Location: Martha's Vineyard, at the FOCUS Study Center
Cost: $220 - includes gourmet food, accommodation for three nights, linens, program costs, transportation to and from the airport and on the Island
Attending: FOCUS parents, friends, alumni, supporters, and those who’ve always wanted to visit the remarkable FOCUS Study Center on Martha’s Vineyard.
Contact: Lauren Burket lburket@infocus.org or Peter Moore pmoore1@comcast.net
Travel Info: See Below under Faculty Retreat for information on travel options.
To reserve: Send: $275 per person to: FOCUS, PO Box 5106, Charlottesville, VA 22905 or call 434-245-6112 to register by phone.
Peter Moore has gathered a gifted group of speakers and communicators who will share their thoughts on how to navigate through the vagaries of this postmodern world and its impact on you, your children, and even your grandchildren. From films, to books, to other media, to the words coming out of your children’s mouths, the message is different from when you and I were young. Join us as we ponder this seismic change, and enjoy yourself while doing so.
Location: Martha's Vineyard, the Cornerstone House
Cost: $220 - the cost includes lodging, most meals, and linens
$150 - for spouse or additional family member
Attending: Independent school Faculty from all regions
Program Director: Woody Bowman wbowman@infocus.org
Come away for several days of relaxation, fellowship, and conversation for independent school faculty. In the comfortable setting of a rambling house in Vineyard Haven on Martha’s Vineyard, the Faculty Retreat is intended to be an informal opportunity for engagement with matters of faith, learning, and life in our schools in the company of fellow believers and inquirers. We will seek to encourage and provide resources for faculty who are active in the spiritual life of their schools, both chaplains and others, but most especially want to provide a setting for renewal through quiet times and group discussion, prayer and bible study, and worship and recreation.
When & Where: Thursday, July 17th – Monday, June 21st. The retreat will officially begin with dinner on Thursday and end on Monday late morning, but participants are welcome to arrive early - even days ahead – or stay on (see below). Everyone is encouraged to be at the retreat for its full length, but late arrivals/early departures are readily preferred over not at all.
We will use “Cornerstone”, a rented house in Vineyard Haven and several additional houses within walking distance. Cornerstone is a rambling early 19th century house on a prominent corner in Vineyard Haven within easy walking distance of the Bunch of Grapes bookstore, the Black Dog Tavern, and the places where islanders go for great coffee and a good selection of newspapers.
Speakers: Scott & Louise Walker together pursue a ministry of spiritual and vocational direction as staff with Life/Work Direction. In addition to many years on the staff of FOCUS, particularly as the College Ministry Coordinators, they are experienced teachers. Scott taught history for ten years at Brookline High School, while Louise was faculty in the residential life programs at Ojai Valley School and Emma Willard School. Both are graduates of St. George’s School, and afterwards, Scott went on to complete degrees at Williams College and Boston University, while Louise graduated from La Verne College.
Recreation and Fun: The entire island is ours to explore in the afternoons and later evenings: all the beaches for which Martha’s Vineyard is renowned, biking, and sailing are all on tap. The retreat will offer several opportunities to spend afternoons at the FOCUS Study Center, where we will share some meals and join in the Sunday vesper service, and which offers both tennis and basketball courts.
Cost: The cost is $220 for the program for one person, $150 for a spouse or other family members. There is no charge for children under age seven. The cost includes lodging, most meals, and linens. Financial assistance is readily available.
Registration & Questions: To register or with questions, contact Woody Bowman, FOCUS’s Faculty Liaison and the weekend’s coordinator: (508) 693-1369 or wbowman@infocus.org
Travel: You can get to Martha’s Vineyard by ferry or by plane, on foot, on bike, or in your car. The following websites provide all the information that you’ll need:
Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
Website: http://www.mvy.com/gettinghere/
Phone: (800) 505-4815
This is a great place to start researching travel options. The website has complete listings of ferry schedules and airlines flying into Martha's Vineyard Airport.
Steamship Authority
Website: http://web1.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/
Phone: (508) 477-8600
The major ferry to Martha’s Vineyard with multiple trips each day from Woods Hole on Cape Cod. Find driving directions, schedules, fares, and make reservations on their site.
New England Fast Ferry
Website: http://www.mvexpressferry.com
Phone: (866) 453-6800
This ferry runs from New Bedford, Massachusetts to Martha’s Vineyard and also offers land connections to the New Bedford Amtrak Station as well as the Providence Airport.
Vineyard Fast Ferry
Website: http://www.vineyardfastferry.com/index.htm
Phone: (401) 295-4040
This ferry runs from the western shore of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay to Martha’s Vineyard and has land connections to both T.F. Green Airport serving Providence, R.I. and the Amtrak station in Kingston, R.I.
Cape Air
Website: http://www.flycapeair.com
Phone: (800) 352-0714
Catch flights from Boston, Providence and other locations that fly directly into Martha's Vineyard Airport. Joint fares with JetBlue
Registration & Questions: Registration for this program is not available online. To register, or with questions, contact Woody Bowman, FOCUS’s Faculty Liaison and the weekend’s coordinator: (508) 693-1369 or wbowman@infocus.org
Note: FOCUS warmly welcomes independent school faculty to stay as our guests for one or two nights at the FOCUS Study Center, space permitting. Additionally, FOCUS offers B & B hospitality at Cornerstone before and after the Faculty Retreat for a modest contribution.
