Hopework-l Mailing List: Jan. 10-12, 2003 retreat: "Teaching as Hopework" folk school

[John Wallace (walla003]

   December 5, 2002

   Invitation to "Teaching as Hopework" folk school weekend
   January 10-12, 2003 at Shalom Hill Farm near Windom, MN

   This folk school weekend is for those who teach in schools, colleges, and 
community
   organizations, those who do youth work, and those whose teaching occurs 
through other
   roles and routines. Teachers of all kinds create spaces where they have a 
hand in
   forming human beings. This retreat is about noticing these spaces, nurturing 
them, and
   stepping powerfully into them.

   It's about noticing those forces that close down teaching spaces and how to 
hold those
   forces at bay.

   It's about realizing the person you are, where you've come from, where your 
heart lies,
   what your focus is and the ways in which your vision connects with the work 
others are
   doing in an effort to create a better society.

   It's about teaching as a response to the world, about nurturing, examining, 
and naming
   the motivations to respond to the world that craft our motivations to teach.

   It's about teaching as a ground upon which to build a more decent society.

   It's about teaching as Hopework.

   The questions and activities for this retreat are still to be decided. And 
of course
   your participation and ideas are welcome. At this point the facilitators' 
planning
   group includes Terri Wilson, Jeff Bauer, Jen Cuff, Katy Grey Brown, Peter 
Shea, Lynn
   Englund, and John Wallace. If you would like to join the facilitator's 
group, contact
   Lynn or John.

   The overall shape of the weekend retreat will look something like this:

   Friday
   3-6 pm --Arrive, settle in to rooms, and explore the farm
   Dinner and introductions
   Evening opening conversation
   Evening fun and free time

   Saturday
   7-9 am -- Breakfast bar at your convenience
   Morning learning circle conversation
   Lunch
   Afternoon small group conversation/activities and free time
   Dinner
   Evening conversation, fun and free time

   Sunday
   8 am -- Breakfast buffet
   9 am -- Closing circle
   11-12 -- Cleanup and leave for home

   A special note. The folk school gatherings are intended to bring new people 
together
   and to be open to people who share the values of stronger communities and 
are working
   to build them. We hope this invitation will reach some people who have not 
previously
   taken part in a gathering sponsored by the folk school group. Please share 
this
   invitation with anyone whom you wish to invite.

   SIGNING UP FOR THE RETREAT

   RESERVING YOUR ROOM. A total of 18 rooms are available for this retreat. A 
room is held
   for you when you inform John Wallace (
   walla003 [at] tc.umn.edu) or Lynn Englund (engl8813 [at] umn.edu) that you 
wish to attend. Please
   register by January 8 so we can plan for the meal Friday evening.

   ARRIVING AND DEPARTING

   We will expect you to arrive by 6 p.m. for dinner on Friday and to stay with 
us until
   about noon on Sunday unless other arrangements are communicated.

   COST. Shalom Hill Farm charges $20 per person per night for lodging, single 
occupancy.
   Double occupancy rooms are charged at $15 per person per night. Our group 
will be
   buying our own food and preparing our own meals. Based on the experience of 
previous
   workshops, it will cost $15 per person for food for Friday dinner through 
Sunday
   brunch. So, the total cost is $55 per person single occupancy or $45 per 
person double
   occupancy.

   SLIDING FEE. To recognize the fact that different people have different 
abilities to
   pay, we offer a self-selected sliding fee ranging from $35 to $75. What you 
pay is up
   to you--there is no application or review process. If you choose to pay less 
than cost
   ($55), you are accepting a scholarship. If you choose to pay more than cost, 
you are
   providing a scholarship for someone else.

   BANKER. John Wallace will serve as the banker for this retreat. Please make 
your checks
   out to him. You may pay in advance or at the retreat. If you want to send me 
a check,
   please send it to John at 4536 Dupont Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409.

   PERSONAL GEAR AND BEDDING. Shalom Hill Farm provides sheets, towels, and 
blankets. You
   won't need to bring your sleeping bag, but do bring personal toiletries 
including soap
   and shampoo.

   TRANSPORTATION. We encourage car pooling and will help to coordinate rides. 
Please let
   John or Lynn know if you need a ride or if you can provide rides. John will 
put out a
   summary of who is driving and who needs a ride so that good travel matches 
can be made.
   Also, please let John know if you would like to caravan with other cars. 
Allow at least
   2.5 hours of travel time from Minneapolis, more if traveling during rush 
hour.

   MEALS. Simple meals are prepared on site by retreat participants. Meals are 
often
   entirely vegetarian, but if not, a vegetarian option will be available. 
Please note any
   special dietary needs when you register.

   REGISTRATION. Please register by October 30 so that some food can be 
purchased in
   advance. Simply e-mail John Wallace (
   walla003 [at] umn.edu) or Lynn Englund (engl8813 [at] umn.edu) saying that 
you intend to
   participate. Please include in your registration message the following 
information:

   1. Name

   2. Food requirements: vegetarian, vegan, other food desires or allergies?

   3. If you are driving, let us know your estimated departure and arrival 
times and
   whether you will have room for others.

   4. If you need a ride, indicate the time you can leave and where you will be 
leaving
   from on Friday.

   5. When we should expect you if you are unable to arrive by 6 pm or need to 
leave
   early.

   FUTURE FOLK SCHOOL WEEKENDS AT SHALOM HILL FARM

   March 7-9, 2003

   May 16-18, 2003

   As many of you know, demand for Shalom Hill Farm keeps increasing. We've 
made a deposit
   to reserve these dates for the coming year. Please pencil them in on your 
calendar!

   We remain committed to an open process where participants in the folk school 
create
   activities for the weekend retreats that will renew and energize their work 
to build
   for social justice a better world.


   John Wallace
   Department of Philosophy
   University of Minnesota
   831 Heller Hall
   Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
   (612) 624-5210
   FAX (612) 626-8380
   walla003 [at] tc.umn.edu