Office of Academic Affairs
Faculty Retreat ONLINE REGISTRATION
September 12-13, 2011
Camp Casey Conference Center
Dear Colleagues:
As I write this, it is a gorgeous summer day in Seattle, and I hope that each of you is enjoying not only the beauty of God’s creation here in the Northwest, but also the change of pace the summer season brings. In the middle of personal travel with my family, attending conferences, doing research, and writing, it is a little hard for me to turn my attention to a new academic year. But I know that before long, fall will be upon us again, along with the opportunity to gather together at Camp Casey on Whidbey Island for our annual SPU Faculty Retreat. This year’s retreat is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, September 12 & 13, 2011.
The theme of our retreat is “9/11 Ten Years Later: Engaging the Culture in a Changing World.” As many of you remember, ten years ago we were gathered at Camp Casey for our faculty retreat when we learned of the planes hitting the twin towers in New York. Without access to televisions that morning, I recall sitting in Mess Hall A before breakfast, trying to make sense of the news that was coming over the radio. I also remember our time of singing and prayer that morning as it became clear that our world would never be the same; each line of the Lord’s Prayer became meaningful in a way I had never before experienced.
In the ten years since 9/11, our world has indeed changed. My hope for our retreat together is that we can reflect on these changes, and look at the ways that we have and will continue to engage those around us, and shape our world for good. Our speaker this year will be Blake Wood, the new pastor at First Free Methodist Church. Blake and his family have recently returned from 10 years of living in Egypt, where he served as church planter and Area Director for Free Methodist World Missions. More information on Blake and his call to FFMC can be found here: www.ffmc.org/pastoral-appointment.html. I am delighted to have Blake with us at retreat and hope that this will be the beginning of a strong relationship with him and an affirmation of our relationship with FFMC.
In addition to plenary sessions, we will have the opportunity to hear from many of our own faculty and staff during breakout sessions as they share how their own disciplines have changed over the past decade. And as always, there will be an opportunity for afternoon free time, where you can be as active or inactive as you would like: enjoy bike riding, a Camp Casey tour, yoga, killer volleyball, or a nap. Our evening schedule will provide opportunities to choose between board games, a movie, a hymn sing, and stargazing through the Camp Casey telescope (weather permitting). Plan to spend time re-connecting with friends and colleagues and meeting our new faculty. A full retreat schedule will be posted on the OAA website after the first of September.
Please take a moment to register for the retreat online for food and lodging by August 26. One of the changes happening at faculty retreat this year is that we are encouraging faculty NOT to bring their families due to space constraints and increasingly difficult logistical challenges that accommodating families creates for OAA staff. As our faculty has grown significantly over the past ten years, we simply don’t have adequate space or childcare resources at Casey to accommodate everyone. Of course, if you have family or childcare circumstances such that this will create hardship for you, OAA is committed to doing everything possible to help meet your needs; if this is the case, please contact Sarah Adams no later than Friday, August 19.
If you have other questions or if you have trouble with the online reservation form, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at 206-281-2125 and they will be happy to assist you. As usual, we will begin our retreat in worship together at the Coupeville United Methodist Church. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Monday (you should catch the 8:00 or 8:30 ferry if leaving from the Mukilteo dock). Please remember to bring your own towels and sleeping bag or bed linens; housing assignments will be provided once you are at Camp Casey. You may also want to bring your own reusable plate, cup, and eating utensils to minimize the waste of paper plates, etc.
Blessings on the remainder of your summer,
Denise Daniels
Faculty Chair, 2011-2012
ddaniels@spu.edu
What to Bring
- Sleeping bags, bedding, pillows, blankets
- Reading light
- Alarm or clock radio
- Bath towels, wash cloths, bath soap
- Water bottle
Yellowjacket & Bee Warning
It’s possible that yellowjackets and bees will be out in force, so be aware and be prepared.
Directions to Coupeville United Methodist Church
NE 7th & N. Main St.Coupeville, WA 98239
- Take the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry to Clinton.
- Continue straight onto WA-525 (22 mi) to WA-20.
- Slight right at WA-20 (5.5 mi).
- Turn right at N. Main (.4 mi).