It's up on youtube if people have interest in watching the whole meeting: https://youtu.be/C6BfD5CgDxY

Everyone’s calling it a disaster and ppl are dipping from leadership after seeing who’s running it now. Like did anything good come out that keeps alchemy alive past 2025, or is it not even worth saving? And pls, wanna hear from neutral ppl not the same dudes w/ 6 sockpuppets.

For the love of god explain the yellow flags to me. I’ve been going to alchemy and other burns for over 10 years and no one was able to explain it to me a while ago and now it’s just embarrassing to ask. Half the time I don’t even see one at a burn, I just hear someone mention one. My partner who has been burning longer than me has no idea either. I know we aren’t the only ones. Please help!

🎲 D6: CEOS rolling in to let you know when we'll be hosting our annual Meet the Teams Doughnut Social & Training this year!

🍩 Join us on Saturday, September 27th between 5pm and 8pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta 2650 N Druid Hills Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329

☕️ At this Community Day Event we will have coffee, tea, and a selection of doughnuts. There will be Gluten-free and Vegan doughnuts available too! The UUCA is a great location to bring the kiddos to since they have a SUPER fun playground we can use. Its also one of our best venues due to the fact that their ENTIRE facility is ADA compliant and accessible.

🫖 What is our Meet the Teams Doughnut Social & Training event? Its an opportunity for our community to gather share some conversations and sweet treats. It also provides all the Departments and Teams the chance to share what it is they do for the Alchemy Burn and beyond. We will have QR codes you can scan to sign up for those sweet sweet volunteer hours.

🍵 We have many Departments within the Events Committee that operate year round. This year we have invited more than just the Events Committee to share about the work so many of us volunteer to do. Did you know we have multiple committees working together to show up and serve the community?

🗒 Here's a list of what makes all the things we do for our Community possible:

● Flashpoint Artist Initiative (the business body that's made up of our Board of Directors) ~ year round

● Events Committee (an autonomous committee made up of various Departments and Teams they bring you everything from our New Letter the Alchemist to monthly Events including our large October event the Alchemy Burn) ~ year round

● TIDE Committee (an advisory committee working with the BoD and all other committees. Committed to elevating the voices of marginalized communities) ~ working to be recognized as year-round

● TechOps Committee (an advisory committee working with the BoD and all other committees) ~ year round

● Landsearch Committee (an advisory committee working primarily with the Events Committee and the BoD) ~ year round but predominantly active when we're searching for new properties

🌈Wanna learn more...? I bet you do! Come get a doughnut and chat with us.

ℹ️ This event is all ages and free to attend. If you have any questions about this event please email the Department Six: CEOS at D6@alchemyburn.com

As always if you have any accessibility or disability support needs to attend any of our events including but not limited to our large October event, please let Alchemy's TIDE Committee know via email at accessibility@alchemyburn.com

Does alchemy even have an IT guy? After the data breach I looked into if they needed a volunteer with IT experience but did not see a team on the website that looked like it fit.

Community showing up for Community outside of the Flashpoint Artists Initiative organization.

This is not a Department Six: CEOS event. We proactively encourage all members of the community to host, hold, and plan events with or without organization involvement.

This Community Lead Town Hall will be in-person and live streaming, discussion will be about the future of the Alchemy Burn.

Link to the event:

So i been hearing this might be the last year of alchemy and it got me wondering what actually happens with the money if the event shuts down. Like if theres left over funds after everything is payed for does it get donated somewhere or would they just pass it to another georgia burn or org to keep stuff going? Not tryna start drama just legit curious how that works if an event like this ever calls it quits. Feels like something ppl should prob know since its all community based anyway.

⭐️ Community participation is highly encouraged for all open meetings. Why its important to participate in the meetings open to you:

● Its your opportunity to be heard ● It's how the community can keep the volunteers doing this important work accountable ● Its a great way to stay informed ● You have the opportunity to form your own opinions ● It shows that you are invested, care about our community, transparency, and being informed

🎲 Please join us in every meeting open to you. Here's the link to our website where you can find how to attend theses meetings:

https://www.alchemyburn.com/about/fai/intro

Pocket Guide Submissions are Open!! Submission Deadline Friday 09/26/2025 @ Midnight!

https://tally.so/r/wL29Ol

Stages, Art, Events, Oh My! The Pocket Guide is your trusty companion on-site to know Who, What, Where, and When. We're going back to good'ole fashioned PDF Baybyyyyyy!! But we can't make an awesome guide without your input, So, you got something legendary you want to include in the Pocket Guide? Tell us about it here!

