More information about OACC 41 will be coming soon!

Please check back here.

Below and elsewhere on this website is information about last year’s OACC, our 40th annual gathering. It gives an example of a typical OACC Congress. The 41st gathering will not be typical.

You may be wondering if OACC will happen this year, against the backdrop of concerns about COVID-19. The answer—a cautious Yes.

We are committed to having OACC this year if at all possible. We’ve gathered every year for the past 40 years, and don’t want this year, of all years, to break our record of resiliency. We are currently planning modifications such as social distancing and other measures to keep everyone safe and healthy, while preserving the deepest intentions of OACC, as a ceremonial gathering honoring the community of people who live in and love the Ozarks.

We will post more information as it becomes available.

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(LAST YEAR’S INFORMATION BELOW)

You are invited to The 40th Annual Convening of the

Ozark Area Community Congress

@

Hammond Mill Camp, West Plains, MOzarks

OACC Roots & Fruits:
40 years of Ozark Bioregionalism

…is OACC’s theme this year.

OACC is named after our totem tree – the Oak – and for nearly four decades, people have gathered around OACC to encourage each other and nurture a lifestyle that is informed by the Earth. From these gatherings have grown hundreds of ecological initiatives, inspired by a deep love and commitment to the Earth.
We’re proud of the 40 year history of OACC, but the vision held by the OACC community is not yet fulfilled. We look forward to the day when the people who inhabit the Ozarks live in ecological harmony with the Earth. As the next step towards that goal, this year at OACC we’ll take stock of where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we want to go, asking the question “What accomplishments do we want to be celebrating 200 years from now, at OACC 240?”

Hi Friends,

All those who love and care about the Ozarks are invited to gather together once again to celebrate, appreciate, and learn from this phenomenal part of the Earth and each other…

OACC IS....

-The first and longest-standing bioregional congress.

-An ecologically-aware child- and family-friendly community village where together we learn, play, relax, and take care of each other.

-A meeting place for ecologically-informed, creative, talented people, growers, activists, operators of small businesses, musicians, writers and innovators; where you can meet with others about what’s of interest to you. OACC is just plain useful, valuable, and often life-changing!

-A decades-long forum for a sustainable and regenerative economy for the Ozarks.

-A place to network and get informed about significant issues affecting our lives in the Ozarks, in an ecological context.

OACC is a celebration of the Ozarks and all things restorative and ecological!

WHAT TO EXPECT….

– Workshops and presentations on ecologically-related subjects, campfires, music, poetry and readings, and homegrown Ozarks culture in general.

-Good food, as locally grown and organic as possible. An occasional dish may contain locally grown meat. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free? No problem, we have food for most lifestyles.

–Please come ready to help out daily with your choice of volunteer, community-sustaining work, whether in the kitchen, child care, grounds cleanup, and whatever it takes to keep our little village going. It’s fun to work together as well as play, and this is one way OACC keeps its costs so low. When you register we will sign you up for your choice of enjoyable volunteer opportunities. Your wholehearted volunteer help enables OACC to continue, and be so inexpensive to attend.

-Childcare will not be provided. Parents are welcome to work together to organize cooperative childcare. All parents and creative folks: please consider leading a fun activity that you can schedule during the Open Space session.

OACC 40 CO-SPONSORS….

For $160 (or more if you are able), you or your organization can be an OACC 40 Co-Sponsor. Co-sponsorships help us keep our registration costs down while giving good people and organizations recognition.

Your co-sponsorship gets you-

Two (2) adult admissions for the entire 2 1/2 days ($100 value)
Exhibit space at the event ($25 value)
Recognition at the OACC 38 event
Recognition in the printed brochure (if we receive cosponsorship by July 20)
Recognition on the website as a Co-Sponsor.
Recognition on our highly visited Facebook page
You will also be recognized in multiple OACC email updates between now and the event, giving you and your business or organization a wider exposure and more recognition than ever.

You can submit your co-sponsorship information to us online here or mail it to us using the Downloadable Co-Sponsor form here.

