We are very excited to announce that the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans will host its Convocation on August 26-28, 2016. All CUUPS members, UU’s and those interested in UU Paganism, Earth and Nature Centered Spirituality are invited to register and attend.
The event will be held at First Church Unitarian Universalist in historic Salem, Massachusetts. First Church UU in Salem has roots dating back to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. It is one of the oldest churches in North America. Today it is a vibrant congregation that stands in the UU Principles and Purposes. To read more about its history click here.
Our speakers and presenters for the weekend are an exciting group of incredible people from both the UU Pagan world and associates who have supported the work of CUUPS for many years. Most of them do not get to the Northeast to present their work and some rarely do presentations! They include:
- Rev. Shirley Ranck – UU minister from California and author of the curriculum Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
- Byron Ballard – North Carolina Appalachian village witch and author of the books Staubs and Ditchwater & Asfidity and Mad-Stones
- John Beckett – UU and Druid from Texas and author of the Blog Under the Ancient Oaks
- Gypsy Ravish – Song writer and singer from Salem, MA with recordings which include Enchantress & Spirit Nation
- Silver Branch – A group from New Bedford, Massachusetts. They perform traditional earth-centered music including early folk, Celtic, and contemporary Pagan music
- CUUPS Board Members… and many others!
Happenings for the Weekend!
Activities for the weekend are coming together and range from evening movie and keynote presentations, a concert, community meal, workshops and rituals. There will be an opportunity for a very small group of vendors to participate and the authors will have copies of books to sell and sign.
An opportunity for touring the city of Salem will be available with some discounts at local retail outlets and attractions. Stay tune to this blog for touring options available for the weekend.
How to Get There!
Salem, MA is about 17 miles north of Boston Logan Airport. Public transportation via train and ferry is available. Check schedules and fares on MBTA.com or SalemFerry.com. Book ahead of time!
Places to Stay
Go to Salem.org for a list of places to stay in the area. There are many affordable options. Camping is available at Winter Island for RV’s and tenting. Call (978) 745- 9430 to reserve a campsite. Book accommodations as soon as possible!
Food & Meals
First Church UU is in the heart of downtown Salem’s huge restaurant scene. In the evening you are close to venues with a variety of food, drink, and music.
For lunch on Saturday we are planning a simple community meal for event participants.
Getting Around Town
The Salem Trolley runs from 9am to 5 pm Friday, Saturday and Sundays. There is a stop right in front of the church. The trolley runs all over the city near all of the B&B’s, hotels, camping and through the town. After 5 pm there is Uber and taxi services. Salem is a very walk able city!
How Do You Register?
Register click here for registration page! You can pay online and all major credit cards welcome.
Registration Fees for the Weekend
Register by April 1, 2016: $75.00 Adults / $50.00 Teens
Register by May 15, 2016: $100.00 Adults / $ 60.00 Teens
Register by July 15, 2016: $125.00 Adults / $ 60.00 Teens
Teens need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Youth Groups welcome with a responsible adult.
Can I Volunteer to Help?
YES!!!
We need about 15-20 volunteers to support the weekend. This is an opportunity for area chapters to step up and support the event! A small discount to the event is available to volunteers.
There will be a video meeting about volunteer opportunities on March 2, 2016 at 7pm Eastern. The meeting will be online at Zoom.us. There is a call in option. The call will be about an hour long. If you want to help, email info@cuups.org for information about the meeting.
Blogging, Sharing, Getting the Word Out!
Attached is a ConvoFlyer2016-3 for distribution and to share the information. Please feel free to post it on congregational bulletin boards, Facebook and so on. Help us spread the word!
In closing….We look forward to seeing many of you there!!
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