The Web PATH Center, Inc.
Annual Meeting
November 4, 2007
Director’s Annual Report 2005-2006
from Dorothy Abrams, Webweaver known as Anemone
Introduction: The Web Fiscal year 2006-2007 showed a strong recovery and reorganization in the Web. Dawn Privitera accepted my invitation to train as assistant Webweaver with an eye to assuming that leadership role as I continue to develop the Rose, a new working with the Shining Ones. Dawn stepped into her new name and titles: Aurora Webweaver-in-Training as of August 1, 2007. Beverly Owens continued coordination, scheduling and leadership roles for the Web Healing Days. Beverly Owens completed her 2nd year apprenticeship in the shamanic path and began a 3rd. Mary Moon and Anj Campbell started their 1st year apprenticeships in the Winter quarter and Tom Privitera started his 1st year apprenticeship September 8, 2007 with the Shamanic Intensive. 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, the Washburn family and the Taber family have conducted sabbat and esabat ritual circles at their homes. Elly Keyel and Kim Washburn took on the co-chair positions for a re-tooled SummerFest at Sampson State Park. The children’s program with the help of several parents and Crystal Privitera (teen representative on the Council) struggled to find its stride but continued to offer children’s activities during Sabbat Rituals and SummerFest. The Tweens and Teens is still a dream deferred, but one I believe we need to develop.
SummerFest ’07 was a 1-day event this year, and brought in Web Family but not the public and not our out-of-state members. We will continue to offer SummerFest at State Park locations, but for a full weekend or extended weekend to make travel worth our while. Further discussion of SummerFest ’08 will be held at the Sunday January 6th Family Meeting (note change from January 1st), 2008.
The Web’s application for Arts Council Funding requesting $5000 to assist us in presenting The Work of Ones Hands, a series of arts was not funded. The Council chose not to continue with that series in the absence of funding because of our limited budget. During the year, FLAGS—the conduit of that funding—disbanded and we made no application for state funds this year.
The Web initiated The quarterly Web Mystic Faire held at the Lyons’ Community Center on Manhattan St. in Lyons. We have had three of these Faires which incorporate readings, vendors, Reiki healings and children’s activities for an income of $300+ for the year. This is a good start. We have been contacted by Donna Rivello, events coordinator of Springside Inn in Auburn NY because of our Mystic Faire, to provide readings for Getaway Weekends as they are scheduled at the Springside.
Classes and rituals continued to be held at the Galen Road location through the new fiscal year.
Long range, the Web needs to seek its own locale through rental or purchase of property. One of the driving forces of this has been the issue of insurance, which is currently cost prohibitive. The Council met October 21st to discuss our visions in this matter, and posted the outcome to the various e-lists. The discussion will continue in the next Council meeting 11/11/2007 when the new Council is seated. Your in put and ideas and feedback are greatly desired.
Overall, the Web has had another busy year. We have strengthened our fiscal standing, produced high quality classes and programs, and trained new leaders. We are developing a cohesive vision, and look to the future with confidence that our goals are achievable and nearly in hand.
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:
SummerFest: June 23, 2007 A Solstice Potpourri, Sampson State Park coordinated by Elly Keyel and Kim Washburn. This SummerFest was our first off site festival effort. Fewer people than previous years attended all or part of the event which included the Summer Solstice Ritual, food, music from Bev’s Band, workshops—30 people total including the band, 7 of the 30 were children. The Web did break even because of the generous in kind donations.
Seminars:
Opening Inner Visions, September 8-9, 2007 was presented by Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Bev Owen, Mary Moon and Anj Campbell. This seminar was the second offering of the 1st of 3 levels of shamanic training which are scheduled annually in rotation by the Web. In addition to the five of us who presented the training fourteen people attended addressing the subjects of the shamanic worlds, journeys to the 7 directions, animal and plant allies, spirit guides, power songs, and shamanic healing in the sacred garden.