For more information, please contact Co-Sponsorship Coordinator at oaccleaf@gmail.com

much gratitude and appreciation to our

OACC 40 Co-sponsors

Alford Forest, Inc, Brixey MO
Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, Jasper, AR
Sasha Daucus, Golden Light Center, Fourche Creek Watershed, Ripley County, MO
Gene Dunaway, Mountain View, AR
The Eldridge Keepers, Barbie Rucker, Eldridge,
David Haenke, Bryant Creek Watershed, Ozark Bioregion
Hawk Hill Community Land Trust, Bryant Creek Watershed, Douglas County, MO
Jay Jacobs, Dora, MO
Land Learning Foundation, Keytesville, MO
Larry and Ruth Lewis, Osceola, MO
The Meadow Loft, on the square in Mountain Grove, MO
Mid-Missouri Peaceworks/Peace Nook, Columbia, MO
Missouri Herbs, Upper Gasconade Watershed
Ozark Land Trust, Columbia, MO
Planet Drum Foundation, Shasta Bioregion
Joel Randall, Seymour MO
Regenerations Intellotech, LLC, Newkirk, OK
Elaine Hines, Renaissance Books & Gifts, Springfield, MO
Doug & Cathy Strubel, Pettigrew, AR
Sarah & Gene, Arkansas
Sierra Club, Ozark Section of the White River Group, Springfield, MO
Sweetwater Community Land Trust, Mansfield, MO
Mary Mike Taylor, United Country Missouri Ozarks Realtor, Inc, West Plains, MO
Martin Turner, Columbia, MO
Tim & Tom, Southern Stars, San Francisco, CA
University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Columbia, MO
Dalayna Williams & Scott Spurgeon, ScumSucker, LLC, Mountain Grove, MO
Worm Woman Inc, Fayetteville, AR

GREAT THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL C0-SPONSORS!

(*become one and help us bring this amazing event alive again this year!)

Program for OACC 40

OACC includes both pre-scheduled and spontaneous presentations. Pre-scheduled topics are listed here. Previously unscheduled events are added to the roster on Friday evening, during the Open Space Process after the Opening Circle. Join us for Open Space to add your presentation to the OACC mix.

Green Building. Get your hands muddy diving into the world of plastering as Ini and Wren teach a modern approach to ancient building practices that are in line with nature.

Ecological Land Tenure. Representatives from Sweetwater Community, Farm Resettlement Congress, Ozark Land Trust, and others will discuss how to pass on land with ecological protection and how to help young people who want to live on the land.

Expand Your Garden. A wealth of experience is packed into this panel, which will discuss using high tunnels to extend the growing season, cultivating forest crops such as medicinals and mushrooms and composting with worms. Panelist hail from Elixir Farm, The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry and Worm Woman Inc.

Bryant Creek State Park. Ken McCarty with Missouri State Parks will describe this new park’s notable features, ongoing scientific research there, and plans for its development.

Superb Sauerkraut. Join Mary Cutter of Baker’s Creek Heirloom Seed Company, in the OACC kitchen to learn her sauerkraut-making secrets. Make some yourself. Bring a jar and take some home.

Lessons from a Tree. Drawing from deep ecology musings, Stan Slaguhter will share insights about how trees can motivate and inform our life.

OACC Roots & Fruits. This slideshow celebrates 40 years, from early memories to our current work.

State of the Ozarks. This popular annual session offers the opportunity to hear what others are doing and to share news from your neck of the woods! Be prepared to give a short talk about your event, project, organization, business, or ideas. Whether you’re new or a long-timer, this session can help you find connections.

Climate Models and Climate Policy. University of Missouri Professor Emeritus Johann Bruhn will describe scientific predictions of future climate impacts on the Ozarks, and Missouri Citizens’ Climate Lobby co-ordinator George Laur will discuss policy options that could mitigate impacts.

Food Systems Sustainability. Angela Jenkins, former head of Ozark Regional Food Policy Council, will discuss practical steps for building local food systems.

Ozark Advocacy. From protecting parks to limiting CAFO waste, Marisa Frazier with the Sierra Club’s White River group will tell about ecological issues affecting the Ozarks.

Coffeehouse Talent Show. From year one of OACC (1980) on, Coffeehouse has made one thing clear…OACC folks are talented! Experience what our entertaining folks have to offer this year!

Children’s Programs. Calling all creative folks! No one has stepped forward to organize for kids, so please consider leading a fun activity that you can schedule during the Open Space session.

Program Subject to Change.

Program subject to change. For more information contact General Coordinator: ekndl@socket.net

GENERAL SCHEDULE….

Friday

We highly encourage you to come to OACC on Friday afternoon, register and be a part of the Opening Circle at 6 PM. The Opening Circle is our first chance to be together as a whole group, and one of the most important aspects of OACC. It gives everyone a chance to introduce themselves to each other, find out what others are doing and what they are passionate about, where they are from, and start participating actively in OACC right away. It is at the opening circle that you get to see those who you most might want to get to know more and meet with during the rest of OACC.

Noon. Set up begins.

3 p.m. Registration opens.

3—5 p.m. Vendors set up exhibits, to display throughout OACC their Ozark-based, environmentally-friendly, cottage-industry products.

5 p.m. Dinner (simple snack-type foods) Please bring potluck items.

