The Web PATH Center, Inc.
Annual Meeting
November 9, 2008
Director’s Annual Report 2007-2008
From Dawn Privitera, Webweaver known as Aurora
Introduction
Wow, what a ride this has been! J Last August 2007 I officially became Webweaver-in-Training. I was in awe when Anemone (Dorothy) asked me to consider training under her. To think this woman who does such great things for The Web and The Web being pretty much her baby turns to me to help carry on The Web. It was such an honor to be given this opportunity. And yes very scary considering the shoes I have to fill J. But to understand that there are other things Anemone (Dorothy) would rather be focusing on now. Along with time to rest and enjoy retirement. You so deserve the rest and time to do what you need to do.
Being trained by Anemone (Dorothy) to become the new Director down the road was not what I expected. I guess for one I didn’t really realize ALL that she does. If you’ve noticed I’ve learned to delegate too J. I was also expecting more time to train. But in April she asked me if I was ready to take it all on. Had she taught me everything I need to know? I think my reply was something about being as ready as I’ll ever be J. And I know she’s there if I need her to really get out of a jam. So Beltane ’08 The Victorious’ presented us with a lovely ceremony to pass on the torch. Thank you so much for that. It was beautiful.
The Web Fiscal year 2007 – 2008 continued to show strong recovery and reorganization. Soft Moon Rising (Beverly) continued coordination, scheduling and leadership roles for the Web Healing Days. Soft Moon Rising (Beverly) was Initiated as Journey Woman; apprenticeship in the shamanic path. Galadriel (Mary) and Anj Campbell continued their 1st year apprenticeships and Tom Privitera started his 2nd year apprenticeship September 13, 2008 with the Shamanic Intensive. Pam Rosati began her first year apprenticeship in shamanism and has taken on the goal of learning the overall interconnection of shamanism, Wicca and web theology. Full Moon Circles (Esbats) have been facilitated by a number of individuals and by the Wicca and Shamanic classes when they are scheduled on the full moons. The Victorious family, the Washburn family and the Taber family have conducted sabbat and esbat ritual circles at their homes. The children’s program with the help of several parents and Amethyst (Crystal - 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 ’08 was a 2-day event this year, and brought in Web Family including out-of-state members but not the public. We are thinking to offer SummerFest for a full weekend or extended weekend to make travel worth our while. Further discussion of SummerFest ’09 will be held at the Sunday January 4th Family Meeting (note change from January 1st), 2009.
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. Your input 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:
Shamanic Journey Circles
Kept on the same schedule of every second and fourth Sundays of the month from 2 – 4 pm. Two of our Circles were held at Soft Moon Healing Center due to classes at the Web. These Circles were led by Journeywoman Soft Moon Rising. Our apprentices have also stepped up and led us thru some amazing journeys.
Healing Sessions at The Web
Healing sessions are scheduled the 3rd Monday of the Month and coordinated by Soft Moon Rising (Bev). Our new hours for our Healing Monday are 5pm – 8pm. This helps to include those with conflicting schedules during the day. Healing work is by appointment, still offered free of charge. Other healing appointments are available upon request.
Come on out and see what else Soft Moon Rising (Bev) has been incorporating into our Healing Mondays. New meditations at 5pm.
Web Healing Talks
Anemone received donations totaling $88 on behalf of The Web for her Healing Talks given to folks in need during Healing Monday and other occasions.
Future Planning
We have been brainstorming and thinking NEW!
The Web would like to offer a Healing Training Day on a Saturday either quarterly or monthly, depending on what we can fit in or what you think would be best. How often would you be willing to come out and attend a Day of Training in Healing? Different Modalities would be offered and taught by members of The Web or others. Samples are: Acupressure, Chakra Clearing, etc.
Rituals:
The schedule for Sabbats and Esbats show continued increase in participation of our Web members. Volunteers put together and presented great rituals. This shows an increase in participation and not leaving the same people to facilitate rituals year round. We encourage you to step in and get involved. Our goal is to have someone different present each ritual. Note that all parts of ritual are not conducted by just the one that facilitates the ritual; different volunteers smudge, call quarters, etc. So don’t be afraid that you and you alone conduct the ritual. The schedule for Sabbat and Esbat rituals is set at the January Family Meeting. So come and volunteer or get in contact with me, Aurora at webpathcenter@yahoo.com.
Rituals were held at The Web on Galen Road unless otherwise specified.
Sabbats
The Web observed 8 Sabbats during the November 1, 2007 – October 31, 2008 fiscal year. Sabbats were held on Saturday’s closest the event with a few being held on Friday.
