2019 Colorado Quaker Women’s Retreat

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April 26-28 at Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center, Allenspark, CO

Please register by Monday March 25 (preferably earlier) so we can plan, and inform the Highlands of our headcount. (You may check with the registrar after that date to see if space is still available.)

ThemeHow can we empower ourselves and support other women?

Initial queries:

  • Are we aware of oppression we experience as females, and how it affects us? What is our spiritual response?
  • How do we as females experience joy and authenticity?
  • Do we see other women as competition or as comrades in our journey?
  • How do we empower other women while communicating across cultural lines or barriers? How do we stand up against sexism and other forms of oppression?
  • Do we experience lack of empowerment in our Quaker meetings? What can we do about that?

We welcome more ideas for queries to share during our worship sharing times. 

Proposed Schedule:

Friday evening – arrive anytime after 4pm (but don’t worry if you can’t get there until later!)

Bring a snack to share. We will gather as a circle to introduce ourselves and our theme.

Saturday morning
Yoga or Tai Chi
Breakfast
Workshop led by Arlene Bromwell, Ph.D.: Using Mindful Non-Adversarial Communication to Empower Ourselves and Support Other Women (see full description at bottom of this page)

Worship sharing/worship walking/worship discussion

Saturday afternoon
Lunch
Workshop on the theme, led by Mary Golden
Worship sharing/worship walking/worship discussion
Nature Walk
Dinner
Music/Dancing

Sunday
Yoga/Tai Chi
Breakfast
Worship sharing/worship walking/worship discussion
Cabin cleaning
Meeting for Worship
Lunch/Evaluations

Please share any ideas you have for other activities.

Accommodations: There are two options for lodging:

– Modern (heated!) cabins with dorm-style bunk beds, shared bathrooms, and lounge

– A retreat center room (hotel-style) that sleeps 3-4 people

Meals:

On the registration form, you can select any or all meals from breakfast Saturday through lunch on Sunday. Vegetarian options are available.

Registration

This year, we are asking that everyone who possibly can, to use the online registration form at this link. You will still need to mail a check, but it will save the registrar much time.

It is also possible if needed to download a registration form to print and fill out for yourself or a friend. 

For questions or more information please contact Polly Washburn (Mountain View Friends Meeting) at (720) 466-5268 or via email

If you would like to be involved in planning or have an activity you would like to lead or see happen, please email Lisa Knox.

More information on the Mindful Non-Adversarial Communication workshop:

This 2-hour workshop includes a variety of fun and experiential practice activities to introduce the skills of Mindful Non-Adversarial Communication (NAC). Mindful NAC is especially beneficial for reducing tension in stressful or charged interactions.

Mindful NAC helps us to:

  • Focus our attention so we can choose to respond consciously rather than react
    automatically
  • Be clear about our Intention before we respond
  • Gain clarity about our own feelings and fundamental needs in order to respond from our Quaker values of truth, peace, integrity, and simplicity
  • Shift from disconnecting criticism, judgment and blame to speaking our truth with kindness
  • Listen deeply for what’s fundamentally important to someone else no matter what that person is saying or doing
  • Identify possible solutions that will meet at least some of the needs of everyone involved

We look forward to seeing you there!