Dawn Manor
Newsletter: February, 1999
Greetings! Hoping that you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, one full of falling in love! Truly practicing the skills and principles of loving (seeing, hearing, extending good will) can have us falling in love many times every day - with a friend, a flower, a sunrise, a puppy dog or an enemy. Do you remember how much in love you were with the total strangers at your last retreat? We are full of excitement here, as several dreams and projects are coming to fruition.New Ventures:
We would like to share a poem that was a gift this holiday season, that has stirred our souls as well as framed and named our new not-for-profit corporation that should be finalized any day now.
"The House of Belonging" This is the bright home in which we live,
This is where we ask our friends to come,
This is where we want to love all things
It has taken us so long to learn to love.
This is the temple of our adult aloneness
and we belong to that aloneness as we belong to life,
There is no house like the house of belonging....David Whyte
So, thanks to your support, belief, donations, encouragement and patience, The House of Belonging has been born!
The House of Belonging Mission Statement The House of Belonging Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated and committed to providing education, research, community outreach, tuition assistance and a safe, nurturing environment for the unification of body, mind and spirit; thereby, facilitating healing and empowerment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, and heterosexuals for the betterment of society by bringing a healing presence to the world. It is a place of belonging where the principles and skills of intentional loving are practiced and taught as well as a place where individuals are invited to trust and honor their own process and journey by practicing the skills of loving; seeing, listening, extending good will and honoring each other without judgment. Together in intentional spiritual community we learn to support, celebrate, empower and capitalize on the richness of the diversity within our community, thus facilitating our individual and collective spiritual, psychological, physical, emotional, social and cultural healing by supporting and empowering ourselves and others to fully manifest our potential in community and in society.Finally - a Web Page!We will be having our first formal meeting during Memorial Day Weekend to review our mission and bylaws and nominate members for a board of directors. We are calling out to you to search your soul and see if you are interested in serving on the board in one of our most formative years, or if you would like to nominate someone. We hope to be having our first election at the end of the Gay Men’s festival in June; you can vote in person or by mail prior to that date, the only requirement to be a voting member is attendance at an Art of Loving Retreat and a belief in our mission. Looking forward to hearing from you.
We would like to send out a big hurrah to Larry McCue, who has created something we have all waited a long time for - a web page! Larry did a truly fabulous and professional job - we are deeply indebted to him for the love he put into his work.
What's New?
Dean will be starting a monthly newsletter (to be introduced at the Memorial Day Celebration) as a tool and vehicle that will hopefully allow us and you to maintain communications between visits to Dawn Manor, maintain connections, and to share gifts, ideas, stories, poems, and upcoming events. Dig into you box of special secret things and send to Dean at WDCalloway@aol.com. Thanks to Dean for taking on the project ...the Business English teacher has come out of retirement?
Upcoming Events:
You can check out upcoming events on our Calendar of Events page.
Be well - hope to see you all soon!
Terry, Jeff & Dean
