You are invited to The 37th Annual Convening of the
Ozark Area Community Congress
@
Hammond Mill Camp, West Plains, MOzarks
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…
Spread the word! We celebrate this year with the theme Alliance
In a garden, plants, people, soil, water, and microbes come together in an earthy alliance. OACC’s theme this year, “Alliance,” encourages creative, ecologically responsibility alliances, observing how the Earth works, and forming conscious relationships with nature.
Making alliances with creative people and groups all working for ecologically responsible alternatives is vital to the mission of OACC and in developing resilience in the Ozarks. A conscious active alliance with Nature may be the greatest and most fundamental alliance of all, and the very heart and soul of deep resilience.
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. 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.
OACC 37 CO-SPONSORS….
For $135 (or more if you are able), you or your organization can be an OACC 36 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 37 event
- Recognition in the printed brochure
- 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 Sasha Daucus at sashad@semo.net.
Check out this year’s Co-Sponsors*!
7 Fold Farm, Mountain Grove, MO
Acupuncture and Herbal Solutions of Springfield, MO
Alford Forest, Inc., Gainesville, MO
Buffalo River Watershed Alliance
Coco Go, ARTBOX, St. Vrain Watershed
David Haenke, Brixey, MO
Doug and Cathy Strubel, Oark, AR
Gene Dunaway, Sustainable Strategies, Global
Glenn Vaughn, Little Pine Creek Construction, LLC
HannaH Joy, The Joyful Goddess
Jay Jacobs, Dora, MO
Larry and Ruth Lewis, Osceola, MO
Martin Turner, Columbia, MO
Mary Mike Taylor, REALTOR®, United Country West Plains, MO
Massage & Yoga Therapy by Vendoni, Mountain Grove, MO
Mid MO Peaceworks/Peace Nook, Columbia MO
Oran Mor Community, Squires, MO
Planet Drum Foundation, Shasta Bioregion
Rachel (Day) Eisemann, Denver, CO
Regenerations Intellotech, Newkirk, OK
Renaissance Books & Gifts, Springfield, MO
Residents of Hawk Hill Community Land Trust
Sasha Daucus, Golden Light Center, Doniphan & West Plains, MO
Sunshine Market, Mountain View, MO
Sweetwater Community Land Trust, Mansfield, MO
Tom Hubbard, San Francisco, CA
West Plains Council On The Arts
GREAT THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL C0-SPONSORS!
(*become one and help us bring this amazing event alive again this year!)
Check out this year’s program below.!
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.
Program
OACC includes both pre-scheduled and spontaneous presentations. Scheduled topics are listed here. Previously unscheduled events are added to the roster on Friday evening, during the Open Space process. Join us for Open Space to add your presentation to the OACC mix.
Panel: Nature, nurture and neglect in Ozark forests
Forest ecologist and MU professor Rose-Marie Muzika will tell how succession, ecology, and human actions have shaped Ozark forests, past and present. Panelists may also discuss the role of fire over the centuries, the rise and fall of shortleaf pine, and the implications of climate change for Ozark forests.
Dirt doctors share soil health prescriptions
Soil health consultant Jay Jacobs and other dirt doctors will talk about techniques to improve your garden soil, starting with testing, and including mineral balancing and adding amendments such as probiotic microbes and biochar.
Nature Awareness
Join Sasha Daucus to connect with and enjoy nature in a friendly conversation. Share how you have feel nature to be alive in your life. A perfect time to reflect and breathe in the cool air, joined by your friends at OACC 37.
Turtle Island Quilt & Continental Bioregional Congress Storytelling Session
Key people who organized and participated in the Continental Congresses during the 1980’s and ’90’s will share stories about the creation of the Turtle Island Quilt, symbol for the continental congresses, and the many inspiring events of those gatherings.
Alliance with Nature: The Heart and Soul of Deep Resilience
OACC co-founder David Haenke will unpack the concepts of an active and deep alliance with nature, as it relates to OACC’s mission and bioregionalism.
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-time resident, this session can help you find connections in and out of your watershed.
Ozark Plateau Watershed Congress
Join Vendoni for a presentation and discussion as she proposes a new phase in bioregionalism, one which weaves together self sustaining tools, temples, and other systems. The intention is to facilitate and encourage more congressing, to develop self-governing skills, and to create functioning representatives for OACC, a long-held dream from the earliest days.
