The UURMaPA conference in October was available via Zoom or at one of three locations where folks attended the sessions with colleagues and friends. This allowed some face-to-face discussion time as well as opportunities to socialize and exercise tourist muscles. We spoke with the pod organizers at each location to better understand the amenities and attractions of each site.
Seabeck, WA
Jaco and Barbara ten Hove hosted the third consecutive Fall pod at the Seabeck Conference Center, about an hour west of Seattle. They said, “The Seabeck Conference Center on the Hood Canal has incredible views of the Olympic Mountains, an excellent campus with modern comforts, and nine delicious meals (and we don’t have to cook or clean up after ourselves). For three nights over four days, 30 retired colleagues and partners got to share meaningful face-to-face discussions, take walks and laugh together, and participate in the virtual conference on a large screen.”
Two photos of the assembled group at Seabeck are HERE (annotated with names) and HERE (a “crazy picture”).
Call Jaco ten Hove for more information, 206/200-5403, or send a message to jbthishere@gmail.com .
Wilmington, Delaware
Another pod was to be in Wilmington, Delaware, but had to be cancelled. Richard Speck, the organizer, is justifiably proud of Wilmington. He writes “The world famous Longwood Gardens bring people from all over the world. We also have Winterthur, a large museum dedicated to the American arts of furniture and collections of fascinating objects. The Brandywine River Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science are all nearby and easily accessible. There is much colonial-era history to explore, including Valley Forge and the Brandywine Battlefield.”
The First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, Delaware will host for both large presentations and small breakout groups. You might consider bringing a laptop or tablet for use during the breakout sessions. The church has a strong wi-fi signal throughout the building.
The church is about twenty miles south of the Philadelphia airport. Hotels are located 1-2 miles from the church. Some shared meals will be at the church with opportunities to go to area restaurants. Where possible, we will offer transportation from either location and from the church to the hotels.
For more information, write Richard Speck, rgspeck@comcast.net or call him at 302/239-6286.
Kingston, Massachusetts
If you live in eastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island, you might have made a short Drive to Kingston, MA, where another pod was organized by Judy Campbell. Why go to Kingston? Judy says, “First is to see and hug one another in person after several years of online conferences. Secondly, there are major attractions within an easy drive of the church. Coastal Massachusetts, Kingston and Plymouth, have any number of historic, and cultural attractions, not to mention some wicked good restaurants. The views of the harbor and ocean are stunning. Here is just a short list of attractions to tempt you to come:”
Go to www.Seeplymouth.com The official tourism site of Plymouth County
The Pilgrim Hall Museum offers outstanding early colonial history and a Wampanoag history and culture collection. Go to www.pilgrimhall.org
The Plymouth Guild for the Arts is a museum of local artists and features an elegant gift shop. Go to www.artsplymouth.org
Plimoth Patuxet is the oldest town in New England and their living history museum is fascinating. Go to www.plimoth.org
We met just a few miles north of Plymouth center at the First Parish Church in Kingston. More information is available by visiting www.kingstonuu.org The website has everything you need to know about the location and has a map, directions to the church, and pictures of the buildings.
Contact the organizer, Judy Campbell, at 781/422-6519 or 508/939-1391, or send a message to revdocmom@comcast.net
Waverly, Ohio
Nestled on 133 acres in the scenic hills near Waverly, Ohio, Bristol Village was the site of our 2024 Fall UURMaPA Retreat. We invited folks to join us for a laid-back retreat with no nearby 5-star restaurants, theaters, night clubs or loud music to entice you to leave the Bristol Village Campus.
We stayed in cottages with bedrooms, private and shared bathrooms, full kitchens, dining rooms and comfortable living rooms. There was a restaurant where you may have had breakfast and lunch, a swimming pool, walking paths and lots of private space.
The cottage where we met has two comfortable meeting rooms, a full kitchen, dining area, a pool table, and a large television screen for easy conference viewing.
For more information, give Sylvia Howe a call at 978-317-0013 or send a message to her: sylhowe42@gmail.com