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Firefly September News
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 21 Sep '13

21 Sep '13

Contents: 1) Annual Ticket Committee Open Forum 2) ByLaws 3) Organizational Development Committee 4) Consent 5) New Board Members ----- 1: Annual Ticket Committee Open Forum ----- The ticket committee will be hosting an open meeting at Redtail (369 Congress Street Boston 7th Floor) Thursday October 10th from 7PM - 9PM. We will be discussing what went well and what could improve. We will also review feedback from the recent surveys. If you would like to be part of the discussion please join us at Redtail (369 Congress Street Boston 7th Floor) Thursday October 10th from 7PM - 9PM. ----- 2: ByLaws ----- Not only did the board just update the bylaws, we found a spot for it on our website. You can now read our bylaws at http://fireflyartscollective.org/firefly-bylaws/ . ----- 3: Organizational Development Committee ----- With the recent change to the bylaws, some new positions were created, including, Director of Organizational Development. The board has voted Forest Handford to hold this position. Forest is looking for people interested in shaping the future of the organization to join the new Organizational Development Committee. He is also hosting a kick off meeting, which is open to everybody, at Redtail (369 Congress Street Boston 7th Floor) Thursday October 24th from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM. To contact Forest about the committee send an email to foresthandford at) gmail (dot com . ----- 4: Consent ----- In order to keep the event safe and fun for all, we take very seriously issues of consent. Abusing this is one of the very few things that you can do to get yourself banned from the event. I may love hugs, but when I meet somebody new I cannot assume they also like hugs. If I want to hug somebody I need to get a confirmation from them that they want a hug. Consent is needed for physical contact with other people. Consent is also important when it comes to sharing food, drinks, and intoxicants. If I've made an awesome almond pie, I should warn people it has nuts before sharing it, to prevent allergic reactions. It's also vital to let people know about intoxicants. Consent is sexy! If somebody isn't interested that means you can be challenged to find somebody else who is. In Vermont and Massachusetts the law defines three classes of people who cannot give consent. Even if these people give an enthusiastic yes, it is illegal to have sex with: 1) People under the age of consent (14 in MA and 16 in VT). 2) People who are intoxicated. 3) People who have mental or emotional handicaps. Violating consent means violating the principle of Civic Responsibility. ----- 5: New Board Members ----- We are nearing the end of reviewing a group of candidates for the Board of Directors. Thus far we have added three candidates: Rachel Boyce, Chuck Ingersoll, and Jered Floyd. Please join us in congratulating them in making this achievement and support them as they work to fulfill their new roles. We have a few more candidates that may be added over the next few weeks. ~Firefly~

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Firefly's Future (Survey)
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 01 Sep '13

01 Sep '13

Hi Fireflies, The Board of Directors are looking for some ideas on how the community (YOU) would like to see the event, and the organization evolve! We will use this survey to help set the direction of our work. ~Firefly~ We are looking for feedback about Firefly to help determine which directions we should focus on. I've invited you to fill out the form Firefly's Future. To fill it out, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JDbgkzvM6uuWyHGUV9q4Cv4sjdZ1ELcwlC_bsdE1wk…

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Firefly 2013 Feedback Survey - check your inboxes and maybe spam folders
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 14 Aug '13

14 Aug '13

Hi Fireflies, Now that the trucks are all loaded, maybe you'll have a few minutes to share some feedback about Firefly 2013. The Board and the Planning list put our heads together to come up with a survey about this year's event. This survey is intended for 2013 attendees only. If you had a ticket to Firefly 2013 you should have received an email on 8/14 with the survey (unless someone else paid for your ticket - then they have the email). If you did not attend Firefly this year, fear not! We will have a survey about Firefly's future coming out in the next month or two, and all Fireflies are invited to reply to that survey. This announcement is being cross-posted to: announce, blink, planning, and our Facebook page. Thanks! Firefly

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Early arrivals: if you're not already on the road, don't come tonight.
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

...and if you *just* left, turn around and stay at home tonight. Please come tomorrow instead. The mud is a foot deep and the earth will swallow you in the dark. We are not kidding. If you come after dark tonight, you will have a sad and frustrating night. Please come tomorrow. Mud will not be as much of an issue for parking in the daytime tomorrow. Love, Firefly Board of Directors (sent from a touchscreen keyboard)

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We are here if you want support
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

Hello, With awareness that our community gatherings and events are not isolated from the problems of the world, last Sunday a group of us attended workshops about being supportive of survivors of sexual assaults and being active bystanders. The workshops were provided by volunteers from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and were tailored to the 'Burner' community. Having completed the workshops, we want to make it known that we will be available to assist a survivor in finding a space in which they feel safe. That safe space may be mental state, physical place or both. We listen to you if you or just sit with you if you want us to, or find another one of us, or other person you feel more comfortable with to support you. We will walk you out of a space or situation you don't feel comfortable in. Reporting an incident to any authorities will be entirely your decision and we will be supportive of you and whatever decision you make. We are a community driven initiative and are not required to record or report anything shared with us. You can speak to us knowing what you share goes no further than who you speak to unless you decide otherwise. We will not judge the situation or you. The BARCC-led workshops did not prepare us to be counselors or equip us to offer legal advice, though we can help direct you to those capable of providing these services. We are here to listen to you and help you reach a place where you feel safe. Please understand that there may be times when you approach one of us that we are not capable of providing you with support. If we are wearing a laminated badge (Sample attached as "ffBARCCbadges.png" or available online at http://i.imgur.com/2t3e3TW.png ) at the time you approach us that is a sign we have made ourselves available. A link to a list of those who are available to assist is below. The list also indicates if they will be available at Firefly and notes if they will be wearing a laminated badge to identify themselves as an assistant who is available at that moment. http://tinyurl.com/BurnerAdvocates (redirects to a Google Drive spreadsheet) And here is the poster displayed at Firefly including those names available at the time of publish Attached: ffBARCCposter.png, online: http://i.imgur.com/U7V5p37.png This project was brought to you with invaluable production assistance from: The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Sadiya Carr Terry Dovidio Peter Durand Sharon Kubo See you in the woods! Emile Daigle. PS: Please submit feedback for the next iteration as we will continue to evolve this community offering.