Tarot Two: A-Mazing Tarot Intermediate Intensive, October 27-28, 2007 was presented by Dorothy Abrams. This seminar was the second offering in a series of three which built on introductory material taught at WinterFest 2003 and other beginning tarot studies. Students did not have to train previously at the Web to take this seminar. Six students completed the training and will finish their Web certification by reading for Dorothy Anemone by January 6, 2008.
Sabbats: The schedule for both sabbats and Esabats shows the increase in ritual preparations by members of the Web, a welcome sign of vitality and growth in the community. We encourage more people to get involved in planning and conducting rituals for the Wheel of the Year and the Full Moons! Our goal—to have some one different each time! We set the schedule and the ritualists at the Family Meeting in January.
The Web observed 8 Sabbats during this fiscal year November 1 2005-October 31, 2006.
Yule 12/16, 2006 led by Anemone & Merlin
Imbolc 2/3/2007 included the Full Moon Ritual led by Anemone & Pegqua. (Stone Soup)
Lady’s Day Equinox Ostara 3/24/07 led by The Tabers (Spell Eggs)
Beltane 5/5/2007 at the home of Moonshine & Earth Child who led the ritual.
(picnic and maypole dance with drums)
Litha 6/23/2007 held during SummerFest was led by the Teens
Lammas 8/4/07 facilitated by Anemone, Merlin and the Priviteras
Mabone, 9/22/07 – conducted by Galadrial
Samhain 10/27/07 conducted by Anemone and Pegqua with Priviteras, Ditchwitch et. al. (Tears of the Troll) and Children’s Crystal Skulls from Anj, decorated with Leviathan
Esabats: The Web officially observed Full Moon Celebrations on the Friday closest to the event with a few exceptions. The Esabat schedule was:
1/5/07 Galadrial and Kallindra
2/3/07 with the Imbolc Ritual
3/2/07 Wicca II Class
3/30/07 Reiki II attunements at Tabers Soft Moon Rising & Galadrial
5/4/07 Galadrial
6/30/07 Kallindra
7/27/2007 The Priviteras at the Web
8/25/05 Kallidra at the Wasburns
9/28/07 Galadrial at the Web
10/27/07 with the Samhain Ritual
Shamanic Journey Circles were changed at the 1/1/07 Meeting of the Web Family to reduce confusion. We now meet second and fourth Sundays from 2-4 pm. This improved attendance and participation. Circles where held: 11/11/06, 11/26/06, December cancelled, 1/14, 1/28/, 211/, 2/25, March cancelled, 4/8, 4/22, 5/13, 5/27, 6/10, 6/24, 7/8, 7/22, 8/12, 8/26, 9/23, October cancelled. The apprentices conducted the circles in June and July while Merlin and I were in England.
Healing Sessions at the Web:
Healing sessions are scheduled the 3rd Monday of the Month and coordinated by Bev Owen, Soft Moon Rising. Volunteers meet from 2 pm to 7 pm, with attendance running from 3 to 6 people. Healing work is by appointment this year, still offered free of charge. When the Web has not been available Bev has held these sessions at her healing room in Newark. Additional appointments were made for 3 Soul Retrievals, 2 Past Life Regressions. These appointments were set on an as needed basis.
Classes:
Wicca I Monday and Wednesday evenings September 10 through October 17 2007. We experimented with this schedule to extend the class opportunity to those not able to attend weekend workshops. Teaching were: Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Bev Owen, Anj Campbell, Mary Moon & Marie Taber. 7 students began the class with 5 completing it.
Wicca III March & April 2007 trained story telling initiates. Teachers: Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Anj Campbell, Bev Owens, Peg Davidson. 8 students began the class with 6 completing it.
Reiki II March 30, 2007 offered as part of Wicca III by Mary Moon and Bev Owen. 6 people received attunements.
Reiki III was offered by appointment July 2007 by Dorothy Abrams for one individual.
