With just days to go before the start of the 31st annual Gathering, this article is a recap of the exciting things we have planned this year. There is still time to register for all attendance options, so don't delay!
We'll be kicking off the week with a special performance by Shawn Ryan from Los Angeles on opening Sunday. He has a special troupe of performers in tow. Don't miss this! On Monday, our in-house talent, Jon Poupore, will delight the audience with sounds of classical music - karaoke style. He has a few surprises, too. Just exactly what does he have up his sleeve? On Tuesday evening, the incomparable Stormy Weather will host her annual (talent?) show. What can you expect from her except a great time (but on the near side of the lake, I mean, really)? On Wednesday evening, we will launch our first Karaoke Contesthosted by long-time member Ray Brackett. Bring your own music or find one in our library of 3000+ songs to choose from and enter the contest for a $100 credit to the 2017 Gathering! On Thursday evening, we'll have the Mr. GNI Contest hosted by Paul LaDuca. Sign up to compete when you arrive and if you win you'll hold the title until 2017. Did I mention the winner receives FREE full week entrance to The Gathering next year? On Friday evening after a two-year hiatus, Adam Sank will be returning to tell us about his gay (and naked?) escapades over the past couple of years. Adam is excited to return to see his friends and get naked with us again. Finally, we'll end the week on Saturday evening with the Miss Lace Pageant hosted by Trixie May and Hazel. While I don't know much about the evening pageant, be prepared for lots of red, white, and blue stuff and something, something, something about the upcoming national election. It's going to be a hoot, for sure!
We'll be kicking off the week with a special performance by Shawn Ryan from Los Angeles on opening Sunday. He has a special troupe of performers in tow. Don't miss this! On Monday, our in-house talent, Jon Poupore, will delight the audience with sounds of classical music - karaoke style. He has a few surprises, too. Just exactly what does he have up his sleeve? On Tuesday evening, the incomparable Stormy Weather will host her annual (talent?) show. What can you expect from her except a great time (but on the near side of the lake, I mean, really)? On Wednesday evening, we will launch our first Karaoke Contesthosted by long-time member Ray Brackett. Bring your own music or find one in our library of 3000+ songs to choose from and enter the contest for a $100 credit to the 2017 Gathering! On Thursday evening, we'll have the Mr. GNI Contest hosted by Paul LaDuca. Sign up to compete when you arrive and if you win you'll hold the title until 2017. Did I mention the winner receives FREE full week entrance to The Gathering next year? On Friday evening after a two-year hiatus, Adam Sank will be returning to tell us about his gay (and naked?) escapades over the past couple of years. Adam is excited to return to see his friends and get naked with us again. Finally, we'll end the week on Saturday evening with the Miss Lace Pageant hosted by Trixie May and Hazel. While I don't know much about the evening pageant, be prepared for lots of red, white, and blue stuff and something, something, something about the upcoming national election. It's going to be a hoot, for sure!
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| Follow the link to the blog post for more details |
New this year, we've scheduled two white water rafting trips down the nearby Lehigh River. About 40 men will partake of this off-camp excursion; there is still availability so if you want to go, see Rick when you're at camp. It's going to be a great, wet time! LeatherWerks returns selling their leather and kink supplies while offering a wide range of classes this year. Dan has submitted an article providing a lot more detail. Check it out.
Speaking of this years' schedule, you can open a link to our web app on your mobile device. Go to http://www.eventmobi.com/
In an ongoing marketing effort, we will have an opportunity for guests to be interviewed in a number of videos to be released over this upcoming year. Don't be alarmed; the video camera is approved by GNI and only those that want to be interviewed will be recorded. See a Board or Staff member or David our videographer for more information.
Body Electric has a full class this year sporting the largest "Celebrating the Body Erotic" group yet! We wish them much success and look forward to interacting with their members. Say hi!
Also new this year, we've scheduled three nights of karaoke in the dining hall to just kick back and have fun. We've also added a Naked Twister activity and have our own custom 20’ x 20’ twister board that will hold dozens of men. Who doesn't want to get entangled in all of that male naked flesh? At the end of the week, there will be a Naked Twister competition for prizes, but in this activity we know everyone wins.
Every evening, we'll have our nightly social hour with great themes. Check them out online. To keep the party atmosphere going, there are two scheduled cabin parties - Rainbow Place Happy Hour and Viv's! Annual Salsa Party. If you want some quiet time, relax with early morning yoga and other yoga classes scheduled throughout the day, play games like chess, bridge, Texas Hold 'Em Poker, or other board games found in the Arts & Crafts Building. If you're looking for more physical activities to keep that physique in tip top shape, head over to aerobics, oil wrestling, front runners, kayaking around the lake, drag races, the regatta, tennis, body painting, Country Western / Line dancing, hip hop dance, or play volleyball daily with our group of seriously devoted volleyball players.
We have a number of discussion groups that you're welcome to join covering topics like massage, PrEP, gay fatherhood, music theater, tech tips, rock music, heart circles, Friends of Bill W., and a number of naturist-related discussions presented by Bob Morton of Naturist Action Committee to name a few. Sing with the GNI choir, spend two evenings singing your heart out in Judy's Piano Bar, manscape your business, get temporary tattoos; enter one of the contests - Mr. GNI Leather, or Mr. Bare Bear for great prizes and titles. Sell your wares at our Crafts Fair throughout the week. Then finish off your night sweating with hundreds of other naked men in our world-class dance club, MERCURY. And if these things can't keep you busy enough, you'll always find things to do Across the Lake, day and night. We won't tell you what's happening over "there" but you probably get the idea of what you might find. Those activities are listed in in our web app, too, but you can only join in the fun if you register and come.
