The Web PATH Center, Inc.
Annual Meeting
November 5, 2005
Director’s Annual Report 2004-2005
from Dorothy Abrams, Webweaver known as Anemone
Introduction: The Web Fiscal year 2004-2005 began for me with a personal healing crisis in November 2004 and the resulting transformative experiences of finding my breath, receiving a new name to commemorate that event, and moving more directly into shared leadership roles with the Web folk who are on the Council of Trustees, with those who take classes here, and those who serve as shamanic apprentices. As the result of these changes, Beverly Owens assumed the coordination, scheduling and leadership roles for the Web Healing Days and is the point person for WinterFest 2006: An Apple a Day scheduled for February 16-19. Darcy Moore and Beverly Owens were accepted as apprentices in the shamanic path and in the journey circles. Full Moon Circles (Esbats) have been facilitated by a number of individuals and by the Wicca classes when they are scheduled on the full moons. The Victorious family and the Taber family have conducted ritual circles at their homes. Mary Koerner took on the chair of both WinterFest and SummerFest. The Council has taken on more administrative work. Peg Davidson stepped into the role of Chair of the Council. She is heading up SummerFest 2006 and the Joanne Shenandoah Concert, Kim Washburn volunteered to head up the children’s program and to involve all the parents in the presentations. All of this has enabled me to continue my personal healing, and to engage in writing and preparing Wicca IV materials.
In addition, as the behest of the Council we prepared a grant application for the Finger Lakes Arts Council in September 2005 requesting $4300 to assist us in presenting The Joanne Shenandoah Concert which kicks off Summer Fest in 2006. We will hear the results of that application in December 2005, but regardless of the decision, gathering the records necessary for the application was an important step in our administrative evolution. All in all, the 2004-2005 year has been a period of intense growth in spirit, organization and leadership, not just for me but for many people active in the Web organization. I deeply feel my connection to all of you as individuals and as part of the weaving we have created here in this community.
Mission Statement: This is The Web PATH Center’s Mission Statement which guides us in our
choices and programs:
The Web is organized to provide religious and cultural community to those seeking earth-based spiritual guidance in an expression of 21st century pagan culture through ritual, one-on-one training sessions, retreats, classes and the arts.
Web Program Activities: In keeping with that Mission the Web held 2 pagan festivals at the Center in 2005, both focusing on the theme of sustainability and green energy.
WinterFest 2005: The Tribe Lives! Sustainability: The Web Goes Back to the Basics February 4-6 2005 with a pre-session on Introduction to Paganism held 2/3/05. As our keynoter, we welcomed special guest Juanita Willson who presented information about the Haudenosaune way of life and respect for Mother Earth. Other guests or returning Web members presenting workshops included Valerie Cole and Judy Strakowski (Hearing from the Heart) and Alison Clark of the Center for Sustainable Living. Some of the Web folk made a quilt without sewing under the tutelage of Peg Davidson. Kia Marie Wolfe led the drum circle, taught a drum class and offered a workshop on Druidry. This year we had 42 in attendance, an all time high for WinterFest
SummerFest: The Tribe Lives! Sustainability: The Web Goes Back to the Basics June 22-26/2005 continued the Web’s consciousness raising and experiments in sustainability. We included our first professional Concert. Merry Mischief, (Marilyn and Wayne (Harry) Fuller) from the Renaissance Faire performed on Friday 6/24/05 for a noon time acoustic concert and again for the Festival in the evening. In addition Beverly Owen and Dorothy Abrams organized The Herded Cats a three and four part harmony chorale performing some of their original music and an arrangement of I Ain’t Afraid for a performance at the SummerFest closing ritual 6/26/05. Special guests Elspeth of Haven in WV; Marjorie Torelli for Wayne Finger Lakes Recycling; Stan Seacrest of Build a Drum, and Woody Seufret of the Red Cross presented workshops in their fields of expertise. Other workshops included Unleashing Your Creativity; Seed Balls--A Random Act of Gardening; A Stitch in Time; Hide Tawing, and Spinning Wool; This year we had 91 in attendance for SummerFest—another record.
Seminars:
Living Inner Visions, September 11-12, 2004 was presented by Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Darcy Moore and Bev Owens. This seminare was of 3 levels of shamanic training. About 10 people attended addressing the subjects of shamanic healing and psychopomp training.
Pre-Life Conference Seminar conducted by Virginia Waldron for 11 participants was held October 22, 2005 based on the work of Dr. Michael Newton in Life between Life therapy. She is a certified hypnotherapist through the National Guild of Hypnotists and a certified past life regression therapist through the International Association of Regression Research and Therapy and the International Board for Regression Therapy. Her workshop was part of the Give Back in return for shamanic training offered by the Web. A second session of the Pre-Life Conference Seminar will be given in March 2006 during our Spring Equinox observances. .
Sabbats:
The Web observed 7 Sabbats during this fiscal year November 1 2004-October 31, 2005.
