Hallowed Oaks Grove, ADF

Hallowed Oaks Grove welcomes you to our event and we look forward to
meeting you! We have a few rules for attendees, basically just common
courtesies. As our grove has become more and more successful and our
numbers have grown, it has become necessary to formally set down some
rules that we previously had no need to state. As always, we love
having people come and try to show the warmest hospitality we
can. Please make sure that you and any guests that you invite are
familiar with these rule.

Thanks,
Hallowed Oaks Grove

1) Guests: Please feel free to bring guests. However if you bring
guests you are responsible for their behavior. As they may not have
access to this list, make sure that they are aware of the rules.

2) Firewood: We view the fire as part of our festival ritual. The
fire is a sacrifice to the gods and a warming gift to the grove and
it’s guest. it is not just polite to bring firewood, it is part of
the celebration. Please do your part and bring at least a few pieces
of firewood for the fire. This is getting very expensive for some of
us. In a similar vein, do not put any wood in the fire. There will
be a few fire tenders appointed by the leadership, they are in charge
of rationing what we have and only they should put wood into the fire.

3) Feast: If you want to eat with us, then you need to bring food!
The feast is a potluck dinner and part of ritual, a symbolic coming
together as a community. It is however, a potluck feast, not a grove
provided feast. If you would like to be included in this part of
ritual (and eat some really good food!), then you must contribute a
dish to the feast. The normal rule of thumb for a potluck feast is to
bring twice the amount of food that you and your party will consume.
That does not mean twice the amount of potato salad that you would eat
(if you brought potato salad) but twice the total amount of food that
you intend to consume. This makes sure that there is plenty for
everyone and enough for people to get a taste of everything. We put
no restrictions on what you bring, but we prefer it to be homemade.
We do not discriminate against people who may have fallen on hard
times. If you cannot afford to bring a dish, feel free to contact a
grove member and we can arrange for you to substitute trash duty, dish
washing, etc.

4) Second helpings or big first helpings: There will be anywhere
from 20 to 60 people wanting to eat. Please consider this when you
get your first helping, and don’t go for seconds until the
announcement is made that everyone has eaten.

5) Coolers/Refrigerators: The YO in BYOB is ‘Your Own’! Do not go
into someone else’s cooler or refrigerator and take something without
asking first! Also remember that permission to take one beer or girly
drink out of someone’s cooler is not permission to take a second. Ask
each time and every time. This is just common courtesy.

6) Camping chairs: Please bring a camping chair or something to sit
on, there may be a few extras or that empty chair may be the one
someone else brought so they would have a place to sit.

7) Tables: There will be a table or maybe two designated for potluck
dishes. The other tables are brought by people who probably intend to
use them to cook food for you. They might also have brought it for
gaming or crafts or a workshop. Either way, with the exception of
your covered dish on the feast table, do not put things on a table
that does not belong to you.

Ritual: Please be silent once we have started the procession,
whether you are watching or participating. We welcome people to
participate and we welcome people to watch if they feel more
comfortable. You may set your chair just outside the ritual area if
you like so that you can see and hear. Just remember that we can see
and hear also. If you are feeling conversational please make sure you
are out of earshot.

9) Cellphones: Make sure all cell phones are OFF before the ritual
starts. Cell phones on vibrate can still be heard by those around
them. The leadership understands that there are people with sick
relatives in the hospital, people who work in emergency services and
the like. If you must have your cellphone on vibrate, talk to one of
the group leaders and we can make special arrangements for you.

9) Private vs. Public venues: Quite often these events are held at private homes.  Please be aware of any indoor pets that may not be allowed outside.  Be considerate of any “house” rules, such as not smoking inside.  Stay in the “public” areas.  Please do not enter closed rooms without permission.