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LOAS II 2022
The Systems of Our Lives
Sunday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 28
2022 is Archived!
Page updated October 21, 2022
Conference Theme
The Systems of Our Lives
From our screens to our health care, we live at the intersection of humanity and technology. Join us for discussions about how we might understand and improve the systems around us:
- Getting on top of your personal systems, from your devices to daily practices
- Recognizing online systems and guarding your privacy.
- What does it mean when you are the product?
- Navigating health care systems, and how we might make them better
- Finding joy in playful systems and entertainment
Theme Speaker
Emily Withrow
Vice President of Product at The New York Times
Emily Withrow leads work on many of the essential digital products at The New York Times, where she is vice president of product. She's a creative, empathetic and dynamic writer and presenter who has spent much of her career exploring how technology intersects with life and behavior, often around media and journalism. She loves building cultures and systems, and has a habit of leading teams that turn seemingly strange ideas into compelling products.
Prior to joining the Times, she spent three years at Quartz, leading research and development for the global news site and pushing storytelling into creative and playful new spaces, such as chatbots and smart speakers. She taught digital storytelling and product for six years as a professor of journalism at Northwestern University, and she has worked at both The Onion and McKinsey and Company.
Minister of the Week
Rev. Anastassia Zinke
Rev. Anastassia Zinke serves as minister at the UU Church of Annapolis, MD. She previously served All Souls Unitarian Church in Indianapolis. Anastassia enjoys fostering community through ritual, spiritual practices, games, sharing, and our mutual love of the earth. This is her first time at Star Island, and will be attending with her spouse Kent, and two children, Sadie and Benjamin. They are very much looking forward to joining our community.


Conference Chairs
Jessica Hessel and John Keefe
Together we are putting together this year's conference, lining up the speakers, workshop leaders, and volunteers ... all in hopes of making another exciting, stimulating, and playful week on Star Island.
Jessica Ann Hessel, DNP, CRNA is an assistant clinical professor at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions. She has been a nurse since 2003 and is a 2017 graduate of the Drexel Nurse Anesthesia program. She completed her doctor of nursing practice degree in 2020. Prior to specialization in anesthesia, Jessica was an emergency department nurse, vascular access specialist and worked in a neuro-cardiac intensive care unit. She has been working shifts in Drexel's ICU throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Aside from spending time with her family enjoying the outdoors, Jessica can be found cooking, quilting and gardening, although never all three at once. No matter the activity, she is usually accompanied by her two French bulldogs, LuLu and Jacques. Jessica has visited Star Island since 2008.
John Keefe recently started a new job as the Weather Data Editor at the New York Times. He was previously a senior data and visuals editor at CNN, and had an earlier role with the Times as a graphics/multimedia editor helping with election graphics and Pulitzer prize-winning coronavirus coverage. Before the pandemic, John was the investigations editor at Quartz and also led the Quartz AI Studio. He launched and led the Data News Team at public radio station WNYC and has taught classes at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. John and his family have attended LOAS2 since 2013, and he was the theme speaker in 2018.
Registrar: Alison Green
Alison is the one to contact with any questions around registering for the conference, including accommodation issues.

Youth Coordinator: Susan Haase
Susan is putting together a team of youth leaders, who will lead morning and afternoon activities for children.

Fun With Felt!
with Diane Taraz
Join Diane to explore needle-felting, which results in all sorts of delightful items, such as cats, sheep, leaves, and stars. You can make practically anything! Needle-felting is easy but takes time, and Diane can’t wait to unleash packs of conferees poking at wool roving all hours of the day and night. You can go free-form or felt inside cookie cutters to make tidy shapes. We shall also make gnomes from sheet felt, with needle-felted noses. The patterns are easy to cut out and sew, and it’s fun to add fuzzy beards, yarn hair, and bells and beads and bling. The small but mighty gnome-folk are weighted with rice to stay upright even in a brisk Gosport breeze.
There is no limit on attendance, and you can come to one, some, or all of the sessions. The standards are extremely lax. Diane will bring supplies that can be borrowed or purchased, and a goodly supply of band-aids.
Quilt Landscape Wall Hanging
with Patti Emmons
This workshop is for anyone who would like to learn how to design and sew together a small landscape wall quilt.
On the first day there will be a lecture and demonstration on how to design a landscape wall hanging, ours will be 11” X 15”.
On days two and three you will design your own landscape. If you do not want to design your own landscape there will be 4 easy patterns that you can choose from, or you can mix and match anyone of them.
The rest of the week will be spent sewing your wall hanging together. We will not be using sewing machines, as all sewing will be done by appliqueing by hand. Don’t let the word appliqueing scare you off, it’s just a method of sewing one piece of fabric to another piece of fabric. You will learn two different applique methods in the workshop.
In this workshop you will also learn how to use fabric paint crayons to blend colors in different fabrics together.
Due to the size of the art barn, this class is limited to 12 conferees.
