Remember congregation summer picnics? (and other ramblings) (page 2)

LongHairGal

I remember them. Some of the people would be "nicer" than they were in the hall, but the cliques were still basically the same. If you were not popular it wasn't enjoyable to be there. I think the only ones who liked it were those who wanted to play softball or frisbee.

I overheard somebody say what's the point in going? They would only be eating their lunch all by themselves.

It may have been well intentioned but it was a waste for me. I would stay for two hours then leave. I would rather be home watching television. It is more upbuilding.

LHG

Snoozy

I don't know if others did this but our congregations weren't aloud to keep score when they played ball...

I'm sure that had to in some way..but later you could hear some of them whisper.."We Won"...

And I remember a few "unbelieving husbands that were roped into the JW religion because of all the 'Fun" they had..picnics..fake New year parties..etc...

I think it was the social life that roped a few of them in.

If they ended that..I bet a few of them left..they hadn't stopped it when I left and they used to have some good old times!

Snoozy..

ps...we had potluck dinners too..the picnics didn't cost anything to the society..maybe they wanted the money we spent on the food for the picnics...Or maybe they were afraid we would have a chance to talk to each other...and discover there was a life outside of the JW religion?

I quit!

I left before they did away with the picnics and get togethers and didn't know they had done that. It is probably a good thing that they did because it was a good recuiting tool. I don't think anyone ever became dub just because they went to a informal gathering but I think in some case it was the thing that gave them the final shove into signing up. It amazes me how the Watchower wants to get involve and control everything the witnesses do. I kind of gives you a glimpse into the party atmosphere that will permeate the new order after the big A.

bronzefist

It became a picnic for the pedophiles at some congregations.

brzfst

uwishufish

I remember one of these at a local state park. It was also a cookout. The steak we ate, that day, was provided by the local Waffle House through the efforts of one young male bros in the congo. This same bro now serves as a sub CO. Just think of the irony In 30 yrs he went from serving stolen steak to serving wtsbs.

pratt1

This is an interesting topic. I grew up in Brooklyn NY in the 70's and 80's not far from bethel. We always had at least 2 outings a year, one to a state park, and another to the farm up in Wallkill. We even would make a stop at the Brotherhood winery on the way home.

Needless to say, this was stopped once the Borg advised against large gatherings. Too bad, it was funny to see the elders get drunk on the wine tasting at the winery.

We also had many large gatherings and ski trips that were organized by local brothers within the circuit. Sometimes they were at a popular disco and the ski trips were usaul in the pocoonos in PA. First the ski trips were banned, too much drinking and the opportunity for immorality. Most of the people were 18 - 25 so everyone knows that they can't be trusted around sex and liqour.

Then after a particularly infamous gathering at a popular disco that was scheduled the Saturday of a District Assembly, a huge witch hunt insued where any one who attended was questioned about liqour consumption and "loose conduct". Needless to say, Large gathering were banned.

It was a shame because it actually was the most enjoyable thing about being a dub, the chance to get together with all the young people in the circuit and have good clean fun. In reality there were few instances where someone actually did something considered wrong. Most of us we good kids and pretty naive, about sex and drinking.

The one bad experinece I remember is that once me and two other friends worked with a brother who owned a travel agency and he set up a ski trip for about 60 of us dubs.

Two days before we realized that he had embezzeled the money, and we were going to have to cancel the trip.

Fortunately the ski resort felt sorry for us and allowed us to pay a much discounted rate, although me and my 2 friends had to forfiet our free trip for organizing the affair.

At the end it all worked out although the brother who embezzeled our money was reproved.

new boy

Great thread

I remember great ones back in the 50's and 60's............Then in 1969 I went to Salina KS. 50 publishers (30 of which were over 70 years old)............we had one picic. Me and the old ladys sat around and ate corn and potato salad.

Next week the PO.........He looked like Elmer Fud...had a part in the KM about organized gathers.....he told us we wouldn't be doing those anymore!

