PorcFest 5/10/04 Update

5/10/04 Update

Good Monday again, Porcupines! I know that you all missed being spammed by me about the First Annual Porcupine Freedom Fest and Night on the Barricades, to be held from Thursday to Sunday, June 24-27, 2004 in Lancaster, New Hampshire...The Free State (for further information, check it out at http://freestateproject.org/news/festival/festival04).

Because I missed a week (and I do have lots of excuses, like everyone), all kinds of things have been percolating to the surface, and there is much new news. So pay attention! Here's the latest:

  1. All about filming the Porc Fest: It has been confirmed that there will be a documentary film maker at the Porc Fest. He'll be filming all the while, and will want to meet, greet, talk, and film with many of you. He tells me that every Porcupine can help out who has a digital camcorder: If you've got one, bring it and use it! He may be able to take some of the footage you provide, and use it in his documentary (we hope to be able to sell the film to Porcs as a way of generating funds for the movement).

  2. A Christian Porcupine gathering has been added to the schedule at the Porc Fest. It will be held on Sunday, 6/27/04 at 10:00 a.m. in the Rogers Campground meeting hall, and will feature the Rev. Garrett Lear of New Hampshire, pastor of the Well of Living Water Christian Fellowship, "a free, unincorporated, unregistered, and unlicenses New Testament church" in the Free State. All you Christian Porcs---and all you non-Christian Porcs too!---plan to be there for an interesting service and talk by Pastor Lear.

  3. If you need a ride from anywhere to or from Lancaster for the Porcupine Fest---especially from Manchester airport---send me an email (tcondon@freestateproject.org) and let me know. I'll publicize it. We'll see if we can get willing drivers together with willing riders. "Porcupines assisting Porcupines."

  4. Are any of you Colorado Porcupines planning on driving to the Free State for the Porc Fest? If so, you'll want to talk to Michael McKinzie, in Golden, CO (and who's on the We'll Be There list below). He's looking for people who want to share a vehicle, expenses, and Porcupine camaraderie in driving across the country. (Now that will be a story to tell your Porcupine grandchildren..."Yeah, this may be the 32nd annual Porcupine Freedom Fest, but I remember way back in the summer of '04 when we drove across America to get to the very first one!") Contact Michael at his email address of mtmrn@prolynx.com.

  5. There's now a whole FSP forum devoted to Porcupine Fest stuff, at http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?board=60, including ride-sharing, who's going when, visiting the Free State for the first time, etc. Check it out!

  6. Matt Leonhardt, of Lincolnton, North Carolina (near Chalotte), could use a ride to the Porc Fest. I'd be willing to help pay on gas/food /etc. on the way of the trip," he says. I know there are Porcupines heading up to the Porc Fest from all over the South. Someone get in touch with Matt and work out a way to scoop him up and give him a ride to the Free State. He can be contacted at his email address of admin@spbx.net.

  7. Here's a Wild Porcupine story: Porcupine Paul Tripp (who helped FSP Prez Amanda Phillips man the FSP info table at the recent national NORML convention) reports that a Porcupine buddy is going to WALK to the Porc Fest...from souteastern Kentucky, through West Virginia, to DC, then up the coast through NYC, to Boston, then up into New Hampshire." Or at least that's the projected plan. We expect media coverage all the way up. The heroic Porc is Randall Wolfe, also known by his online handle of "Ghostcow." We need friendly Porcs in West Virginia, the DC area, and up the coast all the way to the Free State to help Randall out. The rest of us can also help him out. We'd like to get stuff donated to him by "sponsors" with stuff like a jacket, socks, bath stuff, bug repellant, and food. If you want to help Ghostcow in this way, contact Lisa Goodwin at lgoodwin@audubonportland.org. If you want to personally help Ghostcow make his incredible journey, contact him directly at (606)523-1784, or email him at ghostcow@hotmail.com; or contact Paul Tripp at paultrip@cox.net. Hubba, hubba, Porcupines! Ghostcow's Incredible Journey!

  8. The music is firming up for the Porc Fest Dance on Saturday night. Porcupine "DJEntropy" will be providing the music and spinning the CD's all night long. It will have all the best characterists of a full-blast rave and the aforementioned "night on the barricades." We will make Porcupine history there. You won't want to miss it!

  9. FSP Board Member Varrin Swearingen proposes to have a Mass Porcupine Migration up Mt. Liberty at the Porc Fest on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m., June 25th. He and others are trying to convince others---including yours truly---that walking up the side of a mountain at that place and time will be a productive and salutary adventure. Also attending will be Dr. Michael Edelstein and his wife, both of San Francisto, CA, and they're trying to rope in Jason and Mary Sorens, of New Haven, CT, as well as Alan and Jane Weiss, of Austin, TX. When I said "I don't think I could make it," Varrin replied "I'm sure you'd do just fine.> It's not like we're gonna be carrying 65 lb. backpacks with us. Put on some sneakers, grab a water bottle and enjoy the view ;)." But wait! then George Reich chimed in: "I'd suggest wearing at least light hikers. The trail is steep and rocky in spots." How about, Porcupines: Do YOU want to walk up the side of a mountain? If so, email Varrin at varrin@sugargroup.net, for further info.

  10. There is a Public-spirited Porcupine who has reserved two additional campsites at the Rogers Campground, for anyone who comes and doesn't have a reserved site, or doesn't have any money. Don't let any of THAT stop you from coming, if you're a Penurious Porc! If you're in such a situation, contact David Mincin at davemincin@hotmail.com. He'll help.

  11. A Porcupine recently moved from Florida to the Free State, and needed a job. He instantly got one, in the construction industry. Don't believe me? Ask new, NH resident Dave Mincin: He knows the guy.

  12. Porcupine Jay Denonville, who hails from Florida, is said to be a master of the grill. We're possibly planning on having a Big Barbeque for lunch on Friday, June 25, 2004 (by that time the crazies who are walking up the mountain should be back...), which Jay will preside over. Does anyone think this is a good idea for Porcupine Fellowship? Will you come if Jay does it? Will you volunteer to help him with the barbequing (probably hamburgers and hot dogs, plenty of condiments, potato chips, and maybe baked beans). If so---he may need some encouragement in taking on this titantic task---let Jay know by emailing him at jay@freestatecampground.com. Right now!

Full info on the Porcupine Freedom Fest can be found on the web at http://freestateproject.org/news/festival/festival04, including the schedule of speakers and speeches to be given on Saturday, and the family activities (headed up by Porcupine heroine Dawn Lincoln and her kids).

The "We'll Be There" list below is now over 150 freedom-lovers who will definitely be present for this huge freedom-party. There will be hundreds more. Let me know you'll be there, so I can add you to the list. Tell all your friends about it; send this to your private lists of libertarians and other freedom-lovers. This is the beginning of the ultimate success of the most important movement toward social and political freedom in the past 100 years. Be there...or be unfree.

The motel at Rogers Campground may or may not have some late cancellations (having been previously reported to have been totally filled for the Porc Fest weekend), but there are still plenty of campsites. If you're not the camping type and want to stay in a room---hotel, motel, or bed & breakfast---check with Rogers Campground and Motel, then call the nearby lodgings below. The First Annual Porc Fest is now about 6.5 weeks away!! (yikes!). Time to confirm your attendance by emailing me, and get your calendar cleared to make sure you're going to make this historic coming-together and Party. We're going to make history with the Free State Movement. You won't want to miss this, our first full-bore party.

From Tim Condon, Director of FSP Member Services - tcondon@freestateproject.org

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