Family Meetings: Family Meetings were only held twice this year as a means of keeping in touch, evaluating the program and seeking in put from the membership. We expect to have 4 each year.
- Web Family Thanksgiving, November 11/5/ 2006 The Annual Meeting held at Wolcott Village Restaurant in lieu of the traditional family dinner at the Center, with 28 in attendance.
- New Years Family Meeting January 1, 2007. 22 people attended this planning session.
Council of Trustees Meetings were held to conduct the administrative business of the Web on 11/26/06 and 1/21/07. Council Training Session was cancelled 2/18/07 because of the weather and rescheduled and held 10/21/07. A non voting brainstorming meeting was held 7/25/07. Business was conducted among the members of the Executive Committee and on line. I suggest that at the first organizational meeting after their elections, the Council set quarterly meetings dates for the year to insure the smooth communication, reporting and business transactions that are necessary for a non profit organization.
Networking:
Pagan Pride Events The Web had new brochures placed at Syracuse Pagan Pride and Rochester Pagan Pride. Dorothy Abrams presented her workshop “Crossing the Veil” at Rochester, 9/22/07 with 8 people in attendance.
Esoteric Explorers Anemone, Merlin, Soft Moon Rising and Galadrial went to 7 Rays Bookstore in Syracuse NY to make present a workshop The Shamanic World View to Kiki Waldron’s group The Esoteric Explorers 4/30/07 with about 15 people in attendance.
Unfinished business
Children’s Programming: The Web has made a commitment to develop a children’s program that would follow the sabbats and include the Web children in our faith as much as possible. The sabbat schedules have provided activities and training for the children. We now need to turn our attention to children’s programming for full moons, since they like to come. 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. In addition, we anticipate making the children’s activities on topic and engrossing enough to keep the children focused and challenged by the activities. We ask the children start and end each ritual with the adults for the callings and releases, as well as the practice in grounding.
Teen Programming: Crystal Privitera continues to be the Teen Rep on the Council. As new teenagers are growing up and out of the Children’s Program, they should be talking to Crystal about what they see as a viable Teen Program in the Web for social activities, classes and ritual. Adults need to put some attention to this subject as well.
Fundraising & Fiscal Goals: By watching our spending very carefully and working on small fundraisers, we solidified our financial status and ended up with more money in the bank at the end of the fiscal year than at the beginning. We do currently raise enough money to meet our newsletter needs and prison mailings. As pagan groups go, we are probably one of the better organized and funded organizations. Our goal of being able to buy and maintain Web Space in a rural setting remains an unfunded dream. By keeping better records, reporting more carefully and planning better the Web will make itself competitive for endowments, gifts, grants and loans which may help us do this.
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 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 Marie Taber for her hard work on the newsletter. She relies on you to give her adequate copy for the newsletter which is now a quarterly publication. Step up and offer her your assistance in writing, collating and mailing WebNotes 2007-2008. We now post only the text version on the e-lists. The creative copy is available by snail mail. We need someone to take the reins and mail this out for us. The postage is available.
Prisoners Ministry: Kai volunteered to respond to the letters and send out the newsletters in 2007-2008. She could use some assistance. We suddenly have 20+ people writing to us. There has to be a very effective grapevine in the prisons because these folks come from all over the country, as if they suddenly knew the Web is answering their mail again. Although Kai is organizing the project she needs people to keep these lines of communication open. We do not provide pen pals or legal advice. We answer questions about Wiccan practice and send out newsletters. If you volunteer to help, you would remain anonymous unless you chose otherwise. Web return address labels are provided. The mail goes through our house, and is held for Kai or her designees. We are again thinking of a correspondence course for prisoners. More volunteers will insure that. We need readers who can review and comment on correspondence from Wicca I students. Let Kai know if you are interested.
The Website: The Web’s website is still under development. We have some written and Tom is experimenting with it. Lots of people have offered, but it still is not a reality. This is one of my priorities for 2007-2008.
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
