Hail and a happy new year to the members of The Asatru Community and to all those who follow an inclusive heathen path.
As we begin a new year, I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year (the bad and the good), thank all of you and give you a glimpse of our plans for the future.
Though I do not wish to dwell on the disappointments or failures within the organization for transparency I wish to restate this. In early 2022, TAC's structure and leadership collapsed largely due to internal conflicts over handling accusations of financial misconduct. Although investigations found no evidence of misappropriation, there were shortcomings in documenting and separating power for approving and spending funds. The individuals who had been dismissed were removed for conduct unbecoming of a leader rather than misappropriation and are thus not eligible for future leadership roles within the community.
Though it may be naive and optimistic, I firmly believe that previous leaders were acting on their individual ideas of what was best for the community, and this was largely a breakdown in communication resulting from pride and hurt feelings rather than malice. In reflecting on our journey, I am reminded of the power inherent in forgiveness and the peace it brings. True progress is born not only from innovation but also from the profound act of letting go. As we step into this new year, let us collectively embark on a journey of healing, for ourselves, for our community, and for the world we aim to impact.
Thank you to those who have been with us through the struggle. Thank you to those who have seen our growth and returned to our community. It has been a painfully slow process bringing the organization back this year and I am so grateful for all those who have helped The Asatru Community heal and grow.
Our community has struggled as we have restructured and reorganized. We have also had growth and success. In February we went from a single lingering board member to filling all three of the required board positions allowing us to update and maintain our 501c3 nonprofit status. With the help of volunteers we were able to make significant improvements to the website including making it mobile compatible. At the end of April, we held a ceremony to celebrate the ordination of eight Gothar, some who had waited more than a year to be recognized for finishing their clergy training. We have slowly filled the positions of the board. We are working to engage more with the community including branching out on new platforms with our YouTube channel and TikToK. We have had our ‘Monthly Rune Reading’ series with Gothar Phoenix since June on TikTok and last month we debuted the first episode of our Saga’s Stories and Songs Series on YouTube
Looking forward, I am very excited to share a glimpse of our plans for the upcoming year. We will be continuing our monthly rune series and hope to make monthly children's videos for our Saga’s Stories and Songs Series.
Our most exciting announcement is the return of our Clergy Training Program which has undergone significant updates. The first cohort of our UPDATED Clergy Training Program will be starting this month, January of 2024 and the next cohort will start in April 2024. Those who were already enrolled in the program have received an email about how the updates will be affecting them. Those who had applied prior to Dec 2023 will receive an email in the next few days with their next steps.
This is an exciting time and I am so thrilled to have you with us on this journey. Let's leave the past behind and embrace new paths and dreams as we move into 2024. May our actions show resilience and our commitment to progress.
Here's to a year of possibilities and adventures, shaping a future that reflects our best.
With warmth and gratitude,
Cortney Greyhawk
President of The Asatru Community