Summer 08 Events and Adventures
Although no extensive tours are planned for this summer, Anna and I are going to do some travelling in the USA this summer to attend some conferences and we are also tentatively planning a handful of brief get-togethers in the cities listed below as well as a longer gathering in Colorado. Please email me if you might be joining one or more of these events and I will keep you in the loop as we plan the details! The summer's conferences are also listed below:
Boston June 24-25
New York City June 26-27
San Francisco June 28-29
Retreat Network's 2008 annual retreat, June 29 - July 1
"Contemplative Joy Comes From Humility"
The Retreat Network has announced that they will hold their 2008 annual retreat in Los Angeles to precede and coincide with IC 08, with folks coming on Sunday night, a full day Monday, and a half day on Tuesday. The retreat will be held in Pacific Palisades approximately 20 miles from UCLA campus. Limited to 30 people, double rooms. Mission: To support one another in facilitating and enhancing the individual's relationship with the indwelling spirit through the retreat experience, that all may be better equipped to serve the family of humankind.
Location:
Mary and Joseph Retreat House
5300 Crest Road
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Retreat information:
Dolores Nice
Retreat registration: Gard Jameson
IC 08, Los Angeles July 1 - 6 (UCLA), Urantia Book Fellowship International Conference
This will be a large conference with attendants from all over the world – among them many younger-generation readers who are involved with this conference in various ways.
IC 08 will be held Tuesday July 1 - Sunday July 6, 2008 at UCLA campus in Los Angeles, California. (Technically the conference starts on Wednesday, July 2nd in the morning, however, most folks will be arriving the day before on the 1st.) The purpose of this conference is to bring the idea and ideals of service to the forefront of the minds of those readers who are associated with the Fifth Epochal Revelation. We hope to raise the awareness that service is a key component of Jesus’ gospel of love for man and God and that we can all serve in some capacity as we go about living our spiritual lives. Our goal then is to entice readers with the thrilling experience of loving service by helping each conference attendee explore the possibilities of living a more service filled life. In all we hope to come to a better understanding of how service is personal, individual, and spiritually dependent on God. Ultimately we hope attendees will leave this conference with a strong desire to walk that “second mile of free service and liberty loving devotion” (P. 2084.5) and recognize that “…the ideal life is one of loving service…” (P1206.2). If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact Joe Farar. If you have questions, contact Phil Taylor or visit the IC 08 web site.
Las Vegas July 7
Salt Lake City July 12-13
Colorado July 18-21 Younger Generation Reader Gathering (in Boulder and/or Nederland).
Last summer's gathering in the Rocky Mountains was so wonderful that we could not pass up the chance to have another one! The details are still up in the air and it would be very helpful to know how many people think they can come, so please let us know if you might join us and we can discuss the specifics!
UAUS 2008, Kansas City July 24 - 27, national conference
"History, Origin, and Destiny"
The true perspective of any reality problem--human or divine, terrestrial or cosmic--can be had only by the full and unprejudiced study and correlation of three phases of universe reality: origin, history, and destiny.
The Urantia Book Page 215 paragraph 3 (Paper 19, Section 1)
Many younger generation readers are involved in putting this conference on, among them are Chris and Alice who will be getting married on the day that the conference ends at the same beautiful college campus where the conference is taking place – and everyone are welcome!
If you will be with us in Colorado, it is likely that a van will be rented for folks to carpool to this conference, which will be about a nine-hour drive.
Location
University of St Mary’s.
4100 South 4th Street
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Before the Conference
You are welcome to come early to visit Kansas City, Lawrence or the Leavenworth area. Many readers are planning to spend a few days together before the conference begins. If you would like, we can include you in our plans.
There will be a meeting of the UAUS Council of Local Presidents and Vice-Presidents the morning of Thursday July 24th. Conference participants are welcome to arrive anytime after 10am Thursday morning, however, the first conference meal will be dinner Thursday evening.
After the Conference
The conference program will end late Sunday morning followed by a barbeque lunch, outdoor activities, and general festivities until evening. You are welcome to stay extra days to see Kansas City. Dorm rooms for Sunday night at University of St. Mary can be rented for $34--two beds in each. No reservation’s necessary. Otherwise, if you want to stay in a hotel, let me know because I’m going to look into getting a group rate at a nearby hotel.
Travel Arrangements
If you arriving into Kansas City International Airport and would like a ride to the conference, please write your travel arrangements on the application, or let the conference planners know so that a ride can be arranged.
Room Amenities and Roommates
At St. Mary’s, each room is air conditioned and holds two people. Every two rooms share one bathroom. If you have a roommate/suite mate preference, please write it on your application. Unmatched roommates will be put together by gender. There are a very few number of single rooms available, first come, first serve, and the cost is extra. There are a number of hotels within short distance of the campus, including:
Days Inn (one mile away)
3211 S 4th St
Leavenworth, KS
(913) 651-6000
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites (two miles away)
120 Express Drive
Lansing, KS
(800) 465-4329
Scholarships
There will be a limited number of scholarships and discounted registrations are available for first time conference attendees, students, and youth. If you wish for a scholarship, please register early and contact Chris Wood [email protected]
Donations to the scholarship fund would be deeply appreciated. If you can, please add a few dollars to your registration, or wave the early registration discounts to contribute to the fund.
Children
Children are welcome at the conference. There will be organized child activities. If they will not be requiring their own room (i.e. sleeping bags on the floor of their parents room) then there is just a food charge of $50. If they will not be eating, then they are free.
Lead a Workshop
We are actively looking for workshop leaders. Workshops are the place to lead a study group on a topic from the book, to give a presentation on a subject from the book, to share experiences with The Urantia Book from the world, and to share ideas that have worked in your area or association and that you think others will benefit from. Please sign up to lead a workshop.
Payment Method
You may register one of three ways:
- Online at https://www.regonline.com/63336_185466J. This is the top online registration site on the web and is safe as can be. This is the best way to register if you are using a credit card.
- You can email your registration information to Chris Wood at [email protected]. Do not send credit card information by email.
- You can mail the completed registration form and payment to:
Urantia Association of the United States
c/o Chris Wood
7649 Hadley
Overland Park, KS 66204
Contact
Questions may be directed to:
Chris Wood [email protected]
Wedding of Chris and Alice – July 27
The wedding will be in the late afternoon and evening so if you plan to attend the wedding, you should probably get in touch with the conference organizers about staying an extra night in one of the dorms (it is inexpensive).
I would encourage you to try and attend one or both of this summer's conferences if possible – I know they are going to be really good ones and well worth the effort it takes to be there! The get-togethers we are planning will be great too – we hope to get together with as many younger generation readers as possible this summer!
Mike