Many--if not most--modern Druidic organizations have as part of their structure local groups called "groves." This term pays homage to early descriptions of ancient Druids conducting their rituals in groves of trees and is--more specifically--a continuation of a usage popularized by fraternal Druid groups of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Like other Druidic groups, FoDLA uses the term "grove" in a local context. Unlike most other groups, however, in our fellowship, the word "grove" is less a reference to a group of people and is more akin to such words as "temple" or "nemeton." In FoDLA's usage, a local grove is organized by an initiated and ordained Druid of the Fellowship and provides--at minimum--community ritual on the nine festivals celebrated by FoDLA (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh, the solstices and equinoxes, and the Conclave of the Druids). The Druid organizing a given grove is given a great deal of latitude in delegating responsibilities for the operation of the grove and the conduct of ritual. But it is important to recognize the distinction between a grove of FoDLA and a Wiccan coven or even a grove of a Neopagan Druid fellowship like ADF. Our fellowship insists on the presence of an ordained Druid in the grove...not because the presence of a Druid is necessary for communing with the mighty Powers and the Land (quite the opposite), but because a trained and experienced liturgist is invaluable in ensuring a meaningful ritual experience for both regular attendees and newcomers.
It is important to understand two further and related points. First, public ritual is by no means the only ritual in Neo-Druidism. Here again, the opposite is the case. Personal and family devotions--however simple--are the foundation of Neo-Druidism as a reconstruction of ancient Celtic paganism. Whether the individual member or family has a well-developed altar in the home or just a candle and perhaps an incense burner, the development of a regular habit of taking time to commune with the deities, ancestors and other spirits and to offer them hospitality is paramount. But further, even if there is no grove in one's community, nothing prevents members from gathering for worship--even spontaneously--or from forming reading groups to work through materials on the recommended book list and so on. The forming of informal e-mail lists or bulletin boards to provide mutual support among isolated members is another possibility--the Internet affords many opportunities to create support systems of this sort, from hosted e-mail lists to blogging sites to bulletin board software.
For those who find themselves called to leadership, the first step is to inquire about Druidic training. The "Training" site on the fodla.org website provides most of the relevant information. The bylaws of the Fellowship describe the regulations attending on grove formation and operations.
Todd Covert - August 2006