UU Women's Event Calendar Central Midwest District Women and Religion February 22-24, 2008 Winter Woman Spirit at NorthShore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, Illinois "Dancing on the Threshold of Balance: 20 Years of WomanSpirit" Keynote Speaker: Rev. Shirley Ranck, author of the 1986 "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" curriculum and the new 2007 "Cakes...In Ancient Times." Contact: Karin Janowski http://www.womenandreligion.org Drum out the doldrums! Beat away the blahs! The Facilitators' Circle of the Joseph Priestley District Women and Religion and the UU Fellowship of Pottstown invite you and the women of your congregation to A Drumming Circle for Women On Saturday, March 8, 2008 Join Marcy Francis, Minister of Healing through Music, Movement and Touch at The Christian Association at Penn, as she and her professional team lead a drumming circle from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday, March 8, 2008, at the UU Fellowship of Pottstown 1565 S. Keim Street Pottstown, PA 19465 www.uupottstown.org Bring your sister, daughter or granddaughter over 10 years, a friend or neighbor to join you in learning the rhythms and sounds of the African traditions of drumming and whole-body involvement as a way to shake out unhappiness and suck in the unbridled joy of celebrating life! Pack a brown bag lunch (drinks and snacks will be provided), wear loose clothes and comfortable shoes and bring your own hand-held rhythm or percussion instrument. If you don't own one, Marcy will provide instruments for you to use. Enjoy hours of drumming, dancing, and movement designed to imbue you with a happy, healthy spirit. Advance registration and payment (mail by February 21st) $15 per person, $10 for your guest under 16 years; At the door, $20 for adults, $15 for 16 and under Space limits us to 60 participants: sign up and pay now to be sure of your place! Babysitting will be available for pre-registrants only!!! Send your check made out to The JPD of the UUA to Jennifer Mossholder, 110 Ava Circle, Gilbertsville, PA 19525 Questions? call Jenn at 610-906-1928. DOWNLOAD FLYER (PDF). JOSEPH PRIESTLEY DISTRICT’S WASHINGTON D.C. AREA To hold their Spring Equinox Wheel of the Year Service – March 23 All over age 10 are welcome! …the perfect day to celebrate the pagan roots that explain why a rabbit produces gifts of eggs. It’s Easter. Our theme is Einstein’s “Spacetime” Liberation, based on his viewpoint that our task is to free ourselves from the illusion that we are separated from the other living beings of Earth. We must widen “our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature”. We meet at 5 P.M. in the Fireside Room of River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation. See www.rruuc.org for directions. Please, bring your own cup and snacks/drink to share. -- Helen Popenoe, hpop@verizon.net Central Midwest District UU Women's Connection April 19-20, 2008 Allerton Revisited...50 Year Celebration! SAVE THIS DATE! That's when we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Allerton Institute. Begun in 1958 by the Universalist women of Illinois before the merger of the Unitarians and the Universalists (1962) and formation of our predecessor organization, UU Women's Federation, the Allerton Institute Conferences inspired women through the late 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s with cutting-edge themes and discussions on subjects such as sexual freedom, the end of the draft, legalization of abortion, gay liberation, breakthroughs in women's rights and women’s changing roles to name but a few. Is it any wonder they are remembered so fondly? Planning for the 50th Anniversary Celebration at Allerton is underway. This one-time gathering at Allerton Retreat Center celebrates the cutting-edge programming provided at the retreat center near Monticello Illinois--just named "One of the Seven Wonders of Illinois." The "institute" lives on in the UU Women's Connection Spring Conference held at Pilgrim Park near Princeton, Illinois yearly. (See June 6-8, 2008) Still, predating the Unitarian and Universalist merger, there was something very special about the Allerton times. Mark your calendar and join the celebration. Contact: Kathy Kline, Chair http://www.uuwomensconnection.org/article.php?fid=120 Central Midwest District UU Women's Connection June 6-8, 2008 Spring Conference. Pilgrim Park Retreat Center, Princeton, Illinois. Women of the Clara Barton Guild of Joliet Illinois UU Church have just begun planning. Details TBA. Contact: Trish Nolan, Chair Southwest UU Women International Convocation of UU Women Friday, February 27th to Monday, March 2, 2009 Hilton Americas - Houston, Texas For Unitarian Universalist Women and Progressive Women of All Faiths The purpose of the Convocation is to bring together and strengthen connections among Unitarian Universalist women from around the globe at a four-day Convocation to be held in Houston, Texas in February, 2009. Other progressive women of faith are also invited to participate. This project is funded in part by the Fund for International Unitarian Univeralism. The Goals of the Convocation: To take stock of challenges that lie before all women around the globe To showcase programs that serve as models for achieving equal rights, opportunities and security To explore and learn from women’s accomplishments in the past and how their work has improved women’s lives To discover common interests, emergent ideas and priorities for the future To worship together and connect spiritually with our individual and collective power, caring and humility To adopt an action plan that will engage UU congregations and women’s groups to form global partnerships and move forward together toward women’s equality, social justice and world peace. Contact: Convener http://www.icuuw.com/ Send your event info to Gretchen. Include photos and links!