Hello, SuperForest!
I write to you after several long days filled with hope, excitement, and anticipation. The Global ARC Journey is only a few days away, and as I began to dip my toes into this brand new experience of helping to plan such a wonderful event, panic was beginning to settle in.
We didn’t have a support vehicle.
Understandably, this was a major issue of concern. The participants would be traveling 2,000 miles. Camera equipment and other basic necessities (food, water, etc.) needed to be hauled (and kept from overheating), and as time was winding down, it seemed as if our options were becoming more and more limited. That is, until yesterday. SuperForesters Keith, Janice, Maureen, and myself visited Los Angeles to meet with Professor Bob Gottlieb at Occidental College to learn of his suggestions on who to connect with and particularly, how he’d be able to get involved. On the drive back toward San Diego, we received a phone call that would solve our support vehicle dilemma.
SuperForest, I’d like you to meet what will be the home/vehicle for the 2010 Global ARC journey.
It’s called the SolTrekker, and it’s 100% fossil-fuel free motorhome complete with a biodiesel engine, solar panels, a waterless toilet, a rainwater catchment system, and sustainable materials on the inside. It’s almost too much to take in all at once, and honestly, when I was first introduced to this vehicle, I almost immediately disregarded it thinking it was something in the “too good to be true” category of transportation options. Alas, in a series of opportunities that seemed almost celestial (thanks to SuperForester Janice and the rest of the Global ARC team), it looks like we’ve got this little beauty rented! Ty, the man you saw in the video, was incredibly in tune with our mission and as all of the correspondences were occurring, it was incredible to feel like everything was falling into place. And upon reflection, it seems the first few weeks of planning this Global ARC journey have demonstrated to me one thing, and that is the power of community.
From the very beginning, Maureen and I have been busy phoning and emailing contacts in order to make this Global ARC journey the success we know it will be. We had a meeting with Mel and Vallie and we are crossing our fingers that they’ll be able to give us a hand with the final stop in San Diego (and maybe even a concert as part of a spectacular Global ARC/SuperForest grand finale event), SuperForester Jon will be getting involved up in the bay area, SuperForester Anyes and Heather have already offered (and have begun) to help out in Vancouver, and Patricia has even offered contacts in Seattle.
It’s amazing to see the insane amount of power and potency that lies within this very community we have created. Because this community of people like Ty and Anyes is exactly what’s making this journey possible. And now that I think of it, is exactly the type of community we’re celebrating. All of my gratitude goes out to those who have stepped up and offered to help us (and to those that will do so in the future).
We’ve accomplished great things in the past, dear friends, and I’m sure this is one we’ll all be able to celebrate together.
With love,
Carla
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