BLACK BART #2 - The issue's Introduction
First off, we have to apologize for taking so long to come out with
this second issue. We've had such an overwhelming mail response (see
inside front cover), and we've tried to answer as many as possible,
and then the holidays got in the way (more of the printer than
ourselves). We'll try and make up for it by being extra quick with
number 3.
The mail has brought us a sharp awareness of how potent and
widespread is the disaffection with "normal" straight society. The
merging of two generations has already begun with people and groups
all over the country becoming aware that the well-known "gap " has
got to be bridged, and initiating various efforts to do so. A
Philadelphia group calls it "gray liberation ". Two books, at least,
are currently being written about the activity in this direction, and
other small magazines are taking shape. It appears, from our point of
view, that this will be a significant development of the 70's.
Our own efforts, aided in no small part by the funds that have been
coming in, are expanding rapidly from our original Canyon-centered
concept. We have been participating in other new-lifestyles groups
throughout the Bay Area , and have started a series of courses in
several Free U's in San Francisco and Berkeley, titled Finding A
Way Out . We hope these will provide the stimulus for community
groups of middle-agers in both of these cities. Symposiums are also
being planned, and early this year we will be opening a full-scale
program in the Palo Alto area.
A half-hour radio forum on KPFA, the local Pacifica station , and
sponsored by Vocations For Social Change, has met with such good
response that it is being rebroadcast for the third time this month
(January), and is available to other Pacifica stations on request.
Five of us, with various involvement in OUTLAWRY, discussed
the full range of problems faced by middle-agers who are
contemplating radical change.
The entire project is turning out to be a growth process for
ourselves also. We are finding it necessary to develop radically
different non-business concepts in pursuit of our goal to be
people-centered instead of profit-centered. The first significant
decision was to apply the donation principal to bulk distribution as
well as to individuals in order to avoid the entire hassle of paper
work, commission problems, followup, returns, etc.. This will
undoubtedly cost us "business", but we gain a sense of freedom that
is well worth it. Details are available to any group or store on
request.
We are also converting our record keeping away from standard
debit/credit nomenclature so that it reflects our own views about
money being a form of shared energy. And we have so far refused to
bend to organizational requirements for a "businesslike" approach, in
order to obtain funding. We are relying upon continued support from
our readers in order to maintain this kind of independence.
This issue contains a wide spectrum of personal experience articles,
which should provide a meaningful contribution to your own planning
for change. The OUTLAW register is off to a healthy start, and
we are also undertaking a new kind of service to bring people
together (see inside front cover). All we ask of you in return is to
utilize these resources, continue to pass the magazine (and its
philosophy) around to others, ask us to send them copies if you wish,
and send us your own stories if you feel they can be of help others.
Fortune willing, we shall pay a modest fee for such contributions
(shared energy!).
Enjoy this issue, and until next time, keep your head in the right
place.
You can return to Opening of BBB #2 (for more of this issue)
or to Opening of the Black Bart section (for others in the Black Bart series)
or to the Main Staging Area (for going anywhere on the site)