12/22 Yule Ritual; Anemone & Pegqua kids included
3/21 Ostara & Full Moon Ritual; Soft Moon Rising, Ellynore & Galadriel, kids ritual Leviathon
5/3 Beltane Ritual @ Victorious’; Earthchild & Moonshine kids included
6/20 Litha Ritual & Full Moon; Anemone, Galadriel & Merlin, kids ritual Silver Lightning, Leviathon, Amethyst
This year we brought back the practice of Drawing Down the Sun (an inner court audience with the Lady and the Lord). This was nicely done this year by our Goddess Denise and our God Earthchild (George). Thank you so much for stepping in.
8/1 Lammas Ritual & Picnic @ Privitera’s; Leviathon & Aurora, kids ritual Kai
9/20 Mabon Ritual; Galadriel, kids ritual Leviathon
10/31 Samhain Ritual; Wicca II, kids ritual Kallindra
Esbats
Esbat rituals were conducted on the Friday closest the Full Moon with a few exceptions. Some were conducted concurrent with Sabbats.
1/21 Anemone & Galadriel, kids ritual Kai
2/20 Kallindra & Soft Moon Rising, kids ritual Saphire & Silver Lightning
4/18 Soft Moon Rising & Anemone, kids ritual Kallinda
5/16 @ Taber’s Camp Ditchwitch, Aurora & Leviathon kids included
7/16 @ Washburn’s Kallindra, kids ritual Kai
8/16 Saphire & Silver Lightning kids included
9/13 Shamanic Intensive Level II students: A Shamanic Full Moon Ceremony
10/17 Soft Moon Rising, Galadriel & Wicca II Class Full Drawing Down the Moon, kids ritual Saphire
Classes:
Wicca I: To Know the Magick
Offered in February & March 2008 as a 2 weekend class @ $5 materials fee each weekend for a total of $65. Helping Anemone to teach her final Wicca I class were: Katrina, Saphire (Diane), Soft Moon Rising (Bev), Sky Clad Seeker (Rich) and Anj. The new grads are: KJ(who is an alumnus but came back for a 2nd round), Julie, Connie, Todd and Deb. Our Kitchen Witch Bonnie did a great job! She liked planning the meals so much she decided to keep volunteering for Kitchen Witch and planned all other class meals this year. Doing a great job, Thank You!
Thank you everybody that was involved for their contributions, personal brilliance and inspirations! We have shown Anemone that we will carry on what she started at The Web. We have learned well from the Master and will continue to teach what she has taught us and more!
We have already set dates for the next Wicca I to be offered January 9-11 and 23-25. Teachers have already volunteered, but we are seeking more help! If you would like to take or teach Wicca I in January contact Aurora or Leviathon.
Wicca II: To Will the Magick
Offered in October & November 2008 as a 3 weekend bi-weekly class @ $5 materials fee each weekend for a total of $130. Helping Anemone to teach were: Soft Moon Rising (Bev), Galadriel (Mary), Bonnie, Ditchwitch (Marie), Anj and Missy. Sky Clad Seeker (Rich), and Bonnie came back for round two. The new grads are: Ivy Moon (Connie), Dragonfire (Todd), Ravija (Darcy, an alumnus who came back home for a 2nd round), Amaramoon (Katie), Katrina, Silver Lightning (Ken), Aurora (Dawn) and Leviathon (Tom).
Reiki I
October 19, 2008 offered as part of Wicca II by Galadriel (Mary) and Leviathon (Tom). Attunements were given to 10 by Galadriel (Mary) and Leviathon (Tom).
African Hand Drumming 101 (Basic Hand Drumming)
Anemone (Dorothy) offered 6 African Drumming 101 classes coinciding with the days of the Shamanic Trance Drum circles at the Web. These classes were held February thru May. Attendees learned the basics of hand drumming with their own drums or drums from The Web.
Shamanic II: Living Inner Visions September 13th – 14th $35 received for materials fee
Despite the Spirits trying to rattle Anemone, Shamanic Intensive II was held at Galen Road in September.
Together they planned and facilitated the Full Moon ritual. They learned a lot and journeyed deep. None left the same and all vowed to be back next year for Shamanic Intensive III: Becoming Inner Visions.
Huzzah! For Bonnie the Kitchen Witch, Sky Clad Seeker (Rich), Carol, Denise, Deb, Ditchy (Marie), Pam, and teachers: Soft Moon Rising (Bev), Galadriel (Mary), and Leviathon (Tom)
Tarot I: Beginning Tarot
Held the weekend of April 26th & 27th and bringing in $35 materials fee. We had 9 people complete the Tarot I class Sunday. Thanks to Bonnie for being a terrific Kitchen Witch and to all the cooks and clean up people for making things run smoothly.
