NPKA Steersman spoke with Mark Leonard, Director of Ministerial and Family Services via telephone. Mr Leonard stated that policy changes were in the works and should be implemented shortly. The Steersman was asked to file credentials along with information requirements of the NPKA. This packet was mailed on 7/18/03.

from The Saga of the NPKA Vol 2 Issue 3
(The Saga is available from Wyrdsway.com!)

Though our numbers seem to be rising on a weekly basis (we number almost 20 Kinsmen strong now), obstacles seem to be popping up to meet our every advance. In a bit og irony, our Runemaster was given 60 days keeplock time for having a copy of the Elder Futhark in his pocket. In addition to that, we have been labeled skinheads because one or two of our Kinsmen have shaved heads. However, geing intelligent men, we manage to find humor in the powers-that-be's ignorance and general overall stupidity thatmakes itself more evident on a daily basis.

Our biggest obstacle has been in getting our study groups and worship time. Though the Catholic Chaplain has backed us, the administration seems to choose to ignore our requests and letters of inquiry, and is forcing us into the courts, even though the Division of Ministerial and Family Services says to give us our study groups and worship services. So, if it's a court order they want, it is a court order they shall get, as I know the Gods are on our side and we shall be victorious! No other outcome will be satisfactory and we shall fight until the end to accomplish our objectives.

[a month or so later...]

Well, yet another month has passed, and still we are not allowed to have religious education classes or to hold Blot. And of course, they are still playing the game of "let's pat frisk the Odinists" and search their cells just for fun. It's all part of being a non-traditional religion which they know nothing about, yet they assume they know everything.

However our staff liaison, Chaplain Ann Narcisa appears to be tiring of the pettiness and silly questions she's being asked [by the administration], and isstanding up for us, telling the powers-that-be that we are not a gang and are a legitimate religious faith. Perhaps they shall even start to believe it.

The Kindred itself is thriving quite nicely andwhile we remain small by most standards (only 15 or so), we remain strong. We are in the process of holding elections to replace the temporary committee of Elders with a permanent committee, and are striving to avoid the jailhouse politics in the process.

We have also started a voluntary stamp collection amongst the Folk so that once a month we might order books and pamphlets from Wyrd's Way so that our less financially-able Kinsmen can get materials to study from a Kindred Library. We have high hopes for this project, because it supports both our Kindred in knowledge and the NPKA with a bit more funds. It seems to be a win-win situation.

Our Runemaster, Lucas Whaley, who almost two months ago was given 60 days keeplock time for having a pamphlt with Runes in it, was released and had the charges against him expunged from his record. Apparently, the powers-that-be too the Elder Futhark to be, and I quote, "Aryan Nation Gang Related Material" even though Chaplain Narciso testified at the hearing that the Elder Futhark was religious, not gang related. On appeal, everything was overturned, and I suspect that someone in the capital thought that it might not really be a good diea to say the Elder Futhark was gang material. So, chalk anotherone up for us.

Finally, in a great show of Kinship, on Kindred member, Dusty Horton, bestowed upon another of our Folk, Lucas Whaley, his old Hammer, adter he'd ordered a new one. Now, this might not seem like much, but Luke does not make much money and simply could not afford his own. It is kind acts such as this that make Kindreds strong, and these types of things should not go unnoticed.

18 Lenting 2253 RE
(as sent to The Saga of the NPKA)

Kindred Greetings to all TruFolk! Cedric-Gunni is a fairly new Kindred and apparently the first to form behind the wall in New York. We are actually about six months old, but already we number 13 Kinsmen strong, and we continue to grow more every month.

We have had a hard battle with both the state Department of Corrections and the Division of Ministerial and Family Services, but thanks to John Post, we appear to be making great headway, and hopefully we will soon be recognized as a legitimate faith by the state. This will allow us to finally have religious education classes and the ability to hold Blot and Sumbel, and even have our families join us for certain feast days and festivals. Truly the Gods are watching over us!

At present, on of our kinsmen, Phil Hickey, is taking the Path of the Gothar course offered by the Temple of Wotan, and he will be our Gothi when he completes the course. Our Runemaster is Lucas Whaley, and he has been a great help in educating just about everyone, and without whom we probably would not exist. I am the Steersman, and though I seem to be spending more time dealing with the administration and less time studying, I hope to turn that around once we get officially recognized. We are the Elders of the Kindred for now, but all Kinsmen are working to get the word out about our faith. We may be the first Kindred in New York, but we will not be the only one. It is our hope that the others in New York see our Kindred updates and go out and form their own Kindreds throughout the state.

On 23 Horning 2253 RE, we received a memo from the Director of Ministerial and Family Services that basically says that the State of NewYork is acknowledging Odinism as a valid faith group, officially approves hammers, and notes that we will most likely be permitted to rune stones sometime in the near future. The members of the Cedric-Gunni Kindred are quite pleased, but will continue to move forward to get our classes and be permitted to hold blotar, andwe will not rest until we are given the same rights and privileges as all the other faith groups.

For Family, Faith and Folk,
Peter Sylvester, Steersman
Cedric-Gunni Kindred