I found out later that KM come out because I guess "the brothers" were renting a skating rink on monday nights in So. Calif. Hundred of kids were there and yes some were in their cars in the parking lot, kissing each other................That just how the society works, a few people screw up 6 million have to pay.

candidlynuts

back in the 70s when our cong would have picnics the unbelieving mates of some witnesses would be invited..they'd have dinner with the congregation, play volleyball, get to know the people the wives would drive around in cars with in service etc.. usually a good impression was made on them.. now days, an unbeliving mate at an event is enough to get the event cancelled and the organizers counseled. you have to earn the privelege of assocation!

Sunspot

LONG before I was baptized and was an established "study", myself and my (then five) youngsters were invited to these cong outings and had some great times. This was back in the late 60's-early 70's.

Get down to the mid-80's and the crackdown and the atmosphere at the outings were definetly changed for the worse. In the early 90's, the last cong picnic we had....I had a g'son by then, and I was preparing to meet with the School Spec-Ed Board about some of the federally-mandated services that he was not receiving....and one of the area's most knowledgable child advocates was AT this picnic. She was a JW.

We had some things to discuss pertaining to this upcoming meeting, and while everyone was playing softball or swimming, we went for a walk to where the swings and some quiet benches were.....and made some notes to be in sync for the School Board meeting the next morning. It came out a few days later that we were reported to the elders for being seen (we weren't TRYING to hide) leaving the group, and we were asked what we had that was so important to talk about! They asked HER and never approached me!

Here we were, both grandmothers, never in trouble with any committee....and being "questioned" about this! The entire thing was ludicrous! It happened to be the last cong picnic....from that time on, it was by invitation only, to the home of an elder up the road from here, and not everyone in his bookstudy was invited. It was always by bookstudy groups from that time forward.....so we didn't GET to "widen out" as had been previously suggested, and got to be with the same-old JW "friends" for one thing after another.

It cast a very bad feeling on the whole idea of getting together with "our brothers and sisters" from that time onward. It was also three of these get-togethers" that I was not invited to, that stung me very badly, especially when others would be showing pictures of them at the KH and when those NOT invited would be ased if they wanted to SEE these pictures. Ooops, I just remembered another one, a Bridal shower that I didn't know about....where a sister asked me why I wasn't "there" the day before. I simply told her that I wasn't invited, and let it sit right there in the silent air as I smiled at her.

Just before I actually left the WTS (1999) there was another such incident concerning a wedding of an elder that I wrongly assumed that ALL were invited to the reception. I found out two days before (I had NEVER heard of being invited to the wedding and told to stay home for the reception) it was all very elite I was told later. But I fought tears all the way home from the Thursday night meeting and I never DID attend the wedding.....and I gave my gift to them away to someone else months later. It was all just so tacky in inapproprite to me....all this CONTROL over nice people that did not deserve to be hurt OR treated in this way. The "love" was quickly trickling away.....IF it had been there to begin with.

So from the late 60's where things were FUN----to the miserably controlling organization it has become----the WTS has only itself to blame for the problems THEY have caused. Shoving their people into boxes and telling them to "stay there until WE tell you what WE SAY you can and cannot do"....just isn't kind OR Christian. Not at all.

LongHairGal

Sunspot:

Your timing of late 80s-early 90s is about right when I noticed the atmosphere got really unpleasant.

But, I was never really in the thick of things and was rather marginalized - partly due to being a single woman and partly due to being outspoken. You seem to have been more in the thick of things and probably had more friends. So, for you the hurt was worse. In my case, I knew about the cliques and attitudes long ago and I behaved accordingly. They are rather pathetic in their thinking they are going to legislate who talks to who. The nerve of them to ask what your conversation was about! I would have told them it was none of their business! I never really trusted myself to let my guard down around anybody when they had their "picnics". I would never drink alcohol because my tongue would "loosen", ha, ha. People would repeat everything you said so you had to watch. So, screw them and their picnics and their phony brotherhood!

As far as not being invited to certain weddings: be glad. Take the money and go buy yourself something foolish rather than give it to some ingrate who is not a real friend.

LHG

Remember congregation summer picnics? (and other ramblings)

Share this