Everett Gender Support Closing and Philosophy of Seattle Announcements added

While I like to deliver good news, I also have the distinction of delivering news that is on the bummer end of things as well. Please see the below letter that was posted on Ingersol's website that I have posted in it's entirety on the closing of the Everett Open Support Meeting.  Ms T.

Friends -
    
    After more than eight years and 444 consecutive weeks,  the Everett Open Support meeting of the Washington Gender Alliance will be held for the final time on August 25, 2010.  The meetings will be held as usual and without interruption through that date.  The Bellingham Open Support meetings are unaffected by this change,  and will continue weekly as they have for more than 14 years.
    
    Unfortunately,  we just don't have the resources necessary to maintain the meeting.  However,  everyone is welcome to join us in Bellingham each Tuesday  7:30 - 9 PM at St. James Presbyterian Church 910 14th Street (at Fillmore Street) in the Fairhaven district. For those who aren't able to travel to Bellingham,  but still need an in person support meeting, Ingersoll Gender Center offers one in Seattle on Wednesday nights. And we will continue to answer questions and offer support via e-mail at info@washingtongenderalliance.com.
    
    We're sorry if this presents any difficulty for anyone,  but we simply have no choice but to take this action.  Many people have come through the doors of the Everett meeting since 2002,  and hopefully they benefitted from participating in the Alliance.  The work will continue,  just further north where it all began in 1996.
    
    Please share this information with anyone you know in the gender community.  It is our sincere hope that everyone gets the word by August 25th so no one comes looking for the meeting after that date.  The reason that our support meetings have been held each and every week is so no one would ever find a closed door.  It would be a shame if after eight years someone first came looking for the meeting after it was closed down.
    
    We've always been proud of being the only gender organization in Washington that has held two weekly support meetings in two different cities 60 miles apart.  While we will no longer have that distinction, our Bellingham meeting has surpassed 735 consecutive weekly meetings without interruption, and counting.
    
    Rory Gould,
    President

General Information -18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference

Membership

We appreciate everyone's support towards the mission of WOW and hope you will become a member! We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your contribution is tax-deductible. Please go to the membership page for information. (link here to member page) Memberships begin at $35.

Registration

Pre conference registration is available online, by phone and mail. Please go to the Registration Information page for full information.

Registration desk at North Seattle Community College is on the 1st floor of the College Center/Administration Building. Registration desk opens at 8:30 am on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Feb. 13-15.

Evening ticket sales are available for purchase at 6:30 PM before the special events February 11th and 12th at Seattle Unity Church.

Venue:

Thursday, Feb. 11th and Friday, Feb. 12th, evening events begin at 7:00pm and are held at Seattle Unity Church, 200 - 8th Ave. N., Seattle, 98109. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Opening ceremonies are Thursday, Feb. 11th for women only at Seattle Unity Church, 6:00pm.

All other events are at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way North, Seattle WA 98103.

Workshops are held in the College Center/Administration Building, which is on the west side of campus facing College Way. Enter on the lower level on the west side and watch for signs.

Saturday, February 13th evening event is held in the Cafeteria which is in the College Center Building at North Seattle Community College.

Parking and Directions:

Directions are available for North Seattle Community College at http://www.northseattle.edu/maps. Parking is free.

Please park in the East parking lot facing I-5.

There is Disabled parking in west parking lot closer to the building entrance, in front of the college facing College Way.

Directions for Seattle Unity Church are at http://www.seattleunity.org/directions.html Seattle Unity is located just north of Denny Park, on the corner of 8th Avenue North and John St. You can access 8th Ave. N. from Dexter St. to the West, and from 9th Ave. N. and Westlake to the East, by turning on to John St. or Thomas St. 8th Ave. N. does not connect to Denny Way.

Conference Hotel package:

Our conference hotel is Hotel Nexus, which offers breakfast, microwave, refrigerator, and free wired and wireless internet in every room.

The hotel is located at 2140 N Northgate Way, less than ½ mile north of the college. Our conference rate is $99 a night. Rooms are still available, call now. When calling the hotel directly to reserve your room, tell them you are with the Women of Wisdom Conference. Discounted rates are good until February 1st.