Coffeehouse Talent Show
Last year’s Coffeehouse was a stunner, and could well be again this year! From year one (1980) on, Coffeehouse has made one thing clear…OACC folks are talented!
Program Subject to Change.
Program subject to change. For more information: Ozarkareacommunitycongress.org
Program Coordinator-Leesa Johnson – leesa314159@gmail.com
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
– 2 pm: registration opens
-3-5 pm: Workshops and/or meetings. OACC 101 talk.
– 5pm: Early dinner and potluck. (We will have some simple snack-type food, and if you could bring some potluck additions, we will save our food folks much work early on as we are getting set up. Thanks in advance if you can bring something to share!)
– 6pm. OACC overview, Opening Circle. This is your chance to introduce yourself, meet all the other participants, and find out what they are doing. Very important! Tell us where you are from, especially your home watershed, and what you are passionate about!
– 7pm or just after Opening Circle, Open Space Process– for those who are not on the schedule and who want to give presentations at OACC.
What is Open Space Process? At any given OACC, people attend who are working in, for instance re-localization, organic gardening and agriculture, appropriate technology, alternative health, communities, land trusts, ecological protection, forestry, home schooling, conservation, responsible media, sustainable businesses, biodiversity preservation, ecological restoration, culture, music, arts, eco-villages, and the list goes on… OACC’s program will have pre-scheduled presenters PLUS time available for anyone who wants to conduct a session after arrival. These previously non-scheduled presentations will be scheduled during an Open Space process on Friday evening after the Opening Circle. Got something to say? Here’s the place to say it! If you want to be part of the Open Space, be sure to come on Friday.
-7:30 pm or so: Dance! Music by the amazing, foot stomping, Creek Stink band. Bring your dancing feet!
-Later. Fire circle and/or drum circle (conditions permitting)
-Throughout OACC: Vendors and kids activities
Saturday
– 7:30 to 9:00am: Breakfast
– 9:00am to noon: Workshops, presentations
– 10 am: State of the Ozarks.
– Noon to 1:30pm: Lunch
– 1:30pm to 6:oopm: Workshops, presentations, sessions
– 6:00 – 7:30 pm: 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
-7:30-9 am: Breakfast
– 9 am: workshops, presentations, discussion groups
–10:30am: OACC 38 CONGRESS PLANNING SESSION. All are encouraged to attend this session of the congress which determines the future of OACC, and even if we will have another OACC!
-12:30 pm: Lunch
– After lunch: Silent auction for leftover food (great bargains possible!), Clean up
- 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. This year, farm eggs, mushrooms, garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, etc. are permitted by the hosting site. An occasional dish of locally-sourced meat may also be included. Visit the food donations page to see a list of foods that are particularly needed to fill out our menu for the weekend.
Food Coordinator: Pearl Schneider – Ozarkotter@yahoo.com
WHAT TO BRING….
- food donations
- cups and other eating utensils
- drums, musical instruments, your songs
- acts for the coffeehouse talent show
- swim gear and river shoes
- your kids, your friends
You will need
- your own soap, shampoo, towels
- sleeping bags and bedding
- 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.
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. For several years, starting in 1982, we had many wonderful OACCs there. 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 are provided in the cabins. Tent sites are also available. Bring your own BEDDING, SLEEPING BAGS, PILLOWS. Please, no dogs, other pets, drugs or alcohol.
Bunks and mattresses are provided in the dorm rooms.BRING YOUR OWN BEDDING, SLEEPING BAGS, PILLOWS…
Tent sites are also available.
DIRECTIONS….
From West Plains: Turning off of Hwy 63 (Jan Howard Express Way) and onto CC (Gibson Ave), go 15 miles to the turn into Hammond Mill Camp on the right. (5 miles before that Hwy AD goes off to the left from CC, as a landmark). Also, the turn off to Hammond Mill Camp is 1.6 miles into Ozark County.
Hammond Mill Camp Phone: (417) 256-2025
COSTS….
Registration fees for all three days, covering everything (meals, lodging, programs, etc.) are: 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.
Registration Rates for Partial Attendance. For those of you who want to come for less than the whole time, such as a day, or part of a day, we will pro-rate in a fair and equitable way.
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 37…
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:
Stuff We Need If You Can Bring It.
– We need a PA System for Coffee House on Saturday evening
-We need a portable projection screen
-We need Firewood
If you can bring any of these please contact David at the email below
OACC 37 Coordinator: David Haenke
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