Friday, May 18, 2007

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.

9 comments:

Sally said...

wow Abi- that is some big dream- all those speakers- sounds wonderful though- I'm saving for my flight right now!

Connie said...

Oh, I like the dreaming!

Gulf Shores sounds wonderful! We called it the redneck riviera when we went down from seminary in TN. I loved it there.

Anonymous said...

Wow! One of the people on your list is someone whose children I babysat for years! I didin't realize she'd made "famous" status. And I'm friends with one of the others, too.

Diane M. Roth said...

Lots of big ideas here...I like it

Unknown said...

That's quite the list of potential speakers, Abi. Wow!

Deb said...

I have been to Gulf Shores and Jekyll - both great places for peace, quiet, sand and shopping (if you must).

Wow. love the speaker list, too! :)

Deb

Lori said...

With such a thoughtful and inclusive list of speakers, I'd say we can pick at least one from our list.

Rev SS said...

Love the list of speakers! I would love to sit at the feet of any of them ... 1st choice would be Bishop Schori, I think. Really am impressed by her and what she is doing.

revhipchick said...

wow...great list of speakers! this sounds heavenly!

i'd love to experience worship with the revgals!