For this workshop, please bring the following items with you:
Scissors for cutting paper, scissors for cutting fabric, straight pins, (these three items are critical for you to have for you to work on your project as I will have plenty of the other items needed), hand sewing needle (applique needle preferred), off-white or light tan thread and medium grey or dark grey thread.
If you have fabric at home, bring some small or medium size pieces of blues, oranges, yellows, purples, and greens. Remember, the entire project is only 11” by 15”. For mountains or landforms in the distance, we will use batiks or fabrics with very small prints. For grass or hills in the foreground, we will use fabrics with larger prints. You can also bring fabric which has small to medium size flowers on it. Cotton fabric is the best to work with for beginners. I will bring a wide selection of fabrics with me, so do not worry if you do have any fabric at home. You can also bring a photograph or picture of a landscape to inspire you. If you plan on doing a sunset or sunrise wall quilt you can purchase fabric that has various tones and shades in it – like the one in my sample. You can purchase fabric online or at a fabric store. If you have a photo you would like to replicate, you can send me a copy of it, and I can guide you in what colors of fabric to bring with you. I will also bring a nice selection of landscapes books for you to reference during the week.
Why do I need two different scissors? People who work with fabric never use the same scissors to cut fabric and also cut paper. Overall, you can cut paper with fabric scissors, but the harsh fibers, minerals, and additives in paper will blunt the blade faster. If you want to keep your fabric scissors sharper for longer, cutting paper isn't a good habit. If you don’t have fabric scissors, it’s okay if you only bring one pair of scissors.
Art as Meditation
with Margaret Ladner
In this afternoon workshop we will explore ways to use the process of painting and drawing for mindful renewal. Side by side, we will create space for synchronicity of mind and body. My approach is as a fellow participant on this journey and an amateur who has personally turned to art for its healing properties. In terms of practicalities: we will be working with watercolor, gauche, and colored pencils. I will have blank paper as well as "coloring pages" that are pre-sketched as prompts.
Writing Circle
with Ellen Schmidt
The Writing Circle creates a supportive and stimulating environment for anyone who wants to discover more about themselves and to connect more deeply with others. Whether you consider yourself a writer or not at all a writer, you are warmly welcome! Writing is different from thinking or speaking. Writing is magic: You make a few scratchings on paper or tap-tap-tap on a keyboard in a certain order — and presto! — you give your thoughts and feelings shape, parameter, and clarity. When you write a story from your life or your imagination, you know a bit more of who you are. As we listen to each other, we come a step closer to one another. In a world that is coming apart at the seams, writing has the power to connect us and to create community.
Each day I will provide a different writing “spark” to get you started on a short write. There’s no way to do this wrong; it’s inconceivable. Everyone will have the opportunity, but not the obligation, to share their writing. You can attend one, some, or every day of the LOAS II week. Please bring your favorite writing implement and a notebook. (I will have a few extras.)
More about Ellen Schmidt: www.
Star Scouts
with Cece Braun
Yoga
with Nicole Tomassi
Good Digital Hygiene: Balancing safety, security, health & joy online
with Alexander Howard
We'll explore how to balance the digital systems of our lives with Alexander Howard, an open government advocate an
STARBURSTS
Mini-workshops led by conferees

Slow Stitching
with Bethany Swanson
Tie Dye with Toby Dills
and Jess Leger & Sarah Jensen
One of our favorite annual traditions! Toby Dills, Master Tie Dyer, will return with all his wares for you to tie dye to your colorful heart's content. Bring something to dye (cottons work best), or t-shirts and other items will be available for sale for $5 a pop.

Al's Tai Chi Light
with Lynn Coakley
Traditional Tai Chi and Qigong exercises can take years to learn and a lifetime to master. Former LOAS2 conferee Al Chu designed Tai Chi Light to be a simplified version, easier to learn and practice, even if you only have a week. Join Lynn Coakley each morning on the tennis courts to start your day with movement and meditation. No experience necessary. No special equipment needed. Lynn will teach you Al's program, which will allow you to gain the benefits of traditional Chinese exercise without years of training. Come to some or all of the sessions. Hear the wake up singers tour the cottages and learn about the breakfast and weather. Ambitious morning people have been known to sneak in a quick Polar Bear dip on the way to Tai Chi. In case of serious weather, we will meet in Gosport.
Porch Jams
with The Mötley Shoalers
Keep an eye on the chalkboard — jam sessions and sing-a-longs will be popping up on the front porch all week long. Come hang for a song or enjoy the whole set!

Stencils on Denim
with June House
Bring your denim and artistic flair to create designs on your items.
Chair / LOAS Leadership Transparency
with Alison Green + David House
Ever wondered how LOAS II's leadership structure works? How are the conference chairs selected and what's involved in chairing a conference? What's the relationship between our conference and the Star Island Conference Center? Who are the pelicans? How does all this fit together? Join our Registrar, Alison Green, and Treasurer, David House, (both former conference chairs) as they share how LOAS II operates behind the scenes, and answer any questions you have about our conference structure.
