This is the retreat confirmation letter, which contains all pre-retreat information including lists of planned workshops and special activities. Click here to view the letteras a PDF file, or continue reading to view the HTML version. Also see the carpooling bulletin board on the forum.

Also please click here for last-minute announcements.

 

The Women & Religion PCD 2012 Annual Women’s Retreat
Women & Religion, Pacific Central District
Unitarian Universalist Association

Welcome Women! We look forward to seeing you at Welcoming Spirit—Celebrating Our Herstory, March 2-4 at Enchanted Hills Camp near Napa, California.

This letter confirms your registration and provides information you will need in advance to make the most of the retreat:

• General Information
• Special Events, Workshops, and Activities
• Things to Bring
• Directions to Enchanted Hills
• Map of Enchanted Hills

See you soon!

Beverly Morgan (Registrar) and the Retreat Planning Team
registrar@womenandreligionpcd.org

info@womenandreligionpcd.org

http://www.womenandreligionpcd.org

(916) 974-1052

General Information

Check In

Check in begins Friday at 10:00 AM in the Dining Hall, where you will receive your information folder and room assignment. Check out time is 2:00 PM on Sunday.

Sleeping Accommodations

Every effort will be made to make your stay a pleasant one. Room and roommate assignments are based upon stated preferences and special needs. Enchanted Hills provides blankets, sheets, pillows, pillowcases and one washcloth and towel per participant.

Meals

Seven delicious meals will be served in the Dining Hall—Friday lunch through Sunday lunch. Be sure to inform us immediately of any special food needs you may have, if you have not already done so.

Special Events, Workshops, and Activities

Come ready to nurture your spirit. Feel free to choose from the planned activities or spend time alone or with a friend.

Special Events

• The play Winter Wheat: The Betrayal of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her Woman’s Bible will be performed by Laurie James.
• Quilter and cartoonist Genny Guracar (“Bulbul”) will show her quilt, Women Standing Tall.

Scheduled Workshops

• UU Women and Religion Movement: Roots and Branches
• Quips, Gibes, Excoriations, Stones, and Mud That Fuel the Superiority of Margaret Fuller
• Creating Cartoons on Fabric For Your Protest Posters
• Finding Sophia: Re-Discovering and Rebirthing Divine Wisdom In Our Spiritual Lives
• Reflecting On Our Journeys
• Judgment Of Time: An Accounting of Women’s Lives
• Threshold Singing

Workshop offerings are subject to change.

Additional Activities This Year

• Friday afternoon Dance Meditation – 75 minutes of solo dancing accompanied by energizing dance music.  Allow time for warm up and cool down. (Wear clothing in layers. Bare feet, socks, or dance shoes. Bring/drink plenty of water.)
• Friday afternoon Emotional Freedom Technique class
• Yoga class, Saturday and Sunday mornings, 1 hour before breakfast
• Beading (bring old or special beads, broken jewelry)
• Online Tools For Social Action (bring your tablet or notebook; join us online at the retreat and athttp://womenandreligionpcd.org/retreat-information/25-online-tools)
• Offer your own activity (please confirm with us in advance)

Regular Activities

Affinity Circles meet three times during the weekend. They provide semi-structured time for conversations around the retreat theme and an opportunity to get to know a few women more deeply.

Ritual and Worship: There will be opportunities for ritual and worship throughout the weekend, including Friday evening ingathering, Sunday worship, and the closing ceremony. If you would like to help create these magical moments, be sure to let us know.

Women & Religion Gathering: On Sunday, we will have our Women & Religion annual gathering. Co-conveners Phyllis Boyson and Jan Bernstein Chargin will facilitate. All are encouraged to attend.

Making the World a Better Place: We’ll have a table for petitions, pamphlets, and other information on ways to help our world.

Book Exchange: Recycle your books! Bring a book (or leave a small donation) and take a book home.

Mini-Boutique: Each year we provide space to honor our entrepreneurial spirit. You are welcome to bring items you wish to sell such as hand-crafted goods, jewelry, or self-published books. We request that you donate 15% of your sales to Women & Religion PCD.

Silent Auction: Bring your gift quality items to add to the silent auction tables. The auction also includes a buy-now table. Proceeds go to Women & Religion PCD.

