Me and Tabitha in Salem, Mass

Me, Kes and Tabitha spent the day in Salem, Mass braving the Snow!

Me and Kes spent the day talking with Raven Grimassi and Christopher Penczak. Both were very nice and informative people to meet. Kelley is looking into taking classes from Christopher. I am looking forward to meeting more people in the area.

Arkansas Pagan Alert

It was brought to my attention that there was a convicted sex offender at the Arkansas Pagan Pride Event on Sept 10th at Boyle Park.

I was told that no one was informed of this even though the people putting on this event where aware of this fact!

The person, Thomas C., was convicted and incarcerated for raping a 4 year old boy as well as placing bomb threats to local school. He was released spring of this year.

I feel that if people in the Arkansas Pagan Community should be made aware of such things so they can make their own choices as to associate with said person.

Included in this post is a fairly recent photo of the person so you will able to identify them at any future events.

Train in North Little Rock

I got the chance to see this antique train pull into North Little Rock.

GASLAND Trailer 2010

Gasland Documentary

After viewing this documentary about natural gas drilling and the toxic hazards it brings for the area where drilling takes place I felt this would be a great topic to explore. I will be talking more on this blog. If you are also a member of the members only blog you will be getting this on both.
http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/
Please take time to visit this site!

Clearing The Confusion about PPD in Central Arkansas

I have encountered some confusion over the past 12 months over PPD. Due to the creation of the other PPD event being hosted by Uni; several people have questioned and have been confusing the age of the event.  Let me explain a little and clear some things up.

• In 2003, Central Arkansas decided to produce a Pagan Pride Day Event. Two of the groups in the area (The Green Ring and Werfriends) got together and selected Amber as the event administrator.  Amber applied for and was granted Local Coordinator (LC) status with the Pagan Pride Project (a nonprofit organization).  The event was called Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day (CAPPD).
• In 2003, after that year’s event, Amber stepped down and turned things over to Uni and Pagan Pride Project (PPP) named Uni as the new LC for the CAPPD event.
• In 2004 I was named as Co LC by PPP
• In 2005 the event was turned over to Arkansas Pagan Pride (a different nonprofit organization). 
• On Feb 7th 2009 Uni and Eric turned CAPPD over to me and Kestrel. We then formed Arkansas Pagan Pride Day (a different nonprofit organization). **This would be the third time the event changed hands in a succession of Non Profit organizations .  **

This change was announced on TGR and several other Egroups by Uni herself (post #10811 on TGR) Feb 7th 2009.

Post 10811 from Coven of the Green Ring Egroup on Feb. 7th 2009 Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day Dear Friends, As of February 7, 2009, Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day belongs to Silver Crow & Kestrel. Uni & Wiz are going onto other endeavors.  -- May you have Many Blessings Bestowed upon you by your deity of choice, Uni www.werfriendsstudy.org http://paganfyre.multiply.com/ Say as you think and speak ir from your souls. Henry VI Part II - William Shakespeare

 Going forward: Kestrel, Aleyna and I formed the board of Arkansas Pagan Pride Day (as noted above, this was a new nonprofit organization). That organization which, now hosts The Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day Event (CAPPD), will be celebrating its 8th consecutive year. We are the third Non Profit to sponsor it.

The current confusion over the PPD situation began when  Uni announced that she was also going to host a Pagan Pride Day event ( this new event  is what is now known as Arkansas Pagan Pride) using her nonprofit organization of the same name.  That event will be celebrating its 2nd year. 

We’re not certain why Uni decided to create a second event after announcing that she was “going on to other endeavors” but at no time did she contact us and say that she had changed her mind or ask for the event back.   There was never any agreement made or conditions regarding the handover of the event –not even to change the names of the board members of the nonprofit organization. The new/second event was created and then announced March 27th 2009 -a little over a month following it being turned over to us.

 What some people seem to be confusing is the age of the nonprofit organization sponsoring the event with the age of the event.  The events are not the same as the nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit organizations are not the events.

So, to recap:                    

Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day/CAPPD

• Sponsored by Pagan Pride Project/ PPP from 2003-2005
• Sponsored by Arkansas Pagan Pride 2005- 2009
• Sponsored by Arkansas Pagan Pride Day 2009- Present

Arkansas Pagan Pride

• Sponsored by Arkansas Pagan Pride 2009- present

Central Arkansas Pagan Pride Day is in full swing; we have scheduled a planning meeting for July 3rd. We are welcoming several new members from different parts of the Community as part of this year’s committee.  Anyone who would like to be a part of the planning and/or take part in this year’s event are also welcome to attend.  More detailed information about the meeting will be coming out shortly. We already have a great line up of workshops and performers, but there’s always room for more. 

As is a CAPPD tradition:  Information, merchants and artisans booths are free.  Attendance is free. Parking is plentiful, convenient to the event (and free!).

This year’s event is being held in Burns Park at the John Irvin Pavilion on August 28th 2010 starting at 9am. We chose to keep the event in Burns Park because of the security and lower profile it offers over more public locations.  CAPPD recognizes and respects that there are many in our community who want to attend public gatherings without the possibility that their faces may end up on the local evening news (so to speak).  The park is a beautiful place which offers a playground for our children and more natural surroundings- after all isn’t that what we are about?

For more detailed information, please check out our website:  http://www.arppd.arkansaspagans.com/

 OR join our Egroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ARPP  Or facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Central-Arkansas-Pagan-Pride/1798945649

Great sunset

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago I think it is a lovely sunset photo. I know that Summer can produce great sunsets but I do look forward to the Autumn and the crisp nights as opposed to the hot and humid nights we have now.

CPPD 2010

Wow time passes by quickly. It once again time for PPD! I am looking forward to this years event. We have a few more people helping plan this years event making it feel more community oriented. As always we will be holding it in Burns Park at the John Irvin Pavilion on August 28th 2010 starting at or about 9am. This will be our Eighth consecutive year in Burns Park and of course it is free to the public ( both people who attend and Merchants/artisans ). Everyone is welcome to attend.

I have to admit I enjoy the openness and at the same time the privacy of Burns Park. In the past I have questioned if we should continue to hold the event in the park but know I have a better understanding of the protection the park offers. Most of those who attend the event don't really want their faces known beyond the event if we moved the event to a more "Public" place there may be many that question their safety and privacy. There was a question raised several months ago if we should move the event to downtown Little Rock after taking about the benefits and the drawbacks we decided to stay in the park. The overwhelming majority felt more safe and secure in the park then in downtown besides there is more Nature here, and isn't that what we are all about?

Now I wont say the event will never move but I think before it does there will have to be a lot more "open" pagans out there that want to make that move.

We have dancers, Instructors on many different subjects there will be workshops, demonstrations and lots of "Kewl" things to buy and take home. More to come on this and many more things in the near future, stay tuned!