You are invited to The 38th Annual Convening of the

Ozark Area Community Congress

@

Hammond Mill Camp, West Plains, MOzarks

Community~Compassion~Ecology

…is OACC’s theme this year. As we face the long-term effects of the unprecedented flood this spring and a turbulent political scene, OACC offers open discussion and creative solutions. Join us as we seek hopeful and innovative responses for life in the Ozarks and on Earth today.

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.

OACC 38 CO-SPONSORS….

For $160 (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 38 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*!**

Alford Forest, Inc, Brixey MO
Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, Jasper, AR
Sasha Daucus, Golden Light Center, Doniphan, MO
Gene Dunway, Sustainable Strategies, Global
Seth Entwisle, Beautiful Days Landscaping Services, Springfield, MO
FundRaiser Software – Maker of Donor Management Software, West Plains, MO
David Haenke, Brixey, MO
Hawk Hill Community Land Trust Lessees, Drury, MO
Becky Horton, Cherokee Village, AR
Jay Jacobs, Dora, MO
Jesus Vegans Community, Kingston, AR
Larry and Ruth Lewis, Osceola, MO
Mid-Missouri Peaceworks/Peace Nook, Columbia, MO
Planet Drum Foundation, Shasta Bioregion
Regenerations Intellotech, LLC, Newkirk, OK
Renaissance Books & Gifts, Springfield, MO
Barbie & Gary Rucker, The Enchanted Wandering Gypsy, Eldridge, MO
Doug & Cathy Strubel, Oark, AR
Sunshine Market– Natural Foods, Mountain View, MO
Sweetwater Community Land Trust, Mansfield, MO
Mary Mike Taylor, Realtor, United Country, West Plains, MO
Tim & Tom, Southern Stars, San Francisco, CA
Martin Turner, Columbia, MO
Glenn Vaughn, Little Pine Creek Construction, LLC, Mountain View, MO
Vendoni @ The Meadow Loft, Mountain Grove, MO

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

Transforming Community Through Conversation. Gene Dunaway has led transformational trainings globally for 25 years. After introducing concepts, he will invite us to practice forms of communication essential for deep understanding and compassion.

Panel: Understanding the 1000-year flood. Panelists will provide scientific context for this spring’s devastating flood and discuss preparation and recovery for future disasters.

Joe Bachant, retired Mo. Dept. of Conservation ecologist, has a keen interest in Missouri rivers and the impact of climate change.
Sasha Daucus is a member of Ripley County’s Long Term Recovery Committee.
Robb Jacobson, Research Hydrologist with US Geological Survey, is assessing flood-induced changes to the channel and floodplain in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Samantha Rodgers, Hazard Mitigation Team member with the Ozarks Foothills Planning Commission, helps cities and counties develop plans to respond to natural disasters.
Richard Whiteside, a Ripley County Stream Team leader, has been heading efforts to remove massive amounts of flood debris around the Current River.

Flood survivors storytelling session. Join this open round-table to share your spring 2017 flood experience, tell how you are dealing with the aftermath, and ex-press your hopes for resilient approaches to future floods.

Mycorestoration: Using fungi to repair harmed habitats. Michelle Gurley will describe low-tech propagation methods for oyster mushrooms and other fungi, and talk about mycofiltration (water filtration) mycoremediation (toxic waste breakdown), and mycoforestry, all based on Paul Stamets work.

Fermentation: A Wild Approach to Food & Health Join Bread In the Wild bakers Breanna Forni & Colin Laursen in the OACC kitchen for a wild yeast workshop and fermentation discussion. Bread enjoyed at dinner!

Forest Walk. Learn about forest ecosystems from the canopy to the understory on this trip through the woods led by three ecologists with the Mo. Dept. of Conservation: Silviculturist Megan Buchanan, Fire Ecologist Cal Maginel, and Plant Community Ecologist Elizabeth Olsen.

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.

Coffeehouse Talent Show. Every year we see stunning performances, and we would expect that again this year. From year one (1980) on, Coffeehouse has made one thing clear…OACC folks are talented!

Kids Activities. Samantha Hutchison with Clear Springs School, Eureka Springs, AR, is leading several self-directed activities and one-hour classes for kids and adults. Includes nature journaling, poetry, fairy houses, observing and drawing plants and bugs, block printing, and painting.

Program Subject to Change.

Program subject to change. For more information contact David Haenke, General Coordinator: <dhaenke@webound.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.

3 p.m. Registration opens.

3—5 p.m. Bread workshop, part 1.

Vendors set up exhibits, to display throughout OACC their Ozark-based, environmentally-friendly, artistic 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. Dance! Creek Stink band returns this year. Their foot-stomping popularity is growing far and wide.

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 38 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. 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: Debbie Newlun brushangels@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: 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). Access from the west may be limited because the North Fork River bridge on Hwy CC was swept away by the flood.

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.

Flooded? Be our guest this year!

We encourage anyone directly impacted by the flood to contact us for an OACC entry fee waiver. … We encourage everyone else to donate compassionately to our special flood fund, which covers those fees, with any remainder going to flood survivors.

Please contribute to the Flood Fund here: or contact: <oaccleaf@gmail.com>

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:

OACC 38 Coordinator: David Haenke

dhaenke@webound.com