All were deeply challenged by the spirits.
Family Meetings:
There were 3 Family Meetings held this year. These meetings are held as a means of keeping in touch, evaluating the program and seeking input from the membership.
Web Family Thanksgiving
The Annual Meeting was held November 4th, 2007 at the Wolcott Village Restaurant. We had 22 adults and 3 children in attendance.
$240.00 Tickets (16) $15.00ea
$ 54.00 On-Site Tickets (3) $18.00ea
$ 36.00 Small Plates (3) $12.00ea
$ 36.00 Scholarships (2 @ $15.00ea + $6.00) Anonymous Donors
$366.00 TOTAL DINNERS PAID
$195.00 Silent Auction Proceeds (Altar Box with all the trimmings)
$ 80.00 Mystic Faire readings (4 @ $10ea + 8 @ $5ea)
$ 24.00 Donations
$299.00 TOTAL
TOTAL INCOME Family Dinner Tickets & Fundraisers $665.00
TOTAL EXPENSES: Dinner, xtra drinks & tip - $369.36
BALANCE $295.64
New Years Family Meeting January 6th 15 in attended this planning session
SummerFest Family Meeting June 28th 28 in attendance
Council of Trustees Meetings were held to conduct the administrative business of the Web on 11/11/07 and 8/31/08. A non voting brainstorming meeting was held 8/31/08. 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.
Policy Committee
On January 20th the Policy Committee got together to go thru old proposed policies. We weeded through what was needed and made any necessary changes and threw out ones we felt we didn’t need at this time. Proposed policies have been submitted to the Council of Trustees with no definitive answer as of yet. We will get on that soon!
Networking:
Girlfriends-Get-Away
Anemone (Dorothy) and Soft Moon Rising (Bev) went to Springside Inn December 30th, 2008 and provided readings and a psychic lesson to 2 delightful women from PA and NJ. This is part of the contact with the Events Coordinator, Donna Rivello. For that they were paid $220 on behalf of The Web. It is a profitable venture for a few hours one day and we are welcomed. A thank you to those readers amidst The Web for volunteering your time and being ready for this great opportunity.
Holistic Health Faire
On April 5th we were invited & attended the Holistic Health Fair @ St. Michael’s School. With 4 of our members (Soft Moon Rising (Bev), Leviathon (Tom), Galadriel (Mary) and Kallindra (Kim) attending a table jointly sponsored by The Web & Soft Moon Healing Center. Healings were offered @ a $5 donation raising $20.
Healing Donations $20
Table Fee -$30
BALANCE -$10
Pagan Pride Events The Web had brochures placed at Syracuse Pagan Pride and Rochester Pagan pride. Several members attended several locations this year. Enjoying the ambiance and camaraderie of like minded people.
Reiki Share
Several members of The Web attend a Reiki Share at Soft Moon Healing Center the first Friday of the month. This is a time where the healers get to be healed.
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, SummerFest & WinterFest. Step up and volunteer!
WebNotes
We continued our quarterly WebNotes with Ditchwitch (Marie) as our editor. Thank you for all your hard work Ditchwitch (Marie) and those of you who have submitted your work. We appreciate all the hard work you have put into getting our newsletters out! She relies on you to give her adequate copy for the newsletter. So get your submissions in!
We now post only the text version on the e-lists with the creative copy available by snail mail ($5 per year). We appreciate Ellynore who has stepped in to take over the reins and mail this out for us. The postage is part of the Web Budget. We always need articles and willing hands to help. So step up and offer her your assistance in writing, collating and mailing WebNotes 2008-2009.
Prison Ministry Program Needs Help!
Many of you may know about The Web’s Prisoner Ministry Program, but some of you might not. In order to reach out and communicate with Pagans across the country, The Web is listed in Raven Grimassi’s Registry Book. Some of the contacts and requests for information are received from folks who are incarcerated, many for long terms. We do not provide pen pals or legal advice. We answer questions about Wiccan practice and send out newsletters.
Kai (Michelle) volunteered to respond to the letters and send out the newsletters in 2007-2008. She could use some assistance. We suddenly have 37+ 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 (Michelle) is organizing the project she needs people to keep these lines of communication open. Kai (Michelle) is doing a great job of keeping up mailings and prisoners have been very accommodating as her schedule is very hectic right now with college and teaching. We would all appreciate it if you could step up and help out. Take on a few prisoners. If you volunteer to help, you would remain anonymous unless you chose otherwise. Web return address labels are provided. The mail goes through the Web house on Galen Road, and is held for Kai (Michelle) or her designees.
