Happy Samhain everyone!
Did anyone see Ed being interviewed by the purple unicorn on Breakfast Television this morning at 6:45am?
Also, if anyone is missing a purple glove with purple feathers on it, we found one at the Witch's Ball.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
29 October 2007
So the Witch's Ball has come and gone for another year...
As far as I can tell, people had fun (if, by some small chance you didn't, please let the PSA know so that they can improve for next year).
It was a smaller party than last year, a little more intimate. There were some amazing costumes, including the entire cast of the Flintstones (though Fred was looking a little peaked).
The DJ seemed to hit just the right chord and the music, as far as I'm concerned, was bang on.
Many, many people pitched in to help make this event the success it was, including:
- Everyone who showed up for Friday's Fireside and carved the 30 pumpkins
- Dorothy, Beth and Ed for organizing, running around, and generally taking on all the thousands of small but crucial tasks that need to be done to make an event like this run smoothly
- The two gentlemen (sorry, I didn't get your names) who hung acres of cloth over the mirrors and somehow (though I'm not sure exactly how) managed to hang brooms from the rafters of the hall)
- Ron, Heather, Lee, Chris W., Dorothy, Beth (erg...if I missed anyone, please accept my apologies) who sat at the entry table and took tickets and sold the drink tickets
- All of the wonderful people who worked the bar (some of whom were simply taking a break from the ticket table to do double duty)
- Daniel, Danielle, Sandra, Ed, the tall curly haired man (I never got his name but he stacked about 6000 chairs), Allison and Andrew who stayed very, very late to clean the hall
- Allison and Andrew and everyone else who shopped for, chopped up, sliced, arranged and in other ways prepared the fine food that was enjoyed by all
- Allison and Andrew, again, who actually drove the leftovers and supplies to the store at 3:30 am this morning
- Allison who designed and printed the poster and the tickets
- Ron for bringing posters everywhere and for soliciting so many prizes and silent auction items
- Asha at a Sense of Serenity for kindly selling tickets for the Ball
- Tanya and Gord for bussing the tables
- All of the other people who helped out in ways too numerous to count
- And, finally, to everyone who got a ticket, showed up, and made this such an amazing party!
Thank you everyone!
As far as I can tell, people had fun (if, by some small chance you didn't, please let the PSA know so that they can improve for next year).
It was a smaller party than last year, a little more intimate. There were some amazing costumes, including the entire cast of the Flintstones (though Fred was looking a little peaked).
The DJ seemed to hit just the right chord and the music, as far as I'm concerned, was bang on.
Many, many people pitched in to help make this event the success it was, including:
- Everyone who showed up for Friday's Fireside and carved the 30 pumpkins
- Dorothy, Beth and Ed for organizing, running around, and generally taking on all the thousands of small but crucial tasks that need to be done to make an event like this run smoothly
- The two gentlemen (sorry, I didn't get your names) who hung acres of cloth over the mirrors and somehow (though I'm not sure exactly how) managed to hang brooms from the rafters of the hall)
- Ron, Heather, Lee, Chris W., Dorothy, Beth (erg...if I missed anyone, please accept my apologies) who sat at the entry table and took tickets and sold the drink tickets
- All of the wonderful people who worked the bar (some of whom were simply taking a break from the ticket table to do double duty)
- Daniel, Danielle, Sandra, Ed, the tall curly haired man (I never got his name but he stacked about 6000 chairs), Allison and Andrew who stayed very, very late to clean the hall
- Allison and Andrew and everyone else who shopped for, chopped up, sliced, arranged and in other ways prepared the fine food that was enjoyed by all
- Allison and Andrew, again, who actually drove the leftovers and supplies to the store at 3:30 am this morning
- Allison who designed and printed the poster and the tickets
- Ron for bringing posters everywhere and for soliciting so many prizes and silent auction items
- Asha at a Sense of Serenity for kindly selling tickets for the Ball
- Tanya and Gord for bussing the tables
- All of the other people who helped out in ways too numerous to count
- And, finally, to everyone who got a ticket, showed up, and made this such an amazing party!
