MAY 29 - JUNE 1, 2025
Once again we'll return to the lovely Pilgrim Park near Princeton, IL.
Wisconsin author and speaker Peighton Carter will keynote! They are an advocate with speaking experience on disabilities, inclusion and accessibility, Post-Traumatic Stress, veterans issues, and military sexual assault. Pey and their daughter have also written a book about coping with EDS, "Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin."
Join us for 2 or 3 nights! We'll enjoy our usual Rituals * Workshops * Games and crafts * Free time in Nature * Drumming * Bonfire, and rituals will honor the element of Air and the direction East.
Connection Council member Gretchen O will be our Lead for this retreat, Nyx and Sydney will take care of Registrar duties, Pat H has written us some lovely rituals, Sage H is organizing the big sale*, and Janet is handling Workshops.
NOTE: Your total will include the $60 registration fee along with the amount from your lodging choice.
SHARE!! pdf Connection Retreat 2025 Spring poster(416 KB)
Friday Workshop
Gretchen Ohmann
Songs for the Resistance
We'll share and learn songs to keep our spirits up and to share in a group or at marches. Special emphasis on Raging Grannies repertoire.
Gretchen Ohmann is a long-time UU who has her fingers in many UU women's organizational pies. She is a musician and a retreat junkie, and currently serves on the UU Women's Connection Council.
Saturday Workshops
Susan Grabia
Finding Your Balance
The goal of this program is to assist the participants identify where they are on the wellness continuum. Each person will assess where they are within each of the Seven Dimensions of Wellness. The Stages of Change theory will be presented and there will be discussion on how these stages influence our choices. Each person will have a reusable guide to aid them in maintaining a healthy balance throughout their life.
After retiring from midwifery in 1992 Susan earned a BS in Health Promotion and Wellness and a MPH degree with a focus in Complementary and Alternative Medicine education. She was a Senior Lecturer, and faculty associate, with the UW – Madison, School of Nursing for 15 years. Susan has researched national health systems in Canada, Great Britain and Australia, focusing specifically on how these countries have integrated health promotion strategies and integrative medicine education into their health care systems. Susan has been in private practice as the Senior Consultant for Integrative Health Concepts since 1997 providing health programming and consulting services.
Tayuh Underhill
Being Daily Disabled
A regular day in the life of someone who is disabled. Learn what it's like to survive with less access to everyday living while dealing with pain, ableism, and a horrible lack of spoons. We're going to roleplay!
Tayuh Underhill is a Social Worker with the IL Dept. of Human Services, a long time Pagan and Nature lover, a cat mom, she loves to sing and drum, and has been disabled since birth.
*The Big Sale
Our friend and former Councilwoman Deb Czarnopys-White has donated a collection of lovely scarves and a number of the Goddess figurines made by Molly Remer of Brigid's Grove, along with some other goodies. Sage H and Janet A will be organizing this. We'll be selling these as a fundraiser for UU Women's Connection. Deb also donated an amazing gong that we will raffle off. Bring spending money!
As usual, we'll also have the Lending Library, and a couple of vendors including Susan G's jewelry and the UUW&R feminist bookstore.