Consciousness and Being Present

Fellowship of Friends | Being Present

How TIP Aids Children Following Tragic Events

Based in Northern California, Fellowship of Friends is a Fourth Way esoteric school founded by Robert Earl Burton over four decades ago. It utilizes practical exercises and methods in teaching the practice of living in the present. Fellowship of Friends also engages in community work by donating to charitable organizations such as the Orange County chapter of Trauma Intervention Program (TIP).

Founded in 1985, TIP is a national non-profit composed of trained volunteers who provide emotional assistance to victims of traumatic events and their families, especially within the first few hours after such tragedies. These events can include the accidental death of a partner, violent crimes such as rape, and suicide attempts.

TIP volunteers aid victims regardless of age. For example, TIP has instituted a program called "TIP 4 Kids" specially designed to meet the emotional needs of children. In cases of traumatic events, children are often denied the emotional support they need for a number of reasons. These include the incapacity of parents to provide support due to their own physical or emotional injuries, the absence of parents due to incarceration, or the inability of first responders to attend to their needs due to their preoccupation with the emergency or situation. 

In such situations, TIP volunteers can provide assistance by providing on-scene support, educating parents about dealing with children following a tragic event, and following up with counseling services for traumatized children as needed.

Subduing the Lower Self and Following a Practice of Being Present

Fellowship of Friends is an intentional community encompassing 1,200 acres at the spiritual center, Apollo, in the Sierra Nevada foothills. A main goal of Fellowship of Friends is to provide people with practical ways of connecting with their higher selves and exploring a conscious approach to life. At the core of this is a focus on being present as a daily practice. 

This form of mindfulness requires a conscious choice between darkness and light and involves quieting the lower self’s continuous activities. One of these activities of the lower self takes the form of a steady stream of thoughts and words, as manifested by the “imagination.” Imagination observed without identification creates the possibility for something higher. This process of regularly tending one’s thoughts and actions offers a perception of the moment where the lower self diminishes and a space is created for one's true self to emerge and flourish.

Alcouffe Center Upcoming Event - Tractor Days

Fellowship of Friends is an esoteric school that helps people better their higher selves. It provides the tools, guidance, and a body of knowledge necessary for increasing consciousness and living more in the present. Fellowship of Friends is also an active supporter of charitable institutions in California, including the DOHIF Alcouffe Center. 

The Alcouffe Center in Oregon House, California, is a project of the Dobbins-Oregon House Improvement Foundation (DOHIF). It is run entirely by community volunteers, and funded through donations. This 10,000 square foot community center has activities for families and people of all ages, and offers a venue for groups and meetings of all types. 

The Alcouffe Center routinely hosts community events such as Tractor Days, a springtime outing that will be held May 7 and 8 in 2017. Families can learn more about vintage farming practices at special exhibits, see restored antique tractors, enjoy tractor rides, and taste a wide range of food and drink. Children can drive pedal tractors, ride ponies, or play on the large straw pyramid.

Alcouffe Community Center Supports Local International Community

The spiritual center of the Fellowship of Friends organization is Apollo, which features an award-winning winery, among other amenities. Fellowship of Friends members have transformed the 1,200-acre property in Oregon House, California, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, into an international community and are committed to supporting local programs such as the Alcouffe Community Center.

Affiliated with the nonprofit Dobbins-Oregon House Improvement Foundation, whose mission is to promote community education and activities, the Alcouffe Community Center relies on charitable donations, minimal use fees, and fundraising efforts to cover operational costs and further its goal of serving the Oregon House community.

The center offers a variety of community events and activities, including an annual crab feed and family movie nights, in addition to hosting a number of club meetings, including the Cub and Boy scouts. The community center’s most recent achievement is the construction of the Floyd R. Douthit Memorial Park, which contains a Little League baseball field, a playground, and a picnic area.