⌛ Thursday, 4:00pm

Meditation
with Bill Crane
Guided meditation from an expert in the Buddhist tradition.
Dance Like a Star
with Gemma Scott
Work on a TikTok style dance with your friends for talent show or final banquet fun!

Songwriting
with Mark Gibson
Songwriting is fun! And writing songs together is even funner. So we're gonna have fun!
Bring your voices, your instruments, your poetry, your thoughts...
The key is to just let the song flow out of you
⌛ Thursday, 4:00pm
Reflections in the Parlor Mirror
with Diane Taraz
The mirror in our Pink Parlor has seen 145 years of Shoalers dressed in the fashions of their time — vacation wear used to be quite formal! We visit the fishing village of Gosport and its often eccentric residents, trace the unconventional life of Celia Thaxter, and hear how the Star Island conferences began and developed. There’s lots of music from various eras, right up to today.
⌛ Monday, 8:00pm


Photo Walk
with Sarah Jensen
Get off the front porch and join Sarah on a photo walk around the island on Thursday afternoon. This is a smart phone-friendly activity, or bring a camera that's not connected to a phone if you have one. Together, we'll find places on island that are new and interesting to photograph, and, even better, find fresh and new ways to photograph the places we have already photographed hundreds of times before. Discover new angles for the old places we know and love. Walking shoes recommended, good for all ages.
⌛ Thursday, 4:00pm
Winning the Vote
with Diane Taraz
Diane Taraz traces the pathway to the 1919 passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which finally allowed women in the United States to vote. Enjoy songs from supporters and those resisting change, and hear compelling stories of the interactions of abolitionists striving to abolish slavery and suffragettes seeking the vote. Both of these long fights for reform demanded courage and ingenuity, and the struggle for voting rights for all continues today.
⌛ Wednesday, 4pm

CONFEREE LIST
The latest list of registered conferees is password protected.
Please reach out to the chairs for the password.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
The week is made magical by our volunteers!
Click the button below to see who's doing what role.
Page is password-protected. Contact the conference chairs for access.
During the week, make announcements that art produced by conferees during the week can be displayed on the last day of the conference.
Work with art workshop leaders to encourage participants in workshops to display their creations.
On the last day of the conference, set up the art show in Newton to run from 3:30 to 6:15.
Take down display and ask artists to pick up their work to take home with them from the island.
After the Banquet and the clapping of appreciation for the Dining Room and Kitchen staff, the younger children are usually ready for a change of scene. Traditionally, the children go next door into the lobby or pink parlor for an activity that lasts 30-45 minutes while the adults finish the testimonials at the Banquet. After the Banquet, the adults will pass through the lobby to include their children in the Grand March.
Preparation:
Bring several, to offer a choice, half-hour videos that are suitable for ages two through 10. If you decide to show a video, arrange with Conference Services, the day before the Banquet, to provide a TV and VCR by 7:00 P.M.
Ask the Banquet hosts if they have planned musical accompaniment for the children’s recession into the lobby. Light fanfare for the kids can be fun.
Procedure:
The Master of Ceremonies will announce the time, between 7:15-7:30, for the children to go to the lobby. The emcee will then introduce you as the leaders of the after-banquet children’s activity.
Stand in a prominent place for the children to see, and lead them from the Dining Room. Explain to the children that they will spend some time with you until the Grand March passes through. At that time, a guardian will either take them on the March, or put them to bed. Entertain the children until the Grand March occurs. Then help each child find his or her parent.
Bingo is a popular and fun event that benefits the island, full of cheering and good humor. Expect a turnout of 50 to 60 people of all ages for this very multigenerational activity. The game pieces are usually stored with the youth supplies, so the Youth Coordinator can get them for you on island.
The game runs on StarBucks, $1 coupons redeemable only at the snack bar. (They need to be guarded, as they serve as currency, so don't leave them strewn about your room.) You can get last year's design from the people who did it last year, or you can have fun creating your own. (They fit three on a page If sized similar to a dollar bill.) Before the event, the Bingo Coordinator discusses the StarBucks with the
Snackies (the Pels who run the Snack Bar) and arranges to give them real cash immediately following the game in proportion to the StarBucks awarded as prizes.
The Coordinator needs to recruit several volunteers to run the event. Several of these tasks could be combined and done by one person, or you can create a large team of helpers.
- A couple of people to sell bingo cards, at $1.00 per card, shortly before the event begins. Be sure the cost is on the chalkboard and is mentioned in any announcements, so no one will be surprised that there is a charge to play. Emphasize that this is an event that offers financial support to the island.
- Helpers to set out bingo chips on each table.
- Someone to "call" the numbers and someone to read back the winning card before awarding the prize.
- A banker to announce what the winner gets for each game. The prize usually starts at a couple of dollars and creeps up to a whopping $10.00 at the end of the evening.