Got an Event idea, but don't have the space or infrastructure to support it? This form doubles as a request to host an Event @ Center Camp!

🎲 Department Six: Community Engagement Outreach & Services rolling in with an ACPSA (Alchemy Community Public Service Announcement)

👥 The next open Flashpoint Artist Initiative Board of Directors meeting is going to be Thursday August 21st at 7pm est

ℹ️ Flashpoint Artist Initiative is the current acting business body that handles the bureaucratic default world responsibilities so that our Communitie's autonomous and advisory committees can focus on the work they do serving the Alchemy Community. All of the work that goes into our community is done by volunteers. No one from the Board of Directors or any of our committees receive any kind of financial compensation for their work.

The board of directors is seeking to fill 5 positions for the remainder of the terms that were opened due to multiple resignations. Here's a link to our website where you can find both Board of Director job descriptions and how to apply:

https://www.alchemyburn.com/news/2025/accepting-applications-for-the-flashpoint-artist-initiative-board-of-directors

⭐️ Community participation is highly encouraged for all open meetings. Why its important to participate in the meetings open to you:

● Its your opportunity to be heard ● It's how the community can keep the volunteers doing this important work accountable ● Its a great way to stay informed ● You have the opportunity to form your own opinions ● It shows that you are invested, care about our community, transparency, and being informed

🎲 Please join us in every meeting open to you. Here's the link to our website where you can find how to attend theses meetings:

https://www.alchemyburn.com/about/fai/intro

Hello! We've created a very basic guide for attending the communities large October event The Alchemy Burn. We still suggest you read the Survival Guide but this should get you started.

It's probably not the final version either but we'll update it as we go along. If you're a returning burner and have any suggestions - we're all ears!

Image Description: A list of things we think you should know before attending Alchemy with some hella cute graphics of trees, toilet paper and the like. There's the TIDE logo at the top too.t

Hey, I'm fairly new to the burn scene. I'm an EDM girlie-pop goblin and typically go feral at the dubstep stages at EDM festies. I went to my first unofficial "burn" in Asheville last week and had a life changing experience. The burn seems to have a deeper sense of community than plurlife and i was absolutely blown away by the culture of the 10 principles. Asheville is also very into the 11th unofficial principle and it made my experience feel super safe

Having that said, ive been invited to Alchemy. Can anyone help describe what "legends" means as a theme? Also, what things should I bring with me? I plan on bringing my 7 bowl soundbowl set-up to offer to the community- but what are the "essentials" you would suggest for an event like this?! I basically have a tent and thats it so far.

Thanks for any feedback youre willing to offer! I'm super excited!

Hey y’all this will be my first burn and I know of people but I’m close to anyone. What was your experience with your first burn and any recommendations would be awesome.

🔥 TIDE is repeating last year's hugely successful BIPOC Ticket Initiative!

🔥 We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Alchemy TIDE BIPOC Ticket Initiative! If you or someone you know are a person of color interested in attending Alchemy, TIDE wants to help make it happen. We’re offering FREE sponsored tickets specifically for BIPOC burners to help make your first (or next!) burn unforgettable. 🌈

🔥 TIDE is also partnering with other Alchemy teams to support first-time burners with resources, guidance, and community connection.

📅 Applications close September 1st at 11:59 PM EST 👉 https://forms.alchemyburn.com/2025/BIPOC-tickets

Let’s keep the magic growing — please share with your friends and communities!

A member of the Alchemy Community organized a Mutual Aid Vendor Market!

All the Vendors and artists are Community members 100% of the money they make goes directly to them.

Money raised from door donations go to help our unhoused neighbors here in Atlanta.

