[Moonshadow]

2010 ANNUAL JEDI GATHERING – SAWYER, MI

What: 2010 Annual Jedi Gathering

A real-life gathering together of Jedi and Force Followers from all parts of the world and online community to share and exchange knowledge, ideas, insights, applications, and enlightenment related to the Jedi path. In addition, this Gathering also serves as opportunity to meet other Jedi in real life.

Who: YOU!!!

No matter how much planning goes into this event, it will only be a success if there are Jedi there to share it and enjoy it. YOU are the ones who will make this Gathering great. To register or request more information, please submit a Jedi Gatherings Registration Form to be added to the notification list. We're expecting at least 15-30 people this year!

When: Thursday July 22, 2010 – Sunday July 25, 2010

Check in is at 4 pm on Thursday July 22nd and check out is at noon on Sunday July 25th. People can filter in throughout the weekend, although everyone is encouraged to be there for the full day on Saturday when the majority of workshops will take place.

Location: Sawyer, Michigan

Tower Hill Camp
12173 Tower Hill Road
Sawyer, MI 49125

Phone: 269-426-3881
Fax: 269-426-8255
Website: http://www.il-odm.org/home/content/blogcategory/23/42/
Directions: http://www.il-odm.org/home/content/view/121/42/

Tower Hill Camp is located right along Lake Michigan, an hour and a half from Chicago in the Dunes region of western Michigan.

You can fly into Detroit or Chicago and have local members drive people the rest of the way. There is also a Greyhound Station at Benton Harbor which is only 20 minutes from the site. People can also come in their and attendees would be glad to do pick-up/drop-off.

Accommodations: Lodging in Gammon Hall

Gammon Hall is a multi story building with shared hotel style rooms and a few rooms with shared restrooms. The building includes two meeting areas and a screened in porch. Features also include air-conditioning and single level beds. In addition, all bedding and towels are provided.

Top floor rooms consist of four bedrooms with two single beds each (one with a private bathroom), one bedroom with a double bed and a single bed, two bedrooms with three single beds, and one bedroom with two single beds and one double bed. There are three bathrooms with two showers and one bath rub located off the central hall and also a balcony with a porch.

The main floor consists of one room with one double bed and one single bed, one room with two single beds and one double bed, and one room with two single beds. All bedrooms have private bathrooms. There is also a meeting room with ten to twelve foot ceilings large enough for 25 people and features a fireplace, TV, VCR/DVD, refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, and electronic piano/organ. A snack bar is also available in the main floor hallway.

The lower level has 8 foot ceilings, a meeting/dining room for up to 50 people, a fireplace, a furnished kitchen, two unisex bathrooms and a ping-pong table.

The building can sleep 30 people comfortably. Should we required the use of extra sleeping space we can also rent nearby cabins. Given that there may be newborns in our Jedi community, we may go ahead an add cabins to our reservation.

People with families and special needs will be given priority in the request of rooms (i.e. rooms on the first floor for ease). All other rooms will be assigned in order of priority based on order of advanced registration.

There is also the option of tenting for $6 a night. Tent sites are located about a ten minute walk from Gammon Hall and will have access to electrical outlets. Bathrooms/showers are about five minutes away, although may only have cold to lukewarm water.

Campground Amenities:

The dining hall is a separate building that is located directly across from Gammon Hall, just a minute’s walk away. Parking is also available in that area.

The campground has plenty of trees along with some open fields and beach access along the lake about a 10-15 minute hike away. In addition, there are picnic areas scattered throughout the grounds.

A shared outdoor fire pit is available about a 5 to 7 minute walk from Gammon Hall.

Cost: $100 - $135 for the entire weekend, free for kids 5 and under

The cost for lodging is $75 and will cover four days and three nights in Gammon Hall. The cost for food is $50 and will include dinner provided by the Gathering hosts on Thursday, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday and Saturday and breakfast on Sunday in the dining hall. (NOTE: Pricing based off of current figures. The cost is subject to change should Tower Hill raise their rates for the coming year.)

