WFS Annual Weekend Conference
June 12th - 14th, 2020
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN
Pre-Conference Activities Begin June 11th
Registration Open!
|
|
You are invited to join us for our very first out-of-state WFS Annual Weekend Conference! The Conference Management Team has been hard at work since last July planning this year’s event. A blend of local and national volunteers, this impressive group has created an outstanding agenda of activities and workshops that are sure to enhance and inspire your New Life.
In this email, you will find lots of information about the event, and you can find even more on our conference web page. If you’d like to attend but could use some financial assistance, please apply for our work scholarship. We can always use another set of competent hands to help us out!
We hope to see you there!
|
|
|
Envision New Life!
This year's theme of Envision It directly relates to the New Life Program sixth Level of Recovery:
- Level 6: Recognizing life's priorities: emotional and spiritual growth, self-responsibility.
- Statement 8: Happiness is a habit I am developing.
Happiness is created, not waited for.
- Statement 13: Life can be ordinary or it can be great. Greatness is mine by a conscious effort.
|
|
|
All Inclusive
2-night registration fees cover:
- Friday & Saturday night lodging (except Day Pass)
- 6 meals - Friday dinner through Sunday lunch at noon
- 3 large group sessions
- 4 breakout periods - choose from 16 amazing workshops
- WFS meetings, icebreakers, informal activities, and workshops Thursday through Sunday
Thursday night lodging and Mandala Stone Art (Friday afternoon - see below) activity available for small additional fee.
|
|
| Residence Hall Lodging | 2 nights | Add Thursday night lodging |
| Double room | $275 | +$50 |
| Single room | $350 | +$70 |
| | | |
| Apartment Lodging | | |
| Double room | $350 | +$70 |
| Single room | $430 | +$90 |
| | | |
| Day Pass (No Lodging) | $200 | $220 |
|
|
|
Residence Hall Lodging - All rooms in the residence halls have bunk beds, group bathroom facilities, and no air conditioning. The residence halls will only house conference attendees (no students) during the event.
Apartments Lodging - The apartments have kitchens and minimally-furnished living and dining rooms. Bathrooms are shared only with apartment-mates. Double rooms do not have bunk beds. There will be Hamline students residing in some of the apartments during the event.
All women taking responsibility for their personal recovery from a life-threatening problem with alcohol and/or other drugs are encouraged to attend. WFS is committed to honoring all expressions of female identity and we warmly welcome our sisters from the LGBTQ+ spectrum. |
|
Dawn Nickel, PhD, is a thought leader in the women’s recovery sphere and the creator of SHE RECOVERS. In recovery from a substance use disorder since 1987, she is a strong advocate for the view that every woman in or seeking recovery must be supported to find the tools and pathways that will work best for her as an individual. .O is a WFS favorite presenter who has been joining us for Conference for over 20 years. To celebrate .O's joining us on the road, we are offering her Friday add-on workshops free of charge this year! Lynn Matti, MA, LPCC-MN, LPC-GA, is a Person-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Licensed Mental Wellness Counselor, Coach, podcaster, author, and speaker. Lynn is a woman in sustained recovery since July 2010 and is the creator and host of The SoberSoul Recovery Podcast, a top-rated mental health, addiction, recovery, and self-improvement podcast.
|
|
| Additional icebreakers, informal activities, and WFS meetings will occur throughout the day on Thursday and Friday. |
|
Thursday, June 11th, 2020
| 11:00 am | Lodging check-in opens |
Friday, June 12th, 2020
| 5:30 pm | Dinner (included with registration) |
| 6:30 pm | Opening Ceremony – with Dawn Nickel, PhD |
Saturday, June 13th, 2020
| 7:30 am | Breakfast (included with registration) |
| 8:30 am | Keynote Address – with Lynn Matti, MA |
| 9:15 am | Break |
| 9:30 am | Workshops/Breakout Sessions |
| 11:00 am | Break & Book Signing |
| Noon | Lunch (included with registration) |
| 1:00 pm | Workshops/Breakout Sessions |
| 2:30 pm | Break |
| 2:45 pm | Workshops/Breakout Sessions |
| 4:15 pm | Break with Silent Auction Table Closures |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner (included with registration) |
6:30 pm
| New Me Jubilee - An Evening of Fun, Fundraising, and Entertainment |
Sunday, June 14th, 2020
| 8:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am | Workshops/Breakout Sessions |
| 10:30 am | Break, last chance for bookstore purchases, etc. |
| 11:00 am | Closing Ceremony – with Dawn Nickel, PhD |
| Noon | Lunch (included with registration) |
|
|
|
Workshops/Breakout Sessions
- Eating For Well-being: Plant-Based Diets and Mental Health with Pamela T - This interactive workshop will introduce the benefits and barriers to adding more plants to one’s plate.
