All Star I Family Conference 2009

Saturday, June 27, to Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Gather up the young ‘uns, hitch up your wagon and join us as we gather for another great week on Star Island! For those who enjoy a structured vacation experience, we will have the usual cornucopia of activities. For introverts and others seeking a more inward focus there will be ample time for relaxation, spiritual renewal, and just plain loafing about. Fun for the kids and relief for the parents will be provided by our wonderful children’s staff. Come hear our speaker each morning, then indulge in yoga, swimming, writing, painting, walking, talking, taking the occasional sojourn to Tuck Monument, playing tennis, and spending time with friends. Evenings feature entertainment provided by our outlandishly talented conferees and Pelicans. Capping off each day’s festivities is a candlelight service in the chapel, followed by the ever-popular late night music.

Laurie Powsner & Jon Krejci, chairs Click their picture for a larger view.

Conference Chairs

Laurie Powsner & Jon Krejci
34 Tee-Ar Place
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 921-3032
lrpjak@verizon.net

Speaker

Mark Harris Click his picture for a larger view.

Theme

Grave Matters

Benjamin Franklin famously said, "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." We felt that given the current economic climate, taxes would be too depressing. Therefore, our weekly theme centers around death. Actually, far from being a grim recitation of death-related issues, this theme will be a lively exploration of the ways in which we can better care for ourselves, our loved ones and our planet by understanding our choices around burial and other disposition options. Among the many issues to be explored will be sustainable, green burial options. Our speaker, Mark Harris, is a former environmental columnist with the Los Angeles Times Syndicate and the author of Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial (Scribner, 2007). An accomplished speaker, Mark’s presentations are touching, informative and entertaining. For more information about Mark and his book visit www.gravematters.us

click the Theme button.

Recomended reading

Minister of the Week

The Reverend Forrest Gilmore, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton . Click his picture for a larger view.

Rev. Forrest Gilmore grew up in Suffern, NY, only about 90 miles from Princeton, and lived in New York State through college. After almost ten years in California, he is happy to be back home and near his parents and extended family. He’s happily married to his wife, Jill, and stepfather to Jill’s two children, Hannah and Noah. He attended college at Cornell University and graduated with honors in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources. Raised Roman Catholic, he became a Unitarian Universalist while a senior in college. The fit with UUism felt instantaneous and he even imagined himself being a minister on his very first visit to the UU Church in Ithaca. Before becoming a minister, he worked as a wildlife biologist, outdoor educator, and wilderness guide. In 1995, he headed west to attend Starr King School for the Ministry (one of two UU seminaries in the country, named after a famous minister in San Francisco). While in seminary, Forrest was fortunate to study under Rebecca Parker, Ron Cook, Joanna Macy, Claire Fischer, Yielbonzie Charles Johnson and many others. He also served as a hospital chaplain in the AIDS ward and the emergency room of San Francisco General Hospital. He graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry in May 1999 with a Masters of Divinity and served as an intern minister at the First Unitarian Church of San Diego from January to August of ‘99. After San Diego, he began serving as the Associate Minister for Lifespan Religious Programming at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula. He was ordained in April 2000. Called as our Parish Minister on April 25, 2004, Forrest began serving our congregation in the Fall of that year.

Forrest is passionate about helping people seek the sacred and serve the world, and combines a scientific mind with a soulful spirit. He sees the great need to pair spiritual nourishment with the drive for a society of compassion and justice. He enjoys hiking, camping, singing, playing the guitar, reading, travel and baseball. Spiritually, he meditates regularly and has participated in four vision fasts, his first back in 1998. He is also a contributing author to The Seven Principles in Word and Worship and Wrestling with Adulthood, both published by Skinner House Books.

Registration

A registration fee of $85/adults (18+) and $65/child (up to $365/family) is due with registration. In addition, a room and board deposit of $150/person is required. Please mail the completed registration form and ONE CHECK payable to "All Star I Conference" to: Annie and Scott Stewart, All Star I Registrars, 8400 Blakiston Lane, Alexandria, V 22308. Contact information for the registrars is: (703) 780-8775 and awstewart1@verizon.net. Registrations should be postmarked by March 10. Registrations received before then will be treated as if postmarked on March 10. Registrations postmarked after March 10 will be accepted, space available, according to postmark date. The room and board deposit and registration fee are refundable until May 15, 2009.

Financial Assistance: Please do not allow financial concerns to impact your decision to apply. All Star I offers financial assistance to those who may not otherwise be able to attend. The application for financial assistance can be found by clicking here on this link and should be submitted with your registration. Applications are due by March 10, 2009. Applying for financial assistance will not affect your chances of being admitted to the conference.

Click here to view the financial aid policy.

The All Star I financial aid policy will open in this window. Use the Back button to return here. The application form will open in a new page. Close the page to return here.

Admissions: Please contact the Registrar for a copy of our Admissions policy. Families are no longer asked to take one in five years off. However, if oversubscribed, priority will be given to old shoalers who have attended ASI the least number of times since last taking a year off.

The Blue Book is now available, but beware, it is almost 1.2 megabytes long. The All Star I entry starts on page 10. Here is a link to the 2009 Registration Form.

Room and Board

2009 Seven-day conference rates and other information.

Boat Schedule

We will be going out on two boats departing from Rye Harbor at 2:00PM and 3:45PM on Saturday, June 27, 2009.
We will return to Rye Harbor Saturday, July 4, 2009 on two boats departing at 8:15AM (arriving in Rye at 8:45) and 10:15AM (arriving in Rye at 10:45).

Boat fares ($41.00 for adults; $28.00 for children 2-12; no charge for children under two) will be added to your room and board bill, payable on-island.

Click on the Boat button for more information.
More boat and parking information.

Luggage and Parking

Click here for new and important information regarding parking.

Click here for new and important information regarding luggage restrictions.