The Miss Manners persona is a fictional invention and any resemblance to your conscience is purely intentional.

Dear Miss Manners: I'm feeling left out. A lot of people seem to know each other. What should I do? MM: Include Yourself!!! Ask for a hug. Sign up to work on a project or in the kitchen. Ask someone to go for a walk. Why not try transparency and tell people that you are feeling left out and want to connect. What a concept!!!! Dear Miss Manners: I have always lived at home and am a somewhat reclusive person who rarely initiates things on my own. Can you tell me if there will be anyone at camp who will tell me what to do all the time? MM: Dear recluse, Unless you're bringing your mother you are on your own in the responsibility department. We strive to create an environment of choice so everyone gets plenty of practice. Dear Miss Manners: Can I park my car near my tent for convenience? MM: Dear, we must not mess up our living room, you never know when company is expected. If you plan to sleep in your car, there is designated spaces. Otherwise, please park away from the tents in the field located to the East (in front of the BIG CAR BARN). Follow the signs with arrows. Dear Miss Manners: This was advertised as a clothing optional camp. Are there limits to when and where that is OK? MM: Miss Manners presumes you are asking when is it rude to be nude. Although Miss Manners understands the beauty of nature and au naturel bodies, she feels it is best if one attends the presentations and meals with a modicum of covering. Also, the family camping area is a place where we should observe the preferences of the campers there. Dear Miss Manners: Is there a best time to take a shower before the hot water runs out? MM: Miss Manners highly recommends showering with a friend to save hot water to prevent this very thing. Consideration in sharing hot water is extremely civil and encourages hugs. Dear Miss Manners: Although I occasionally have an in-body experience, I do most of my living outside of my body. Is SC'98 a body-optional camp? Or is it allowed to enjoy camp without being embodied (if I promise to not travel to someone else's body without their permission)? MM: Yes,this is a body-optional camp, with added benefits. For those folks who arrive without their body, we offer a discount of 50% off their food and lodging. And for every unembodied person who brings along an embodied friend, 100% off their food and lodging. Note that NFNC cannot be legally responsible for what happens to your body if you leave it at home. Dear Miss Manners: Is SC'98 an ego-optional camp? When I became Enlightened I lost my ego. So I typically walk around pretending to have an ego in order to get along among average folks. MM: Yes, SC'98 is an ego-optional camp. And if you arrive without an ego, you are permitted to reveal this fact to other participants. Even better, if you encounter some participants with an ego who want to be without an ego, you may tell them how to lose their ego (with their permission). Sometimes you may encounter a camper or two with too much ego. You're welcome to borrow any excess they're willing to share. Dear Miss Manners: I used to have lots of love in my life but lately I've been running low in my supply. Is SC'98 a love-optional camp, in the sense that I can arrive with only a small supply of love? MM: Yes SC'98 is a love-optional camp. Since you apparently like lots of love, you'll be glad to know that there will be a large supply of love available in camp. And by the way, it has been discovered that love has an interesting property: the more love you give, the more you receive. However, there's a tradeoff. Nevertheless, it's totally up to you. You can have lots of love or lots of ego, or some of both. Dear Miss Manners: Is SC'98 a hug-optional camp ? I was brought up in a very conservative family. But somewhere I read that hugs can be good for you. And after I get to know somebody well, sometimes we hug, which always feels good. Is it OK to hug in camp, if I do it respectfully. MM: Hugs are required. Just kidding. Hugs are totally OK, if done with permission. But hugs are not required. And platonic hugs may be done in public. Also, if you need any instruction on hugging or have any further questions on this topic, we will have experts standing by. Dear Miss Manners: Before the master cook was arrested last week, I was able to get 26 hits of Ecstasy. Do you think other Summer camp attendees would enjoy sharing this bounty with me? MM: Dear bountiful, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. However, in spite of her belief in choice, Miss Manners gets VERY, VERY CRANKY thinking that the owners of the land and others could be endangered by your actions. Please do not bring this type of bounty to SC. Besides, Miss Manners' friends prefer the natural highs here in our forest, our stream, and our loving friends.

