Hi everyone,
As you may know, one of the Cowgirls recently raised a concern about our participation in Copa Lucrecia on Sunday.
This tournament has been a favourite with the Cowgirls for many years and raises funds for Football and Life Skills projects for women and girls in Nicaragua, as well as acting as a show of solidarity with the leftist Sandinista revolution.
Concerns were raised about the current President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, who is accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian, oppressing any opposition to his rule, including from feminists, indigenous groups, trade unions, cooperatives, student groups and political parties. While Ortega was originally brought to power by the Revolution, Sandinistas are increasingly distancing themselves from him because he is not governing by their values.
While the charity supported by the Tournament is completely independent of the Government, the Nicaraguan Ambassador attends every year and poses for photos with each team, which are then shared on Nicaraguan news sites - arguably to show that the British left still supports Ortega’s government.
The Committee have raised these issues with the organiser of the tournament and he offered several compelling counter arguments, including the suggestion that there is an active disinformation campaign by the US and right wingers to discredit the Nicaraguan government and their leftist credentials. He has suggested that we raise these issues directly with the Ambassador at the tournament and start an open and honest debate.
We’ve discussed this as a Committee and obviously have huge concerns about our involvement and what it means. However, given that both “sides” have presented really compelling arguments we just don’t feel we know enough to boycott at such short notice. Our conclusion is that we honour our commitment to attend but don’t pose for photos with the Ambassador. We also really encourage anyone who goes to raise any issues they have as an individual with the Ambassador and capture her responses for discussion among us all. Over the next few months we need to explore this issue in much more depth so that we can make an informed decision next year.
We realise this will sit differently with different people and it’s completely up to individuals to decide whether or not they want to participate. All we would ask is that you update Spond asap if you’re not going to play so that we can arrange teams etc.
Thanks so much to those who raised this issue, such an important one and we really welcome everyone’s input into the discussion, now or in the future.
In solidarity (with things we think are good but might not be),
The Cow Committee
PLEASED SEE MEESAGE BELOW......
Thank you .
________________________________
From: Sensi Mclean
Sent: 16 May 2022 21:05
To: easton cowgirls group <easton-cowgirls(a)googlegroups.com>
Subject: Quarterly meeting
Monday 23rd of May at the Easton Community Centre there is Quarterly general Meeting at 7:30pm. A very important and interesting meeting where we will be discussing tournaments, casual leagues and any other matters. If you’ve not been to a meeting before, it’s a great way of seeing how the Cowgirls function and getting involved even if you think you don’t have the skills. You do.
Whoop whoop this is great way of meeting the wider members of the cowgirls.
Hope to see you ALL there.
Sensimilia and Hannah P cowgirl chairs.
Harriet Hoare
(+44) 07709348937
On 17 May 2022, at 09:23, Becs Swist <rebecca.swist(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Hello!
Would you please be able to forward the official invitation to the email address below? Sorry!
Thanks!
Becs xx
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Katrin Pingel <Katrin.Pingel(a)gmx.de<mailto:Katrin.Pingel@gmx.de>>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2022 at 15:17
Subject: Aw: Wg: Easton Cowgirls and Cowboys Turnier 2022!!!
To: <Rebecca.swist(a)gmail.com<mailto:Rebecca.swist@gmail.com>>
Hi Cowgirls,
better late than never! Dörte Becker will come to your wonderful tournament with a team!
Please use this mail address for any further communication.
All the best from Hamburg
Katrin
Gesendet: Montag, den 16.05.2022 um 16:05 Uhr
> Von: "Dörte Becker" <frau-doerte-becker-13(a)gmx.de<mailto:frau-doerte-becker-13@gmx.de>>
> An: katrin.pingel(a)gmx.de<mailto:katrin.pingel@gmx.de>
> Betreff: Wg: Easton Cowgirls and Cowboys Turnier 2022!!!
>
>
>
> --
> Diese Nachricht wurde von meinem Android Mobiltelefon mit GMX Mail gesendet.
> Am 15.12.21, 20:06 schrieb Rebecca Swist <rebecca.swist(a)gmail.com<mailto:rebecca.swist@gmail.com>>:Moin Moin!
