Yesterday was Twin Oaks' 41st Anniversary celebration.

Yesterday evening, one of our work buildings near our warehouse caught on fire and burned to the ground.

To those who know the property and our buildings, Oz, our chair varnishing/stretcher oiling/ stretcher storing building, was the building that burned down. (It was very close to the conference site.)

It happened after a beautiful, sunny day of Anniversary celebration, then around 5:40 pm or so, the clouds, rain and lightning moved in. Shortly before 6 pm it caught on fire and burned- very quickly- to the ground. No one has said definitely yet, but there were rumors that it was because Oz was struck by lightning.

Firefighters were at the scene fairly quickly, but there was nothing they could do. They patiently prevented it from getting worse or spreading, and eventually it calmed down. Kind Twin Oakers brought them a case of soda and some dessert. The rain probably helped prevent it from spreading to the building and trees next to it. No one was inside the building, and most of us are assuming/hoping that Rambler, the cat, whose perching place was attached to the building, made it away from the building safely.

For some mostly correct information in the form of a short article, check out the online article by a Charlottesville news channel. There's a video to watch of the fire as well on that same site.

http://www. charlottesvillenewsplex. tv/home/headlines/19948939. html#

This fire definitely affects our hammocks business, but we're very lucky to be a part of this community, and will all pull together to help where it's needed and pick ourselves up from this unfortunate happening.

Health and happiness to you,
In community,
Suede Machete

In amongst all this rain, there's been some gorgeous weather. It lifts our moods after days of cloudiness, and helps motivate us with our work. Okay, so sometimes it also pulls us to go frolic in the sunshine. But generally, the weather being beautiful and bright has kept me in a more cheery mood, and I feel great to be working on Communities Conference tasks.

Lately I've been working on getting the big Conference mailing out. And it's been a bit of a struggle, and it's going out a little later than hoped for, but soon it'll be done and on it's way to 5,000 people.

Not a whole lot else is going on in the world of the Communities Conference. Slow and steady for a while.

Hope you're able to take some time to enjoy some Springtime weather and flowers.

In Community,

Suede Machete

p.s. the picture is of me and the most recent calf at Twin Oaks. Born over a week ago (maybe 2?), I saw him within several hours of his birth. Right now we've also got goslings which are completely adorable as well...yay springtime and life!

After many months of rest following a wonderful Communities Conference, it is again time to begin the preparation for 2008's conference.

I've started going through some of our computer folders on our network and sorting out files that are actually helpful from the files that just get in the way and have no actual significance to us organizers. I've adjusted the logo I created last year so that instead of 2007- it says 2008. I'm doing some very small things so far, but we haven't even had our first official meeting (which is actually scheduled for Thursday), so things haven't started up fully.

Though preparation/coordinating can be a bit stressful at times, I'm pretty excited to get back in the swing of things, and hopefully create an even more amazing experience for everyone at this year's Communities Conference.

In Community,

Suede Machete

P.S. If anyone has any suggestions on how we could better the Communities Conference experience or perhaps would like to help spread the word of the conference, or knows of businesses/places that would be good to advertise at- let us know! You can e-mail me, Suede, directly ( suedemachete@yahoo.com ) or send an e-mail to our conference e-mail (conference@twinoaks.org). We're always looking to improve our conference and to spread the word to more people.

The following article is by Calliope, a new member at Twin Oaks Community.

Transgender in Community
by Calliope Kurtz

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Communities Conference so great! We couldn't have done it without you!

We hope to have an evaluation form of the event posted on our site in the very near future, so check back and give us feedback!

Also, create an account and connect with others who were at this year's conference!

Thanks again!

Suede

(photos by Joan Mazza)

It was quite an adventure, this year.

Thursday evening brought us an intense thunderstorm with extremely high winds. Several trees were knocked over in our community, and the power went out, all just 24 hours before the conference began!

In the end it all worked out.

Expect a plethora of pictures and stories soon, as we break down camp and upload images from our cameras.

If you have stories or photos, please post them!

well. the communities conference is tomorrow. WOW!

I am kinda overwhelmed and excited and stressed and everything, but it's gonna be great! We're almost done with site prep, but there's a lot of last minute things still happening.

That's all for now....gotta go go go!

SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW!!!

-Suede!

So we're one week away from the Communities Conference. Yayyy.

Today the port-a-potties were delivered! One regular and one handicap accessible.

The 'Tarp Situation' has been resolved. Thanks to Rob, the Yurt will now have a covering! He was so kind to help us out and get us one.

Ethan and I sorted through and put up some signs that need putting up at the conference site, and we also hung up our 'Registration' sign. It was really exciting to see it hanging up.

All of our workshops are scheduled and a list of them is on our home page. A new thing that has been added to our program this year is a Contra Dance, accompanied by a live band from Twin Oaks, set to happen on Friday evening. It's gonna be great.

We've had some random weather recently...104 degrees Fahrenheit the other day, a wild thunder storm last night that knocked the power out several times, but coming back on within a few hours each time.

Weather.com says that for Friday, the high'll be 87 degrees, partly cloudy, with a low of 62 degrees. Saturday, the high'll be 88 degrees, sunny with a low of 61. Sunday, high of 84 with a low of 63, sunny. There's 10% chance of Rain for all 3 days. Cross your fingers, hope the forecast is right, and that it doesnt change between now and then!

Off to do some stuff, then some things and then more stuff.
And if I don't see ya later, good afternoon, good evening and good night!
Have a great week!

-Suede

Tomorrow, Friday, will be 2 weeks away from our Communities Conference. *Exciting!* Exciting, and soon.

Yesterday I was up at the Conference site, doing some prep with a few visitors, and it's starting to look a lot more like we'll be having a conference soon. It's kinda nerve-wracking since a lot of things can only happen during these several weeks ahead of time. I know it's gonna be great.

However, we are missing a tarp. Which is incredibly odd. No clue where it is. It's a pretty important one, too. It'll go over the (slowly deteriorating and becoming a lot less like a) Yurt. We may have to buy a new one.. Yuck. Oh well, we'll solve this problem.

If you have any questions- any concerns that may keep you from attending the conference- please feel free to contact me personally through this site, or contact conference@twinoaks.org .

Hope to see ya'll soon!

-Suede

P.S. The other day I had my one year anniversary of living at Twin Oaks...yay!!!