Dear Miss Manners: I like to sleep late and don't like going to morning speakers. Am I expected to attend all the meetings? MM: Miss Manners reminds you that you are entirely at choice. If you wish to sleep all day and night, I wish you delightful dreams but don't DREAM of asking for a refund on what you missed. Dear Miss Manners: I don't like sticking to a strict schedule. Is it OK to come late to the meetings? MM: Unless the speaker has requested no one join after the presentation has started, you are welcome when you FINALLY get there. However, Miss Manners sincerely intends to start presentations on time (well, almost) to honor the speakers. Dear Miss Manners: Am I required to have sex at Summer camp? MM: Dear indeterminate gender, yes, you are required to have a sex at summer camp. Genderless 'oids will not be admitted. However, once you have determined your gender, what you do with it is up to you, AND ONLY YOU!!! Dear Miss Manners: I may wish to participate in sexual encounters. Are there any rules? MM: Miss Manners does not make rules!! However, she highly recommends CONSCIOUS, INFORMED decision making. Having appropriate conversation BEFORE engaging should include sharing appropriate histories, any health concerns, use of safer sex supplies and any boundaries to be honored. (Good campers like good scouts should Be Prepared). Consciousness also includes being aware of the "Family Camping" area that includes children. Let the munchkins learn at their own perfect time. Dear Miss Manners: I stayed overnight with a friend but forgot to bring my toothbrush. Is it OK to use his? MM: No, dear. Good hygiene dictates you go back to your own tent, and get your toothbrush. It provides additional exercise and the opportunity to brush side by side when you return. Dear Miss Manners: I'm shocked! It looks like a lot of trees have red tapes on them. Are they to be cut down? MM: Au contraire, ma petite. Red identifies the sacred trees and means foresters and such people don't touch. Our efforts to control some root rot appear to have been successful. New baby trees have been planted in the West forest. Please visit them and talk to them. Hugging is OK if you are VERY gentle. Dear Miss Manners:Can we build fires? MM: No, No, No. Special occasion camp fires in designated areas are allowed but must be put out with water after use. Dear Miss Manners: Is this a Spiritual Place? MM: Dear Seeker, I'm glad that you asked. We are stewards of this ancient land and ask your reverence and respect for the land and the forest sanctuary. You may meet one of the three deer families, a small elk herd and other critters. They are usually not into hugging. Dear Miss Manners: I've always eaten my mother's cooking and I know she never cooked vegetarian. If all meals are vegetarian, does this mean that I will be eating green salads for nine days? MM: Dear Carnivore, We have an absolutely delightful and varied menu which will include adequate protein. Since you are at choice, if you become desperate and buy a hamburger in town, please keep it (or any remains) in a plain brown wrapper when you return. Dear Miss Manners: What is this Kitchen Karma stuff? Do I have to volunteer to work in the kitchen? MM: Dear reluctant, Miss Manners gets VERY cranky when she and a few others have to do all the work and she is too tired to be playful. Good campers work together and play together. So find a friend to join you or make some new friends as you work. Dear Miss Manners: If I pay full price for registration will I still be expected to help out around camp or will there be a place early on where I will be able to pick out a servant? MM: Servants will be available for checkout at the Servant Lending Library during normal bookstore hours. If none are available, yes, as a member of our community, you ARE expected to help out. Dear Miss Manners: I like to wrap toilet paper around and around and around and around my hand. My question is: "What's the fuss all about?" I mean, why are the septic system people so upset that I do this? MM: Dear Wrapper, This may be nice for you but it is nasty for the rest of us. We get very cranky while working to unplug the septic system and toilets. We invite you to be minimalist and use the squares in the Meadow restrooms. If you (or your best friend) think you need more, take a shower.

And so. gentle camper, Miss Manners bids you adieu. Walk in peace, be gentle with yourself as with others, and ENJOY SC'98 ! !

HAI Human Awareness Institute, The Human Awareness Institute (HAI) empowers individuals to know who they are as potent, loving, contributing human beings. HAI promotes personal growth and social evolution by replacing ignorance and fear with awareness and love.

The Human Awareness Institute aims to create a world where people live together in dignity, respect, understanding, trust, kindness, honesty, compassion and love. The Human Awareness Institute is committed to creating a world where everyone wins.

Loving More

Loving More is a national organization and resource for people who wish to move beyond traditional monogamy. They see no reason to end a good relationship in order to begin another, and they believe that this can be done responsibly, intimately, and in integrity. They call it polyamory or Loving More. They publish a quarterly magazine called Loving More, offer workshops and conferences, books and tapes, and discounts on all of this through membership in their organization. While they are not a non-profit organization, no one is paid to work there. Loving More is entirely supported by memberships and the contributions of the editors Ryam Nearing and Brett Hill, and their multi-partner family, Syntony.

Polyamory Polyamory: (poly=many) + (amory=love). Many loves.

Polyamorous relationships recognize that human beings CAN be free to live/experience a full range of loving relationships.

There are many kinds of poly relationships but they tend to have some common threads:

• Honesty (meaning all partners involved know about all other partners, among other things)
• Communication
• Trust

The mantra of poly is "Open Honest Communication Always."

Love does not necessarily mean sexual/physical love... love can be spiritual/emotional as well. Most poly folks agree that sex is far from being the most important factor in a relationship.

Zegg An experimental intentional community in Germany.

ZEGG is an international meeting ground where they consider questions about what makes a future worth living. ZEGG is a study center where they explore new solutions for love and cooperation with nature, questions about autonomy and survival, and creation of a network for a humane earth. ZEGG is a place for a community experiment, a model for living, and a building ground for a concrete utopia. ZEGG was started in 1991 at a 45-acre site in Belzig, 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) southwest of Berlin.