Member Profile: Steve

2009 will be my second time at Burning Man and my first time with a theme camp.  I’m happy to make my choice Camp Stella because it’s small enough for me to get to know the other members and also that’s a sober camp, so I won’t have to spend any time caring for a bar, its patrons or trying to bond with people who are actively using.

I’m 37 and live in suburban Philadelphia, but I’m a bit restless and discontent with that.  Probably my most defining characteristic is my habit of getting far away from the suburbs whenever I can.  I began foreign travel as a young adult and moved to a different level when I started taking months off from work.  Hiking the Appalachian Trail (from Georgia to Maine) changed me forever not just from developing my love of nature but also showing me the world outside of the office, the life possible when not limited to two weeks vacation.  I can’t always describe what I like about a vacation or a trip, but it has something to do with getting really far away from my regular life.  That can be the feeling I get when I bike into the city and pass an old trolley car or the feeling I get when I hike alone into a Hmong village miles away from the nearest road or English-speaker.

I got that feeling at Burning Man last year.  I know I was vaguely inarticulate about why I enjoyed myself so much when talking to other people, but that doesn’t diminish my feelings.  It seems like when we’re on the playa, I have so much in common with so many of the people there.

I’m looking forward to being a member of the Camp Stella family, the Bunny march, the nonstop techno and all of the vibrant little things that make the Playa so special.  I’m also serving this year in the Emergency Services Department as a firefighter, so that will help me feel like a member of the Black Rock City family as well.  I’m not artistic at all, I can’t put a costume together to save my life and couldn’t even pimp the bike I used last year (the fact that it was only lent to me helped assuage that guilt).  But through the ESD and Camp Stella, I can feel more like a participant this year.

G2G, time for a water truck shower!

Member Profile: Mojo

2009 will be my third Burning Man in a row and second time being a part of Camp Stella.  I am very grateful that there is a Camp Stella. It is great to be able to enjoy the whirlwind of community, great art, fire, drugs, Dadaism, natural beauty, exquisite desert light, self-assessment, centered-ness, self-reliance and renunciation that is Burning Man without doing any drugs oneself.  Drugs suck.  I love being able to come back to a drug-less eye in the middle of the Burning Man hurricane.  That’s Camp Stella for me.

I love to be around people in the program who still know how to kick up some dust.

I’ve been clean and sober since 1989.  I am 53 years old, am about a 5 on the Kinsey scale, have meditated daily for twenty years during the previous century,  have composed some electronic music, am very practiced in maintaining my sanity, like rocks and pretty things and am getting my groove back.

Member Profile: Peter

Member Profile: Daddy Don

I am from the great AA group of West Hollywood, CA.  Sober since 07/02/88.

An avid burner since 2001, also known as Ranger Goodwood.  Arrive early to BM as a Ranger, scope out where we are and wait for the crowds to arrive.   I am the first up with morning coffee and my morning meditation bowl.  Life is good…and an adventure is always waiting to happen.

Member Profile: Cuapi

Hey folks!  2009 will be my 3^rd year going to Black Rock City, and the 3^rd year making Camp Stella my home base.  Having a clean and sober place to call Home is what makes Burning Man possible for me.

I’m 43 years old, single, and live in San Francisco—a frustrated bohemian returning to his roots after 13 years squelching them in the corporate world.  Burning Man gives me an opportunity to tap into my creative juices.  I dig costuming, and it’s one of the aspects of Burning Man that I really enjoy.  I also love musical theatre, cabaret, reading books, and snuggling with my cat Carmen.  I’ve been in recovery since February of 2001, and presently have over 4 years continuous sobriety, for which I’m supremely grateful.

At Burning Man, I feel privileged to provide meetings to sober Burners, and love being a Lamplighter, the Billion Bunny March, the World Naked Bike Ride, the Temple Burn, skating at Black Rock Roller Disco…and all the raw creativity and beauty out there.  I hope to reach into the greater Black Rock City community in new ways this year…and I’d love to have a Playa romance someday.

Member Profile: Kaboodle

I’ve been sober for 4 years now and this is my fourth year with STELLA. I was amazed that there were people in San Francisco who went to Burning Man and stayed sober.

