Can we move forward? Please?

[RAB]

Hello Everyone:   

I need to get some things off of my chest.  My thoughts, feelings, and reflections about where this whole concept of AMG appears to be at this point.

In order to do that I think it's crucial to step back and reflect on how it was that AMG came to be.

It was originally suggested by a member named Scooter.  Somehow, that suggestion manifested itself into our first gathering in Toronto.  A gathering which as jaded as I am, litterally blew my socks off.  I left that city feeling so . . . . .well I just felt breathless is the best way I can describe it.

Based upon the reaction of that gathering a contagious lust to do another AMG lead us to our gathering in Montreal.  While there was never a doubt in my mind that nothing would be like my first experience, I still had a remarkable time.  I mean that sincerely.  The members of these forums who I had forged a relationship with and was finally able to meet, well there is nothing that can describe how important that was to me.  We also tried something new in Montreal, we introduced the idea of education and information via Tim Horn's presentation. 

Just as I loved the social aspect I experienced, I also truly value the experience I had and the information I received from Tim's presentation.

Post Montreal we went through a very difficult time in these forums.  Something which to this day I still don't comprehend.  But that never dampened my belief in how powerful and fun these gatherings can be.  I knew I had a great time, I'd have done it again in a moment.

So now that you've allowed me to look back and honestly express my feelings and reactions to the first two AMG's I would like to share with you where I think we are right now.

To be perfectly honest, I am afraid that the whole concept may be struggling in an unnecessary way.

To me AMG isn't about the where, when, or what.

To me AMG isn't about what happened for some of us before but about what newer members might have the chance to experience.  My load was shot in Montreal, (so to speak), these gatherings however are not about what happened before, they are about what can happen in the future.

It's about the gathering itself.

Right now it seems as though we are stuck in some sort of drama driven pile of mud (be it personality, reaction to the post-Montreal gathering, or whatever).

On September 25 we started discussing the location and dates for the next gathering.  At that time, many criticized that we were moving too fast.  Well here we are nearly 4 months later and we seem unable to move forward. 

The engergy invested in expressing what difficulties might be faced, the lack of energy given by some of the biggest critics of Montreal, the reality that we are all a group of individuals with strong personalities with strong opinions and strong beliefs about what AMG should be, seems to have taken us very far off course.

AMG isn't about any of us as individuals.  AMG isn't about whether it's convenient to our schedules.  AMG isn't about who we are, gay/straight, young/old, social whore/hyper-sensitive.

It's about who we are as a group.  It's about what we can experience despite our differences and our strong personalities.

I believed in these gatherings.  I would like to contine to do so.  Right now, I'm afraid this whole concept is on life support (how's that for being a drama queen lama?).

The challenge of continuing to move this forward shouldn"t rest with just one or two individuals.  The challenge of moving this forward should rest with all of us.  The challenge can be met by all of us commiting to a bigger agenda and working with one another.

The question I'm worried about is whether that's possible.

RAB