Thank you everyone!
Friday, October 26, 2007
26 October 2007
So here are the long-awaited Fireside Chat survey results (conducted on 12 October 2007):
With regard to the format:
# of people who would prefer a 1 hour facilitation time and 1 hour social time: 16
# of people who would prefer 2 hours of facilitation: 2
# of people who said "it depends on topic" or "1/2 and 1/2": 2
With regard to the cookie choices (I've taken everyone's top four choices and the numbers reflect the number of people who chose that cookie as being one of their top four favourites):
Double chocolate almond: 11
Chocolate chip: 10
Double chocolate: 8
Peanut Butter: 7
Oatmeal: 7
Ginger: 7
Almond: 6
Macadamia Nut: 6
Oreo: 5
Hermit Cookies: 4
(Chris says: One non-participating respondent took issue with the cookie quiz, saying "the fact that 1/3 of the survey is about cookie type is the proof of just how far "Fireside" has drifted from the down to earth realistic gatherings that we (sic) its hallmark in the days when Terry and Jacquie ran them". I have included this person's comments in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the questionnaire.)
With regard to the topics:
HANDS-ON:
-wands
-incense
-tools of the craft
-energy work
-oils
-things like what the Tarot Card Lady did (Chris: was that the time when Corrine had people make their own tarot cards from clippings?)
LECTURE:
-rituals
-places to go
-various witch/pagan traditions, spiritual paths with an emphasis on clearly defining the differences (for example: the different druid paths/groups or the various kinds of witchcraft), the involvement of art
-free-for-alls like Bythor does
-rituals and meanings
-the future of Paganism in Edmonton
-tarot and divination
-listening on gut instincts
LEAST FAVOURITE THING:
- people going off topic
- monopolizing conversations
- when the facilitator continues long past the point of the audience's attention span
- not enough bookshelves and books
- people ranting when you're here to see the facilitator
- too many witchy topics (Chris: as opposed to...?)
- early start time - would prefer 6:30pm
- there aren't enough Firesides
- no breaks, boring redundant presentation, lack of tone while speaking (Chris:? writing was hard to read)
- right now the length of lectures (2 hours) is too long! In the old days the lectures were an hour long then we were free to visit on the second hour (and shop)
- the amateur facilitator
- long talkers
- some people interrupt the facilitator a lot
- I've never been here before and am new to being a pagan so everything is helpful
- currently the trashy air heads that it draws (Chris: again this respondent filled out the questionnaire at the front of the store and is not currently a Fireside regular)
MOST FAVOURITE THINGS:
- relaxed atmosphere
- hearing others' opinions on topics
- meeting new people
- exchange of ideas
- casting the circle (Chris: I admit I'm confused about this one)
- meeting other Pagans
- the time to learn and meet
- being in a comfortable and safe environment
- meeting with friends
- the social interaction
- knowledgable speakers
- interesting presentations
- fellowship
- the people and the atmosphere
- the connection
- that it's here, a refuge, a place to meet folks
- meeting new people
- meeting other Pagans
- getting together with everybody
- people, atmosphere and FRED
- haven't had one in a long time (Chris: from non-participating respondent)
WHAT WOULD MAKE FIRESIDE CHATS BETTER?:
- maybe the meditation idea (ie: having a grounding meditation at the beginning)
- better mix of facilitation and socialization
- invite people (Chris: speakers? other Pagans? the general public?)
- participate
- make it darker and bring the candles back
- more in-depth topics
- nothing
- it's good as it is
- new topics and new facilitators
- make the lectures shorter and topics more interesting
- announce what the topics are on the blog for each Fireside (Chris: will do!)
- include a short grounding meditation or short meditations
- I think it's awesome, really
- enforce respect for the speaker/facilitator - let people know they will have their chance to gab in a little while but ask for quiet when the presenter is up there.
- aim for a balance of male and female facilitators (Chris: I don't know whose comment this is but could this person please come and clarify their concerns about this?)