Originally, I originally went to Burning Man about 10 years ago with a couple of friends and an RV. I count it as my half year because it was only over the long labor day weekend. It took me 10 years and getting sober to come to the Playa again. I am so thankful that Stella is here to allow me to come to this amazing place safely and with my sober friends.

I love hanging out with the newbies, exploring the city, the Billion Bunny March, volunteering at the Café and when I volunteer with the Lamplighters I get really emotional. There are so many things that I love about the burn.

Off the playa, I live in San Francisco and active in the sober community and bike riding. I love this city and the diversity that comes with it.

Member Profile: Sprout

Member Profile: Max

I’m 40, trans and queergender in San Francisco.

I’ve been to coming to Burning Man since 2004 and have camped with Stella the last 4 years.

My interests include activism, anarchism, bicycles, bdsm, cars, computers, coffee, dykes, fags, gender, genderqueers, goth, internet, movies, music, photography, piercings, poly, punk, queers, s/m, tattoos, trans, and vegeterians.

I’m been clean for 10+ years and I’m looking forward to a mellow and fun time on the playa.

Member Profile: Turtle

I’ve been lucky enough to have been going to BM since 2000. This will be my third year camping with Camp Stella and it’s been an amazing experience every year. I love the atmosphere of a camp that is both queer and clean and sober. Also having campmates who range in age from their early 20 to their 60′s and who have been from all over the country has made it a great place to come home to after being out on the playa.

I’m 34, an atheist, sober for 15 years, poly, queer and the spouse of Max. I’m currently living in SF where I am involved in social work, transgender communities and the kink/leather community. At Burning Man I love doing Lamplighters, helping people on the playa with art work and finding the hidden live music camps and making sure the virgins have sunblock and water. In the past I’ve camped with Comfort & Joy and have been involved in art projects. I also love putting on my purple bunny chaps and ears and going to the Billion Bunny March.

I look forward to welcoming new members of our camp and people coming to our camp to enjoy our space.

Member Profile: Kevin Minogue

I’m looking forward to driving out to Black Rock City from Sante Fe, New Mexico.

This will be my 4th Burn with Stella.

My interests include gardening, dancing, talking, laughing, games and gambling.

I’ll be celebrating 28 years of sobriety as I head home from Burning Man, Memorial Day.

Looking forward to reuniting with my old Stella friends and welcoming new members of the Camp.

Member Profile: Emo

As a founding member of Camp Stella with Jefferson in 2003, I am very proud to see our camp flourish and become an important sober and drug-free zone at Burning Man.

Since then Burning Man has changed my life in small ways, and in others, deeply profound.  I got out of my shell, learned to embrace my inner misfit, and strived to become more radically self-expressive.

I am a fire performer, and have in previous years been deeply honored to performed in the Fire Conclave, and in different fire operas.  This year I am not performing publicly, but will light up my fire in spontaneous and private fire performances on the Playa.

My absolute favorite thing at Burning Man is the Billion Bunny March, and I strongly encourage everyone to participate.  Bring your bunny ears, and I hope I see you at Camp Stella, whether you’re my campmate, or just visiting.  2009 is going to be an amazing year in the BR

Member Profile: Jefferson (Mayberry)

Howdy.  I started Camp Stella with Emory in 2003.  Since then I’ve only missed one year.  I have formed some great friendships with my fellow Stellites and Im really honored to be your fearless leader again this year.

I’m 39, live in San Francisco, unemployed, and single.  Learning to play the harmonica, hula the hoop, and walk on stilts were all gifts of Burning Man.  I’m a vegetarian, environmentalist and a bicycle advocate.

Can’t wait to see everyone out there!  Really excited to be reunited with Stella vets and to get to know the newbies too.  Here’s to the best year yet!

Jefferson

Members

Dues paid members profiles will appear here.

To pay your dues, send a check or money order to:

Andrew Sweeney
1584 Fulton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
Dues schedule:

• Dues start at $75 and remain $75 through our first Work Day.
• Dues are $100 after the first Work Day through the last day of July.
• Dues increase to $125 on August 1st.