Welcome!!
The Billys is a community of hundreds of open-hearted gay, bi and queer men who join together in Gatherings six times a year in extraordinary rural venues throughout Northern California. Each gathering is a work of art, carefully crafted by Billys to take us to places of joy and playfulness, intimacy and openness. We come together to play games, hike, make yummy food, play music, cuddle, meditate, frolic, do yoga, and learn from each other.
A message from the Billy Board of Directors:
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The Billys first came together 32 years ago in response to a health emergency. Out of that shared experience came our sense of community, our heart-centered values, and our healing core ritual—the heart circle. At the Billy Board meeting on Sunday, March 15, our main topic was the new health emergency, the coronavirus, COVID-19. We are unavoidably part of the global community faced with a pandemic that came on very quickly, and that has changed everything virtually overnight. Governor Newsom and the California Department of Public Health have ordered that non-essential gatherings be postponed or cancelled and that people in high-risk populations, defined as those over 60, and/or those with underlying health conditions or compromised immunity, remain at home. Out of an abundance of love and care for our community, we announce the following: Postponed: Billy 2020 Visioning Retreat, scheduled for April 4 & 5. The Board feels the ideal time to reschedule this may be once the health emergency is past. Cancelled: All regional Billy Potlucks, through April 2020. Cancelled: Give-Back Tuesday at the Rainbow Cattle Company in Guerneville, scheduled for April 21st. We are also scheduled for another Give Back Tuesday on August 4th. The Board will decide about that event as the date draws closer. Cancelled: Billy May Day Gathering. Full refunds will be given to anyone who has already registered. The Gathering Council and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee will be considering how to build on the excellent planning done so far to weave their efforts into a future gathering. To Be Determined: Billy July 4 Gathering. That decision will be made at the April 19th Board meeting. We feel as a Board that currently it is too soon to make that determination. All Billy Board meetings will be held online on Zoom until further notice. Outside of health concerns, online meetings give the entire community a chance to participate from their own homes. This may be especially important over the next few weeks or months. Instructions for participating via Zoom will be sent along with the monthly meeting agenda via email. |
Eating, swimming and frolicking in the woods are only half the story. What goes on behind every gathering is a community of people offering their vision and talents to create these magical events. The payoff? Being part of an intentional community and sharing one’s unique skills and open heart. We love new Billys, join us!