Should we request the use of their climbing wall and/or the ropes/initiatives course, the participants will be asked to pay an additional fee.

To help with reservations, we ask that people pay a $25 advance deposit per person. Early registration will result in a $25 discount, whereas registration after June 1st will result in a $10 late fee. The price break down is as follows:

$75 (+ $25 deposit) for a total of $100 "Early Bird Discount" if sent by January 1, 2010.
$100 (+ $25 deposit) for a total of $125 if sent by June 1, 2010.
$135 (no deposit, +10 late fee) if paid at the door.

You will be sent details on how to send your advance deposit when you submit a Gathering Registration Form. Full payment can be made at the door or at your earliest convenience.

For anyone with financial considerations, a payment plan can be worked out. There is also tenting available for only $6 a night, although these sites fill up quickly, so they should be reserved in advance. Additionally, the meal plan is optional, so you may also choose to provide your own food for less cost. Thursday night dinner will be provided regardless.

Food: Optional Meal Plan / Bring Your Own

We most likely provide our traditional spaghetti dinner on Thursday night as people arrive. Everyone will also have the option of either purchasing a meal plan or bringing their own food to cook in the available kitchen for their meals on Friday and Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

Meals are served buffet style and there is always fresh fruit, vegetables and salads with all the meals. The Tower Hill cooking staff are nutritionists and dieticians, so if anyone has any allergies or special dietary restrictions, just let them know ahead of time and they can accommodate our group needs. If anyone has a highly specific diet, though, it may be best to just provide your own food for the weekend.

Prices are as follows:

Meals:
8:30am – Breakfast - $6.00
12:30pm – Lunch - $7.50
6:00pm – Dinner - $8.50

If you are interested in purchasing a meal plan, you must confirm at least 10 days prior to the event so Tower Hill can purchase the adequate amount of supplies.

Events: Workshops and Discussions

Gathering activities are To Be Determined pending possible workshop leaders. If you’re interested in leading a workshop, please include that information in your Jedi Gatherings Registration Form.

Packing List

A rough packing list can be found here, although you will not need any tents, sleeping bags, or sheets, since beds and linens will be provided.

__________________________________________________ ___________

IMPORTANT: In order to register for this Gathering or ensure receiving updates for future Gatherings, you must fill out the Jedi Gatherings Registration Form. Even if you’re not yet positive that you can attend, submitting this form if you are at all interested helps us to get a better head count and assists us in planning events and notifying you of updates.

Please contact Angelus at jedi_shaman@hotmail.com or Moonhshadow at Moonhsadowlight5@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

I’ll continually update this thread as planning progresses.

--Moonshadow

[Mindas Arran]

How should the $20 per person be remitted?

[Moonshadow]

We're working on getting our Paypal account re-activated right now. Another option is sending it through snail mail, but I need to talk to Gabe a bit more about it first. We'll get back to you with details by Labor Day weekend.

--Moonshadow

[Adana]

Count us in again and well.....maybe....just maybe...there will be a third person traveling with us next year.

[steven drew]

I'm planning on going. Form filled out. Can't wait!!

[Moonshadow]

Hope so Adana! Looking forward to seeing you and Mikey again in either case!

That's awesome Steven! Got your form. Any chance of you bringing your family along?

--Moonshadow

[Moonshadow]

I've updated the Gathering announcement with new information about advanced registration. The early registration fee has been raised to $25, but you also get a $25 discount if you register before January 1st, or really a $35 discount if you look at the price in comparison to registering at the door. In order to register, though, you must fill out a Gathering Registration Form.

Once you register, you will receive a letter with details on how and where to submit your early deposit. Our paypal account has also now been re-activated, although there may be extra fees involved with paying through paypal. I'll be calling the company tomorrow to clarify.

--Moonshadow

[Adana]

Thanks Moonie, I will do that asap

[Setanaoko]

I can't wait to get out of the service....Then I can come to these events *three more years to go*

[Rivan Elan]

Well circumstances prevented my attendance in 2009 so perhaps in 2010 it will be a viable mission.

Rivan Elan, Jedi