I have loved attending ConFest for nearly two decades and am privileged to serve as director.

Ensuring the integrity of DTE as a grass-roots organisation where all members can contribute motivates me.
I have promoted transparency and accountability by making information available to all members.

Excessive or hidden spending promotes a sense of entitlement, undermining us as volunteers. At this time of uncertainty and no income, I have tried to reduce expenditure.
The Board should encourage members to be involved. Also, the Board needs to ensure the Co-operative fulfills its legal and ethical obligations. Some have been neglected over many years. I have pushed hard to change processes which undermine or obstruct members’ involvement, tried to clear up outstanding

Robin MacPherson

I stand as a candidate to bring to the board much needed experience, extensive event awareness as well as an excellent working knowledge of how our systems work and who our members are. I know most of you and you know me, it’s been a 25 year journey.

We need to steady the boat, steady DTE and I can help do this and you can read in more depth how we can do this here - http://abetterdte.com
I believe members want less politics and just want to see a well run board facilitating a participatory co-operative.

Plans for Next Term
● Reinvigorate Memcom - Ecology Project - DTE Newsletter - Implement a Secretariat - Launch an Online Event - Revenue Diversification

My focus would be helping the board redefine what it is involved in and what it is not. We should be enabling all our committees and I will continue to work to bring about more transparency, good behaviour and good governance to DTE.

Let's get the board back on track - http://abetterdte.com

Confest is VERY dear to my heart.

I strongly believe that - ‘it’s my Confest, it’s your Confest, it’s our Confest’.
Confest has, and always will belong to you and me.

Having volunteered in Rangers, Site Operations, as well the Organising Committee, Confest Committee, and Facilitators Forums, and establishing & co-facilitating the Dispute Resolution & Complaints Handling Group (‘DR CHIG’), I have a deep, broad, and balanced

understanding of the dynamics within our organisation.

This is exciting – to stand as a Director for Down To Earth.

To me the essence of DTE are the Members and Volunteers who make ConFest happen.
We are amazing people who hold space for a wider community to gather in nature to celebrate human connection.

As a current Member and Volunteer I understand how integral it is for Directors to work together with Members and Volunteers. After all peoples, it is these amazing humans who form the foundation of DTE and ConFest.

I understand that the Board bare the responsibility of legal financial obligation however, it is the day to day running that the Members have a great responsibility for. I do not see that the Boards role is to make decisions in its entirety as a father body, but rather, to encourage and foster relationships together that hold equal status of decision with Members.

I see DTE as a mother in a sense. She was conceived through feminine nurturing essence, and the more we go back to this energy the more we will greatly improve the relationships between us all.

I reckon, these days I can give my best self in a situation of unrest, as well in its harmony. I’ve been very fortunate to have had a great learning with DTE in many ways. They include all the beautyfull friendships, the conflicts, the lovers, the working bees, as a volunteer in coordination roles, as a mighty cook and bush bread baker, and an awesome labyrinth creator.

I effin’ love DTE and I would love to be a part of the Board. Communication is one of my skills and well, DTE did pay for me to learn mediation skills! I’ve used those skills lovingly in DTE and I’m great’full.

I would love that you vote for me.

ConFest will return but there will be conditions set around that return and it will need to adapt further in the short term. DTE’s challenge is to manage the required changes while ensuring ConFest remains free and egalitarian.

This would be a big ask, under the best of circumstances, let alone when the Co-operative is locked in bitter conflict which is as far from peace and love as I have seen.

There is little creative engagement with members and volunteers

•   Develop the role of Secretary to facilitate outreach to our community.

•   Investigate alternative income streams from use of DTE’s properties and running events other than ConFest.

•   Seek advice on how the rules apply, particularly regarding the relationship between the Board and its Committees.

•   Review the complaints process, report the overall profile of complaints on hand to members and outsource complaints handling.

0. You may know me from my efforts to get DTE meetings online, or my contribution to support DTEs IT needs including but not limited to data.dte. I have attended over 200 DTE meetings over the last 6
   years and provided assistance to anyone that asks. Maybe you know me from period of almost 30 years Confest participation as the person with the guitar playing anything with everyone to all hours
   or the person who donated one piano and assisted with the pick-up of the second piano for the open stage. I have assisted

   with ops, the setup of workshop spaces and provided supervision at arts
   when the sun goes down. I would describe myself as an honest dependable parent that has had experience with running my own businesses and developing IT systems for others. Should I be elected I intend to support the membership with the good work that you do as well as assist all of you by working on improving communication between the board, committees, members, and volunteers so that we can all have Confest and related events into the future. I intend to be contactable, approachable, and honest while performing my duties as a director for DTE.