Protogroves are led by an officer called a Grove Organizer. In the case of Silver Falls Protogrove we are led by two, very committed. and "in-over-their-heads" co - Grove Organizers;
Astra and Dubhlainn:
Astra:
ADF Member Since: June 2004
Hearth Culture: Norse primarily, some celtic
Religious History: I've was born and raised Roman Catholic. Catholic School all my life as well. I began looking for something else a few years before High School, but always came back to Christianity because I had other friends and there were some really awesome teen groups where I could express my deep need for spirituality. In High School, I went on every retreat I could. I loved the guided meditations, especially this one I can still remember where we were told to lay down in the grass and leaves. I felt so at peace, I actually fell asleep and I remember the priest saying that this was okay because it was what you needed. It was, it was as if the Earth held me and rocked me to sleep.
By the end of High School, I was pretty confident I was pagan. College just solidified my beliefs as I went to a local college's Interfaith Understanding group.
Why did you form Silver Falls Protogrove: Well...I had been looking since I joined ADF for a local pagan group. There was Stone Creed Grove, ADF and even Three Cranes Grove, ADF but being without a car, I couldn't make it to those. So I stayed solitary. This really didn't seem to fulfill my needs, and as soon as I saw another ADF member on the mailing lists (Dubhlainn), I jumped right in and emailed him. That was all I needed. I love working with another individual, it keeps me going. As we start to grow, I'm beginning to see that we needed something like this in Akron.
Dubhlainn (Pronounced dove-lin):
ADF Member Since: September 2007
Heath Culture: Primarily Gaelic
Religious History: I was raised in an Apolostolic (Pentecostal) Christian home, although my parents never were the type to limit us in our interests and pursuits. In addition to Neopagan Druidry I am also a Unitarian Universalist, and can be found on the occasional Sunday preaching from the pulpit as a lay speaker.
Why did you form Silver Falls Protogrove: When I originally joined ADF my intention was to practice as a solitary, maybe visiting other groves on occasion, however after visiting Stone Creed Grove in the Cleveland area I felt called by the Gods and Goddesses to pull people together in the Akron area.