Resources:
Gifting is a custom of many societies of giving visitors and friends small tokens of friendship. This custom began with PLoP'97. PLoP attendees should bring about 20 small gifts that represent themselves, their work, or their companies. Suggested gifts range from hats to T-shirts, from toys to trinkets, from pens to pencils, from abaci to zirconium.
Over the course of the conference these gifts should be presented to other attendees. Whenever the giver feels moved to make a gift. Getting started might be a little awkward, as we each determine when to give what to who. After the first few gifts, it will become less so. And it will likely feel risky, ``is my gift good enough?,'' ``what if they don't have anything to give me?,'' ``what if I receive something from someone that I don't want to give anything to?'' This also will reduce after the first few.
The benefits of deepening our connections to the other pattern folks at PLoP, and the wisdom into the them and ourselves will greatly exceed our discomfort at getting started. Expect to receive some insight into your fellow attendees, from who gifts you and with what; as well as insight into yourself when you receive a gift.
The weather at
Allerton Park for PLoP is typically in the 60-90 degree
Fahrenheit/15-32 degree Celsius range with the possibility for rain.
The Allerton Park buildings are air conditioned. Events and
activities take place both inside and outside on the lawn.
To raise our creative spirits, outdoor games are an important part of
PLoP. Plan on going outside occasionally to frolic on the grass, and
plan your attire for comfort and convenience. While suits aren't
banned, you might be the only one wearing one!
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Allerton Park has beautiful grounds and facilities well suited to PLoP. However, it was not designed as a modern conference center. This has two practical ramifications that participants should be aware of: