July 15 - July 21, 2007
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio

Morning Workshops

These morning workshops are for the adults of the SI community. Morning workshops are held every day during the week. When you complete the SI registration form, be sure to select one workshop for the week and two alternate choices. Workshops fill up quickly and are on a first-come basis, so register early. There are also morning programs scheduled for Young Adult, Youth and Children. 

1. Peacmaking: Understanding the Conflict in Israel-Palestine
Rev. David Herndon

The 2006 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association adopted “Peacemaking” as the
Study/Action Issue for 2006-2009. Through lecture presentations, video presentations, and written
materials, this workshop will enable participants to come to a deeper understanding of the conflict in
Israel-Palestine. We will cover the history of the conflict as well as present efforts to promote justice
and human rights for all people involved. Recommended reading: Justice and Only Justice: A Palestinian
Theology of Liberation by Naim Stifan Ateek, My Name Is Rachel Corrie edited by Alan Rickman and
Katherine Viner, and Toward a Jewish Theology of Liberation by Marc Ellis.

A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Rev. David has served as minister with the First Unitarian Church of
Pittsburgh since 1991. A graduate of Meadville/Lombard Theological School and the University of
Chicago Divinity School, in 2001 he received a degree in non-profit management from the Heinz School
at Carnegie Mellon University. He is married to Cindy Kirsch and they have two daughters, Rachel and
Meredith.

2. Listening for God:Volume II
Edie Schwede and Rev. Roy Phillips

The book Listening for God, is a collection of short stories by contemporary American authors, chosen
because they reveal “flashes of the spirit” in the lives of ordinary men and
women engaged in the mundane activities of everyday life. Focusing on one story
per day, for which participants prepare in advance, we will discuss how “flashes
of the spirit” are unpredictably revealed in the lives of the ordinary men and
women who are the subjects of these wonderful stories by American authors.
Short bios of the authors are included in each session. You need not have taken
Listening for God: Volume I to take this class.

Edie and Rev. Roy led Listening for God: Volume I at SI 2006. They’ve led
these classes several times together and separately at their churches. Edie is
retired and lives in Lakewood, Ohio. Roy, also retired, lives in Tucson Arizona,
teaching occasionally for Starr King School and the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

3. What Matters, What Works, What’s Next? A Journey into
the Rest of Our Lives
Laura Adams

*** Please note that this workshop is now FILLED and CLOSED to additional registrants.

“I want to life zestfully for the rest of my life and need to take the steps to do so. This course will help
you make the golden years truly golden.”

Laura Adams, Ph.D., is a retired English teacher and Community Mental Health Counselor. In her current
practice, Passages, she is helping people through the transitions of their lives.

4. Cross Cultural Communication
Stephanie Maietta
Do we prejudge people by their language? Are there gender differences in language? How do communication
styles differ across cultural groups? Do these differences contribute to misunderstanding?
This workshop will examine these questions with the goal of fostering broader knowledge, understanding
and tolerance. Come celebrate diversity!

Stephanie has a BA in Spanish and Anthropology from Arizona State University. She has an MA in
Applied Linguistics from Pitt. This class is based on a course she taught while working on her PhD.
Stephanie is currently a middle school Spanish teacher.

5. Can We Talk?
Leo Nagorski

Have you noticed the many different philosophies and theologies among us?
Notice how some issues just seem to be “hot buttons?” This workshop is an
invitation to open frank discussion with other UUs. Can we listen and understand
each other? Can we learn to change without hard feelings?

Leo has been a humanist minister for 20 years. He is the former vice-president of The Fellowship of
Religious Humanists (now HUUmanists).

6. Happiness as Peace; from A Course in Miracles
Nancy Meyer Fitzgerald and Sandy Lowe
Learn from this exceptional text about the wonderfully integrated metaphysical description of our
being and a personal practice of “forgiveness” that promotes inner peace and happiness. We will use
shared readings and discussions in counterpoint to the theme speaker during the week.

Nancy is from East Suburban UU Church in Murrysville and with her friend Sandy has been reading and
practicing ACIM for ten years. Nancy works for her heart since retirement as a research chemical
engineer. Sandy works part time as a stylist at the hair salon she opened with her brother.

7. Campfire Sing-a-long
Mindy Simmons

Bust out that dusty guitar, get some new strings and bring 2 of your favorite
folk songs! We will be learning basic strumming, finger-picking major and
minor chords, beginnings and endings, transposing songs into better keys for
voice, even how to tune your guitar. Take home with you new confidence to
sing and play for your friends.

Mindy is a 26 year professional performing/songwriter. She teaches music
enrichment programs in schools, gives private lessons in guitar, piano and
voice, and performs in concert at festivals, concert halls and listening
rooms across the U.S. Mindy serves as a music minister in UU fellowships
and other New Thought spiritual churches.

8. Spiritual Practices Sampler
Rev. Lynn Acquafondata

This class will introduce participants to a variety of spiritual practices, including
movement meditation, journal writing, seated meditation, everyday life practices
(optional extra: sunrise meditation). We will engage in the practice during class and
reflect on the experiences as well as the question, “Why bother?” Participants will
also be invited to an individual meeting with Lynn to discuss their spiritual life and
practice. The goal of the class is to experiment and figure out what practice might
fit each participant’s life at this point in time.

