It was a wonderful and successful mini Multi Region meeting that we had this past Friday. It was a first for our region. Although many of us had met before this was the first time we had a specific gathering just for our members and not as an ad hoc gathering taken from another event.
November 2nd, 2009
URI Multi Region - Mini Gathering
The Gathering
It was a wonderful and successful mini Multi Region meeting that we had this past Friday. It was a first for our region. Although many of us had met before this was the first time we had a specific gathering just for our members and not as an ad hoc gathering taken from another event. Although not everyone could attend we still had a good in person turn out and had several people on a conference call as well.
It started as people gathered at the main URI office in San Francisco – people started arriving at 10am and around 10:45 Linda led the group in group meditation.
Introductions
This followed by everyone meeting in the conference room where we all went around the room and introduced ourselves to each other. One of the main goals was for our group to bond together as a cohesive team and it certainly started off great.
After an hour of introductions, sharing of stories and newborn baby pictures! – We all went out to the local cafeteria on site and we brought it back to the conference room and chatted while we ate. The food was good and the discussion was even better. One of the topics was the possibility of having a larger URI Multi Region gathering with our members from across the globe – an idea suggested was to have it a few days before our URI meeting in Jordan. 
Having our Cake and Eating it Too!
Around 1pm a surprise chocolate birthday cake was wheeled into the room for Yoland Trevino whose birthday was the day before. It made for a great dessert and a nice celebration for our friend and co-worker.
After discussing more about the possible larger meeting in June in Jordan we prepared our group for the conference call at 2pm with several members from our region who could not attend our in person conference.
At meeting Friday in person:
Ardey Turner: A Circle of Healers
Lance Trumbull: The Everest Peace Project
PK McCary: Think Peace Media & Communications
Rachael Watcher: Think Peace Media & Communications and WIN URI
Don Frew: URI Expressed Through Music & the Arts
Yoland Trevino: Women and Spirituality
Linda Bennet Elder: The Pilgrimage Project
Sally Mahe: URI Development Director
On the conference call:
Monica Willard: URI at the UN
Deborah Moldow: URI at the UN
Audri Williams: Trail of Dreams
Annie Imbens-Fransen: URI Council for Women
Charles Gibbs: Happy Heart Compassionate Eating, URI Executive Director
The Conference Call
We heard updates from each person. Audri talked about the book she is currently working on about the Trail of Dream Peace Walk. Annie discussed how one of her members in Uganda needs a computer to help facilitate her work and she also discussed her Petition to the URI Standing Committee to support the UNIFEM Program. Deborah and Monica proudly told us about the Spirit of the UN Award – the first award to go out to an NGO. Towards the end of the call Charles Gibbs joined us from the road and gave us an update about URI news.
Perhaps the most productive idea of the call came from Monica; she suggested that we connect the first main – major Multi Region gathering with the URI Circles of Light fund raising dinner instead of doing it in Jordan. Everyone at the mini gathering and on the call all agreed it was a terrific idea and agreed to try to make it become a reality. After the call ended we all discussed just how we could make this meeting in early March successfully happen.
Photo Op
After the call we took a small break outside – it was a beautiful, warm and sunny fall afternoon in San Francisco and we thought it would be a perfect time to take a group picture. Here it is:
The Budget and back to Business
The rest of the day was mostly taken up by budget related topics such as continuing seed grants this year and having one more in December – or perhaps delay them until next year in February so we can use the extra money for next years meeting (if we indeed have one). The pros and cons were weighed and a final decision will be made by trustees in the coming weeks.
Sally gave us the good news that our budget has been increased, which is very good news as we will need extra money to successfully have a larger meeting next year.
Pictured from Left to Right: Sally Mahe, Don Frew, Yoland Trevino, Ardey Turner, PK McCary (Top), Rachael Watcher, Linda Bennet Elder, Lance Trumbull
A Nice Ending
On a final note – everyone agreed that it was a productive meeting and that getting together face to face has definitely helped strengthen the Multi Region for the better and for future correspondence - especially for those who had not met. It is easy to delete an email from someone you have never met before; but once you have broken bread with that person there becomes a connection and that is what we are looking to do more of – connect, share, learn, grow, and create.
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