To make the evening more exciting, someone (it could be the banker, or another volunteer) can award random prizes between games. For example, s/he might ask who has a birthday in June, or on the 15th of any month, or who celebrated a double-digit birthday this year, etc. Anyone who answers correctly gets a StarBuck. This spreads out the winnings and makes the event more fun, as it keeps one or two people from raking in lots of StarBucks while others get none. This is a critical role because the prize awarder needs to set a pace of giving out StarBucks so that we do not exceed the dollars taken in from selling cards, and so that the event lasts about an hour without running out of StarBucks.
- Chalk and erasers are supposedly available from the Lobby Desk, put bring your favorite set of colors!
- Arrive on the early ferry, if possible, to post the first day's schedule for conferee arrival. (Notify the LOAS Registrar in order to be on the boat list)
- Complete the schedule for the next day before evening chapel. (The Conference Chairs will give you the next day's information the day before) The back side of the chalkboard can be used to start the next day's schedule and kept turned to the wall until the start of evening chapel.
- You and the Conference Chairs have sole power over what is written on the board. A second board will be available for miscellaneous announcements and postings by others. Erase any unauthorized entries from the main schedule board.
- Stay in contact with the Conference Chairs to note any changes in the schedule that may need to be altered on the board.
- Neatness and clarity count. Artistry is always appreciated. Timeliness is a must.
Recently, a new, neon, removable chalkboard system was used so that the board could be created separately and then hung on the chalkboard. Consider this option as well.
Ask for bell-ringing lessons from an Island Staff member/experienced bell ringer. Your ring should be slow and measured, once every 6-10 seconds.
Bell-tolling times are:
- the beginning of Morning Chapel at 8:45 on Sunday through Saturday;
- the beginning of the Inter-generational Chapel at 7:10 pm on that evening;
- the beginning of Evening Chapel. The time is variable from 9:30 to 10:00 on Saturday through Friday, depending on the evening’s activity. Check with the Chairs for the schedule.
To ring the chapel bell:
- Enter the chapel bell tower through the door on the north side of the tower.
- Grasp the bell rope and pull down with a firm, but slow, motion until the bell rings once. Release the rope slowly.
- Count to 8 and repeat.
- Do not ring the bell any faster than at six-second intervals, so the ringing bell will not be confused with a fire alarm.
Ask for bell-ringing lessons from an Island Staff member/experienced bell ringer. Your ring should be slow and measured, once every 6-10 seconds.
Bell-tolling times are:
- the beginning of Morning Chapel at 8:45 on Sunday through Saturday;
- the beginning of the Inter-generational Chapel at 7:10 pm on that evening;
- the beginning of Evening Chapel. The time is variable from 9:30 to 10:00 on Saturday through Friday, depending on the evening’s activity. Check with the Chairs for the schedule.
To ring the chapel bell:
- Enter the chapel bell tower through the door on the north side of the tower.
- Grasp the bell rope and pull down with a firm, but slow, motion until the bell rings once. Release the rope slowly.
- Count to 8 and repeat.
- Do not ring the bell any faster than at six-second intervals, so the ringing bell will not be confused with a fire alarm.
Ask at the Front Desk in Oceanic for a list of acceptable flowers and areas where you may pick flowers and greenery for chapel arrangements.
Locate a vase. Vases may be in the chapel under the podium, in the "rope pull room" in back of the chapel, or in the a cabinet by the snack bar. Ask for help at the front desk if you can't find a vase.
Arrange flowers for the first evening's Service.
Flowers may not require changing daily. Since we shouldn’t "over pick" the island, simply freshen the arrangement so that an attractive bouquet is present for each Morning and Evening Service. (Consider that an arrangement doesn’t always have to be flowers.)
This Service helps teach the tradition of Evening Chapel Services on Star Island, so that the youth will grow to appreciate this wonderful ritual.
1) Plan a short evening Service, of 15 to 20 minutes, that would be appealing to all ages. You may include stories, songs, live music and a message.
A well-planned interactive component, such as a conversation, an invitation to contribute, movement, song, or simple crafting of a communal symbol can be very engaging.
2) Arrange at the beginning of the week to have Star’s Music Director play the Chapel’s organ, if desired. You may also invite volunteer musicians to participate.
3) Let Conference Services know that you want the chapel lanterns lit and ready for a 7:15 P.M. Chapel Service.
4) If you would like to have flowers, contact our volunteer Chapel Flower Arranger.
5) The bell’s ringing helps to make the silent procession special for the youth.
6) Meet the families at the east end of the porch at 7:10 P.M. to explain the tradition of carrying lanterns silently to and from the Chapel while the bell rings. Set a tone of reverence at this point. Remind the participants that each of them and each lantern brings light to the Chapel.
7) On the afternoon of your Service remind the various helpers; Pels with lanterns, the Bell Ringer, the musician(s) that the Intergenerational Chapel Service will occur at 7:15 P.M.