Lynn is minister of the UU Church of the South Hills, fondly known as Sunnyhill. She
has two teenage sons and two dogs.

9. Life Lessons
Julie Ann Sullivan

*** Please note that this workshop is now FILLED and CLOSED to additional registrants.

A practical approach to change your life by changing your perceptions and taking action. The class will
be partly experiential, partly lecture and partly discussion, about information to assist in the “living”
process. We will take a look inside and outside of our selves to see the many aspects of life that affect
us. From love to anger, from tolerance to resentment. Learn how you can better utilize the power you
already possess to increase the joy in your life. This learning experience includes simple ideas to take
home with you and utilize in everyday life. Bring along a pad of paper and something to write with, a
sense of wonder, discovery and humor.

Julie Ann has been focusing on “Life Lessons” for over 25 years through books, tapes, lectures,
journaling, experiential workshops and varied life experiences. From losing her father when she was a
child to spending her 50th birthday in Machu Picchu, her passion has been to learn through interaction,
about herself and those around her. Her degree in Psychology and her MBA in Accounting are a testament
to her diverse experiences. She is a very active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of
the South Hills.

10. Harry Potter for Grown-ups: The Leaky Cauldron
Geneva Pullen and Kathie Maloney

Finally, a Hogwarts SI experience for your inner child! Bring your Quick
Quotes Quill, emerald ink, and parchment, as well as your own character,
plot analyses and canon-based theories and speculation. As any adult fan
knows, Harry Potter books are much more than stories about magic. We will
explore their presentation of spirituality, philosophy, ethics and moral
choices. Pull up a 3-legged stool, grab a butter beer, and join other adult
fans in community at the Leaky Cauldron for lively discussions about the
practical wisdom and timeless themes of J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece.

Geneva is a member of Unitarian Universalist Church of South Hills in
Pittsburgh. With a degree in English, a love of books and a Harry Potter
addiction, Geneva is a home-schooling mom who’s used Rowling’s books to
introduce Latin, mythology, astronomy, art, geography, writing, vocabulary,
ethics and philosophy in her home education program.
Kathie is also from the UUCSH. With a background in education and a love
for all things Harry Potter, she is very interested in sharing ideas.

11. Yoga and Meditation: Tools for Living
Heidi Schaffer

Meditation is the practice of deep reflection and clear seeing. Yoga practice prepares us for meditation
by quieting the complaints of the body and the agitation of the mind. In this workshop we will use
yogic postures and breathing practices to find Sattva – a place of balance and
clarity that will invite us into a brief seated meditation at the end. Beginners in
both yoga and meditation are welcome. The level will be gentle-to-moderate including
floor practice and standing poses. Bring a yoga mat if you have one, a firm
blanket, and/or a meditation cushion.

Heidi has taught yoga for nearly 12 years. Director of the Kent Yoga Center, she
teaches gentle and moderate yoga classes mostly to people in their mid-to-later
years of life. Her style is an eclectic mix of classical Hatha and therapeutic yoga.

12. Feat of Clay
Christy Decker

*** Please note that this workshop is now FILLED and CLOSED to additional registrants.

Learn to “Let Go and Let Art” while exploring our creative selves and our
aesthetic with polymer clay. Emphasis on individual expression. The leader
will demonstrate wide variety of techniques, including caning, slab building,
mokume gane, marbling, faux gemstones, beading, mold making, covering
existing forms, stamping, and more with this marvelous and amazing medium,
as well as be available for help, suggestions, and support. The leader will
contact you with list of supplies to bring.

Christy first experimented with polymer clay at SI four years ago and has
been claying around almost every day since. You may have seen a few of her
pieces in the SI bookstore last year as she has begun to offer items for sale.
She is primarily self-taught.

13. Scandinavian Folk Dancing
Gunilla Nordhammer

You will learn a variety of folk dances from the Scandinavian
countries. These may include set dances – quadrilles,
circle and line dances – as well as couple dances like
schottis, polka and waltz. No previous dance experience is
required. Come single or with a partner and bring a pair of
comfortable shoes and a desire to dance and have fun.

Gunilla comes from Sweden where she learned folk dancing
as a teenager. She has danced on and off since then.
She is currently a teacher for the Scandinavian
Folkdancers of Pittsburgh. She attends First Unitarian
Church of Pittsburgh where she is active in the Social
Justice Committee, the choir and the Recorder Ensemble.

14. Reading the Earth and Stories of Gambier Geology
Jamie Martin-Hayden

A world of information is stored in rocks that can be deciphered by anyone with
a short introduction to the language of the earth. A series of hikes around
Gambier will allow us to see the stories of the local geology, landscapes,
rock types, fossils, soils and rivers in person. No previous knowledge of
geology necessary – only sturdy shoes, field clothes and enough wind to
make it down the hill along ½ mile wooded paths. Bring water and a rain
coat and be aware of poison ivy.

Jamie started teaching geology as a teenaged tour guide in the White Mountains of
New Hampshire and has worked his way up to teaching hydrogeology and general geology
at the University of Toledo, Department of Earth, Ecological and Environmental
Sciences.

Return to OMDSI Home Page

Last update June 15, 2007