>
> Becs von den Cowgirls hier! Grüsse aus Bristol!
>
> Es ist kaum zu Glauben, aber wir haben in 2022 under 30. Jubiläum!!! Also muss ein Turnier her. Und ihr gehört dazu - also bitte schonmal im Kalendar vormerken:
>
> Datum: Freitag 29. bis Sonntag 31.07.2022 (naja, in Wirklichkeit eher Montag - Sonntag is nochmal party…)
>
> Ort: irgendwo in der Nähe von Bristol - info kommt noch.
>
> Es wäre Klasse wenn jemand mir jemand bescheid geben kann welche Antwort am besten passt:
>
> - Jawoll, wir kommen bestimmt, und kriegen ein Team zusammen
> - Ja, wir wollen kommen, wissen aber noch nicht wirklich ob wir ein Team zusammen bekommen
> - Wir kommen vielleicht
> - Nee, wir kommen nicht
>
> Das Turnier hat 2 Gruppen: einmal die Männer (11-a-side) und einmal die Frauen / Non-Binary / etc - 7-a-side, freundlich und für alle Fähigkeiten geeignet.
>
> Bitte sagt mir doch auch bescheid mit wem ich am Besten in Kontakt bleiben kann.
>
> Bis hoffentlich spätestens denn!!!
>
> Becs xxx
> Chair of the Easton Cowgirls
>
The Pearl’d Cup: Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls Sports and Social Club
‘Dirty 30th’ Anniversary Weekend. Portland. Friday 29th to Sunday 31st
July 2022.
Dear friends, comrades, reprobates, anarchists and party people,
You are officially invited to the Easton Cowboys & Cowgirls 30th
Anniversary Celebration!
We’ll be hosting you on the beautiful island of Portland in Dorset (DT5
2NA). Expect the usual (and of course the unusual) - a full weekend of
sports, live music, dancing, chanting, kids activities, food and much
more.
There will be two football tournaments; mixed 11-a-side and
womens/non-binary 7-a-side. There’ll also be casual mixed netball.
Please let us know how many teams you’ll be entering for either
tournament.
There will be no team entry fees this year - instead individuals will
need to purchase a ticket in advance for camping (£20 adults/£10 kids
for 3 nights - book www.tickettailor.com/events/eastoncowboyscowgirls)
or book in at the on-site hotel (£75-£85 per room per night for up to 4
people, email bookings(a)admiraltyhotel.com). You will be issued with a
wristband upon arrival and adults will not be permitted to use the bar
without one.
All areas of the site are accessible to wheelchairs. There will be
showers and toilets. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead on
site.
We welcome anyone who shares our mission to challenge racism, sexism,
fascism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and prejudice. We will be
operating a Safer Spaces policy and will not tolerate any actions that
make other participants feel excluded, uncomfortable, vulnerable or
threatened. We have attached our safer spaces policy and by buying a
ticket, we assume that you have read it and agree to it.
This will be a zero plastic tournament - bring your own water bottles,
cups, plates and cutlery.
Contact cowgirls-footy(a)eastoncowfolk.org.uk with any questions.
Look forward to seeing you all there!
Love,
The Cowfolk
Hi Cowgirls,
I've just received the very sad news that Sovereign (previously Meg, as
they were known when they were playing with us) passed away this weekend.
I'll pass on details of the memorial plans when I get them.
In love,
Sal xx
Hey folks
Here are the names I’ve got for the May Day tournament in Leeds
Sensi
Harry
Mark
Jo
Wanchree
Izzy
Soooooz
The date has shifted from the 30th of April to the 1st of May so let me know if anyone else wants to come or now can’t come. We’ll probably drive up on the Friday night or saturday morning and head back on the Monday which is a bank holiday. We’ll be staying at peoples houses so need to firm up numbers this weekend
It’s always good fun and a chance to meet some of teams that will be coming to our tournament in July.