- Yoga and the 13 Statements with Natalie B (TSMom) - This workshop will take participants will through the 13 Statements as the framework for a gentle yoga practice.
- EnVision Boards with Gayla D (gaylagirl) - Create inspiration and motivation to move you toward your sober goals by creating a personal vision board.
- Writing For Your New Life with Kris D - Writing takes many forms and can be used as a tool for recovery. Experience multiple forms of writing and leave with a strategy tip sheet and journal.
- Wellness of Self with Laura A. (LauraJustLaura) - Take a deep dive into your own potential by finding out how exercise, nutrition, and visualization all connect in making a better YOU!
- Five Money Questions for Women with Maggie S. (MagMay) - Women face unique financial circumstances, so a strong financial strategy is vital. Learn the five money questions every women should ask herself.
- Practicing Peace: the Path to Joy and Prosperity with Leigh-Ann Larson, LMHC - Learn how we can build pathways to peace and away from depression, anxiety, anger, sadness, and fear.
- Relapse Prevention with Jill C. - A guided discussion session to help women identify their personal trouble spots and develop a customized plan to prevent relapse.
- The Healing Power of the 13 Statements: Bracelet Making with Marianne C./MACC - Make a 13-Statement bracelet and share how the Statements have a healing impact on New Life.
- Intuitive Eating in Recovery with Tiffany Thoen - Learn about Intuitive Eating in recovery. Through Intuitive Eating one can heal their relationship with food and find the freedom, balance, and satisfaction one craves.
- Gratitude is MORE Than an Attitude with Nancy M. (nanserz) - Learn about the neuroscience of gratitude, 28 benefits of gratitude, and explore a variety of gratitude exercises and activities.
- An Organization of Women, for Women with Adrienne Miller & WFS Board Members - An overview of the business of WFS followed by a Q&A with members of the Board of Directors. It's everything you ever wanted to know about WFS - and now you get to ask!
- Taking Back Control: Telling the Right Story with Cathy F (Newlovetofts) - Re-write a challenging real life situation in a way that puts you firmly in the driving seat. Be ready to share!
- Radical Self-Care: Learn to Nurture Yourself and Reclaim Your Life with Jessica Foody - When we make caring for ourselves a priority, we reclaim our time and energy to make space for joy and fulfillment. Create a self-care plan you can actually stick with!
- The Sober Mindset: Change Your Beliefs, Change Your Life with Veronica Valli - a live e-workshop! - Learn how to break through the limiting beliefs that are holding you back in sobriety, what the sober mindset is, and how it’s never too late to do this empowering work.
- 4C Facilitation: Bringing WFS to Your Community with Susie M (SueBee12) & Dee W (GrandmomDee63) - Positive tips, solutions, and encouragement for facilitating or getting a WFS meeting started.
|
|
Special Friday Add-On Activity
Mandala Stone Art - $30 Additional Fee
|
|
This is your opportunity to tap into your creative spirit and learn the meditative art of rock painting. Absolutely no painting or artistic skill or experience needed, PROMISE! You are sure to be surprised how learning just a few, easy dotting techniques will not only lead to gorgeous painted stones, but will most likely boost your mental health as well.
Susan Weislow - Susan is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of psychiatric experience. She enjoys leading groups of all ages that teach different art forms that have both a leisure component and a therapeutic element. Mandala rock painting offers you an opportunity for self-expression and may serve as a tool in your own creative journey.
"Susan’s rock painting mandala classes offer a wonderful experience of relaxation and self-expression. She creates a fun and supportive atmosphere where students can learn about technique, experiment with different styles and color palettes, and take home several completed mandalas, as well as all the know-how to continue with the medium on their own. The classes are a great balance between social and meditative, and students leave feeling both relaxed and uplifted by the experience. Highly recommended for children and adults of all ages. Two thumbs way up for mandala rock painting!"
|
|
Stay up to date as conference plans develop by visiting the
WFS Annual Weekend Conference 2020 web page.
Join the conversation, find an airport carpool, and meet other attendees in the Conference 2020 Group on WFS Online.
(Must be registered and logged in to access the group.)
And don't miss out on the Teddy Bear Challenge fun!
Please reach out to the WFS office by email or phone (215-536-8026) if you have any questions or need assistance completing your online registration.
See you in June!
|
|
|
|
|
