had, for a moment, hope that maybe something was going to be done about the slurring stumbling nastiness that has prevented my attending Ocala for so many yrs. but then, of course, there's going to be objections (like yours) to any controls put on those who lack self control b/c in rainbowland the freedom to be rude and violent has become paramount. odd that you see the codifying of protective actions for the benefit of peaceful folks such as myself as an invitation to an increase of police presence but the violent antics of A Camp drunks apparently is not.

 

What you are seeing is an attempt to change the culture of Ocala through the cooperation of all parties. Council must approve first, in January. These are the discussions prior to that.

 

I hope that all of u that are so passionate about these things will actually show up this year, and I mean more than a weekend visit. It would be really nice to have such energy and passion actually working to turn Ocala into everything u complain it is not.

 

i'm 5'2" and weight 105 lbs and b/c most of my friends aren't into camping i usually attend gatherings alone. the last time i went to the Ocala gathering i felt decidedly unsafe and unless something is done about the rude and threatening antics of (some) A Campers you won't see me there. if i wanna catch vibes like those i'll take a stroll alone down some dark debris strewn alley in a ghetto.

 

Ocala was my first gathering and I left early due to the fighting .... Bad impression

 

I will be having a Krsna Kitchen Inside rainbowland...not buckets of halava inside...but hot free foid in the woods...popcorn too

 

I too have heard soooo many devotees in my Krsna Community refuse to come help at Tennessee krsna kitchen because if their awful experience in ocalas regionals...which is only 2 hrs from our community of 1500 people..unfortunate because youd have an amazing array if delicuous food cooked with love served more often if I can get more devotees to come helo!!!& yummy sweets too aka Krishna cookies

 

Bump

 

A few years back I did a long hike through the Florida National Trail. I had long hair and a beard and looked like a hippie. Near the Ocala National forest I got the distinct feeling that the locals did not like me. Back then, I thought it was because I am not white. Now I know why!!