Caroline and I decided that we would have a theme for this year's Conference. It's sorta a last minute idea, but we really like it, and hope that other people will have fun with it too.

Our theme: "Creating Community."

We intend on encouraging various aspects of creation- personal and as a community- during different events and activities throughout the weekend.

So, how can you help with the creativity? We're hoping to have some crafty areas set up- some for the individual- some for more cooperative creative projects. So, show up and create! Use your imagination and you'll find so many ways to bring creativity into the weekend.

Every year, we have a Dance Party/Sharing Stage/Dessert Party/FIC Benefit Auction down in the Community. For the Dance Party, we will have an area set up at the Conference Site that will have clothing and accessories for folks to borrow for the evening, to dress themselves up for the event down in the Community. We would love it if you brought some extra random clothes or accessories to add to our collection of Dress Up clothes. The more that you can bring, and the more fancy or silly the items, the more fun it'll be. If you're not interested in bringing something extra, consider bringing your own outfit for the evening that is uniquely you.

We've also started planning a mini-memorial for Kat Kinkade on Sunday, August 17 in the afternoon. This will be an opportunity for anyone who knew her to share how she touched their life, or an opportunity to just listen to those who did know her remember her life and how she affected the Communities Movement. If there's anyone who won't be there, but would like to have something shared for them at this event, send me an e-mail to suede(AT)twinoaks.org.

In Community,

Suede Machete

p.s. that image is a photo i took of myself and turned into sorta a cartoon on a computer. yay creativity!

Wow. I cannot believe it's almost Conference time!

So....What's new here... Well, we have a new Conference Intern named Becca. She's incredibly awesome, and it'll be great to have her around for the Conferences.

I just got back from a fair this weekend in Marion, VA where we sold hammocks and hanging chairs. Now that I'm back, it's starting to be crunch time for getting things happening.

Since it's our second year organizing this, Caroline and I are working on keeping things flowing smoothly at the Conference. Last year there were a few bumps, but that was expected. We're hoping to improve the Conference by using what we learned from last year. Y'all better be ready to have some fun!

Well...I've gotta go do a few things and then package some Tofu in a little while.

In Community,
Suede Machete

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P.S. If you are posting blog entries onto this website, please do not post to the front page (this happens when- under 'publishing options' of posting a blog you check the box that says 'promoted to front page'. There were a lot of postings that were completely irrelevant to the Conference, which I edited off of the front page. Love that you're blogging, but please leave the front page for Conference blogging and news. Thanks!

This was taken from www.TwinOaks.org:

Kat Kinkade 1930-2008: One of Twin Oaks' primary founding members, Kat Kinkade, died on July 3rd, peacefully at home at Twin Oaks. Kat was a visionary and a mover-shaker, and her life's work touched thousands of people. A memorial service will be held at Yanceyville Church on Saturday July 19, 2008 at 2:00 pm.

To see her obituary, go to this page: http://twinoaks.org/culture/culture/kinkade-obituary.html

To read Laird's entry about this... go to http://communitiesconference.org/?q=node/271

Yesterday was Twin Oaks' 41st Anniversary celebration.

Yesterday evening, one of our work buildings near our warehouse caught on fire and burned to the ground.

To those who know the property and our buildings, Oz, our chair varnishing/stretcher oiling/ stretcher storing building, was the building that burned down. (It was very close to the conference site.)

It happened after a beautiful, sunny day of Anniversary celebration, then around 5:40 pm or so, the clouds, rain and lightning moved in. Shortly before 6 pm it caught on fire and burned- very quickly- to the ground. No one has said definitely yet, but there were rumors that it was because Oz was struck by lightning.

Firefighters were at the scene fairly quickly, but there was nothing they could do. They patiently prevented it from getting worse or spreading, and eventually it calmed down. Kind Twin Oakers brought them a case of soda and some dessert. The rain probably helped prevent it from spreading to the building and trees next to it. No one was inside the building, and most of us are assuming/hoping that Rambler, the cat, whose perching place was attached to the building, made it away from the building safely.

For some mostly correct information in the form of a short article, check out the online article by a Charlottesville news channel. There's a video to watch of the fire as well on that same site.

http://www. charlottesvillenewsplex. tv/home/headlines/19948939. html#

This fire definitely affects our hammocks business, but we're very lucky to be a part of this community, and will all pull together to help where it's needed and pick ourselves up from this unfortunate happening.

Health and happiness to you,
In community,
Suede Machete

In amongst all this rain, there's been some gorgeous weather. It lifts our moods after days of cloudiness, and helps motivate us with our work. Okay, so sometimes it also pulls us to go frolic in the sunshine. But generally, the weather being beautiful and bright has kept me in a more cheery mood, and I feel great to be working on Communities Conference tasks.

Lately I've been working on getting the big Conference mailing out. And it's been a bit of a struggle, and it's going out a little later than hoped for, but soon it'll be done and on it's way to 5,000 people.

Not a whole lot else is going on in the world of the Communities Conference. Slow and steady for a while.

Hope you're able to take some time to enjoy some Springtime weather and flowers.

In Community,

Suede Machete

p.s. the picture is of me and the most recent calf at Twin Oaks. Born over a week ago (maybe 2?), I saw him within several hours of his birth. Right now we've also got goslings which are completely adorable as well...yay springtime and life!

After many months of rest following a wonderful Communities Conference, it is again time to begin the preparation for 2008's conference.

I've started going through some of our computer folders on our network and sorting out files that are actually helpful from the files that just get in the way and have no actual significance to us organizers. I've adjusted the logo I created last year so that instead of 2007- it says 2008. I'm doing some very small things so far, but we haven't even had our first official meeting (which is actually scheduled for Thursday), so things haven't started up fully.

Though preparation/coordinating can be a bit stressful at times, I'm pretty excited to get back in the swing of things, and hopefully create an even more amazing experience for everyone at this year's Communities Conference.

In Community,

Suede Machete

P.S. If anyone has any suggestions on how we could better the Communities Conference experience or perhaps would like to help spread the word of the conference, or knows of businesses/places that would be good to advertise at- let us know! You can e-mail me, Suede, directly ( suedemachete@yahoo.com ) or send an e-mail to our conference e-mail (conference@twinoaks.org). We're always looking to improve our conference and to spread the word to more people.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Communities Conference so great! We couldn't have done it without you!

We hope to have an evaluation form of the event posted on our site in the very near future, so check back and give us feedback!

Also, create an account and connect with others who were at this year's conference!

Thanks again!

Suede

(photos by Joan Mazza)

It was quite an adventure, this year.

Thursday evening brought us an intense thunderstorm with extremely high winds. Several trees were knocked over in our community, and the power went out, all just 24 hours before the conference began!

In the end it all worked out.

Expect a plethora of pictures and stories soon, as we break down camp and upload images from our cameras.

If you have stories or photos, please post them!

well. the communities conference is tomorrow. WOW!

I am kinda overwhelmed and excited and stressed and everything, but it's gonna be great! We're almost done with site prep, but there's a lot of last minute things still happening.

That's all for now....gotta go go go!

SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW!!!

-Suede!