The Chief Polar Bear encourages Shoalers to partake of a daily early-morning dip in the ocean. Often, the Chief Polar Bear employs a theme for the week, plus ridiculous costuming, special recognition and prizes for those who participate. For some reason, the Chief’s goal is to spur every Shoaler to participate.
Preparation:
Consider a theme for the week, plus costuming that draws attention to your mission.
Design a badge to award each Polar Bear. Number each badge in ascending numerical order, since Polar Bearing is an evangelical activity that seeks daily converts.
o For those who repeatedly take the polar fling, devise a method - e.g., numerical stickers, color-coded marking - to distinguish their daily progress.
· Since you can award a daily prize for outstanding valor in the category of your choice, or can award several prizes at the week’s end, consider bringing some gag gifts to Star.
Procedure:
Upon your arrival at Star, ask the Front Desk Clerk to direct you to Star’s liaison for Conference Services.
o Introduce yourself as the Chief Polar Bear and explain that you will be leading the Polar-Bearing at the dock from 7:00-7:45 each morning. You must arrange for a lifeguard to be present at the dock for this activity.
Ask the Chairs for a moment at the Conference Orientation to explain Polar Bearing.
o Explain that the sport is for thermally-hearty swimmers and that people should bring a towel and something warm to wear after the dunk.
o Explain the qualifications for becoming a Polar Bear. Traditionally, a child has been required to enter the water to the neck, whereas an adult has been required to submerge. As Chief, you’re the arbiter of the requirements, depending on weather & temperature, that a person must satisfy.
Prepare a chart for names, in ascending numerical order, of participating Polar Bears.
Arrive at the dock each morning of the conference, weather permitting, just before 7:00. Greet each Polar Bear, record his or her name, and give a badge when he or she comes out of the water.
o You could ask the Chalkboard Scheduler to update the tally of Polar Bears.
Remind the Polar Bears that warm drinks are available from 7:00-7:45 on the porch or in the lobby each morning and that breakfast starts at 8:00.
Last, but not least, a Chief Polar Bear leads by example.
Star Island will *not* be providing babysitters in 2021. The Children's Babysitter Coordinator will work with adults who are staying with children to take turns signing up for evening babysitting shifts, allowing everyone the opportunity to go "out" and enjoy the evening programs. As this is a new position, the chairs will work with this person to try to develop a plan for how best to approach babysitting this year.
The children in the Lunging, Cedar and Duck Youth Groups are treated to a Carnival and Field Day on the front lawn of Star. The coordinators are typically young adults who have the energy, imagination and charisma to run such an activity. The Junior High Youth Group (Smuttynose) traditionally staffs the activities under the coordinators’ guidance.
Preparation:
- Confirm the Carnival’s time and date with the Chairs.
- Before arriving on Star, ask the Chairs for the names of the Youth Coordinator and the Leaders of the Junior High Youth Group. Contact the Youth Coordinator to plan the logistics of timing, activities, materials and oversight. Share your conclusions with the Junior High Leaders.
- Ask the Youth Coordinator for the amount of the budget for the Carnival.
- Aim for simple, safe activities that involve crafts, feats of skill and entertainment.
- Consider “spin art,” face painting, soap bubbles, ring tossing, sponge tossing, relay racing, a “fish pond,” fortune telling, and hide-and-seek (and dunk) the Senior Highs.
- Avoid eating, avoid materials, such as latex balloons, that will endanger or clutter Star’s ecology.
- If providing “spin art,” determine if you must bring batteries, paint and paper for the two machines that reside on Star.
Procedure on Star:
- Inform the leaders of the Lower, Middle and Upper Elementary Youth Groups of the Carnival’s date and time.
- Arrange a time with the Smuttynose Group to explain the event, to recruit and train activity leaders, and to possibly brainstorm ideas.
- While training, emphasize that the Smutties should act respectfully and encouragingly with the younger kids and among themselves.
- Explain that Smutties also help with the set-up and clean-up of the Carnival.
- Foster safe practices.
- On the second day of the conference, contact Star’s liaison for Conference Services to determine the equipment; tables, chairs, etc. that Star can provide. The Desk Clerk can guide you to the liaison.
- Publicize the Carnival.
- The Carnival’s traditional closing activity is to “hide and seek (and dunk) the Senior Highs” who come at the end. When a kid finds a Senior, the kid leads the Senior to the ocean for a dunk. Consider substituting or including the Jr. Highs if that works better.
- Have fun!
- After the Carnival, praise the Smutties in a public forum for their service.
For Next Year:
- Immediately after the Carnival, note the successful and unsuccessful procedures.
- Augment this job description with corrections and with a list of this year’s successful activities and their required materials.
- Give guidelines about procedures that do or do not work well.
- Email your notes to next year's chairs.
Families with children aged eight years and younger are housed in the Oceanic Hotel. Each room with a child aged eight or younger requires a name plate for that child on the door. This is for safety and convenience.
Rationale:
By grouping children in an accessible place, staff (Pelicans) can search more easily for children in an emergency, such as a fire or a storm, that requires evacuation.
