Just what is a Gathering?

While enjoying an awesome Thanksgiving week at Glamis and shaking hands with some of the finest people I’ve ever met it occurred to me that there may be some misunderstanding about just what is a Gathering.

We’ll start with a history lesson:
In the beginning there was a website that had a free-form bulletin board. The website was called Glamisdunes.com and was started by a very fine duner named Kurt Leptik. The website was around for a year or two and then Kurt placed two, very large, painted signs on Highway 78 that were very visible on the way home from Glamis. Everyone and their brother saw those signs and logged in to Glamisdunes.com. (Myself included)

So, the board becomes active with all the new members and some personalities come to life. This is when Slappy was born.
And then an idea was posted. The idea was a simple one. “What if we all got together at Glamis and met each other?”
Kennie, a promoter by trade, took the bull by the horns and made the first “Gathering” happen.
We had no idea what to expect. What we found was beyond our imagination.
It turns out that a great many of the duners at Glamis are just like us! They like to ride and dune and sometimes drink and hang out with friends and meet new friends. Fast-Hi-Jumper took Kennie for a buggie ride and that was it. The Gathering was a success!
We all came back to the city and posted to the board just how much fun that first Gathering was. “The next one will be even better!”
And it was.
We had 3 Gatherings that first year. Each one was better and larger then the last.
Another idea formed.
“What if we kept inviting people? What if we welcomed everyone into our camp?”
And so it was posted and so it went.
The next year was even larger then the last. The Gatherings were full on events!
In the next couple of years the Gatherings grew and matured but always there was really only a couple of rules. Things like “Respect your neighbor” and “Don’t ride fast in camp.” Basic stuff like that but always the one underlying principal that made it all happen…
Everyone is Welcome at Glamisdunes.com!

Since that first year there have been many ups and downs. We’ve made hundreds and hundreds of friends. We’ve opened the dunes up to people who would never venture off into the ISDRA by themselves. We’ve taught new duners the ropes. We’ve accepted people from all over the country and even some folks from Canada into our little camp.
All is beautiful.

But who is in charge? That’s the beauty. There is no one in charge. Just like this board, the Gatherings are a function of the people who attend. No one person could ever hope to satisfy everyone. No one family could ever hope to organize an event like a Gathering. Sure, it can be organized once in a while, like the annual Golf Tournament, but no one wants to spend their dune time trying to organize a group of people who just want to dune!
There needs only the one rule, which all others come from:
Everyone is Welcome at Glamisdunes.com.

The long term goal of “The Gatherings” is a lofty one, but it will be reached. Because as long as I am going to Glamis I will always abide by that one rule, Everyone is welcome at Glamisdunes.com.
Even if I’m the only person at Glamis and I’m camped by myself at Wash #1187, everyone will always be welcome at my camp. My camp will always be “The Gathering”.
And I expect there are others out there like me. I do not believe that I am alone.

So, no matter the growing pains. No matter who’s feelings got hurt. No matter what happens I know that people will always have a place to camp, and I will always be there to greet them and offer them a warm fire pit and anything else I might have. Glamisdunes.com will always continue.

The Pastor

AMEN....................Brian.

Amen Brian. Sometimes, it's easy to forget why someone would want to even bother seeing what a gathering is all about first hand. Me, I couldn't wait although the gatherings were smaller then. 30 rigs in two rings around a cental camp fire. I kept reading what Slappy, Kennie, In Excess, Star151, FasthiJumper, VOR, Dune, and others had to say and I wanted to meet these people. The online personalities were just too colorful not to meet in person.
Fasthijumper turned out to be this cool, laid back guy with pointy sideburns who drove his old school VW buggy like I rode my dirtbike.
VOR, the first person I met seemed just as interested in me as I was of him. He didn't spend thousands on toys and didn't really care too. Just being out in the sand with friends was good enough.
Dune, in spite of riding (or so he's told me) a 250R, was one of the nicest guys I've met in a long time. I'm still trying to get him to buy a Yamaha and think I'm close to succeding.
Everyone else that I've met through the website, literally hundreds of people, are just the kind of people you'd want to spend a weekend out in Glamis in or for some of us, an overnight boat trip with, a supercross race with, a golf game around, or just some smack talk over the net.
Problems and misunderstandings come and go. Understand and expect this and there's nothing that will stop you from enjoying a gathering.

Amen, preach it brotha

wow, dido brotha

i have a feeling this is headed to the big book wink wink

OH YOU GOT DAT RIGHT KENNY G, IT IS HEADED TO THE MCSCRAPPBOOK...
Well said Pastor, and Slap is all giddy that you brought in another sermon; been lookin for one of them for quite some time.

Slap came to GD.com and couldn't wait to play with all the good folks. Slap is just very thankful dat the folks welcomed him in, even though a few folks sure didn't like Slap in the beginning...um...uh...Slap won't name names though jhitesma, FHJ... ...Musta been Slap's bad hair days back then, that darn fro was seriously mcnastified...Then of course, Slap got hisself some McAffrosheen, and all was better.