Kai (Michelle – Prison Ministry Chair) has also started a Wicca I correspondence course with 15 of our prisoners, about 8 actively participating. We need readers who can review and comment on correspondence from Wicca I students. Let Kai (Michelle) know if you are interested.
We ask for your help corresponding if you are able and donations to our Adopt-a-Prisoner program. A $25 donation will help cover the expenses of paper, mailing envelopes, address labels and postage for these prison correspondences. You can snail-mail your donation or send money via PayPal to webpathpaypal@yahoo.com (please note what you are sending money for so that we may credit it in the right place.)
Fundraising
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. 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.
Decent Proposal
In January the Council was approached by one of our business associates to invest in their company. This investment was a short term contract in which we invested $500 for a return of $1000 down the road. Council approved of this contract and we saw our return of $1000 in September. Thank you for allowing us to help you and in turn help The Web, because as I see it, it was a great donation of $500 which we greatly appreciate. Every penny helps us to attain the goal of Web held property!
Spirit Art Raffle
We held our 1st Spirit Art Raffle this year from January thru our Spring Mystic Faire (4/19/08). A beautiful one of a kind Spirit Art picture donated by Susan Snow Voidets from British Columbia Canada (also one of our members) in acrylics/mixed media, especially made for the Winner! A $100+ value. Our winner was drawn at the end of the Mystic Faire and Kim Washburn was our winner! Congratulations Kim! And thank you Susan for without your donation this wouldn’t have been possible! Tickets were sold @ 2/$5 or 5/$10 and raised a total of $100!
Mystic Faire
We continued our Mystic Faire until the Lyons Community Center changed their hours. So we are in search of a new venue. Got any ideas? Let us know!
Winter Mystic Faire
We had our 1st Mystic Faire of the new year on January 19th, 2008. From 1:30pm – 4:30pm we had 6 of our Readers busy. I’d like to thank our readers Shuvani Woman, Kallindra, Madame Foxcraft, Soft Moon Rising and Sophera for helping us out and giving some great readings! Leviathon was our Healer, thank you! And thank you to our cashier Silver Lightning and hostess/child care giver Saphire. Thank you all who help to make this a continued success!
Mystic Faire Readings & Healing $150
Lyons Community Center Rental Fee -$ 43
BALANCE $117
InKind Advertising $46
Spring Mystic Faire
Our 2nd Mystic Faire was held on April 19th, 2008 from 11:30am – 2:30pm. 5 of our Readers were busy as well as our Healer. Thank you, Anemone, Madame Foxcraft, Kallindra, Soft Moon Rising and Leviathon. Also thank you to Saphire our cashier/hostess! Without you volunteers this would not be able to happen so thank you for taking your time to support us!
Mystic Faire Readings & Healing $108.50
Lyons Community Center Rental Fee -$ 43.00
BALANCE $ 65.50
InKind Advertising $10.40
‘SummerFest’ Web Picnic & Brunch ‘08
On June 28th & 29th The Web held a picnic & brunch in place of our normal SummerFest. Admission was free, and this was open to members only because of that.
We received an anonymous donation of $100 to go towards the expenses of our Picnic/Brunch. THANK YOU ANONYMOUS!
Also received during the festival was $60 in cash donations. We also received many lovely items for our Auction which was a great success! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GRACIOUS DONATIONS & SUPPORTING THE WEB!!!
It was a great time of getting to know our Web family again along with some newcomers. Thank you all who came from near and far just to attend this special event. It was great to just relax and enjoy the company of our Web family. We did crafts: made rattles, pictures, jewelry and just had a great time, even with a little rain J Thank you all for making this the success that it was!
Included in these amounts are: purchase of the food & drinks, port-a-janes, auction & auction donations, and Mystic Faire on-site. Does not include mailings, postage or price of food purchased for brunch. These totals are not in yet.