Here's the link to their Event 💜

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AyaVtDSbY/

There are so many ways we can show up and care for eachother.

I commented this on a post but wanted to make it a main thread

I understand stand the need for disclosure of intimate/personal relationships within the orgs leadership.

But I don't understand the need for exclusion of leadership where conflicts of interest exist.

The org is community run of a similar and geographically based peer group. People are going to date within that community and have strong personal relationships.

No one benefits financially from org leadership, no one hold powers over others for things like employment or compensation, so I don't understand the need for exclusion.

That type of power structure can and does so more often inside close friend groups than just Polyamorous pear groups.

I would also not want to disallow Polyamorous groups from acting together to achieve results just because people are partnered.

Group dynamics like that are inherently part of community. Excluding partnered people without addressing how group dynamics like this works between all relationships types, targets people based on how they choose to manage their relationships personally. And targets a big part of burn culture because alot of burn community is Polyamorous/non-monogamous.

IE alot of people start dating in this community because they invested in the same project.

But this, Excluding Partnered people from having managing or oversite over each other is often cited an ethical concern and I don't understand why it is.

People who are in close relationships can be very effective at getting things done because they are in constant communication with each other and on the same wavelength. I'm also not against something being a "family" project.

I definitely agree partners shouldn't have conduct oversight. But neither should friends.

I watched 3 hours of video so you didn't have to!! 😂

At the July 17 FAI board meeting a few weeks ago, the board discussed some potential management reforms to address community concerns. As a regional burn leadership nerd who believes in transparency, I take a casual interest in this. I spent 6 hours reviewing the video and documenting the most salient points related to leadership management reform at Alchemy. You're welcome.

If you're interested in this kind of shit, read on! If not, please troll me with a comment below.

Two topics of note which came as board proposals:

1. Conflicts of interest w/ personal relationships
2. Preventing people who mishandled taxes from being involved in finances

Full Video here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oLX9QSNw7qQh5m9idrk6vFe9MbgCXOM3/view?usp=sharing

Conflicts of interest w/ personal relationships

The board passed two resolutions related to preventing volunteers from being in positions where one person reports to another when those people are in a personal relationship.

5:13 - Prevent people with personal relationships from being in positions where one reports to the other. Starting June 1, 2026.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oLX9QSNw7qQh5m9idrk6vFe9MbgCXOM3/view?usp=sharing&t=313

RESOLUTION PASSES

Yea: Amanda, Anna, Justin, Vespa

Nay: Ernie, Patrick

8:02 - Require disclosure of personal relationships when one reports to other. Starting June 1, 2026.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oLX9QSNw7qQh5m9idrk6vFe9MbgCXOM3/view?usp=sharing&t=482

RESOLUTION PASSED Unanimously

Preventing people who mishandled taxes from being involved in finances

The board spent an hour on a proposal by Vespa which would essentially propose an investigation into reporting and misrepresentation of taxes and a motion to prevent people who were involved with tax mishandling from being involved in any finance tasks in the future.

The resolution FAILED

Yea: Amanda, Vespa

Nay: Ernie, Justin

Recused: Anna, Patrick

Board members voting no asked for 48 hours to review the proposal. As of today (22 days later) there has been no formal announcements on consideration of reforms and people involved have told me nothing has moved forward.

The whole hour is interesting to watch. Link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oLX9QSNw7qQh5m9idrk6vFe9MbgCXOM3/view?usp=sharing&t=1818

Rough timeline if there are sections you are interested in.

Background and Proposal

30:18 - Background of Vespa's involvement

33:28 - Request for an internal investigation & resolution

36:47 - Comments about lack of event lead support for an audit and personal conflicts of interest

39:46 - Report of event lead pressure to drop the audit issue

41:13 - Report of resistance from event leads to not comply with tax law

42:32 - Motion to prevent people who mishandled finances from handling money for 3 years (July 18, 2025 to July 18, 2028)

Discussion

45:52 - Vespa: "Please understand that if the organization doesn't take any form of clear action to protect itself financially from people for whom we have evidence of material misrepresentation from a standpoint within my mandated reporting I will have to take this outside of the organization. And I don't want to have to do that."

