Northern Virginia Pagan Pride Day

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February 28th Planning Meeting Notes
by Iris Firemoon - Sunday, 1 March 2009, 02:42 PM
 

Here is what we covered:

  1.  Defining the area of Virginia that this PPD serves.
    1. The 2009 Northern Virginia Pagan Pride Day will serve the Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford.
    2. Depending on the continued state of other region PPD's, the 2010 event may include serving the counties of Warren, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Orange, and Frederick, and others.
  2. Defining our expectations of the event.
    1. Rituals
      1. Fall Harvest Ritual
        1. Northern Virginia Pagan Network will be leading the ritual.  NVPN hosts a fall harvest festival each year, including a ritual.  We are taking the opportunity to merge these two events.
        2. We hope to rotate the main ritual leaders each year in order to showcase more local groups.
      2. Add an opening and closing ceremony.
        1. We hope to secure two groups of different traditions to lead opening and closing ceremonies in order to showcase different traditions.
      3. Depending on the status of DC PPD and the Interpath Service, future NoVa PPD's may try to including something similar.
    2. Food Drive
      1. Possible beneficiaries include Echo, Nazarath at the Gate, and ACTS.  The thought is drifiting that the benefiting charity should be located within the same county as the event, since the event will rotate counties.
    3. Music
      1. The consensus is that music is an important part of this event.  Iris will reserve the amphitheater for that day.
      2. Add a music coordinator.
      3. Folks liked the idea of having music in the background.  The amphitheater is located in a place where the amphlified music is not really heard near the vendors and workshops.  So, we may find local musicians and college students to play acousticly in the shelter.
      4. In case it rains, we will have tarps and pavillions on hand.
    4. Workshops
    5. Vendors
    6. Group Tables
      1. Groups can register for tables for free.
    7. Event Sponsors
      1. Create a median level sponsorship ($75).
      2. Adapt major sponsorship to include their name/logo on NoVa PPD merchandise (t-shirts, water bottles, tote bags, etc.)
      3. Set deadline for major sponsors, so merchandise can get made.
    8. Event Program
      1. Advertising to generate revenue.
      2. Ask local groups to submit post-PPD local events for inclusion in the programming (to replace Pagan Pride Week mid week events).
    9. Kids programming
      1. Seek out a kids programming coordinator.
      2. Find out from park authority the status of the carosel, because it would be great to have it open for children.
      3. Capitalize more on the playground.
      4. Possible kids ritual.
      5. Possible kids tent.
    10. Food
      1. Encourage attendees to bring a picnic lunch.
      2. Have packaged snacks on hand, including a healthy choice.
      3. Possible inclusion of food vendors, putting the burden of securing proper permits and inspections on them.
    11. Registration Table.
  3. Setting varying planning meeting places throughout Northern Virginia.
    1. March 28th - Meeting at Panera Bread on Sudley Road in Manassas.
    2. April 25th - Meeting at the Dumfries Panera Bread.
    3. May 30th - Meet at Lee District Park in Alexandria.
    4. June 27th - Meeting at the Leesburg Panera.
  4. Rectifying the complaint that some NoVa PPD groups feel alienated from the process.  Methods of giving NoVa groups and individuals a sense of ownership in this event.
    1. Trying to reach out to as many groups as possible through invitations to meetings, allowing folks to be involved in the planning, is a great start. 
      1. Iris got her list from Witchvox.com.
      2. Email folks who attending the planning meeting with the list of people that Iris has already contacted...just to see who else our network of folks can reach out to.
      3. Check the OHF Resource Guide for more groups.
      4. We will contact outlying groups in counties outside of our service area, because they may want to advertise.
    2. Making group tables free.
    3. From the 2009 planning group, we hope to form a Board of Directors in order to give PPD to the community and allow more folks to have ownership in it.
  5. Beginning to fill coordinator positions for the planning committee.
    1. Everyone should take back this list of coordinator positions to their groups and look for people that may fit those positions.
    2. avid Ewing is interested in becoming the sponsorship coordinator.
  6. Possible locations for the 2010 PPD. If you want to bring PPD to your county, bring your location ideas!
    1. 2010 should be outside of Fairfax and Arlington Counties.
    2. Nelson Park - City of Manassas
    3. Mason Neck
    4. Pocahantas State Park
    5. Leesylvania State Park
    6. Campoutva.com - Spotslyvania
    7. Sky Meadows State Park
    8. 4-H Camp
    9. Private person's residence in Haymarket

Other items:

  • Make a 2009 PPD banner, so that folks can put it on their websites and in networking profiles.