&indexHeathens should gather together...bring their families together...and get to know each other. Its through this regional communication, cooperation, and bonds that our strength will grow. The following are gatherings in or around the Heartland. All of these events are worth attending. And they all lead up nicely to Lightning Across the Plains on Sept 24-26, 2010.

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OPEN OSTARA GATHERING - March 13-14, 2010 - near Kansas City
Info on this Message Board & Facebook

Last year's Ostara brought out 32 heathens. This year's Ostara Gathering has a more regional focus. Volkshof Kindred, Tyr's Helm Tribe, JBK, and Hammertree Hearth will all be present. And other groups in the region are looking at attending. There will be eggs, egg games, an Ostara Faining, and a Symbel. Jotun's Bane will be hosting this event.

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MIDWEST THING 4 - Sept 3-5, 2010 - near Minneapolis, MN
Yahoo E-List & Facebook

Hosted by Volkshof Kindred up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Last year's event was attended by about 35 people, from several kindreds. There's a folk symbel, a faining, and a more formal symbel, as well as Viking Games, and great conversations. This year all meals are included with the fee for admission. Jotun's Bane Kindred will be attending this event.

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LIGHTNING ACROSS THE PLAINS - Sept 24-26, 2010 - near Kansas City
Main Website & Facebook

Last years event gathered 120 heathens (80 adults and 40 children), with many
kindreds and hearths represented, including Jotun's Bane, the Franks, Volkshof,
White Wolf, Tyr's Helm, Hammertree, MHS, and others. We're hoping for an even
better turn out of quality folks from around the region this year. Jotun's Bane will be hosting this event.

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Good strong kindreds attend all of these events, so you can expect that leaders and representatives from kindreds in our region will be meeting and talking at all of these events. At Lightning Across the Plains 2010, we should be in a good position to hold our first Heartland Thing with kindreds and tribes from across our region.

If you know of a gathering not mentioned here, please feel free to post about it. We will add additional gatherings as we learn about them.

Mark Ludwig Stinson