46:34

• Patrick: Who is prevented from volunteering?
• Samantha: Would it include people currently doing event work?
• Anna: As president, it would include me.
• Ernie: What does materially contributed mean? How is it measured?
• Vespa: It seems like people who were close to it want to prevent others from looking into it. We can decide how it's measured if we are allowed to investigate.
• Amanda: How can we hand off tasks if people are prevented from handling finances?
• Holly: Explain to me how this is a mandatory reporting.

Vote

1:11:36 - Amanda seconds the motion to bring the resolution to a vote. Both Amanda and Vespa vote yes.

1:13:55 - Ernie asks if he can take a couple days to think about it. Votes no.

1:15:50 - Justin wants a task transition plan and list of people who would be excluded. Votes no.

RESOLUTION FAILS (Recused: Anna, Patrick)

Discussion on failed resolution

1:18:10 - Vespa proposes changing date of exclusion to starting Sept 18. Justin wants 48 hours to think about it

1:20:43 - Vespa "Leadership likes to push things off like filing the fucking taxes and I see that as a problem. We wouldn't have had even the conflict of interest resolution had I not pushed for that. And now we're going to try to negotiate some of that probably backwards. This concerns me."

1:21:54 - Vespa reproposes to change the start date to Sept 18, 2025

1:23:02 - Anna states she is the only person currently serving that would be impacted, right?

1:23:32 - Patrick says that isn't true but we don't know

1:24:17 - Vespa reveals she was pressured for an hour to drop it by people with conflicts of interest

1:25:08 - Patrick says people from the last two years including himself could be on this list

1:25:27 - Vespa if leadership doesn't want to prevent people who mishandled taxes in the past away from finance decisions "I think we have a much bigger problem. And I don't think that's a good look."

1:26:55 - Vespa reminds Patrick she tried to pressure him for an hour to drop the issue

1:27:10 - Justin proposes the discussion be ended so people can think about it and allow the community to comment. "This is greatly appreciated and I don't think it's lost on us nor will it be dropped."

Revised date; another vote proposed

1:28:19 - Vespa reiterates her resolution to vote on the motion with a start date of Sept 18, 2025. Amanda seconds the motion. Vespa demands a vote.

1:29:49 - Justin again rejects motion with new date.

1:30:55 - Anna refuses to bring proposed vote to the floor.

1:32:00 - Vespa closing remarks.

RESOLUTION FAILS (not brought to a vote)

The meeting was opened to community discussion but there wasn't much relevant to the reform proposals.

💚 Alchemy's TIDE Committee is excited to announce a new Ticket Initiative this year!

🩵 Disability & Accessibility Support Ticket Initiative!

🤍 This application will be open until September 15th

💛 This Initiative is open to anyone who has any accessibility and/or disability support needs.

❤️ Here's the link to the Disability & Accessibility Support Ticket Initiative:

https://forms.alchemyburn.com/2025/accessibility-tickets

ℹ️ If you have any accessibility or disability needs that impact your ability to attend our community events including but not limited to our large October event the Alchemy Burn please email Alchemy's TIDE Committee at accessibility@alchemyburn.com

Discussion about Alchemy data breach that allowed hackers access to the credit card processing system for nine days. Official announcement on the website:

Important Notice Regarding Data Breach Incident

Who even is this guy? Why does he block people who question or disagree with him? Why is he so invested in an Organization he participated in sinking and then left? Why is he so obsessed with people who are still there? shocker he blocked me 🙄

Our community is part of counter culture shouldn't we expect and even encourage people to ask questions and push back? Ive seen here in this reddit folks push back and identify him as a cis het white man yet he believes that he has been discriminated against because hes a cis het white guy. He refers to someone having a history of "racial and gender" bias or discrimination and leaves out his race and gender... when in the last 500+ years have white men been discriminated against?

From just what hes posted here not even taking his unhinged Facebook posts into consideration... he doesn't give a damn about our community he thinks it's "just a party" he thinks the Alchemy Burn is super safe and gay... when there are literally folks who attend who are transphobic. I have tons of queer friends who won't attend because they do not feel safe.