- wine and tea tasting (Chris: sorry, it's not feasible for us to get a liquor licence at this point to allow the alcohol. Nice idea though)
- get better facilitators/experts (Chris: I notice this person has not volunteered to facilitate nor have they made any suggestions as to what would be a better facilitator)
- less Wiccan - more Pagan
- less talking when facilitator talking
- have a short ice-breaking activity every chat
- get rid of the trash and raise the standard of what is being presented, have the owners look like business people and not running a pet sitting agency and be cleaner (Chris: it appears our non-participating respondent has a number of issues that extend beyond the parameters of the questionnaire including a personal attack on Ed's and my hygiene was well as the dog. Ouch. Additional note: this person is unwilling to facilitate, stating "under the present quality of the store, not a chance." Am I alone in wondering why he/she comes to the store at all?)
Thank you everyone who took the time to fill out the questionnaires and for giving such constructive and concrete suggestions.
I will act on these ideas as best I can. And if you have any questions, concerns, or any ideas to help make Fireside better, please get in touch with me.
Tonight's topic: "Samhain" or "Why we eviscerate gourds and carve scary faces into them"
Facilitator: Chris and everyone else (yes, I'm going to pick your brains tonight...)
With regard to the format:
# of people who would prefer a 1 hour facilitation time and 1 hour social time: 16
# of people who would prefer 2 hours of facilitation: 2
# of people who said "it depends on topic" or "1/2 and 1/2": 2
With regard to the cookie choices (I've taken everyone's top four choices and the numbers reflect the number of people who chose that cookie as being one of their top four favourites):
Double chocolate almond: 11
Chocolate chip: 10
Double chocolate: 8
Peanut Butter: 7
Oatmeal: 7
Ginger: 7
Almond: 6
Macadamia Nut: 6
Oreo: 5
Hermit Cookies: 4
(Chris says: One non-participating respondent took issue with the cookie quiz, saying "the fact that 1/3 of the survey is about cookie type is the proof of just how far "Fireside" has drifted from the down to earth realistic gatherings that we (sic) its hallmark in the days when Terry and Jacquie ran them". I have included this person's comments in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the questionnaire.)
With regard to the topics:
HANDS-ON:
-wands
-incense
-tools of the craft
-energy work
-oils
-things like what the Tarot Card Lady did (Chris: was that the time when Corrine had people make their own tarot cards from clippings?)
LECTURE:
-rituals
-places to go
-various witch/pagan traditions, spiritual paths with an emphasis on clearly defining the differences (for example: the different druid paths/groups or the various kinds of witchcraft), the involvement of art
-free-for-alls like Bythor does
-rituals and meanings
-the future of Paganism in Edmonton
-tarot and divination
-listening on gut instincts
LEAST FAVOURITE THING:
- people going off topic
- monopolizing conversations
- when the facilitator continues long past the point of the audience's attention span
- not enough bookshelves and books
- people ranting when you're here to see the facilitator
- too many witchy topics (Chris: as opposed to...?)
- early start time - would prefer 6:30pm
- there aren't enough Firesides
- no breaks, boring redundant presentation, lack of tone while speaking (Chris:? writing was hard to read)
- right now the length of lectures (2 hours) is too long! In the old days the lectures were an hour long then we were free to visit on the second hour (and shop)
- the amateur facilitator
- long talkers
- some people interrupt the facilitator a lot
- I've never been here before and am new to being a pagan so everything is helpful
- currently the trashy air heads that it draws (Chris: again this respondent filled out the questionnaire at the front of the store and is not currently a Fireside regular)
MOST FAVOURITE THINGS:
- relaxed atmosphere
- hearing others' opinions on topics
- meeting new people
- exchange of ideas
- casting the circle (Chris: I admit I'm confused about this one)
- meeting other Pagans
- the time to learn and meet
- being in a comfortable and safe environment
- meeting with friends
- the social interaction
- knowledgable speakers
- interesting presentations
- fellowship
- the people and the atmosphere
- the connection
- that it's here, a refuge, a place to meet folks
- meeting new people
- meeting other Pagans
- getting together with everybody
- people, atmosphere and FRED
- haven't had one in a long time (Chris: from non-participating respondent)
WHAT WOULD MAKE FIRESIDE CHATS BETTER?:
- maybe the meditation idea (ie: having a grounding meditation at the beginning)
- better mix of facilitation and socialization
- invite people (Chris: speakers? other Pagans? the general public?)