Be prepared to have fun; download and print your Gathering Confirmation documents found in your online profile in the Member Directory to speed up your check in when you arrive at camp. Cabin assignments are also posted on your profile; use the Advanced Search feature to find your friends and the men you want to get to know.
There is so much going on during the week that an article can't even begin to cover everything nor can you appreciate how much fun you will have without experiencing it firsthand. Don't be shy; sign up, drop trou, and join in the fun. You'll be happy you did and it will change your life. What better way to take a break from life by getting naked with your brothers! If it's your first time or if you've been away for a few years and are coming back, everyone is welcome. Bring a friend, too. All we need is for everyone to bring only one friend for the first time and we will double our numbers!
This is only the beginning. We'll have more exciting announcements throughout the week that you won't want to miss!
One last thing, the Board and Staff of GNI would like to bid a fond farewell to Board member, David Bowman. David recently resigned from the board due to increasing responsibilities and scheduling demands at his new job. David's valuable input and contributions to the board along with being Rick’s administrative assistant for a number of years will always be appreciated and we wish him much success in his new career endeavors. Mark Bivings, past board member has been appointed to fill David's position until the next election which he has happily accepted. Welcome back, Mark!
If you can't make it this year, save the dates for next year - August 18 - 27, 2017. We've already started planning! Be sure to check out our next blog where we will have even more exciting announcements for 2017 and beyond. We hope to see (all of) you there!
Speaking of this years' schedule, you can open a link to our web app on your mobile device. Go to http://www.eventmobi.com/
In an ongoing marketing effort, we will have an opportunity for guests to be interviewed in a number of videos to be released over this upcoming year. Don't be alarmed; the video camera is approved by GNI and only those that want to be interviewed will be recorded. See a Board or Staff member or David our videographer for more information.
Body Electric has a full class this year sporting the largest "Celebrating the Body Erotic" group yet! We wish them much success and look forward to interacting with their members. Say hi!
Also new this year, we've scheduled three nights of karaoke in the dining hall to just kick back and have fun. We've also added a Naked Twister activity and have our own custom 20’ x 20’ twister board that will hold dozens of men. Who doesn't want to get entangled in all of that male naked flesh? At the end of the week, there will be a Naked Twister competition for prizes, but in this activity we know everyone wins.
Every evening, we'll have our nightly social hour with great themes. Check them out online. To keep the party atmosphere going, there are two scheduled cabin parties - Rainbow Place Happy Hour and Viv's! Annual Salsa Party. If you want some quiet time, relax with early morning yoga and other yoga classes scheduled throughout the day, play games like chess, bridge, Texas Hold 'Em Poker, or other board games found in the Arts & Crafts Building. If you're looking for more physical activities to keep that physique in tip top shape, head over to aerobics, oil wrestling, front runners, kayaking around the lake, drag races, the regatta, tennis, body painting, Country Western / Line dancing, hip hop dance, or play volleyball daily with our group of seriously devoted volleyball players.
We have a number of discussion groups that you're welcome to join covering topics like massage, PrEP, gay fatherhood, music theater, tech tips, rock music, heart circles, Friends of Bill W., and a number of naturist-related discussions presented by Bob Morton of Naturist Action Committee to name a few. Sing with the GNI choir, spend two evenings singing your heart out in Judy's Piano Bar, manscape your business, get temporary tattoos; enter one of the contests - Mr. GNI Leather, or Mr. Bare Bear for great prizes and titles. Sell your wares at our Crafts Fair throughout the week. Then finish off your night sweating with hundreds of other naked men in our world-class dance club, MERCURY. And if these things can't keep you busy enough, you'll always find things to do Across the Lake, day and night. We won't tell you what's happening over "there" but you probably get the idea of what you might find. Those activities are listed in in our web app, too, but you can only join in the fun if you register and come.
Be prepared to have fun; download and print your Gathering Confirmation documents found in your online profile in the Member Directory to speed up your check in when you arrive at camp. Cabin assignments are also posted on your profile; use the Advanced Search feature to find your friends and the men you want to get to know.
There is so much going on during the week that an article can't even begin to cover everything nor can you appreciate how much fun you will have without experiencing it firsthand. Don't be shy; sign up, drop trou, and join in the fun. You'll be happy you did and it will change your life. What better way to take a break from life by getting naked with your brothers! If it's your first time or if you've been away for a few years and are coming back, everyone is welcome. Bring a friend, too. All we need is for everyone to bring only one friend for the first time and we will double our numbers!
This is only the beginning. We'll have more exciting announcements throughout the week that you won't want to miss!
One last thing, the Board and Staff of GNI would like to bid a fond farewell to Board member, David Bowman. David recently resigned from the board due to increasing responsibilities and scheduling demands at his new job. David's valuable input and contributions to the board along with being Rick’s administrative assistant for a number of years will always be appreciated and we wish him much success in his new career endeavors. Mark Bivings, past board member has been appointed to fill David's position until the next election which he has happily accepted. Welcome back, Mark!
If you can't make it this year, save the dates for next year - August 18 - 27, 2017. We've already started planning! Be sure to check out our next blog where we will have even more exciting announcements for 2017 and beyond. We hope to see (all of) you there!