Cowlove
Harry
(+44) 07709348937
Hi all,
a few of us have been working on a safer spaces policy to send out to all
teams attending this years tournament. There have been instances at
previous tournaments where some people have felt harassed or worse, and we
want to stamp that out. Our network tournaments are a unique mix of all
sorts of people - old school antifascist punks, refugees, feminists, trans
and non-binary people and people who don't really know what's going on but
have come along to play footy and party with their mates. We want to send a
clear message that we want everyone to feel free to be their true selves
and coexist without the threat of harassment, judgment, exclusion or
prejudice.
Here's the final draft if anyone has any comments? It's mainly been
plagiarised from various other organisations policies.
Us in the comms team will also be working on some more comprehensive stuff
on 'coexisting' for the tournament programme, if anyone wants to get
involved in that drop me a line.
Linner and Peace, to send on to mens footy and netters.
BIG LOVE
SFW xx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sally Wood (she/they)
Wood & Steele
www.woodandsteele.co.uk
Greenbank5 Studios, 37A Gratitude Rd, Bristol BS5 6EH
woodandsteele(a)gmail.com | 07718 130309
FB/Insta @woodandsteele
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just got this through from our friends republica in Leeds
Hello, we're looking forward to hopefully seeing you all for 30th April for our May Day Tournament. We're looking to confirm numbers of teams in next few weeks so please can you let us know if you will definitely be attending ASAP. Please remember this is a mixed tournament so teams need to reflect that. Please let Alice know if this will be an issue.
The plan will be to start around 12:00 for the tournament which will be roughly 4 hours. This will be followed by an awards ceremony, food and drink at the Caribbean Cricket Club and then some more partying and dancing until midnight. More information will follow soon about all the details for the day. Also please let us know ASAP if you need places to stay for the Friday/Saturday if travelling from afar.
If you want to go can you let me know and I’ll figure out how many peeps are coming so I can let them know.
Cheers
Harry
:-) x
Harriet Hoare
(+44) 07709348937
________________________________
From: Peashooter-list <peashooter-list-bounces(a)eastoncowfolk.org.uk> on behalf of Easton Cowfolk Peashooter <peashooter-list(a)eastoncowfolk.org.uk>
Sent: 08 March 2022 11:47
To: peashooter-list(a)eastoncowfolk.org.uk <peashooter-list(a)eastoncowfolk.org.uk>; Netball Email <easton-cowgirls-netball(a)googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Peashooter-list] Tournament Meeting Minutes - pleased forward to your teams
Tourney Meeting 7/3/22
Apologies: Laila, Lou, Tom M, Kimmer, Ru, Jack D, Colin
[X]Present: Didier, Linner, Natalie, Holly, Sensimilia, Soooooz, Dan, Owen J, Vic, Zoe G, Sue, Becca, Lizzie W, Peace, Harry, Annie Haines, Angelo, Jesse T te, Sally Fucking Wood, Phil Goldsmith, Kazz, Ben.
Site
2x full size football pitches
2x 7 a side pitches
2x netters courts
We’ll need a TENS licence (not a big job) and Kerry (hotel owner) wants us to stick to the rules of the licence. This means we should apply for the latest licence we can. Angelo to take this on and will send his docs to Kerry. He will liaise with the folk running the bar (Sensi, Pearcey, Mandie).
The hotel is not taking public bookings for that weekend in the hope that some of us will book rooms. See last meeting’s minutes for deets. We need to let the teams know that this is an option. Peace and Soooz for footie, Linner for netters.
The campsite has been told that we will be late (voices, not amplified music) and loud. They are fine with it as plenty of room and plenty of hedges to muffle sound. Didier made this very clear. There is also plenty of room for parking both next to tents and by the hotel. Owner is saving one field for public camping. We will have it all in writing soon. There are 8 showers on the campsite as well as in the hotel. Food info to come. Previous worries about strangers rocking up are now deemed unnecessary as it’s pretty secluded and the road doesn’t go anywhere so no passing traffic.
Marquees needed for seating for catering stand and for bar, also for CACKK and merch/Cowfolk history tent. Site team will get on this as soon as everything 100% confirmed (sizes etc). We will ask Dave and Fiona as well as Owen and other contacts (Zoe G had a contact too).
Money
Dan wants 25% as a deposit to be paid now and the rest paid the week after the event.
He is charging £14,700 for the whole weekend (Friday – Monday).
We will be saving £4,000 on other costs.