Also, the name plates help a Pelican learn the locations of children when he or she provides “group child-monitoring” at a hallway station each night from 8:00-11:00.
Procedure:
Obtain a list from the LOAS registrar of the names of all children under eight years of age who will be staying in the Oceanic Hotel.
Make a name plate (measuring approximately 11” x 4”) with the first name of each child in a particular room.
- If a child is two years of age or younger, include the child’s age on the name plate.
Also, bring blank sign plates to Star in case you must change or add a new sign.
Arrange with the LOAS Registrar for a list of room assignments at Oceanic when you arrive on Star. Check your stock of name plates with the guest list to make sure that your signage is accurate.
Attach the name plates to the appropriate doors.
LOAS has an option to serve clams and mussels during one of the adult Social Hours. Usually, the Chairs, the Provisioner, and the Social Hour hosts concur to offer this event. The Chairs will then recruit a Coordinator to announce, tally participants, and collect the cost of participation.
1) Identify yourself to the Provisioner as the Coordinator of Clams & Mussels.
2) Your job begins on Star once the Provisioner tells you the day that the clams and mussels will be provided.
3) Determine from the Provisioner the cost per person for the clams and mussels.
4) Prepare a sign-up sheet to record a participating person’s name and payment. Place the sheet on the “Sign-up Desk” in the lobby.
5) Announce at Saturday evening's orientation the scheduled day and the price of the clams and mussels, plus the location of the sign-up sheet.
6) You may find it convenient to bring the sign-up sheet to Social Hour for a couple of days and collect payments there.
5) Make a simple accounting of your sales and give the collected money to the Treasurer.
The Final Banquet is a celebration of our week together. The atmosphere is more formal to befit the occasion; decorations in the Dining Room and on the tables, a printed Program (printing a program is optional), a celebratory menu, and the opportunity to dress with more formality.
The Banquet Hosts are the masters of ceremony for the array of events in the Program. These events are a microcosm of the week, invoking the spirit, showing our appreciation for those who work so that we can play, eating with delight, praising athletic accomplishment, honoring our children, thanking the volunteers who give energy and creativity to the week’s success, looking ahead to next year by naming new Chairs, and dancing a march of amazing energy and joy as a testimonial to shared community.
Budget:
Funds are quite limited for this event, so please be frugal unless you plan to donate material.
Preparation:
Consider forming a small group of helpers.
Plan to provide simple decorations in the Dining Room.
- Avoid helium balloons since helium is illegal to transport on the ferry.
- Avoid small items that will fall on the floor and make it difficult for the staff to sweep up
- If decorating with vinyl balloons take care to keep them from leaving the dining room. To prevent the balloons’ damaging wildlife, deflate all balloons after the banquet and dispose of the pieces off Island.
- If a volunteer has not stepped forward to create the Table Decorations, find someone to do so and coordinate the room & table decor.
Produce a Program (again, optional) that is formatted as an 8.5" X 11" folded sheet of paper. Make 150 copies. Place Programs at the tables at every other place setting.
Suitable text for the Cover tells the location, Conference Name, date, Theme, Chairs, and Banquet Hosts.
Also consider putting a graphic on the Cover.
The second page is available for quotations of Star Island wisdom.
The third page lists the order of the Program’s events: Invocation; Clap out the Waitrae; Meal; Clap out the Waitrae, Bakers, Dishwashers, Snackies, the Butter-Cutter, Cooks, Hostess; Children’s Recession to Elliott Hall; Athletic Awards; Acknowledgments by the Conference Chairs; Announcement of next year’s LOAS 1 Chairs; Grand March.
It’s helpful to put the lyrics to the "Star Island Song" on the back page, plus the "Star Island Cheer."*
Produce the Programs off Island. Send a copy to the Chairs, the manager of Conference Services, and to the Head of Food Services.
Once on Island: Contact the Head of Food Services to estimate when the meal will end.
Contact the coordinator of Post-Banquet Child Care to determine how the younger children will recess from the Dining Room. Decide whether or not to accompany their recession with celebratory music.
Contact the leader of the Grand March to discuss the music for the Grand March, and to coordinate the end of the Banquet and beginning of the March.
Contact the Island Music Director to confirm music for the Grand March.
Invite the Minister of the Week to make the Invocation.
Procedure:
On the morning of the Banquet, ask the Dining Room staff when (after lunch) you and your helpers may begin decorating the room.
Review with the Chairs the timing of their portion of the testimonials.
At 6:35 P.M. begin the Invocation with the Minister of the Week, followed by the Clapping of the waitrae into the kitchen and the Meal
By 7:15 proceed with the rest of the program so that the Grand March can begin at 8:00.
Remove decorations after the Banquet and dispose of any waste-paper products off-island.
Coordinate with the Banquet Hosts to create a table design that harmonizes with the room decorations. Depending on the Hosts' desires, you may design the entire table or just a centerpiece. There will be flowers on each table, so do not add flowers or make flowers the focal point.