Picnic Attendance Breakfast Attendance
Adults 28 Adults 18
Teens 3 Teens 1
Kids 13 & under 11 Kids 13 & under 9
42 bodies 28 bodies
Income
Donations $ 160
Mystic Faire (10 @ $5ea Readings & Healings) $ 50
Auction ($170 WebBucks, $772 cash/check) $ 942
TOTAL INCOME $1152
Expenses
Groceries (Dinner only, do not have costs for Brunch yet) $106.94
Port-a-Janes (2 @ $135ea) $289.24
TOTAL EXPENSE $396.18
w/WebBucks wo/WebBucks
Income $1152 Income $982
Expenses -$ 396.18 Expenses -$396.18
BALANCE $ 755.82 BALANCE $585.82
InKind Donations
Items for Auction $650 Food (Dinner, Snacks & Drinks) $150
Tarot Party
Anemone was contacted by a client wanting to set up a Home Tarot Party for her and her girlfriends. On October 12th she and Shuvani Woman (Marie’s reading name) went to Wolcott to give readings for many fine ladies, bringing back $90 in name of the Web PATH Center, Inc.. Thank you so much for volunteering your time and gifts!
The Website:
The website is up and running. Acquired 12/2/07 paid thru transfer from Checking to PayPal @ total of -$106.93. Check us out! www.webpathcenter.com We have lots of things you may not find in our Yahoo files. Soft Moon Rising (Bev) has some recurring submissions in there (Rev Bev’s Quips & Quotes, Did You Know? And Zebra Tales) check them out! I try to keep it as up to date as possible with: Current Events, Class information, past Rituals, Legalities among other things and Pics can be found there.
If you have anything you would like to include on our website let me know! Pics (graphics or people), articles, and other submissions will be welcomed!
Associate Programs
On our website www.webpathcenter.com we have links to a few stores that help earn us money. When shopping for books, gifts or ritual items click on our links to Amazon, Llewellyn and 13 Moons. Every purchase thru these links earns The Web a percentage. A little extra time is all it takes to buy what you want and donate to The Web at the same time!
Just go to www.webpathcenter.com and click on the link to the store you wish to shop at! Look for more of the Associate Links to be coming soon! Shop Joanne Fabrics? We’ll have a link soon!
Amazon Associates Program
In August we received a deposit of $32.90 (earned $33.70) from our associates program with Amazon. There is a $25 minimum before they push out the money to our account. I think there is also a fee with that deposit. But I haven’t been able to find that in anything on the site. Put a sticky note next to your computer to remind you to go through The Web’s links to Amazon so that we may receive a percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything more! The Web just gets a percent of your total purchases on everything (even used items)!
Unfinished Business:
Children’s Programming
The Web made a commitment a few years ago to develop a children’s program that would follow the sabbats/esbats and include the Web children in our faith as much as possible. The sabbat/esbat schedules have provided activities and training for the children. 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.
In addition we have been exploring Spiral Scouts. Kai finally took the bull by the horns on that and is ready to begin the pagan scouting program. Stay tuned for more on that through the website.
Teen Programming
Amethyst (Crystal) has decided to step down from Teen Rep this year, as she is up for re-election and at that age now J where the school friends and activities schedule is full! You all remember that ripe old age of 16! Happy Birthday Crystal! (November 7). We would like to express our appreciation to you for being our Teen Rep these past few years. And someone that we know, Beth, steps up as our candidate for Teen Rep ’08-’09 though Crystal is one she can come to and count on for help. Teens and kids should take their ideas to Beth. There is a possibility of many teens at the Wicca I class in January. Crystal’s intention is to re-take this class and be there for the other teens to come to. She’s been waiting for this day J!
As new teenagers are growing up and out of the Children’s Program, they should be talking to the Teen Rep 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.
Special Thank You’s!
I would like to take this time to express my appreciation to those who have dedicated their time to take on the responsibilities of Web Programs; including, Prison Ministries, Healing and WebNotes. Also those who have served on The Web Council and have fulfilled their terms or are taking a step back in lieu of other responsibilities and commitments.
All being very important to the success of The Web. We all wish to express deepest gratitude to all of those who have given freely of their time and talents to help The Web grow and prosper in this great time of growth.
v Ditchwitch (Marie) – Newsletter Editor
THANK YOU Ditchwitch (Marie) for devoting your time to getting the Newsletter out. I know it’s not always easy to work with Pagans whom work on Pagan time J. Including myself who has to be reminded to give you my submissions quarterly.
v Kai (Michelle) – Prison Ministry Coordinator
v Soft Moon Rising (Bev) – Healing Coordinator
v Amethyst (Crystal) – outgoing Teen Representative
v Kallindra (Kim) - outgoing Council Member
v Silver Lightning (Ken) – outgoing Council Member & Fundraising Committee Chair
v Merlin (Eric) – outgoing Council Treasurer and Co-Founder
v Anemone (Dorothy) – outgoing Director and Co-Founder
So all in all there you have it. Another fun filled busy year for The Web. Thank you all for being a part of it.
With Blessings,
Aurora
Dawn Privitera, Webweaver
