I WENT TO AG AND ALL I GOT WAS A STOLEN LANYARD

Jul 12, 2010 by louise delmege    9 Comments    Posted under: Span That World

So, I gave up one of my precious few weekends for this? To endure the searing heat of a baking marquee packed full of people? To suffer the stares of 150 or so Woodcraft Folk delegates as I approach the mic to make a point on a motion? Or to experience, perhaps, some of Nietzsche’s perceived flaws in democracy (NB: see this blog if uncertain)?

N… Yes! – I must accept that, even though I mention every conceivable down-point of this year’s Annual Gathering of the Woodcraft Folk, I enjoyed all of it whole-heartedly and can safely say that Nuclear War would be one of the things on a short list of events which would possibly be able to stop me from going to next years AG! This is ignoring the fact that AG could possibly be happening at CoCamp next year which means that it would be nigh impossible for Woodcrafters to not go to AG 2011.

Ha! Take that Bristol, who sent no delegates. And Ealing DFs/Venturers *evil laugh*. You thought you could get away with just Ralph going representing your district, but no – AG will ensnare you, and I’ll be helping it – MuHaHAHAHAHA!!

So me and my co-delegate, one William Searby (of “Tweedington”), arrived on the Friday evening after a three hour long journey of epic adventure (or of trains and a taxi and a mouse in a London Bridge cafe). There was soup and we were hungry so we ate some soup, soup of the most delicous quality and taste. Later there was wine, but I had none and hence was wineless/sober-er than the older DFs I had the pleasure of enjoying the company of. Unfortunately I did not use all of my common sense by staying up late talking to them and hence in the morning not feeling ready to wake up at 8am for a day of INTENSIVE CONFERENCE and DISCUSSION.

I will try to only spare a few lines of this article on the CONFERENCE, as I don’t want to bore anyone, including myself (as I love myself – as Phin Harper knows, or thinks he does, as I don’t). There was an agenda, which me and William had discussed with our DF group on our positions on each motion, which had some of the MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS AN ANNUAL GATHERING COULD MAKE, for example; whether “contravene” should be replaced with “contradict” in the RELIGION section of the WCF Constitution (I may be being sarcastic) AND what the very structure of the Woodcraft Folk organisation should be like (I am most certainly NOT being sarcastic about that motion)! As a delegate you do feel empowered to be at AG especially (sarcasm) when you feel too scared out of your shoes to stand up and say ANYTHING at all to anyone, even just stand up and hand something to the Standing Orders Commitee or Chair. It is unfortunate that there was too little time at this AG for any of the open space discussions, but overall, most of the debate was awesome to be a part of/be involved in.

Thankfully there was also awesome fun later on Saturday at AG too (though not as awesome the fun that takes place at DF Althing, or so I hear). In the evening there was a bar and… duh. duh. duh. a ROCK AND ROLL BAND!!! (my mind imploded when I heard about this) There was also a massive game of Ratchet Screwdriver, in which I found myself inseparable from Liam Hardy, which isn’t that bad as he’s lovely. The Rock n’ Roll band was fun, but I don’t know how to dance, so now is my opportunity to APOLOGISE SINCERLY FOR WHAT YOU MAY HAVE WITNESSED IN THE MARQUEE BEING PERPITRATED BY MY BODY IN “SUPPOSED” RHYTHM TO THE MUSIC… I AM SO SORRY, SO VERY SORRY.
As well as this, there was fire, much socialising around fire and singing around a fire – as you can expect at any Woodcraft Folk event. It seems you can talk about pretty much anything when you are staring into gently burning embers.

So, I must conclude – Annual Gathering is amazing. Apparently, according to some people, it can be EVEN MORE amazing, and that this year wasn’t that great at all – hence! I will go to every AG to come in the future, to see if these critical minds are pleasantly true in their word!

Samir Rana – AG Virgin no more!!

(* I am so sorry – I will do anything to redeam myself!!! anything!!!)