Understand that the budget for this is essentially $0, unless you decide to donate any materials being used.
A popular technique is to coordinate with one of the youth group leaders to have a youth group create some parts (paper tablecloths for drawing/painting, found objects for centerpieces, etc.).
When the program is over, you would be responsible (with the Hosts) to clean up and remove the table decorations. If kids' projects were involved, make sure the kids know to pick them up after the banquet.
The Final Party takes place in both rooms of Newton Center after Evening Chapel. The time period is usually from 10:00 P.M. until midnight. Since alcohol will be served at the party, New Hampshire’s liquor law prohibits people under the age of 21.
Contact the LOAS Provisioner, to arrange beverages and food for refreshments. You should also learn the amount of your food budget
Provide a non-alcoholic punch. You can also provide soda, plus some wine and beer from the Social Hour’s stocks.
Provide munchies like mini-pretzels and chips.
Depending on your budget, you can order prepared food from Star’s kitchen. Usually, this food consists of a platter of crackers and cheese, a platter of vegetables and dip, and a couple of platters of nachos.
Bring great music, tapes or CDs, for dancing at the party. Dancing takes place in the front room.
Talk with Conference Services the day before the party to:
Arrange the set-up of refreshment tables;
Arrange the set-up of sound equipment;
Determine the extent of the cleaning up that Conference Services expects.
Ask the leaders of the Scholarship Auction to remove the auction items before the party.
Recruit helpers.
Decorate the back room. (Check with the leaders of the Starlight Café to learn if their decorations will remain festooned in the back room of Newton throughout LOAS 2. If so, for LOAS 1, you may decide to use fewer decorations of your own.) Simplicity is the guideline. No helium balloons are allowed since helium is prohibited on the ferry, and the balloons impact the island and ocean environment adversely.
Arrange the food in the back room near the kitchen.
Stock the tables of refreshments so long as the food and drinks last.
Assign a DJ for the evening.
Tell any remaining revelers just before midnight that boarding for the ferry starts at 8:00 A.M.
Arrange a clean-up crew. For any people who don’t want to leave at midnight, recruit them to help as well.
Enjoy!
Final Party Facilitator for Senior High Youth Group
Traditionally, the Appledores have a farewell party on the final evening of LOAS. The party starts at 10:00 P.M. and continues until midnight.
The party serves three purposes: it’s an enjoyable closure to the week’s activities; if offers a chance for important farewells for those entering their final year of junior/high school (or going off to college); it gives the youth another opportunity to behave responsibly.
Preparation:
The Chairs recruit the Facilitator to help the Youth Coordinator with food, decorations, oversight and clean-up.
o The Youth Coordinator supplies food and beverages.
o The Facilitator brings low-budget decorations to Star.
The Facilitator, the Youth Coordinator, the Appledore youth group leaders, and the Appledores will meet mid-week to plan the party. They will discuss behavioral expectations, food, music, activities, clean-up and curfew.
Location:
The party now takes place in the Snack Bar area.
Procedure:
Two days before the party, the Youth Coordinator speaks with the liaison to Conference Services (ask at Front Desk of Oceanic) about the party.
o They make sure the area is available and ready
o They agree on the level of clean-up that is requested from the Appledores and the Facilitator after the party.
On the day before the party, the Facilitator attends a meeting with the Youth Coordinator and the Appledores’ parents to discuss a level of discreet oversight at 45-minute intervals.
o One way to drop in is to ask if the kids have enough food and drink.
o Another way to drop in is to use the snack bar if it's opened.
On the day of the party, the Facilitator works with the Appledores to offer help decorating the area.
Also, on the afternoon of the party, the Youth Coordinator gives the facilitator the refreshments to set up after the Grand March.
The Facilitator greets the Appledores at 10:00 p.m. and turns over the space to them.
The Facilitator, or an adult designee, will help end the party at midnight and will work with the Appledores to put the area in suitable order.
Final Party Facilitator for Junior High Youth Group
See job description for senior high and just substitute "junior high". Recently, a cost saving measure is to combine both the senior and junior high parties, as the individual parties tend to be lightly attended.
The chief purpose of the Grand March is to say good-by to everyone in the
conference. We do this by passing everyone individually as we spiral in and spiral
out. We also have a lot of fun.
There are two versions of the Grand March:
Version I is for the Hotel Lobby. It’s more intimate and has better singing.
Version II is for the front lawn. It can handle a large crowd – children, adults, entire
conference. Don’t use this version unless there’s enough outdoor light. It’s
important that you see faces as the line passes you. For LOAS, at the end of the
banquet, it is usually dusk and beyond – hard to make out faces.
Version I
1) Arrange music and timing with Music Director.
2) Have lobby cleared of furniture.
3) Make sure porch speaker system in on and active (so music can be heard when
outside.
4) Form pairs (by two’s) led by March leader, this year’s conference chairs and
then next year’s chairs.