Yule 12/18, 2004 led by Anemone & Merlin
Imbolc 2/5/2005 as part of WinterFest led by Anemone & Merlin
Lady’s Day Equinox cancelled because of illness.
Beltane 4/30/2005 at the home of Moonshine & Earth Child who led the ritual.
The children helped us weave a May Web and then ran out in the rain to dance
the May Pole.
Litha 6/23/2005 held during SummerFest was led by M’Lyssa.
The children joined us, calling the directions with brightly colored plastic swords, and dressed in fairy wings.
Lammas 8/6/05 celebrated at the Taber Residence, facilitated by Marie and Bruce, with
an awesome Wickerman Bonfire. The children joined us for the full ritual, making their own corn dollies.
Mabone, 9/24/05 – conducted by Anemone & Merlin, with a children’s
program led by Kim Washburn
Samhain 10/29/04 conducted by Anemone and Merlin, with a children’s program led by
Mary Moon.
Esabats: The Web officially observed Full Moon Celebrations on the Friday closest to the event with a few exceptions. Unless otherwise noted, Webweaver and Merlin conducted the ritual.
The Esabat schedule was:
2/25/05 M’Lyssa led us in connecting with the truths of our hearts.
3/22/05 conducted by Anemone & Merlin
4/23/2005 conducted by the Wicca I class
5/21/05 Conducted by the Wicca IV students
6/22/05 led by Ravija as the opening of Summer Fest. We celebrated a Mongolian Shamanic Moon Ritual
7/22/2005 celebrated at the Taber’s ritual circle led by Marie and Bruce
8/19/05 celebrated at the Web, led by M’Lyssa.
9/15/2005 Harvest Moon at the Taber’s residence led by Marie and Bruce
10/15/04 Conducted by the Wicca II Class at the Web, we observed a Full Drawing Down of the Moon led by Bruce & Marie Taber. There were 22 in attendance.
Shamanic Journey Circles are scheduled on the second Saturdays and last Sundays with many exceptions. Those recorded were held November; January 8 & 23; February 12; April 9; May 29; June; July 9 & 31, August 13 September 25 October 10/8 & 10/30/2005. Attendance currently averages 5 people. We have trained many new people while the apprentices and I with a couple other have begun work on our Life Staves which reflect the physical and spiritual journeys we have taken in this turn on the Earth Plane. .
Dorothy Abrams and Eric Reynolds with apprentices Darcy Moore and Bev Owen were invited to Kiki Waldron’s spiritual studies group to make a shamanic presentation 4/29/05. Rhonnie House joined us there to share the experience. The meeting was held in North Syracuse NY.
Dream Circles: Response to the Dream Circles has been weak. We scheduled circles in the first half of the year to see if there is enough interest to continue. Only 3 or 4 people participated, so the circles have been discontinued.
Writer’s Group: A few of us met in the first half of the year to encourage creative writing in all forms. This group has also been suspended in the second half of the year given the large number of activities scheduled. We hope to re-establish this program in 2005-2006.
Healing Sessions at the Web:
Beginning on January 24, 2005 the Healing sessions moved to Mondays, were scheduled once a month and coordinated by Bev Owen. Volunteers meet from 2 pm to 7 pm, with attendance running from 3 or 4 people to 10 people. Healing work is by appointment this year, still offered free of charge. Additional appointments were made for 5 Soul Retrievals, 6 Past Life Regressions, 8 Web Talk sessions. These appointments were set on an as needed basis.
Classes:
Wicca I March 4-6. 2005 with the second session cancelled for illness and rescheduled April 22-24, 2005 Teaching were: Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Bob House, Suzan McDermott, Mary Koerner, and Peg Davidson. 11 students began the class with 7 completing it.
Wicca II September 30-October 2 & October 14-16, 2005 trained 10 healing initiates. teachers: Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Suzan McDermott, Bev Owens, Peg & Bill Davidson.
Wicca IV began May 21, 2005, continued August 2005 and continues through May 2006. Using a Graduate Seminar format, all 8 students are teaching segments under the direction of Dorothy Abrams.
Reiki I October 2, 2005 offered as part of Wicca II by Mary Moon and Bev Owen. 10 people received attunements. The class attended the Reiki Share at Wolcott Library 10/14/05 as part of the Wicca II Seminar.
Reiki III was offered 5/22/05 by Dorothy Abrams and Mary Moon as part of Wicca IV. 11 Attunements were given.
Kundalini Reiki I was offered August by Elaine Reed as part of Wicca IV.
Family Meetings: Family Meetings are held at least 4 times a year as a means of keeping in touch, evaluating the program and seeking in put from the membership.
- Web Family Thanksgiving, November 11/13/ 2004 The Annual Meeting held at Al’s Diner in Clyde NY in lieu of the traditional family dinner at the Center, with 25 in attendance.
