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Tear of the Cloud Grove, ADF is proud to sponsor the first annual Rainbow Connection retreat. This retreat is intended to be a way for those of us in the LGBT community of ADF to spend some time together within our own community. We will be in safe space where we can be ourselves, and discuss issues that we face on a regular basis.
This retreat will be for only those in ADF that are homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered. You may bring your partner if he or she is important to your spiritual life and they are also homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered regardless of their affiliation with ADF. This limitation is so that all of us present can be comfortable to be ourselves, and be able to discuss things that only those in the LGBT community could understand.
Due to location and food prep, there will be a few heterosexual people around. There is a caretaker of the facility who has said he will stay out of our way. There also will be grove members preparing food, so during meal times it will not be LGBT only.
Accommodations will be at Trinity Temple, a pagan church here in Albany, NY. This building is admittedly sparse in accommodations. There are no beds, and no showers. As a result, please bring sleeping bags, and if you need it, air mattresses. There may be a couple air mattresses to borrow if you are traveling long distances. If you require either a regular shower or normal bed arraignments can be made to house you off site, or provide transportation to showers during the weekend. Please contact Illious Seniordruid @ tearofthecloud.org to make these arraignments.
There are three ritual times planned. One will be late in the evening on Friday, One sometime on Saturday which will be our main ritual, and one before parting on Sunday. We will be trying to concentrate on building a stronger "queer" community within ADF, and we will be calling on various IE deities that are "queer" in the rituals.
We will be spending most of Saturday during the day in discussions of various topics that are of importance to us. Current ideas follow, but things are welcome to change, and no set schedule is currently planned.
We will also have times of pure social activity. If there is a desire, we can have a Bardic night on Saturday, party, or whatever the group wants. There is no limit.
A meal plan is included in the costs. This will be prepared by members of the grove. There will be vegetarian options, along with carnivorous options for those of us that eat meats. Please e-mail Illious Seniordruid @ tearofthecloud.org to advise of any food restrictions.
The tenative meal plan is:
FRIDAY DINNER:
SATURDAY BRUNCH:
SATURDAY DINNER:
SUNDAY BRUNCH:
There are many ways to get here. If you are driving, the locations is 279 Whitehall Rd., Albany, NY 12209 and a Google maps link is: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=279+Whitehall+Road,+12209
You may also fly into Albany International Airport (airport code ALB). Please contact Illious Seniordruid @ tearofthecloud.org to arrange for transportation from the airport to the church.
You may also take the bus to Albany, or the train to the Albany-Rensselaer train station. Please contact Illious Seniordruid @ tearofthecloud.org to arrange for transportation from the stations to the church.
We are trying to keep this as low cost as possible. The total cost for this event will be $50. This cost covers food and accommodations. If you cannot afford this, please contact Illious Seniordruid @ tearofthecloud.org to discuss this as we really don't want to leave people out if we don't have to.