What is a Guardian? Guardian / Gatherings Date: Dec 12, 2003 - 05:29 PM What is a Guardian?... Most pragmatically, a Guardian is someone who offers safety and/or security-related services to the pagan community. Not all Guardians operate in an "official" capacity -- our community is full of "silent Guardians"; folks who don't officially work as a Guardian, per se, but who always keep their eyes, ears, and senses open and who willingly assist the "official" Guardians whenever there is a need. However, there is a real need in our community for "official" Guardians, and we are always looking for interested members of the community. What does a Guardian do?... It varies between Event Coordinators, Guardian Coordinators, and even specific events. In reference to the events hosted by Wade Berlin (PhoenixFestivals) and coordinated by either Glyndwyr or myself, a Guardian is someone who agrees to work a set schedule (normally 8 hours per day), for the duration of the event -- and we operate on a 24 hour schedule; three 8 hour schedules per day. If there are enough Guardians, and the circumstances of the event allow, generally each Guardian is given one day off during the event, to allow for some R & R and to reduce "burn-out"; however, each Guardian understands that he/she is "on-call" 24 hours a day and any emergency supersedes scheduled off-time. So, what do we do during our 8 hour shifts? Walk. A lot. Look. Listen. Talk with people. Pay attention to all the details of what is going on around us and the community. We note potential safety hazards and either correct the hazard, mark it, or notify another member of staff who may be better equipped to deal with the hazard. We assist Site Management with camping placements, vehicle parking, merchant set-ups, etc. We assist Childcare, by running errands, locating lost parents, occasionally herding small children. We assist Medical by maintaining personal first aid/CPR training, and often being the first responders to any accident on-site -- we triage and maintain crowd control and assist the real professionals when they arrive. We assist Fire by pitching in to cut and haul wood, maintaining the Ritual Fire when the need manifests, monitoring the fire, dancers, and drummers at night while we walk our shifts. We assist Registration and the Event Coordinators by locating campers, facilitating registration compliance, enforcing the event rules/regulations/codes of conduct, and acting as a liason/point of contact between the 300 - 500 event participants and the 2 Event Coordinators (Wade and Diane). We patrol the perimeter of the event site, providing security-related services by monitoring the parking areas and the gate areas, especially after-hours. We maintain good public relations with local law enforcement, fire, and EMS services/personnel. We also pitch-in to assist the landowner, Richard Laravier, with general maintenance and safety/security as needed or requested. And finally, we set-up, monitor and maintain the magical Wards of the event that are specific to the safety and security of the people at the event -- this, in and of itself, is a full time job and is often responsible for that kinda "spacey" look that many Guardians have; the result of literally walking in "two worlds". Who can be a Guardian?... Anyone with a sense of commitment and a desire to serve the needs of the pagan community. It helps to be physically fit because much of what we do is physical, though there are areas within the Guardians (ie. Communication, or Hearthkeepeers) that do not require physical agility. Because we interact with local law enforcement, and are in a position to be not only called as witnesses in any legal action, but are also subject to legal liability, having a clean legal record is a definite perk. The use of illegal substances by a Guardian while on-site is forbidden and grounds for immediate expulsion from the site and from the Guardians. The misuse of legal substances by a Guardian while on-site is subject to disciplinary actions by the Guardian Coordinator and/or the Event Coordinator. The misuse of authority or power by a Guardian while on-site is subject to disciplinary actions by the Community, other Guardians, the Guardian Coordinator and/or the Event Coordinator. Being a Guardian is great fun, IF your idea of fun is serving others. We are serious, dedicated, responsible, and hard-working people who want to put the needs of the Community as a top priority. We have no power or authority other than what is granted to us by the Event Coordinator and the Community. We appreciate praise, but do not seek it. We strive for respect and trust, but do not demand it. We are grateful for compensation, but do not expect it. We serve as Guardians because we MUST serve as Guardians. If that phrase rings a bell... contact Rowan, Frejya, or Wade. How does one become a Guardian?... Contact the Guardian Coordinator of the event. For the PhoenixFestival events, the Guardian Coordinators are Freyja and Rowan. Eventually we will have a Guardian Manual and an application form (both are technically completed, but awaiting final draft reviews). In the meantime, interested individuals are encouraged to sit down and seriously talk with one of the Guardian Coordinators about their interests, their job-related experience, their goals, etc. New Guardians-in-training (GITs) are required to complete a year-and-a-day of apprenticeship service AND successfully attend and work three pre-approved events as a Guardian-In-Training (GIT). Any questions? Feel free to post them either to this egroup or to me personally. Interested in working as a Guardian-in-training (GIT) at an Event? Please contact me ASAP, as I am trying to put together the Guardian schedule now. If you are scheduled to work as a GIT, you can expect to be assigned to a Guardian, working an 8 hour swing shift (meaning, you will work a different shift every day, ideally with different Guardians), and you will not be scheduled an "off-day" during your period of apprenticeship (one year and a day AND three pre-approved events). Still interested? Contact me! Bright blessings to all........ Rowan This article comes from Phoenix Phamily - Supporting the Phoenix festivals community http://www.phoenixphamily.com/ The URL for this story is: http://www.phoenixphamily.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=313