The Web PATH Center, Inc.
Council of Trustees Meeting
April 1, 2006
Director’s l Report January 1-March 31, 2006
from Dorothy Abrams, Webweaver known as Anemone
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.
Calendar year 2006 began with the Family Meeting 1/1/06 as we told our stories of how we came to be in the Web and what our hopes and dreams were. It seemed we were headed to a fine year of growth and unity, and so I believe we are. However, we immediately began to experience several challenges
The major activity of this period was WinterFest 2006 -- An Apple A Day: “Exploring Alternative Healing Modalities”, held February 16-19, 2006. The program was a tremendous success with high quality workshops and networking opportunities with area healers who had not been to the Web before. (see attached program). The challenges of this event were in the lack of volunteers for key positions ie Kitchen Witch, a lack of follow through to completion by Publicity and Registration Committees and the lack of support for the event evidenced by low attendance from WinterFest committee members and many regulars. We did not realize projected income although we did pay our bills and increase our bank balance by $754.09 As Director and Co Chair of the Event I picked up the slack as best I could, but this is not the goal of a self sustaining Web.
On February 23, 2006 Peg and Bill Davidson, Marie and Bruce Taber, Eric Reynolds and I attended the FLAGS Awards dinner at Belhurst Castle in Geneva NY to receive our check for $2300 from the Decentralization grant for the Joanne Shenandoah Concert this June.
Also in February we were invited by FLAGS to collaborate with them, the Rochester Folk Art Guild and Robert Barbuto in putting together a grant proposal due 3/31/06 for money made available through the NYS Music Fund established as the result of lawsuits by the NYS Attorney General against the practice of payola in the music industry. The grant was written and submitted by FLAGS. Our portion set out a concert series for the 2006-2007 season which if funded and successful would underwrite the financial future of the Web for those fiscal years. We will hear about the outcome in June 2006. Whether or not we receive funding, I recommend the Council examine the possibilities and decide if this is a direction we should pursue as a fundraising path. However, because of pressure of the deadline not all Council members were comfortable with the fact much of this idea development was prepared without full in put. This is the nature of sudden grant writing deadlines, and I submit that such authority is placed in the hands of the Director as well as those Council Members who were present as the request came in during WinterFest at the Web. The options available were posted to the Program Committee which offered in put. All meetings with Flags included either the Chair or the Treasurer of the Council. Unless we have a paid part time or full time administrative assistant, I do not believe I can improve on communication under this sort of deadline, and that is a possibility we may wish to consider as we become more financial stable.
On March 11, 2006 I attended a Website Design workshop offered by FLAGS at Pawtraits Gallery in Geneva NY conducted by Paul Fletcher. The purpose was to make one’s website stand out among the many available. He challenged us to identify our objective in mounting a Website, to look beyond the simple electronic brochure and create a web presence with e-mail, forums, e-commerce, and information/public relations all under one address. His advice was not to go for the “free” or cheapest available, because you pay with limited bandwidth, advertising, and reduced credibility by people who are experienced or professional at web marketing and sales. He uses websitesource.com as a web host and materials are available for your review. I believe this web host is affordable (under $100 per year or for the more commercial sites under $500 a year) and will solve our newsletter e-mail problems.
On March 16 and 28 Eric and I attended web site training by Storesonline.com where we learned what a bargain websitesource.com was. Storesonline offers essentially the same services with perhaps more personal back up and business planning for e-commerce for over $6000 a year. In the workshop we learned a great deal of info on how to position ones website on the 1st page of most search engines and how to effectively raise money on the internet. It is possible through our website to connect with Amazon.com, for example and have people buy their books for web classes by 1st clicking on us to find out what they need and then clicking a link to Amazon which carries our id # , make their purchase and have the Web receive a commission on everything they buy at that visit. The possibilities here are very exciting.
On 3/12/06 Anj Campbell and I attended a FLAGS Arts Roundtable in Auburn NY to give and receive in put from area artists in how FLAGS can be of better service. We made some good contacts and learned that the mayor of Clyde NY Roxanne Kise has a dream to make Clyde the center of the Arts and Crafts in CNY. With the Council’s approval, Anj, Eric and I would like to pursue this connection and see what plans might be available for use of some of the abandoned store fronts in Clyde as either a Web Artist Gallery, and Studio, or as a Web location for ritual, classes and small concerts. Working in partnership with the village we might find they would buy and renovate if we would maintain and operate. In the same vein, there are grants that purchase property and other ones that renovate it. It is not too soon to begin exploring these options.
On 3/25/06 The Web had a booth at the Wholistic Health Fair in Newark NY at the Quality Inn organized by Jim Leff. Kim Washburn answered questions and promoted the Shenandoah Concert. Pam Packard, Mary Moon, The Van Normans, and Dorothy Abrams provided healing sessions (free of course) and information about the Web Healing program to over 15 people in 5 hours. We offered Reiki, acupressure and chakra balancing. It was gratifying to have the number of people come up and greet us with real joy in meeting the witches of the Web, people they had heard about and were anxious to meet. We also reconnected with some old friends who promised to come back ASAP! This was a terrific community public relations appearance.
Web Program Activities:
SummerFest: this year is Building on Common Ground: “Discover Our Common Bonds In Cultural and Spiritual Connections” June 21-25 kicking off with the Joanne Shenandoah Concert 6/21. Tickets are on sail now, and you are encouraged to purchase yours today! The program proposal form is attached. Two areas I think the council needs to advise us on is food preparation and onsite entertainment. A discussion will follow the committee report.
Seminars:
Pre-Life Conference Seminar conducted by Virginia Waldron for 12 participants was held March 18, 2006 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. This is the 2nd session of the Pre-Life Conference Seminar. As interest continues, a 3rd is possible.
Sabbats:
The Web observed 2 Sabbats during this period.
Imbolc 2/4/2006 led by Anemone & Merlin children’s program Kim Washburn
Lady’s Day Equinox 3/18/06 led by Anemone & Merlin children’s program Dawn Privitera
Esabats: The Esabat schedule was:
2/10/05
3/17/05 conducted by Pam Packard (Ma-re)
Shamanic Journey Circles are scheduled on the second Saturdays and last Sundays with many exceptions. Those recorded were cancelled in January and held February 26 , March 11 & 26. Attendance currently averages 5 people.
Healing Sessions at the Web:
Monday healing sessions were held January and March 20, 2006. February’s was cancelled because it coincided with WinterFest healing. January involved only 1 appointment. March saw a full day of 5 appointments.
Classes:
Wicca I January 13-15 & 27-29, 2006. Teaching were: Dorothy Abrams, Eric Reynolds, Darcy Moore, Marie Taber and Bev Owen. 8 students began the class with 6 completing it.
Wicca IV part 4 February 3-5 The class is down to 5 people: Rhon and Bob House, Bev Owen, Eric Reynolds and Dorothy Abrams. We are a using a seminar format so students are teaching sections of the material. Wicca IV concludes May 5-7 with the initiations taking place at the Beltane Ritual to be held at the Victorious’ home in Red Creek. George and Phyllis will conduct the imitation ceremony since Eric and Dorothy are 2 of the initiates.
With Blessings,
Anemone
Dorothy Abrams, Webweaver
