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Positive Connections - EMLC has assisted with 2 fundraising events for The Center for Positive Connections. Positive Connections is a small, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide educational, emotional, holistic and social support to all individuals living with HIV/AIDS, with emphasis on heterosexuals, the newly diagnosed & their family & friends. A number of their annual events, like their toy drive, focus on children who are living with HIV/AIDS. EMLC has contributed to and our members have participated in a toy drive on December 18, 2004 (157 toys donated by EMLC!), a Picnic in the Park event on August 13, 2005, a psychic fair fundraiser for Positive Connections held on October 14, 2005. Some pictures of the event are available here. Positive Connections sent us certificates of thanks for EMLC's support and participation. Psychic House Party - A psychic house party was held in March, 2006, as a fund raiser for the FyreDancer Memorial Fund, which helps send EMLC delegates and members to CoG's annual Grand Council. One of our members hosted it in her home, and it was very successful! Annual Retreat - EMLC's Annual Retreat was held in February (one of the only reasonable times to camp in Florida!) at Lady of the Lake Grove. We were well into planning for MerryMeet2006, and much of our weekend focused on organizing and finding out where more volunteer help is needed. We also had workshops, rituals and time to visit with each other. MerryMeet 2005 - EMLC sent a strong contingent to CoG's annual gathering and business meeting, known as MerryMeet. It was held August 26-28, 2005 in New Mexico and was well-hosted by the Chamisa Local Council at the Sunrise Springs Inn and Retreat. Nine representatives from Beachfyre Coven, Coven Lia Fail, Witch and Famous Coven and our Assembly of Solitaries came and enjoyed the workshops, rituals, meeting and networking with Wiccans and Witches from across the US. Since EMLC is hosting MerryMeet 2006, we made a big push to get folks there this year to experience MerryMeet and to meet more CoG kin that will be visiting us in less than a year! FyreDancer's Passing - It is with great sorrow that we acknowledge the passing our our dear friend and loved one, FyreDancer. We are thankful for the beautiful passing over circle hosted by her coven mates in Fangorn. Her memorable speech to the Religious Freedom Festival is posted here. EMLC donated a tree to the covenstead to be planted in her memory. Retreat Weekend - About 40 EMLC members and other Wiccans gathered for the retreat weekend at Lady of the Lake Grove February 19-20, 2005! The site is nearly back to it's old self with electrical and water service running in the campground and hot water for showers working. It was accessible and comfortable, with lots of firewood put up for good measure by the cleanup crews' previous visits. We thanked goddesses from a huge variety of pantheons for good fortune and offered blessings to the land and thanks to our host, Lady Althea. At our EMLC business meeting on Sunday we discussed the upcoming psychic fair and the continuing development of plans for EMLC to host MerryMeet 2006. Clean up at Lady of the Lake Grove - some members spent the weekend at Lady of the Lake Grove doing some hurricane cleanup. Downed trees and limbs were cleared from the access road, camping area and circle. The pavilions and tables were assessed and, to the extent possible, righted/repaired. Religious Freedom Festival - we sponsored and helped to host a wonderful interfaith event at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Pumpkin Carving Picnic in the Park - October 20, 2001 by Lady Bridget Although the Everglades Moon Local Council was not formed until July 2002, several of the local members (who were at that time part of the Dogwood LC) got together at Woodlands Park in North Lauderdale in Oct 2001 for a pumpkin carving contest! And a beautiful afternoon it was, with perfect fall weather - only in the 80's and only raining a little bit. Under the protection of the pavilion there, we loaded up the picnic tables with pumpkins, carving utensils, ideas and drawings, magic markers, food and more. The littler ones had holiday coloring books and crayons to occupy themselves while us bigger kids took knife to pumpkin in a spree of seeds and orange gook! I can safely say that we all had a great time, and the winners received prizes for their extra-ordinary efforts. Below are pictures of the beautiful pumpkins carved that day and the proud winners showing off their work.
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