Seabeck Conference 2015 – Logistics and Other Information

SEABECK CONFERENCE CENTER:  Seabeck is on beautiful Hood Canal, fifteen miles west of Bremerton, Washington.  Bedding and towels are provided to guests at the Conference Center.  Sleeping in RVs is not permitted.  Family style meals will be served from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch.  Vegetarian meals will be served, with meat available at some meals.  If you have special dietary needs, please indicate this on the registration form.  Recreation opportunities include swimming, row boating on the lagoon, tennis, horseshoes, ping-pong, volleyball, basketball, hiking, music, and crafts.  Bring swimwear and comfortable shoes.  Be prepared for wet, dry, warm, or cool weather.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Seabeck Conference Center’s website www.seabeck.org/ provides descriptions of each housing building and floor plans. Except for 10 single rooms in the Inn Annex, all rooms accommodate 2 or more, and people should be prepared to have roommates. This is a great way to make new friends. The registrar will attempt to give couples rooms without other roommates (please indicate whether you are part of a couple on the registration form) and will house families together unless other configurations are requested.

** Pets not allowed **  We love our dogs, but pets are not allowed at the Seabeck Conference Center, so please leave them elsewhere.

ACCESSIBILITY:  Buildings are connected by paved sidewalks in hilly terrain.  We will try to have the workshops of interest to wheelchair users in accessible locations, and will provide a motorized cart to be shared by our less mobile participants.

MUSIC:  We are privileged to have Tom Rawson as song leader. Tom is a folk singer, storyteller, schoolteacher, and long-time activist with FOR. Tom and his friends Bob Morgan, Lynn Graves, and Ellen van der Hoeven have delighted Conference participants at Seabeck for many years. And you are encouraged to bring musical instruments and music for informal gatherings as well as for the Saturday evening talent show.

AUCTION and RAFFLE: The purpose of the auction and raffle is to raise money for the scholarship fund which helps many people come to Seabeck. Please bring donations of suitable items to raffle or auction (that you feel would raise at least $50). We will auction things and skills or services. There will not be a Silent Auction this year.

FIRST AID:  First aid services by professionals will be available throughout the conference, coordinated by the conference planning committee.

AD HOC GROUPS AND VIDEOS:  Participants are welcome to organize discussion groups and to bring DVDs, videotapes, and CDs on themes of peace and justice. There is a very limited time set aside for Ad Hoc Groups, so consider participating in the ‘Activist Fair’ as an alternative. We will schedule rooms and equipment, but due to other activities at the conference, it may not be possible to accommodate all requests, particularly those requiring the use of equipment.

BOOKS, MUSIC, AND CRAFTS STORE:  A variety of books, CDs, DVDs will be available for browsing and purchase. We will have Guatemalan crafts and fabrics for sale. Glen Gersmehl will coordinate the bookstore. He will bring books on a wide variety of topics from the celebrated Peace and Justice Resource Center, which he coordinates. Limited space will be available for petitions and activist literature; any items to be sold must be cleared with the Conference Planning Committee.

SCHOLARSHIPS: We strive to help as many people attend as possible and to have diversity of income level, age, race, ethnic background, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, and family situation. We offer low-income discounts on a sliding scale of up to $100, available on a first-come, first-served basis. We also offer more assistance through scholarships. Residents of WA and BC may apply for scholarship by providing information on the back of the registration form. Residents of OR can apply to Laurie Childers childers@peak.org or 541-757-9025. Please submit whatever partial payment you can make, and indicate what kind of assistance you are requesting.

 *PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!*  Lodging assignments will be made in the order received (with priority given to people staying for the whole conference and consideration of special needs when possible), so please do not delay! Send the enclosed registration form and payment by May 23. After May 23, telephone Louise Lansberry at 206-364-2037

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:  We need your help! To make the children’s programs work, we need volunteer assistance from attending adults – both parents and non-parents. We do have children and youth program coordinators and a paid lifeguard, and the Seabeck staff provides our meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch. But we need volunteers of all ages to help with:
Children’s and youth program helpers
Thursday greeters and registration helpers
First Aid volunteers
Bookstore volunteers
AV/Technical support
Auction helpers

Bell ringers

Please indicate on the registration form what jobs you are willing to do. Thanks! There will also be lots more opportunities to volunteer on-site.

 

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