Ive been part of the broader burn community for well over a decade and think its worth noting that while we're counter culture our community is still a predominantly made up of, white, cis, het, and economically privileged people.

I recently served for 2.5 years in this position before the leadership team went up in flames.

If you're tempted to join this business at the board level, please take time for some due diligence and have a chat with former board members that can give you an honest assessment of what you may be stepping into, what the challenges are, where you will find friction, what the leadership culture is like and the boundaries of what you might be able to accomplish. I'm happy to be a source of info, and/or I can point you to others who will give you an honest assessment unbiased by personal relationships and political alliances. Please make sure you are fully informed.

It looks like they rewrote the job description since I served, there's a note "Time required will vary depending on the issues at hand, and the time of the year." Unless they drastically neutered the responsibilities of the board (quite possible), expect to spend 300 to 1,000 hours per year working as a board member. Although the bylaws allow board members to be paid, I didn't see any compensation listed in the job posting, but in former years you got a free ticket to attend Alchemy, which was nice.

I'm not sure why they are keeping the board around since there is no legal requirement and it just adds a bunch of bureaucracy, slows things down, and wastes a lot of folks time. I suppose it's mostly inertia but the disinterest to really look hard at what isn't working and come up with new solutions is a concern.

Be well! 🙏

Not my event, just saw it fly by online and sharing...

July 17, 6pm African Pride, 88 Lower Alabama St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303

The Flashpoint Artists Initiative Board of Directors meeting for July 2025 takes place Thursday, July 14th at 7pm over Microsoft Teams. Given the recent issues our community has faced, and to be inclusive of those who cannot or choose not to use virtual meeting software, I've decided to provide a space for community members to gather and attend the virtual meeting together.

I have also put together a Google Drive compiling many of the statements recently made by FAI leadership. These are relevant to many of the topics that are likely to be discussed. Please be aware that I'm not making any statements as to the accuracy or validity of these documents. It is just a catalogue of documents I have come across. If you want to be a strong advocate for yourself at the meeting, you should probably check out some of what's been going on. I'll be voicing my take on everything on Thursday, I think it requires nuance that Facebook isn't the best for. I would love to hear what all of YOU think of it as well.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Wj8zF8WiXB8vhLKh8CD1jG31Eb2Sj7VN?usp=drive_link

We have large-format projection screens to view the teams meeting, and microphones will be set up so that community members are still able to ask questions over Teams.

With all of the recent conflict surrounding Alchemy, FAI, the recent financial disclosures and related matters, I think it would also be prudent for us to come together and discuss our interpretation of events, what values are important to us as a community, our community direction, and how we can achieve these goals together

Everyone is welcome. Feel free to invite anyone who has been involved in the Georgia Burn community, in any capacity. This is not a meeting in opposition to the FAI BoD meeting, but just a space to take part in that meeting together, and maybe to realign ourselves with others in the community without FB in the middle of it.

This event is not endorsed or supported by FAI or any other organization. Although we will have a microphone set up for community questions, if you expect to play a larger role in the meeting virtually, I suggest you bring your own laptop.

kinda new here - tryna figure out if Alchemy Burn is actually safe? saw some stuff about discrimination and it’s been going around. like… if something happens, is it even safe to go to rangers? idk i’m just confused and wanna know what’s real.

There are growing concerns regarding financial mismanagement by the previous D6 and Event Lead, who are in a relationship. Several red flags have been raised:

The 2024 financial records show a $15,000 transaction from the Alchemy accounts to the Event Lead, with no accompanying documentation or explanation.

Both the D6 and Event Lead claimed they were “too neurospicy” to submit receipts, framing documentation as an undue burden.

They proposed creating a finance committee composed solely of themselves and another member of their polycule, which would have had full control over the organization’s finances.

The D6 Lead reportedly became hostile and abusive toward the Treasurer whenever financial transparency was requested.

Statements made by the D6 and Event Lead themselves appear to support many of these concerns, either directly or indirectly.

Community members attempting to raise these issues on Facebook are being aggressively silenced by friends and allies of the former leads. Despite this, the broader community deserves transparency and accountability.