Things To Bring With You To The Retreat

For Your Body

• Plan on layers. The weather this time of year is fickle. In past years it has been warm enough to wear shorts and yet one year it snowed!
• A warm jacket (it is cold after the sun goes down)
• Some of us dress up a little for Saturday evening (this year, the Laurie James one-woman play)
• Comfy shoes. One of the buildings used for activities is at the bottom of a steep hill. Onsite transportation is available for any who need assistance. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need a ride.
• Unscented toiletries. Please note that many of us have chemical sensitivities. We ask that you do not bring scented items including incense, candles, personal products, etc.
• A flashlight (for your safety—some pathways are dark after the sun goes down)
• Ear plugs (to go to sleep with)
• A quiet alarm clock (to wake up to)
• A hair dryer

For The Fun Of It

• Drums, rattles, musical instruments: you never know when an opportunity to make music might arise
• Camera – you don’t want to miss any memories
• Snacks, juice or wine to share at the Social Hour before dinner. While Enchanted Hills provides wonderfully delicious meals, many of us also bring our own favorite snacks to nosh on when the mood strikes.
• Altar items for Sunday’s worship – small and special is best
• Books for the Book Exchange
• Your entrepreneurial Items to sell at the Boutique
• Items for the Silent Auction: new or gently used treasures
• Checkbook or cash (for the many fun things listed above that you may want to buy). Also, it has become a tradition to “tip” the Enchanted Hills staff after lunch on Sunday and you may want to save a few dollars to add to the basket.
• Requested items for any additional retreat activities you may choose to attend (see the list above under “Additional Retreat Activities This Year”)

 

Special Request

• We need to borrow a video camera that can record for two hours or longer. Please contact Annie or Geri if you have one we can use — see contact information above.

Driving Directions

Google map & directions

From San Francisco/Peninsula:

Take Hwy 101 North across Golden Gate Bridge

Go 20 miles to Hwy 37 exit toward Vallejo and Napa

At Sears Point, take Hwy 121 exit to the left

At Big Bend, turn right to stay on Hwy 121-12 to Napa

Hwy 121-12 will run into Hwy 29

Turn left onto Hwy 29 North to Napa

Exit Redwood Road/Trancas Exit and make left on Redwood Road.¹

At the first fork of Redwood and Dry Creek, keep left, staying on Redwood.

At second fork of Redwood and Mt. Veeder Rd. keep right. Now you are on Mt. Veeder Road.² Watch the street numbers painted on the road and it will take you approximately 20 minutes to reach the Enchanted Hills sign on the right at 3410 Mt. Veeder Road.

¹ (Go 4 miles on Redwood Road, when it turns left, continue forward onto Mt. Veeder Road)

² (Go 6 miles on Mt. Veeder Road. Camp driveway will be on your right.)

 

 

From East Bay/Oakland/Vallejo:

Take Interstate 80 East beyond the Carquinez Bridge and Vallejo

Take Hwy 37 exit to Napa

Go past Marine World to Hwy 29 North to Napa

Exit Redwood Road/Trancas Exit and make left on Redwood Road

*Follow directions as from San Francisco/Peninsula

 

 

From Sacramento Area:

Take Interstate 80 West toward San Francisco

Just after Fairfield, take Hwy 12 West

Turn right onto Hwy 29 North to Napa

Exit Redwood Road/Trancas Exit and make left on Redwood Road

*Follow directions as from San Francisco/Peninsula

 

 

From Northern Napa County:

Take Hwy 29 South toward Napa

At Oakville, turn right onto Oakville Grade

Oakville Grade intersects with Dry Creek Road

Turn left onto Mt. Veeder Road

Go about 2 miles on Mt. Veeder Road. Camp driveway will be on your left.

 

From Santa Rosa Area:

Take Hwy 12 East

Past Kenwood, turn left onto Trinity Road

**Trinity Road turns into Dry Creek Road at the down grade

Turn right onto Mt. Veeder Road

Go about 2 miles on Mt. Veeder Road. Camp driveway will be on your left.

 

When you reach the camp entrance on Mt. Veeder Road, follow the driveway down past the parking lot, left and around the cabins, and past the dining hall driveway (the angle is too sharp to turn). Turn around and then turn left into the driveway you just passed, and drive up to the dining hall where you will check in. There is a small parking area there. After checking in, return your car to the parking lot that you passed earlier on the way in.

Click the image below to see a map of Enchanted Hills Camp. The map is not to scale.