Rusila the Red
02-08-2010, 06:10 PM
At our directors’ meeting held in November, the Earth Rising board of directors heard a proposal from a member of the community requesting that Gaea adopt the policy of banning known sex offenders from property. We devoted the entire meeting to the topic and opened the floor to all who were there to voice their opinions, concerns and frustrations. To all of those came to that meeting, thank you once again for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
A decision of this magnitude has many implications; some of which are seen, and some of which that are not seen. In an effort to make an informed decision, Earth Rising sought legal counsel and professional advice on the best way to protect the children of our community and serve our community as a whole. In addition, we looked at the mission of Earth Rising and the purpose of Gaea in an effort to balance ideology and practicality in day to day operations.
It is the decision of the Board to reserve the right to evaluate these individuals on a case-by-case basis. Behaviors displayed while on property as well as past criminal history will be considered in those instances. History teaches, and common sense will tell you, that humankind’s future is held in the hands of our children. We are a tribe and our children are precious to us. Adults are expected to treat our children with respect. This has always been the expectation at Gaea, and it will continue to be so.
This issue has caused us to look closely at our policies involving children at camp. Although Earth Rising makes every reasonable effort to create a safe environment for the children who visit Gaea, ultimately, it is the parent or guardian who is directly responsible for their child’s safety, behavior and supervision while on property. In an effort to clarify the boundaries, we revised our current policy: the supervision, safety and behavior of all persons 17 or under are the responsibility of their parent or guardian. Children 12 or under are to be in the direct presence and supervision of their parent or guardian. These policies are effective immediately.
The 2010 season will be upon us soon. As we move forward, we move with respect and resolve to answer the challenge of maintaining a safe and loving environment for every person who visits camp. Once again, we want to thank our Gaea family for your input and involvement and for your courage to speak openly and honestly about such a complex issue.
Brightest blessings,
A decision of this magnitude has many implications; some of which are seen, and some of which that are not seen. In an effort to make an informed decision, Earth Rising sought legal counsel and professional advice on the best way to protect the children of our community and serve our community as a whole. In addition, we looked at the mission of Earth Rising and the purpose of Gaea in an effort to balance ideology and practicality in day to day operations.
It is the decision of the Board to reserve the right to evaluate these individuals on a case-by-case basis. Behaviors displayed while on property as well as past criminal history will be considered in those instances. History teaches, and common sense will tell you, that humankind’s future is held in the hands of our children. We are a tribe and our children are precious to us. Adults are expected to treat our children with respect. This has always been the expectation at Gaea, and it will continue to be so.
This issue has caused us to look closely at our policies involving children at camp. Although Earth Rising makes every reasonable effort to create a safe environment for the children who visit Gaea, ultimately, it is the parent or guardian who is directly responsible for their child’s safety, behavior and supervision while on property. In an effort to clarify the boundaries, we revised our current policy: the supervision, safety and behavior of all persons 17 or under are the responsibility of their parent or guardian. Children 12 or under are to be in the direct presence and supervision of their parent or guardian. These policies are effective immediately.
The 2010 season will be upon us soon. As we move forward, we move with respect and resolve to answer the challenge of maintaining a safe and loving environment for every person who visits camp. Once again, we want to thank our Gaea family for your input and involvement and for your courage to speak openly and honestly about such a complex issue.
Brightest blessings,