- participate
- make it darker and bring the candles back
- more in-depth topics
- nothing
- it's good as it is
- new topics and new facilitators
- make the lectures shorter and topics more interesting
- announce what the topics are on the blog for each Fireside (Chris: will do!)
- include a short grounding meditation or short meditations
- I think it's awesome, really
- enforce respect for the speaker/facilitator - let people know they will have their chance to gab in a little while but ask for quiet when the presenter is up there.
- aim for a balance of male and female facilitators (Chris: I don't know whose comment this is but could this person please come and clarify their concerns about this?)
- wine and tea tasting (Chris: sorry, it's not feasible for us to get a liquor licence at this point to allow the alcohol. Nice idea though)
- get better facilitators/experts (Chris: I notice this person has not volunteered to facilitate nor have they made any suggestions as to what would be a better facilitator)
- less Wiccan - more Pagan
- less talking when facilitator talking
- have a short ice-breaking activity every chat
- get rid of the trash and raise the standard of what is being presented, have the owners look like business people and not running a pet sitting agency and be cleaner (Chris: it appears our non-participating respondent has a number of issues that extend beyond the parameters of the questionnaire including a personal attack on Ed's and my hygiene was well as the dog. Ouch. Additional note: this person is unwilling to facilitate, stating "under the present quality of the store, not a chance." Am I alone in wondering why he/she comes to the store at all?)
Thank you everyone who took the time to fill out the questionnaires and for giving such constructive and concrete suggestions.
I will act on these ideas as best I can. And if you have any questions, concerns, or any ideas to help make Fireside better, please get in touch with me.
Tonight's topic: "Samhain" or "Why we eviscerate gourds and carve scary faces into them"
Facilitator: Chris and everyone else (yes, I'm going to pick your brains tonight...)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
18 October 2007
So we're already more than halfway through the month...where is the time going?
The Witchs' Ball is quickly approaching (like a freight train, for those of us organizing it)...
I've had a request to blog a little bit about the Ball. It's going to be on October 27 (Saturday) at Hazeldean Hall (9630-66 Avenue). This is a different place than last year. There is ample parking and, I've been told on good authority, an ATM at a bar close to the hall. Hopefully this year there won't be a blizzard.
This is a masquerade and everyone is expected to wear a costume. There will be a midnight unmasking so that we can all figure out who's who at the end of it all.
Other salient points:
1. There will be door prizes so please hang onto your tickets.
2. The bar is a cash bar (ID required).
3. There will be a silent auction from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. Yours truly is organizing this so if you want to volunteer or to donate anything, please give Chris a call at the store. Proceeds will be shared between the Pagan Services Association and next year's Pagan Pride Day. Please note that we are only accepting cash in payment for auction items and purchases must be paid for on the night of the auction and before anything is removed from the Ball.
4. There will be a best costume contest. There's still time to whip up something wonderful.
5. There will be fingerfood (cold cuts, cheese, veggies).
Tickets are now $35 with a $5 discount for Pagan Services Association members. You can get tickets at Where Faeries Live and at A Sense of Serenity.
Tickets will also be available at the door and will cost $40.
All this information can also be found on the Where Faeries Live calendar on the website. If you have any further questions, please call the store at 454-0187.
Next week's blog: the Fireside survey results...
The Witchs' Ball is quickly approaching (like a freight train, for those of us organizing it)...
I've had a request to blog a little bit about the Ball. It's going to be on October 27 (Saturday) at Hazeldean Hall (9630-66 Avenue). This is a different place than last year. There is ample parking and, I've been told on good authority, an ATM at a bar close to the hall. Hopefully this year there won't be a blizzard.
This is a masquerade and everyone is expected to wear a costume. There will be a midnight unmasking so that we can all figure out who's who at the end of it all.