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Firefly University presents F.U.cation
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

Hello Fireflies! We interrupt your regularly scheduled packing freak outs to drop some knowledge. A couple weeks back, we held an early session of Firefly University for theme camps leaders to review important event information and share ideas with each other. The F.U.cation meeting went really well and now we want to radically include all of you, so that everyone has the information they need to not fuck it up at Firefly. Attached to this email is the presentation from the F.U.cation meeting; there are a few things in here that are theme camp specific, but most of it is stuff that everyone at Firefly should know. Do us a solid and take a few minutes to look through the slides, check out the awesome custom graphics made by Firefly's own Pelican Bishop and make sure you are ready for the woods. You may now return to your space madness. -Annie L, Jen Hill & Jenn Z

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Security announcement
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 30 Jun '13

30 Jun '13

Greetings lovely Fireflies! The Board has been working very hard to make sure that Firefly scales in a safe and manageable way. To do that, this year the Board is introducing a Muscle Squad staffed by a security company. The Muscle Squad has been hired to help provide backup support during incidents involving physical safety. This low-impact addition to the event will be a safety net only if a situation escalates beyond the volunteer team's capacity to handle. The Muscle Squad will be stationed near the Gate. In the unlikely occurrence that a Board member asks them to enter the event, they will be accompanied by a Board member at all times. Please welcome them or ignore them as you'd like, just remember that they are new team members that help make Firefly happen. See you in the woods!

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Volunteer Gnomes need you!
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 27 Jun '13

27 Jun '13

This time next week, we'll be in the woods! Volunteer Gnomes are yet another great volunteer opportunity. Want to volunteer but don't want to sit at a station for 3 hours? Want to walk around in the woods with a radio without being a Ranger? Many shifts, you'll be able to spend most of your shift hanging out wherever you want with a radio. To sign up, go here: http://fireflyartscollective.org/firefly/join-a-core/gnomes/ *Volunteer Gnomes are responsible for making sure volunteering is going smoothly throughout Firefly. * As a Gnome, your primary duty is to run a systems check near the beginning of each shift. Equipped with your GnomePhone (ie radio) to solicit help if needed, you visit each of the volunteer base-stations about half an hour after each shift starts. (Gate, Greeters, Parking, Kitchen, and Rangers). You make sure everyone has shown up for their shift, find out whether the station needs anything, and generally make yourself available to ensure the station’s volunteers are happy. Take a trip around to make sure all the fires are tended. Check that there is enough toilet paper. Depending on the need, you can either take care of it yourself, solicit help from others, or get an organizer or core leader. New this year, you get to hang on to your radio for your entire shift! Occasionally, there are unanticipated demands for volunteers. For example, last year we needed to move the greeter station on short notice because the parking lot filled up. You are the recruiter in the woods if the need arises. Ideally, a handful of people should be able to form the Volunteer Gnome Troupe for the entire event. Ready to help? Take a look at the schedule, pick an open slot (or two! or three!), and fill out the signup form. Bask in the knowledge that you are one of the people who Gets Shit Done, and watch as your Firefly is magically showered with good karma. Carolyn

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Parking Core Needs Volunteers!!!
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 26 Jun '13

26 Jun '13

Hello Fireflies! One week until we head to the woods…have you signed up to volunteer yet? If not, don’t fret - there are still parking shifts available! Check out the Firefly Parking Core page to sign up: http://fireflyartscollective.org/firefly/join-a-core/parking/ Want to volunteer early in the week? Sign up for a Wednesday or Thursday shift and be one of the first to welcome your fellow Fireflies home as you help folks transition from their cars to the woods J We’re also looking for parking volunteers for shifts following the bug burn as well as to help with late arrivals and exodus on Saturday and Sunday. The awesomeness of Firefly wouldn't be possible without awesome volunteers. Parking shifts are only three hours long and can be a great time to catch up with friends (sign up with a buddy!) and meet some new ones. See you in the woods! Rhonda & Brian Firefly Parking Core

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For the first time ever, Sanctuary is coming to Firefly!
by The Firefly Official Announcement List 25 Jun '13

25 Jun '13

Have a good ear? Have a knack for non-judgmental listening? Want to volunteer but you don’t want to jump into the deep end of the pool? For the first time ever, Sanctuary is coming to Firefly! What is Sanctuary, you ask? And why should you care? Because you care, that's why. And Sanctuary needs you! Sanctuary is a safe space where the citizens of Firefly can seek an outlet or assistance with emotional trauma. This could include issues at Firefly, home, work, assaults, personal relationships, and the like. It's different than sharing with your campmates, because let's face it, there are some things you can't even share with them. It's there to provide non-judgmental support and available assistance, including Medical support and Rangers, if necessary. This is the first year for Sanctuary at Firefly but it is an important and well-established entity at other Burning Man-related events, so it will be continued in the years ahead. Medical or counseling experience is nice but certainly not mandatory. Come be a part of history and volunteer to help your fellow Fireflies! http://fireflyartscollective.org/firefly/join-a-core/sanctuary/ For questions about Sanctuary please contact TJ at jumpdoc at yahoo dot com.

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