Why I am involved in ADF

I joined because of inclination towards various visions for ADF that were set out in the original documents. We continue and live up to those visions to variable degrees; some of the documents outline things that are a bit stale in this era. That said, because I feel ADF has provided me with much, I wanted to give a gift for a gift in order to contribute to ADF's vision, and so have served in a number of positions.

What I do in ADF

Presently, I am ADF's Information Manager, in charge of ADF's day-to-day IT needs.

In the past I've been a Grove Organizer, SIG Coordinator, Kin Chieftain, and served a number of terms as ADF's Members' Advocate, to the point where I was awarded the distinction of being ADF's first Members' Advocate Emeritus.

My personal vision for ADF's future

Many others have already spoken eloquently of the vision of ADF as a larger mainstream religious community, in line with much of Isaac Bonewits' original vision. This is a vision I share; I'd love hundreds of Groves across the US offering public worship through our blend of inspiration and scholarship. Of course, an oak tree does not grow in a day. During my time as Members' Advocate, I learned that ADF does not grow from the Mother Grove, but through individual ADF members deciding a project is important enough to implement on their own. Great things, like the Core Order of Ritual Tutorial [2], have been accomplished by ADF members deciding "we need this" and doing it. Many people focus on the trunk of the tree -- but the tree only grows by increasing the breadth of its branches, and I think the greatest potential for growth in ADF is at the "twigs." We are all a part of the tree.