6 p.m. Opening Circle. Introduce yourself, make connections, learn about other participants. Very important for the full OACC experience.

After Opening Circle. Open Space Process. This is your time to sign up if you want to give a presentation or host a discussion. We set the final schedule then. OACC is all about sharing and participating!

7:30 p.m. or so. Entertainment

Later. Fire circle and/or drum circle (conditions permitting)

Saturday

7:30 a.m. Breakfast.

9 a.m.—noon. Workshops, presentations.

10:30 a.m. State of the Ozarks.

Noon—1:30 p.m. Lunch.

1:00—6 p.m. Workshops, presentations, sessions.

6—7:30 p.m. Dinner.

After dinner. Coffeehouse Talent Show—Major fun! Everyone, from the smallest child, is encouraged to perform, be it with music, poems, theatrics, dance, or jokes.

Sunday

7:30 a.m. Breakfast.

9 a.m. Workshops, presentations.

10:30 a.m. OACC 41 Congress Planning Session.

All are encouraged to attend this session of the Congress, which determines the future of OACC!

12:30 p.m. Lunch.

After lunch: Silent auction for leftover food. Cleanup.

After auction and cleanup: Closing Circle.

FOOD….

We serve mostly vegetarian meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch, prepared as much as possible with organic, local, or fair-trade ingredients.

Please help us keep registration costs low by donating food and/or bringing food to share. It could be a covered dish for Friday night’s potluck, if convenient, or perhaps your garden produce, or bulk food, or wholesome items like bread, fruit or cheese, farm eggs, mushrooms, garlic, onions, etc. An occasional dish of locally-sourced meat may also be included. Such dishes are labeled. Please sign up before OACC by visiting the food donations page to see a list of foods that are particularly needed to fill out our menu for the weekend or contact our Food Coordinator to let her know what you can bring.

Food Coordinator: brushangels@yahoo.com

WHAT TO BRING….

You will need

your own soap, shampoo, towels
sleeping bags and bedding
a chair for yourself
Clothes suitable for being outside in the Ozark fall weather: Be prepared for Ozark fall weather, which can range from mild and dry to cool and wet.

Also Great to bring, if possible

food donations
an extra chair or two for others
drums, musical instruments, your songs
acts for the coffeehouse talent show
swim gear and river shoes
your kids, your friends

Childcare will not be provided. Parents are welcome to work together and with us to organize cooperative childcare during the Congress.

WHAT NOT TO BRING….

PLEASE DON’T BRING DOGS AND OTHER PETS

PLEASE DON’T BRING ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS

LODGING….

Hammond Mill Camp is a beautiful CCC-era camp surrounded by the Mark Twain National Forest. It’s located off CC Highway about 15 miles west of West Plains. It has cabins, bathrooms, showers, a dining-meeting hall, lots of outdoor play space, and the North Fork River can be reached by a 30 minute trail hike directly from the camp through National Forest land.

Plan for Ozark fall weather which can range from mild and dry to cool and wet.

Bunks and mattresses are provided in the dorm rooms. BRING YOUR OWN BEDDING, SLEEPING BAGS, PILLOWS…

Tent sites are also available.

Please, no dogs, other pets, drugs or alcohol.

DIRECTIONS….

From West Plains: Go west on Hwy CC (Gibson Ave.) 15 miles to Camp entrance, on the right. (As landmarks, Hwy AD goes left 5 miles before, and the Ozark County line is 1.6 miles before).

Hammond Mill Camp Phone: (417) 256-2025

COSTS….

Registration fees cover food, lodging, and programs for all three days. It’s cheaper than staying home

-Adults (ages 17 & up): $50

-Young ones (ages 5 to 16): $25

-Youngest ones, 4 and under: no cost

Attendance for the whole three days is encouraged, but day rates will be pro-rated. Please help us out and register as soon as you get to OACC, or pre-register here.

Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

WHY IS OACC DIFFERENT AND EXCEPTIONAL? WHAT IS A “CONGRESS”?

OACC as a “congress” is distinguished clearly from a run-of-the-mill “conference” in that it is a gathering of peers (not just conference attendees passively consuming information from paid “experts” and “professionals”) who inexpensively and on a volunteer basis organize and conduct the event themselves as a temporary green “village,” take care of themselves (preparing food, providing their own entertainment and presentations from within the group itself, cleaning up, etc.), and decide among themselves by consensus the present and future directions and content of OACC as an informal “organization.”

HOW YOU CAN ENSURE A FRUITFUL AND INSPIRING OACC 40…

1) Come to OACC and contribute your talents and energies to the community!

2) Invite and bring one or more like-minded folks who you would like to be there with!

For Further Information:

Oaccleaf@gmail.com