Friday Five: Big Event Edition

From Songbird, did you know that the major purpose for forming a non-profit, RevGalBlogPals, Inc., was to be able to attract grant support for a large scale RevGalBlogPal meetup? I knew this. My dream from the beginning has been attracting financial support that would allow as many of our bloggers to be together as possible. What a great dream!!!

RGBP, Inc. now has a planning committee, and we are in the early stages of planning the RevGalBlogPal Big Event. What, When, Where and Who are all on the table at the moment. In that spirit, I bring you the Big Event Friday Five.

1. What would the meeting be like? (Continuing Ed? Retreat? Outside Speakers? Interest Groups? Workshops? Hot Stone Massages? Pedicures? Glorified Slumber Party?) Must have continuing ed, the conference is pushing continuing ed. Definitely Retreat. Outside Speakers, mmm, not sure, we have some very wonderful, smart, wise, experienced people in the blog. Perhaps someone more to lead, moderate, direct the sessions. Could have a keynote speaker, then workshops planned around the theme or speech. There are so many areas to Pastoring and ministry you would need people who are experts on those areas or focus on one are in particular. The retreat could employ as well time for taking care of ourselves ie the massages, pedicures, etc.

2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time? January or Summer. But I would find a way for the date planned.

3. Where would your dream meeting location be? (Urban Hotel? Rural Retreat Center? New England Camp? Southwestern Fantasy Hotel? Far away from civilization? Nearby Outlets or Really Great Thrift Stores?) You know, I think with these questions, it sounds like a place that had away from people, but close enough to some sort of shopping. May I recommend Gulf Shores, AL. Camp Sumatanga of AL also. It is near Boaz. But then I like Jeckyll Island. And I like the southwest. I haven't been to a New England Camp though.

4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.)
Is this a loaded Question? Barbara Brown Taylor, because she has served as Pastor.
Diana Butler Bass. Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, President of the Council of Bishops of the UMC, or any of the female Bishops of the UMC. Bisop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, or any of the other female Bishops of the Episcopal Church. An of the female leaders in the Denominations, I don't mean to sound like I am leaving out the Lutheran, UCC, or the Presb. Grace Imathiu, Barbara Lundblad, Marva Dawn, Ann Weems, Joanna Adams, or Anna Carter Florence. But it would also be neat to have people like Kathleen Norris, Anne Lamott, Phyllis Tickle, Nora Gallagher, Marjorie Thompson, Roberta Bondi, The Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress,The Rev. Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, The Rev. Mary C. Earle, The Rev. Margaret B. Gunness, The Rev. Canon Renée Miller, The Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper, The Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, and Susan R. Garrett. Is this too many for the committee to consider? I'm just dreaming big.
I have a friend that does women retreats, Cinde Lucas, that said she would be glad to come do ours or some part of ours.

5. Did I leave out something you want to suggest?
Food, Fun, and Fellowship. Worship. Wonder if we can consider a way to include our over the pond members perhaps next time. Perhaps we need to do like the Festival of Homiletics and meet in different regions of the country each year so that people from those areas can have an opportunity as well.

Dream big for the Big Event!!! Dreaming Big for big time funding a great place a great keynote speaker and leader, and a great time had by all.