Shuttle service is available during the conference. Shuttles will run from the hotel to the college in the morning, and back to the hotel late evening, and to the Seattle Unity Church on Thursday and Friday for the evening events.

Link to Hotel Nexus

(206)365-0700
(800)435-0754

Scholarships & Work Exchange Availability

Work exchange is available for women of all ages and abilities. In addition to the work exchange there are a limited number of scholarships available. Applications must be received by January 22nd for consideration. There are a variety of roles, from administrative tasks before the conference to logistics at the conference. We are a volunteer organization and appreciate the time you can to contribute to the successful operations of the conference.

If you have questions regarding scholarships and work exchange please contact WOW at volunteer_wow@yahoo.com.

For information and applications click here:
WOW 2010 Scholarship Application
WOW 2010 Work Exchange Letter
WOW 2010 Work Exchange Application

Child Care

We will be providing child care on Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8:30 am to 5:00pm. Please reserve a space ahead of time so we have the necessary staff to manage the children.

Contact the WOW office at 206-782-3363 for more information on any fees and to reserve your child's space.

Goddess Market

Women artisans will display their handcrafted, diverse products for sale at the conference. Plan on extra time before and after your events to enjoy this visual delight and visit their booths on the 1st floor of the College Center Building at North Seattle Community College. This is a great opportunity to support our women artists!

The market is open Saturday, Feb. 13th and Sunday, Feb. 14th, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 15th, 8:30am - 1:00pm.

Temple of Oracles and Healing Temple

Experience a private appointment with our professional Psychics, Healers, and Body Workers Saturday, Feb. 13th - Monday, Feb. 15th 1:00PM. Exact hours will be posted later.

Please allow extra conference time so you can indulge in a gift for yourself with these gifted psychics, healers and body workers. The Temple is on the 1st floor of the College Center Building at North Seattle Community College.

On Site Counseling Services

Throughout the conference our professional counselors are available for guidance, crisis intervention, and processing your emotions. Sign up for an appointment at the registration/WOW information desk on the 1st floor.

We welcome counselors to share their gifts at the conference and provide assistance to anyone in need. If you are interested please contact WOW at wow@womennofwisdom.org.

Continuing Education Credits

Certificates of attendance are available. There is a fee of $10 per class to receive the CEUs. You can pay for the certificate at your workshop, please ask the workshop facilitator for assistance. Conference Art Impresssions

Deborah Koff-Chapin will be drawing at our special evening events and those drawings will be available for purchase on her website, and possibly on the evening of the events. Visit Deborah Koff-Chapin's website to view past Women of Wisdom Conference art impressions. http://touchdrawing.com/4Deborah/interpretiveSS/WOW/WOWmain.html

Conference Art

Lydia Ryle has offered her Goddess Art Banners to decorate our conference again this year. Lydia is the author of Goddess Icons, Spirit Banners of the Divine Feminine. Her website is http://www.lydiaruyle.com.

Silent Auction

Many of our artisans, psychics, healers, body workers, presenters and others have donated their services and products for our Silent Auction, which benefits Women of Wisdom and our mission to empower other women. Please visit the Silent Auction during the conference and bring home a memoir from the conference.

Poetry Wall

We love to see the creativity being expressed during the conference, please share your poetry with us at the Poetry Wall on the 1st floor lounge area.

Networking areas

You are welcome to bring your flyers, brochures, and business cards to set out on the networking tables on the 1st floor.

Concessions

At North Seattle Community College we will have coffee, tea, water, and light snacks available for purchase on the 1st floor. Food is not allowed in the classrooms. Please take any food you bring to the 1st floor lounge to eat. The cafeteria will also be available to eat when workshops are not being held there.

Meals

Hot Lunch and Dinner meals, including vegan options, will be available again this year from the delicious Saffron Grill. Please go to the Meals page for more information and to pre order and purchase your meals.

Thanks to http://www.womenofwisdom.org/2010conference/ConferenceInformation.php for this information.