We will not charge a team registration fee, just a camping fee (unless they stay in the hotel).
Kerry will supply a generator for free – we will pay fuel costs. What ampage do we need? Someone from ents team to let her know please.
To monitor payment, we will have people on the gate giving out wristbands. No wristband, no service at the bar. We will, obvs, give concessions to anyone who can’t afford it.
Kerry will have security in the hotel.
She will also make money on catering (see below).
How do we nail down numbers? This will help massively with costings.
Steve will help Vic look at the budget from the last tourney.
Food
Meat, veggie and vegan will be catered for, both on campsite and at hotel.
Hotel:
Breakfast 6-11am
Lunch 12-3pm
Tea 4-9pm
Campsite:
Breakfast 8.30-11.30am
Lunch 12-2pm
Tea 6-9pm
All meals will be under a tenner.
Need to find out rough idea of ratio of meat/veegs etc. Soooooz and Peace to ask teams?
We will ask everyone to bring own plates, cups, cutlery etc, in order to minimise waste. We will liaise with caterers re waste.
There is water access for the bar.
Name of tourney
Pearled Cup was decided, with Dirty Thirty as the strapline. Thanks to whoever thought of the name, it didn’t need a lot of discussion to get voted in!
Teams
8 women’s/non binary teams confirmed
11 men’s teams confirmed, 7 possibles. Aiming for 20 all together.
Netball have one team confirmed (plus them), will keep asking footy teams if they can bring one. Will also create teams on site if need be.
Fundraiser
Date is 23rd April
Tom has designed a ‘Hold the Date’ poster (already up in HQ) as no artists confirmed yet.
Pato and Paul looking at line-up
CACKK event in the day. See Peashooter for deets (kids’ rave).
Hall and Baggator booked
Next fundraising meeting is 21st March
Decision still to be made about catering at fundraiser. Looking likely it will be samosas though.
Fundraising activities on the night tbc. Shot for a Shot always a winner.
Décor
Add Jake
Ben also involved
Lou leading décor for fundraising – going well with some excellent plans. Can also be used for tourney.
Team fundraising
Netters (Blacks) doing a cake sale
Logo
Annie has designed three (all fab!) and will send out for voting soon
General
Soooooz to ask Neil about doing sound tech for tourney
Sally FW to lead on programs – include telling people to bring cutlery and crockery, explaining Safe Space etc
Women/non binary to send more formal invites
QR code needs sorting. Harriet from HQ can probs help with this and Phil’s going to get on it
Phil is also gonna send some words to Sal about the site, including the option of room hire at the hotel, to include in the programs.
Next tournament meeting is Monday 4th April
The Co-op gym have invited us to this event.
Any wanna be weight lifters in the group?
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
________________________________
From: Bristol Co-operative Gym <bristolcooperativegym(a)gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:26:33 PM
To: Sooz <scruffylittlevera(a)hotmail.co.uk>
Subject: Invitation to event on 9th April
Hi Sooz!
This is Guy from the co-op gym.
I wanted to invite you and any of the other Cowfolk to a unique event we are running on Saturday 9th April.
>From March 14th we will be running a crowdfunder<https://bristolcooperativegym.org/crowdfunder/> to renovate our studio so that it’s more accessible to more folks.
As part of this, we will be hosting a unique double deadlift competition<https://bristolcooperativegym.org/coopgames/> (in the loosest, least competitive sense of the word) on Saturday 9th April and we hoped some Cowfolk might be interested in coming...
We’re sending invitations to other people doing radical and inclusive fitness and fitness-adjacent work that we’ve admired from afar and hope that the event will be a chance to bring some great people together and strengthen our networks.
We will be lifting, having a nice communal lunch cooked by some of the members and going for a walk in the woods. It should be good fun.
Don’t know how many of the team do any weightlifting stuff but we’ll have time to go over technique beforehand.
I’ve attached the poster and there is a Facebook event here<https://www.facebook.com/events/3151295685093860>. Please do come along if it works for you, bring friends, and share with anyone who might be interested!
Please let me know any questions! I do hope you can come if you’re interested but appreciate it’s a bit short-notice!
Thanks,
Guy
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