JUNE 2006 UPDATE
FROM
THE WILHELM REICH INFANT TRUST
&THE WILHELM REICH MUSEUM

Table of Contents

2006 Summer Conference
Summer Hours
Book Burning in the U.S., 1956
Leisure Time Around Orgonon
Evening of Music (7/15)
New Titles in the Bookstore
Orgone Energy Bulletin in Print
2006 Natural Science Program
Become a Friend of the Wilhelm Reich Museum

The Wilhelm Reich Museum and The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust thank you for your interest and support. For those of you new to this list, we assure you that none of the names on this e-mail list— nor the names of Museum visitors, conference attendees, or bookstore customers—are shared with any other individuals or organizations. If at any time you wish to be removed from this list, please let us know.

All of our previous Updates, dating from March 2004, are archived on our website at www.wilhelmreichmuseum.org.

FINAL REMINDER: If you're attending our Summer Conference and haven't yet registered, please register as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly. 

2006 SUMMER CONFERENCE - ORGONON
JULY 17 – 21, 2006

      THE LEGACY OF WILHELM REICH:
      NEW SCHOLARSHIP, PROJECTS, AND DIRECTIONS

As The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust moves forward into the next half-century of safeguarding Reich's legacy, this year's Summer Conference will focus on current work and works-in-progress here in America and in Europe. Please join us for what promises to be an exciting week of discussion and good company as we look ahead to the future. For a detailed schedule of events, see the March 2006 Update. 

SUMMER HOURS

Summer hours for tours of the Orgone Energy Observatory begin on Saturday, July 1st. While our property is open to the public every day, the Observatory is not. And unfortunately people show up at various hours, days, and times of the year without first checking our hours, assuming the Observatory is open for tours. We never like seeing anyone disappointed, so please note our hours so you can plan your visit:

Our 175-acre property, with its trails and nature walks, is open daily to the public year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In late July and into August our fields are filled with wild blueberries, and we encourage people to come over for some free blueberry picking.

Tours of the Orgone Energy Observatory:
July & August: Wednesday - Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.
September: Sundays only 1 - 5 p.m.
Admission: $6.00 for adults & children over 12
                 Children under 12 are admitted free.

Special tours at any other time are available by appointment only: admission is $100.00 for groups of up to ten people.

The Conference Building, which houses the Museum & Trust offices, is open year-round Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

50 YEARS AGO IN 1956: THE BURNING OF REICH'S PUBLICATIONS

As we approach 2007, people are understandably focused on the 50th anniversary of Reich's death, and access to his Archives, sealed for 50 years per Reich's instructions in his Last Will and Testament.

But we shouldn't forget that 2006 has its own share of milestones: this year marks the 50th anniversary of Reich's trial and conviction for contempt of court, the destruction of Reich's publications both at Orgonon and in New York City, and the destruction of orgone energy accumulators:

May 3,4,5,7 - 1956
Trial of Reich for contempt of court in Portland, Maine.

May 7, 1956
Reich is found guilty of contempt of court.

May 25, 1956
Reich is sentenced to two years in prison and the Wilhelm Reich Foundation is fined $10,000.

June 5, 1956
Three orgone accumulators are destroyed at Orgonon.

June 26, 1956
Several boxes of Reich's publications are burned at Orgonon under the supervision of FDA agents.

July 23, 1956
On this day and in subsequent days, panels for about 50 orgone accumulators are dismantled by S.A. Collins & Sons in Rangeley, Maine, a building supply company that had been building accumulators for several years.

August 23, 1956
Several tons of Reich's publications - including hardcover books - are burned under FDA supervision in the Gansevoort Street Destructor Plant, a New York City Department of Sanitation garbage incinerator located by the Hudson River, a block south of W. 14th Street. (This facility was torn down a few years ago as part of the neighborhood gentrification.) 

COMBINE THE SUMMER CONFERENCE WITH LEISURE TIME

When planning our summer conferences, we try to set aside ample free time so that attendees can enjoy the Rangeley Lakes Region. We also encourage those who are coming to make a short vacation out of their visit, by arriving the weekend before the Conference or staying the weekend after it ends.