- New Years Family Meeting January 1, 2005. 16 people attended this planning session, which was followed by our Annual Marguerita Holiday Party.
- The Spring Dinner May 7, 2005 Spaghetti Dinner at the Web 17 attended this feed back session and found their place on the Web Diagram.
- Summer Fest Family Meeting. June 25, 2005 with 28 people in attendance.
In addition we initiated the annual Whine and Cheese Party April 15, 2005 to celebrate Income Tax Day, just for fun.
Council of Trustees Meetings were held to conduct the administrative business of the Web. 1/16/2005, 4/10/2005, May, August 25, 2005, October 24, 2005.
Networking:
Hearing From The Heart, a six week Seminar presented by members of the former Kore Group from February through March 2005 was attended by Dorothy Abrams, Rhonnie, Bob and Matt House.
Starwood, July 2005, Mary Koerner and others of the Web membership attended Starwood with NEC and the Circle of All Paths.
Pagan Pride Events The Web had an information booth at FingerLakes Pagan Pride, Syracuse Pagan Pride and Rochester Pagan Pride. Dorothy Abrams presented her workshop Unleashing Your Creativity at Rochester, with 20 people in attendance.
Reiki Share: A community Reiki Share is facilitated by Mary Moon, also of the Web, in Wolcott NY. Several Web members attend as often as they can. After discussions on healing, the members work in teams on each other.
Unfinished business
Children’s Programming: The Web has made a commitment in our intention to develop a children’s program that would follow the sabbats and include the Web children in our faith as much as possible. They worked well at SummerFest for 3 years, and has only in the last few months really taken off as a ritual component at the Sabbats. We are now turning our attention to children’s programming for full moons. At the October Drawing Down the Moon we had one little girl present who seemed fully caught up in the magic spectacle with the adults, blessing each of us as she could. Our goal is to involve the parents in presenting the children’s program in a rotational basis so that no one repeatedly misses the adult rituals.
Teen Programming: The teens who were part of the initial program assessment have graduated and moved on. Matt House has become a Council Member with full voting privileges. This is an area to continue to evaluate. At the annual meeting a new Teen Council Member will be chosen.
Fundraising: We have a need to pay close attention to this matter in 2005-2006. Not only have we made financial commitments relative to The Joanne Shenandoah Concert, but our budget needs were barely met in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. As pagan groups go, we are probably one of the better organized and funded organizations, but we do not currently raise enough money to meet newsletter and prison ministry requirements. In addition, in 2005 we provided emergency assistance to a Web member in serious need. If we wish to have the freedom to respond with compassion, we must develop a more secure financial base.
We initiated our journey into grant writing this year with a request for money from the Finger Lakes Arts Council. I suggest we become very focused in this process and find money to support our various components. I believe we have the ability to seek funding for a music grant centered on Suzuki Piano methods and one for a series of pottery classes. I am currently exploring these options. Your ideas for these and other grant sources will be appreciated!
Committee Structure and Activities: The Council of Trustees has several committees, none of which are yet living up to their full potential even though they have made considerable progress over the last year. We seek involvement from the Voting Membership to share the work load more equitably. These Committees are: Finance, Policy, Nominations, Program, Children’s Programs, Fund Raising, Summer Fest & WinterFest. Step up and volunteer!
WebNotes. I want to thank M’Lyssa Koerner for her hard work on the newsletter over the last few years. It is a big job. A number of us know how it is to struggle to get the newsletter out for the sabbats. Sometimes we seem to be too busy to make the deadlines! As of the Samhain issue, M’Lyssa completed her editorship, and with a really fine issue. We appreciate everything that has gone into this work!
Beginning with the Yule issue, Marie Taber will become the editor of WebNotes. I know she will do an equally fine job. Step up and offer her your assistance in writing, collating and mailing WebNotes 2005-2006. More than half of the circulation is sent e-mail at a great cost savings. The other half requires copying, folding, stamping and stapling. Here’s a place where many hands make light work.
Prisoners Ministry: M’Lyssa has volunteered to head up this work in 2005-2006. We have asked for volunteers to adopt a prisoner and provide the financial support to send PagaNet News and the newsletters to the 29 prisoners who have found us through Grimassi’s Encyclopedia of Witchcraft. We need some one to organize the project. Although many prisoners would like pen pals, that is not what we are offering. You would remain anonymous unless you chose otherwise. Web return address labels are provided. Emerald, Ravija and Theron have volunteered to assist in the correspondence course if we can get it up and running. More volunteers will insure that. We need readers who can review and comment on correspondence from Wicca I students. I’d like to make this a priority for 2005-2006.
The Website: The Web’s website has been initiated by Will Clark. We need in put and ideas to make this website work. Take a look at it at www.geocities.com/webpathcenter. Volunteer to do some writing!
That’s it! Another full year for the Web family, academy and healing center. We are glad you were there to share it.
With Blessings,
Anemone
Dorothy Abrams, Webweaver
