Utica Saplings

Here's the website for our study group:

http://sites.google.com/site/utica…

The minutes for the meeting we had last night, as well as some thoughts I had later, have been posted on the Misty Marsh Forum: http://mistymarsh.yuku.com/directo…

If you're not going to check the forum often, you are able, as Rose said, to subscribe to the forum through email or RSS feed.

Peace,
Grey Catling

Now that Gina's wedding is over, we should figure out when we can meet to discuss the protogrove. Rose, you mentioned the possibility of going to your home. When would be a good time for you? Gina, what is your schedule like?

Thanks,
Grey Catling

Rose suggested that our name be something to do with the Utica Marsh. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. It's one of the most definitive features of the area.

And I love driving by it and seeing the mist in the mornings and at night...

So how about Misty Marsh Protogrove, ADF? Gina liked it. So did Ron. What about you, Rose?

~Greycatling

Anyone know of any good, free web hosts for a protogrove website? All I really know about are tripod and geocities. My fiance found a great carbon neutral web host, but it costs money and we can't afford that right now since we won't be collecting dues at the moment.

So any thoughts?

~Greycatling

According to the Post Office website, we could get a PO box in Marcy, NY (near my parents' place) for $19 every six months. That's not a bad deal.

How would we, as a protogrove, pay for this? I'm not adverse to spending my own money on it as a donation to our own protogrove, but we will all need to work together to meet any expenses. I have to look further into the tax exempt thingy...

I don't see our protogrove costing too much money. If it's approx. $40 a year to rent a PO box and then we only have to worry about renting out spaces for rituals... If we stick to the Other Side for most winter activities, we would maybe donate $5-10 to the Otherside as a protogrove. If we rented the UU church... $20?

The UU might be nice for some of the bigger holidays in the summer because of that lovely grove. They also have better parking.

Let me know what you guys think!

~Greycatling

I know that very few people read this at the moment, but here goes anyway!

As I'm sure you know, I'm seriously getting ready to start a protogrove in the Utica NY area. I've read through the grove organizer's handbook and now just need to read through the bylaws again.

I have to fill out a survey with contact info, personal references, and a protogrove name.

Rose and Gina: if you're reading this, I think it's important that we meet again in the near future, after Gina's wedding. Rose, I know you don't want to be an organizer, but I also know that you really want there to be a local grove so I'd like your input for possible names. Gina as well. I'd also like to confirm with you both that you would, indeed, like for me to be the grove organizer. I'd like to know what you both want and what you expect of me beyond what ADF already would expect.

I have a list of names that I like and would like input and suggestions. I'd like our name to reflect the local flora and/or fauna, and or the landscape features rather than a cultural focus. Most of my names focus on valleys, foothills, chipmunks, squirrels, and deer - but not all at once. Heehee. I think we all agreed before that our grove should be open to all hearth cultures. Gina and I talked about alternating the high days between Celtic and Norse, but would obviously make it so that there could be Hellenic, Vedic, Baltic, or Slavic rituals if members called for them.

I would like to start building a website for our protogrove, just so we have something to list when I fill out the grove organizer's survey. I've downloaded some of the graphics available to groves on the ADF website, but we'll eventually need our own logo. I can ask Ron to come up with something if everyone else is too busy. I also have a sister and future brother-in-law who are amazingly talented with graphic designs and would probably love the opportunity to add to their portfolios.

We will also need to rent a PO box because I don't want to make my own public. Have any of you done that before or know anything about it?

So anyway, when would you both be available for a meeting? Do either of you think we need to meet or should I just start posting possible names? Let me know what you want so that I can deliver. :)

(And just so you both know, as far as ADF matters are concerned, I'm going to make my religious name public and keep my secular name private.)

~Greycating

Hey everyone! There's still a hope that we will start a protogrove in Utica. Things have been hectic with everyone, I understand, but I'm hoping that this post will generate some conversation.

Where are we right now? Where do we want to be? What do we want out of a protogrove? How is everyone doing on their Dedicant Programs? How is everyone feeling in regards to ADF, Druidry, Paganism, etc? What is everyone doing for the autumn equinox?

... turned out to be more of a social gathering for Gina and I since we were the only two there. We looked over some virtue essays that we'd brought and talked about Paganism in general.

We both thought getting together at Muin Mound Madness next month would be better than scheduling a separate meeting since August will be busy. We decided to talk more about the virtues next month.

We'll be meeting at 7 pm at the Tramotane cafe on Lincoln Ave in Utica, NY.
Topics to discuss will include the virtues (please print at least one virtues essay to discuss!) and setting up a proto grove.


Hope to see you there!
~Melanie