Reich fell in love with the area when he first visited in the summer of 1940. And so will you. The Rangeley Lakes Region has so much to offer. The lakes themselves - Rangeley, Cupsuptic, Mooselookmeguntic, Upper Richardson and Lower Richardson, Umbagog, Aziscoos, and Kennebago. Canoeing, kayaking and boating. Wilderness camping on the islands and shores. Flyfishing on the lakes, ponds, and rivers. Hiking and backpacking in the mountains (the Appalachian Trail is just a few miles south of both Rangeley and Oquossoc). Exploring the backroads of Maine. And visiting historic sites and museums.

To find out more about visiting places in the Rangeley area that were significant to Reich's life and work, click here.

If you need any assistance in planning your leisure time during your visit, let us know what your interests are and we'll be happy to offer you some suggestions.  

EVENING OF MUSIC AT ORGONON: SATURDAY NIGHT - JULY 15

One suggestion is to arrive the weekend before the conference begins, spend the days exploring the lakes, mountains and forests, and come to Orgonon on Saturday for our third annual Evening of Music. Four separate, lively performances featuring four different musical styles: jazz piano, bluegrass fiddle, flute, and acoustic guitar. Seating is limited, our previous two shows both sold out, and will undoubtedly sell-out again this year. And our musical artists are all back for a third year:

Jazz pianist - Andy Kahn
Fiddle players - Mike Schrader and his daughter Sara
Flutists - Sara Lloyd and Sue Downes-Borko
Acoustic guitarist - Mike Blythe

Admission is $10.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. Refreshments will be served. So come on out for what promises to be another unique and enjoyable evening. 

NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR BOOKSTORE

      INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEX-ECONOMY AND ORGONE-RESEARCH: VOLUMES 1-4 (1942-1945)

         &

      ANNALS OF THE ORGONE INSTITUTE: NUMBER 1 (1947)

For more information, click here. 

ORGONE ENERGY BULLETIN

Within a few months, all volumes of the Orgone Energy Bulletin (1949-1953) will also be available in bound-Xerox. We'll have more information about this is our update in August. But feel free to contact us if you're interested in ordering these materials. Knowing the demand ahead of time helps us to more efficiently budget our time and resources.

One final note on all of these bound-Xerox materials: We've contacted Lightning Source--our print-on-demand publisher of many of Reich's books--regarding the possibility of having them produce these re-issues of the International Journal of Sex-Economy and Orgone-Research, Annals of the Orgone Institute, and the Orgone Energy Bulletin.

Unfortunately, without significant demand for these materials--i.e. hundreds of copies per volume--the start-up costs and out-of-pocket expenses for the Trust, the profit-participation margins, and other considerations make such an endeavor financially unfavorable for us at this time. 

2006 NATURAL SCIENCE PROGRAM

In 1989 we began a Natural Science Program, funded largely by grants. Programs and activities related to nature and the environment are offered free to the public year-round, attracting hundreds of people to our 175-acre property. One of the most popular programs takes place each Sunday afternoon during July and August when people gather at our Outdoor Sheltered Classroom to learn in a practical, experiential way about subjects pertaining to the natural world and to the environment at Orgonon. Click here for this year's schedule of Sunday Programs at Orgonon from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE WILHELM REICH MUSEUM

Perhaps you've been a Friend in the past, and your membership has lapsed. Or you have visited the Museum. Maybe you ordered books from our bookstore. Or attended a Summer Conference or one of our functions in New York City, or some other event at the museum: a nature program, a lecture, an Evening of Music, or one of our other community-oriented activities.

Perhaps you visit our website or receive our monthly e-mail Updates to apprise yourself of developments as the Museum and Trust move ahead into the future.

Or maybe you have simply found personal inspiration and sustenance in the life, work, and writings of Dr. Reich.

Whatever it is that touches and moves you about Reich - or about his home and property at Orgonon - we are asking you to translate that into a pledge of financial support by joining Friends of the Wilhelm Reich Museum.

• Individual: $25
• Family: $35
• Business: $40
• Contributing: $50
• Sustaining: $125
• Donor: $250
• Patron: $500
• Life: $1000

Members receive the Friends' annual newsletter, free admission to the Orgone Energy Observatory during visiting hours, a 10% discount on purchases in the Museum bookstore, and advance notice of new publications. Patron and Life members also receive free passes to the Orgone Energy Observatory for persons accompanying them. 

UNTIL NEXT MONTH

Please share this Update—especially our 2006 Summer Conference announcement—with colleagues, friends and family who may be interested in the life and legacy of Wilhelm Reich and the good works of the Museum and The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust.

Thank you again for your friendship and support.

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