Dear Pelican Reunion Friends,
We are delighted that you will be joining us for the 2016 Pelican Reunion Conference! This year promises to be a stellar one, and we are thrilled that you will be part of it.
News Flash!! Different Boat Times
First things first, you don’t want to miss the boat (and the boat times have changed).
The conference boat departs Portsmouth:
Friday, Sept 2 at 9:25 am
or
Saturday, Sept 3 at 9:25 am
Whether you’re coming out on Friday or Saturday, please plan to arrive at the dock (315 Market Street in Portsmouth) at least 90 minutes before the Thomas Laighton departs (7:55 am)!
On Monday, we depart later than we have previously:
Monday, Sept 5 at 3:45 pm (arrives in Portsmouth at 4:45 p.m.)
For more information about boats and parking among other topics, visit: http://starisland.org/faq-category/important-info/
If you have questions about the boat schedule, please contact Justina Maji (jmaji@starisland.org).
For those of you who may need overnight accommodations in Portsmouth on Thursday or Friday, before catching the early conference boat, former Pelican Mark Woolley, Manager at the Best Western Plus Portsmouth Hotel & Suites, is offering a 25% discount (on reasonably priced $160 rooms) while rooms last. To make a reservation with a “Former Pelican discount”, please contact Mark directly at mwool@jhmus.com. And, please make your reservation soon!
On the Program for Pel Reunion
We have some new activities in response to your surveys from previous years. This year, Ellen Clegg, former Pelican, long-time Shoaler and drumming instructor, will lead a variety of workshops in African and Brazilian drumming (one for adults, one for children and one for drummers of all ages).
Our Minister of the Weekend, the Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley, will conduct candlelight chapels in the evenings as well as a memorial service for Edith Pierson on Sunday.
We are pleased to host a book discussion with seacoast historian and author of multiple books Dennis Robinson. Dennis will be discussing his most recent publication, Mystery on the Isles of Shoals: Closing the Case on the Smuttynose Ax Murders of 1873. Check Amazon for reviews and author information, then get it from your library or local book store so you have a chance to read it beforehand. It is also available in the Star Island bookstore. Dennis will be happy to answer questions and sign books.
And, once again, we look forward to Social Hour hosted by Deb Weiner -Soule and Nancy Meyer (with beer from Smuttynose Brewing Company) and paid for by your generous donations! Moreover, we eagerly anticipate the Silent Auction (bring something upon which others will bid to help raise funds for the Pel Reunion Scholarship Fund) and Yankee Swap (bring a Star-themed “gift” valued between $10 and $20 to exchange with your fellow conferees).
We have more on the docket and are still trying to work out details for a work project on Island, etc. We will post all activities on the chalkboard in the Lobby.
For Parents: PIT (Pelicans in Training) Crew
This is our children’s program, managed and overseen by Deb Weiner -Soule and Ben Soule. All registered families will receive an informational email from Deb and Ben. If you have questions, please contact Ben directly (bgsoule@gmail.com). The PIT groups meet Sat afternoon, Sun morning and afternoon, and Mon morning. The groups are led by “anchor teachers” and volunteers from the conference. We will need your help to ensure that safe child-adult ratios are maintained. Please email Ben to volunteer to help (all adults are welcomed and encouraged to help!) and make it easy for all of us by signing up before the conference begins.
There will be a twenty-minute MANDATORY orientation for kids and parents just before the Saturday afternoon PIT program!
Please note that while the current Pelicans serve as Hall Monitors in the evenings on the second floor of the Oceanic (beginning at 8 PM and finishing at 11 PM), this is offered for the entire second floor and should not be considered babysitting. Parents must be easily accessible at all times. Parents are also asked to pitch in and monitor kids during Social Hour. We encourage parents to make sure their children are in bed at these suggested bed times – well-rested kids are happy kids: ages 0-4: 7:30 PM; ages 5-9: 8:30 PM; ages 10-13 – 9:30 PM.
Volunteering Before Pel Reunion
For those of you who are keen to relive your bygone Pelican days and volunteer:
Should you wish to come early and volunteer in exchange for your room and board for a couple days before the start of the Pelican Reunion, please contact Liz Erickson (elizabeth.erickson@maine.edu).
Always welcome
Pelican photos
Drums or other musical instruments to use during drumming workshops
Yankee Swap and Silent Auction item(s)
Ideas for talks or activities that you would like to offer
Volunteers During Pel Reunion Conference
We know that those of us close to Star Island are always ready to help! We could use help with the following:
Silent Auction helpers
PIT Crew volunteers (to assist with a kids’ group)
Social Hour helpers for adults and kids on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings
Conferee Address List
We plan to distribute a conferee address list on Island with your name, address, phone number and email address. If you prefer to limit that information, please contact our Registrar Matt Baya (matt@baya.net) no later than August 24.
We are thrilled that you are coming. There are 100 terrific reasons to come to Pel Reunion and you are one of them!! RATS, RATS, Cinaeco, Cinaeco, rah, rah, rah!!
Abby Lourie
abbyinoakville@hotmail.com
Liz Erickson
elizabeth.erickson@maine.edu