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Wilderness Dance Camp
July 26 – August 1, 2009
Cosmic Unity
Its Not a Spectator Sport
We’ve heard rumors that WDC is not going to happen because Oneness Project’s financial investments have ‘gone up in smoke’. On the contrary, what we do know is that we’ve never gathered together because of money – we’ve gathered together because of the juiciness of community, the union of hearts and minds, the deep fun of eating, dancing and praying together.
The difference is that WDC won’t be subsidized (in other words, run at a financial loss) by Oneness Project. We are doing the planning, working on the budget, so that camp will pay for itself. And we hope to see you at camp on Flathead Lake in Montana this July! You can see a flyer, learn more about this year's camp or register on-line here. We do need registrations by June 1st to ensure camp will happen.
Our spiritual director this year is Murshid Allaudin Ottinger and the Camp Director is once again Connie Zareen Delaney. And, we’ll have the same fabulous Dance leading staff we’ve become famous for: Narayan Eric Waldman, Darvesha MacDonald, Peter Munir Reynolds, Bernie Heideman.
A wonderful addition this time is that each cabin has a kitchen. So, if and when you have special dietary requirements or wish to supplement the provided camp meals you can take care of it yourself! To this end, we will publish our camp menu before camp begins.
Live at Lava Spring Retreat
April 10 - 12, 2009
Oneness Project is again offering our Spring Retreat on Easter Weekend in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We plan to have a concurrent Young Adult Gathering and housing. To see flyers and register, click here. We request registrations by March 12 to assist with our planning. There is a $25 late fee after that time. Thank you!
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Looking Ahead
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Dances,
Since year 2000, Oneness Project has awarded more than $1 million to support development of the Dances of Universal Peace worldwide. This money assisted training of Dance leaders, supported a wide variety of projects to build the Dances, helped start new DUP camps and retreats, supplemented senior teacher travel and honoraria, purchased Dance tents, furthered the international Dance network, and more. You will find a statistical report of what Oneness has awarded and where it happened here.
Fund Losses Through granting and spending only from the investment earnings each year rather than spending our principal, Oneness was able to build a sizeable investment portfolio. Until 2008 our equity continued to grow each year, allowing us to support the Dances of Universal Peace in an ever-increasing way. Many of you are now aware that this picture has dramatically changed. Oneness Project suffered major financial losses due to the collapse of the Bernard Madoff investment firm in December.
Where Do We Go From Here? The Oneness Project Board of Directors met in mid-January, 2009 to consider the impact of these losses and attempt to find a way forward. As you may already know, we have suspended all granting programs indefinitely. Necessarily, our plans must be very tentative, especially until we see how our investments actually become liquid and we able to reinvest the funds. We have tentatively agreed to the following goals.
*Support the Unity Council in developing the best organizational way forward to support the international Dance network.
*Support the MTG in completing revision of the certification guidelines and other important work.
*Assist with redesign of the INDUP website.
*Present the April Lava Hot Springs DUP retreat and Wilderness Dance Camp in Montana in July.
*Publish a 2009 Oneness Connection newsletter to bring closure to OP’s work to date and invite our friends to co-create with us a new future.
Can You Help Support This Plan? Oneness Project’s mission has been to support communities to come together in the Dances of Universal Peace. We encourage all of you to continue this blessing of unity by DANCING, leading the Dances, and supporting the Dances in your area.
Oneness Project needs your assistance at this time! To support Oneness as we regroup and re-tool for the future, you can send your contribution to Oneness Project, P.O. Box 1141, Hamilton, MT 59840 or visit here to contribute on-line. If you or your Dance circle has received assistance from Oneness Project in the past, we ask you to consider making a donation or holding a special Dance with proceeds going to OP. All contributions are federally tax-deductible. We offer our sincere gratitude to those of you that have already sent contributions.
Murshid Samuel Lewis provided the "seeds" by originating the Dances. We see that all of us together have nurtured and tended these fertile fields, and my how they've grown! As we move into the future; it is our hope to continue building on what has been accomplished.
Thanks and best wishes for your work with the Dances of Universal Peace.
Oneness Project Board of Directors,
Phil Notermann, Chair
Linda Lindsay, Vice Chair
Tony Rasch, Treasurer
Steve Gray, Director
To read more details, please visit here.
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