Other salient points:
1. There will be door prizes so please hang onto your tickets.
2. The bar is a cash bar (ID required).
3. There will be a silent auction from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. Yours truly is organizing this so if you want to volunteer or to donate anything, please give Chris a call at the store. Proceeds will be shared between the Pagan Services Association and next year's Pagan Pride Day. Please note that we are only accepting cash in payment for auction items and purchases must be paid for on the night of the auction and before anything is removed from the Ball.
4. There will be a best costume contest. There's still time to whip up something wonderful.
5. There will be fingerfood (cold cuts, cheese, veggies).
Tickets are now $35 with a $5 discount for Pagan Services Association members. You can get tickets at Where Faeries Live and at A Sense of Serenity.
Tickets will also be available at the door and will cost $40.
All this information can also be found on the Where Faeries Live calendar on the website. If you have any further questions, please call the store at 454-0187.
Next week's blog: the Fireside survey results...
Friday, October 5, 2007
05 October 2007
Well, it's been another week (it went by fast)...
Ed and I drove to Crawford Bay (in the mountains) and picked up another load of brooms. Yes, we now have brooms. Nice brooms. Witchy brooms. Handmade brooms made by a nice family in a barn with antique tools in the Kootenays.
On the topic of Fireside Chats: It's been brought to my attention that there was some discussion last week about the format of Fireside Chats. There was an opinion expressed by some people that they preferred the old format of a short talk and then lots of time for socializing.
I admit I'm a little behind the times because I had thought that this was already happening.
however, feedback given to me was that the facilitators lately have been sharing lots and lots of information (yay) but that this might be too much to process considering the intended tone of the evening.
Additionally, on the cookie front, I have, for the last couple of Firesides, been buying gluten free cookies (it's a practicality thing because Kinnickinnick is only three blocks from the Store and there is always chaos and confusion at local Tim Hortons). People seemed to like them until I let slip they were gluten free. Trust me, these cookies are intended for everyone's enjoyment.
That being said, does anyone have a better place I could get the cookies from? Or are they okay with the cookies I've gotten for the last couple of Firesides? I admit I really am sad that Picture Perfect Bakery went out of business last year. They made the best cookies and I have yet to find anywhere who could even come close to them either in price or quality.
At any rate, I would love to get more input directly from anyone (either about the format of Firesides or the cookies) if they would care to share it. Firesides are a community event and I want to make sure that they're useful and enjoyable for everyone who comes to them.
Chris
P.S. Donations last Fireside were $20.81. Thank you everyone for your generosity!
Ed and I drove to Crawford Bay (in the mountains) and picked up another load of brooms. Yes, we now have brooms. Nice brooms. Witchy brooms. Handmade brooms made by a nice family in a barn with antique tools in the Kootenays.
On the topic of Fireside Chats: It's been brought to my attention that there was some discussion last week about the format of Fireside Chats. There was an opinion expressed by some people that they preferred the old format of a short talk and then lots of time for socializing.
I admit I'm a little behind the times because I had thought that this was already happening.
however, feedback given to me was that the facilitators lately have been sharing lots and lots of information (yay) but that this might be too much to process considering the intended tone of the evening.
Additionally, on the cookie front, I have, for the last couple of Firesides, been buying gluten free cookies (it's a practicality thing because Kinnickinnick is only three blocks from the Store and there is always chaos and confusion at local Tim Hortons). People seemed to like them until I let slip they were gluten free. Trust me, these cookies are intended for everyone's enjoyment.
That being said, does anyone have a better place I could get the cookies from? Or are they okay with the cookies I've gotten for the last couple of Firesides? I admit I really am sad that Picture Perfect Bakery went out of business last year. They made the best cookies and I have yet to find anywhere who could even come close to them either in price or quality.
At any rate, I would love to get more input directly from anyone (either about the format of Firesides or the cookies) if they would care to share it. Firesides are a community event and I want to make sure that they're useful and enjoyable for everyone who comes to them.
Chris
P.S. Donations last Fireside were $20.81. Thank you everyone for your generosity!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)