Poly potluck

Door open at 7pm

Discussion group from 8-9

9-10 is mingling and hangout time.

**THIS IS NOT AN EVENT TO PICK UP DATES**

Facilitator: TBD

Subject: TBD

You are invited to the next Open Relationship Community Potluck!

WHAT TO EXPECT: Our community potlucks offer the opportunity for those of us interested in open (or polyamorous, or non-monogamous, or fluid) relationships to explore our edges, share our experiences, and be in community with those on a similar journey. Wherever you are on your path towards a more openly lived life, we hope you'll join us for an evening of sharing, exploring, and learning.

CONNECTING: In a relaxed setting, find out how others meet the unique joys and challenges of being in open relationships. Don't worry – you don't need to be in an "open" (or any type of) relationship to attend. Curiosity is enough, and there will be plenty of people with deep and varied experiences to talk with and learn with.

This is different!: THIS EVENT WILL BE INDOORS.

Due to the COVID-19 delta variant (boo!!!) and the fact that this is our first indoor potluck, we're limiting attendance to those who have been fully vaccinated. Our host is asking that attendees either provide their vaccination card, either in person or via Messenger prior to the event.

If you have not been vaccinated...what in the hell are you waiting for, Christmas?

AGENDA: 7pm to 8pm arrival time and socializing. Try to arrive by 7:00 to have time to get connected and have some food. At 8pm, we will begin the facilitated group discussion."

(For anyone new: We start the discussion as one large group that looks at the topic and comes up with three related questions, after which we break into groups of 3-4 and...discuss. At the end we meet as a large group again for a popcorn discussion to see what our small groups came up with.)

NOTE: We ask all guests to review our “Safer Space” guidelines before attending their first potluck. Community potlucks are not intended as “cruising” spaces. If your primary reason for joining our community is to find dates, we strongly advise you to attend other events rather than the potlucks. That said, flirting will happen at potlucks. There are many reasons for this. The evening’s designated “potluck puppies” will be happy to answer questions or address concerns you may have about flirting during potlucks.

WARNING: This is a sex-positive community. Potluck discussions may concern various aspects of sexuality, sexual practice, and/or sexual experience. You will likely be discussing such topics with strangers. Occasionally discussion topics will be posted in advance on our Facebook group. If knowing the discussion topic in advance is important to you, please check there.

CLEAN-UP: Clean up should begin right after the discussion ends. Our intention is to have our hosts invite us back! We need volunteers to help clean up at the end of the night!! There will be a call for volunteers at the end of the facilitated group discussion. Thanks!

WRAP-UP: The event is over at 10:00PM.

Other important details:

RSVP: Please RSVP on Facebook. We are not posting this event on Meetup just yet. That said, if you want to invite friends please do so.

WHAT TO BRING: This event is a dinnertime potluck. Please bring food and/or drinks. If everyone who reads this brings something savory, or something green, or some home-cooked yum, we’ll still have too many chips and crackers and desserts.

PARKING: There will be driveway and street parking.

CANNABIS: This is a 420 friendly event but please partake outside of the home.

COMMUNITY “SAFER SPACE” GUIDELINES:

As a community, we strive to provide “safer space” for community members. What do we mean by “safer space”? In short, a “safer space” is a place where behavioral guidelines support each of us in guarding each person’s self-respect and dignity, a place for open and honest communication, where one has the freedom not to speak, where one takes responsibility for recognizing one’s own triggers as well as how (and when) other people are triggered, where confidentiality, empathy, and compassion are encouraged and difference is accepted.

Our “safer space” guidelines CANNOT AND DO NOT guarantee your safety, nor do they guarantee that you will always feel safe.

Each of us is responsible for setting and communicating clear boundaries when engaging with people at events. All attendees of Open events must respect the physical and personal boundaries of other attendees at all times.

Keep in mind that you can make someone uncomfortable even without intending to do so. Comments that may seem innocuous to you can be painful to others. Light touch, hugging, cuddling, and other seemingly innocent forms of physical contact can be offensive or alarming when such touch is given without explicit permission. TIP: Circulate at events. Be graceful. If you’re enjoying talking to someone, give him or her the opportunity to exit the conversation anyway!

We do not tolerate harassment of any kind. If you harass someone, you will be asked to leave and may be banned from future events. Harassment includes (but is not limited to) making unwelcome sexual advances; making comparative comments about age, race, religion, nationality, creed, sexual expression, gender expression, sexual orientation, weight, politics, or lifestyle; touching, photographing, or recording people without their explicit permission; demanding contact information from others; deliberate intimidation; mockery; stalking; following; and sustained disruption of events.

We believe that most people who attend our events do so without ill intentions. However, if you experience or witness inappropriate behavior, please bring it to an organizer’s attention immediately!