Slap knew right away dat there was no way he wanted GD.com to ever go away from you good folks; you deserve to have a slapptacious place to come in and rap with each other about the wonderful place we call Mother G...Slap loves nothing more than to see the friendships created right here...AND of course, he loves his neighborhood


You good folks are what makes GD.com such a proud place to be...Ain't no better folks in da whole world.
SLAPPY GOTTA DANCE!!!

Great post brian

Very well put Brian.

Brian, thank you for the great post. I have found that the GD.com folks are exactly like you describe. You can count my wife and I as two of those whom GD.com introduced to mother G. We would have eventually made it out there, but the warm invitation and open arms from the "group" made it happen much sooner, and made a beautiful place significantly better. We still have a lot to learn, and it's great to know that all I have to do is ask if I need help. I hope there are many more gatherings in the future...

Amen Brian!

A little story of my own. I was a member of this board for a long time before I ever attended a gathering. Mainly because I already had a group I camped with. Then I finally decided to try a gathering...

The rest, as they say, is history. The gatherings are way more fun than I could have imagined. And with a group this size I can go to Glamis on any weekend and someone else from the board that I met at a gathering will be there. That's just plain cool.

Thanks GD.com! Life is short. Let's enjoy it!

That was a beautiful post Pastor, and although Ive never camped with you guys in 13.5, I feel like I could roll up any ol'time and the group would welcome me with open arms. I have met a few peope from the board on different occasions, and they have turned out to be very cool people, and I know my family and myself would have an awesome time with all of you, that I'm sure of. It is hard sometimes to get away from the group your with, but I know there will be an occasion where you'll see the Looney family rollin in sometime, we've talked about trying something different before, thats how we got involved with the group were in now. Again, thanks for a great post

Amen to that Brian...

I agree with KG you will always run into someone from the board in Glamis and that’s a great feeling being a part of this growing family,
Just like any family there will always be ups and downs just remember the goodtimes and they will out weigh the bad.

I completely enjoy shaking the hands of new folks... As soon as I do that I feel like they are no longer new!

Each and every one of us, (myself included) were new folks at one time. Someone came up to you and said... "Welcome to Glamisdunes.com"... or something similar.

Now, it's your turn to return the favor. Welcome someone new in. Let them camp on your front porch. Offer them a beer and a bowl of chili!

Then, in a year or two, it'll be their turn!

Glamisdunes.com is a feeling, a way of being, an openness, a friendliness.
Sure, we're not perfect, nor should we be. But always, we all love the dunes, and each other, and that should be all that is needed.

I love my Glamisdunes.com family.
Thankyou everyone of you.

And thankyou for the kind words.

The Pastor

WOW.
My name is Chummin, Im a GD.comer..
This is my family (pointing all around).
Sometimes its a little broken, but always seems to work.

I still feel new each Time I roll up and we get to catch up on whats been going on over the last oh week or soo. And I agree that meeting new people is AWESOME.

Doh! Duane, Brian probably hadn't gone to bed yet!

THe first person I met was Furball, I knew I was in trouble

I've thoroughly enjoyed the time spent here at GD.com. Being a true post whore will prove that. Meeting new people is great. Except for the few of ya. I'm not naming names. (Esco, Chummin, Dune, Kenny G, Bansh88,) . But the few that have been a real joy, and I will name their names, Pastor, KG, QG, sndsamplr to DH1 have made the trips a pleasure. And I know when the Chefster arrives with his family to 13.5 gatherings, I'm sure we'll be welcomed with something more than just a warm beer. See y'all New Years. Peace

I've yet to meet anyone I didn't like. Although I did run into some nutjob with an accent at BVille.

Accent Bansh? You talkin bout me? Peace

AAAAHHH JUST LOVIN DA GOOD VIBES...GONNA RIDE THIS WAVE FOR AWHILE

I am glad to be here...........
I can't wait to meet more people too....

Even though I didn't see her 'till halfway through my first trip, Julie is my sponsor. I felt that I was welcome to the entire camp even before I got there! Hey on my first trip I got a Bear Hug from Big Mike and a BIG spoonful of Esco Sauce! Even though my potato salad was not a hit at my first potluck, I think the ham made up for it on T-day. (thanks Julie)
Brian always has the words of wisdom!
Warm fuzzy feelings everyone

Your sponsor? Must have been the first meeting of "Addicted Duners Anonymous"
You've made a fine addition to the meeting Josh-just keep bringing those hams and you'll have the whole group eating right out of your hand

KG even got to witness your first :flying over the handlebars like superman" moment and shared it with us all!

Got whoops? "DOH, that's gonna leave a mark."

Very well said Brian. I feel the same way.

Hello!

Amen brother..

Well, the yearly Thanksgiving trip is upon us...

I love Thanksgiving because it's the time when all the folks who only come out once in a while will show up...

Danno... The Mississippi guys... I'd kinda like to see Jdog... Is BamBam and Pebbles gonna come out?

Can't wait, folks!!!
Leaving tonite!

BamBam & Pebbles won't be making a trip till Presidents. they sure are missed.