I don't think it does quite back off completely. It used to be that small events which were only advertised to the local populace, via the local newsletter, and not in Pikestaff, were exempt. That appears to be no longer the case. I can think off hand of at least three local groups (Stonemarche, Mountain Freehold, and Glenn Linn) who have held such events in the last year or two.
Re: From the corporate treasurer