5) March around dining hall, thru Elliot (pick-up children), onto porch, down east
porch onto lawn and up the front stairs to enter lobby.
6) Go to the right when entering lobby.
7) Immediately switch to single file. Station someone at the door to make sure
everyone is single file.
8) Spiral in and then out. Use entire lobby space from the piano to writing desk
and front door to snack bar door to make spiral as large as possible.
9) Form single or double line to make a big circle and hold hands.
10) Sing Auld Lang Syne, then a Star cheer for next year’s conference.
Version II
1) Follow steps 1 – 5 in Version I, but omit going up the front steps. Stay on the
front lawn.
2) When everyone is on the lawn, switch to a single file, holding hands and begin
the large spiral.
3) Follow steps 8 – 10 in Version I to finish the Grand March.
4) Have someone on the front porch, watching the Grand March, who will cue the
Music Director when to play the music, when to play Auld Lang Syne, and when to
stop for the final cheer.
Upon arrival on the island, check with Conference Services Coordinator to let him/her know the date and time of the bonfire. The Conference Services person usually sits on the bench by the Front Desk for 15 minutes before every meal.
Request marshmallows and sticks.
Arrange for someone to lead songs (playing a guitar?). The island Music Director may be able to help you identify someone to lead the singing.
Make announcements. Remind people that children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The Island staff will let you know if the location of the bonfire will have to be moved at the last minute, due to wind conditions of if it will need to cancelled. If the bonfire does have to be cancelled due to weather conditions, plan to have a sing-a-long on the front porch.
At the bonfire, welcome people, supervise the distribution of sticks, introduce the singer, and, at the end of the festivities, announce that it is time to go (the bonfire usually lasts about an hour).
Although Conference Services will be there to set up and light the fire, please tell him/her that you will be the designated person to put out the fire. You must be present until the end. After the fire is put out, let the Front Desk know. The night crew will double-check the fire pit later that evening.
Star Island has the custom of waking the conferees each morning with a roving band of singers.
On your arrival at Star, see the hotel’s Desk Clerk.
Ask for the cache of wake-up songs. Choose six songs - one for each morning on Star.
Also ask the Desk Clerk to mark a map of the Island with your "wake-up route." Take particular care to note the areas to avoid. For example, do not go to areas where Pels are sleeping.
Make a short announcement at dinner on day of arrival.
Explain that you are recruiting a chorus to sing the conferees awake each morning.
Tell recruits to meet you in the hotel lobby each morning to learn the day’s song.
Meet for the next five days at 7:00 A.M.
Meet at 6:40 on the final morning, since breakfast is at 7:15 and boarding the ferry starts at 8:00 A.M.
Before teaching the song in the morning, gather the following information:
the breakfast menu from the Dining Hall’s Menu Board;
the water temperature from the Chief Polar Bear;
the weather report from the Desk Clerk.
Once your group is in tune each morning, make the rounds of the two hotels, the cottages, and the motel units. At each destination, sing your song. Follow it by barking the time, water and air temperatures, weather report, and breakfast menu.
Take care at Oceanic to avoid the Pelican’s quarters. Traditionally, you would sing on the second and third floors, but not on the stairway.
Sing on the second and third floors of Gosport Hotel.
Like the Pied Piper, you may draw followers. Some will be small, so walk at a comfortable pace for your group.
The Musicale is the presentation of a musical evening on Star, reminiscent of Victorian times. It occurs in the Lobby of the Oceanic Hotel, itself of Victorian vintage. The tone is refined, usually featuring trained musicians.
Time
Check with the chairs to find out which day the Musicale will be held.
Preparation
When you arrive on island (or before), contact Star’s Music Director to discuss auditions and plans for the Musicale.
Post an Audition Sheet on the Lobby’s “Sign-up Table.”
- List the time of the Musicale.
- List the time of the Auditions.
- Number the sheet with 15 blank slots.
On Saturday evening at the Conference Orientation make an announcement regarding the Musicale.
Describe the Musicale as an opportunity for musicians to share their talents with us.
Tell interested people to sign the Audition Sheet and attend the audition, bringing any necessary sheet music.
On the day of the musicale, discuss with Star’s Conference Services representative, available on the bench near the Front Desk for fifteen minutes before each meal, preparations for the Musicale.
You may need one or two microphones with the sound system, music stands, and a couple of stools.
Chairs must be arranged for the audience.
Find someone to lower and raise the lights at the performance on your signal
Audition
The Musicale presents a range of abilities from enjoyable parlor music to polished performances.
Offer positive evaluations.
For a New Shoaler whose presentation is not suitable for the Musicale, having a different tone, you can suggest that the Talent Show or the Starlight Cafe may be a better venue.
Take care not to duplicate presentations that would be in the Talent Show.
Measure the duration of each presentation so that you can predict the length of the program. The program is about an hour in length.
Develop the program with balance and variety from one presentation to the next.
Present any children at the beginning of the program.
Performance
Ask the performers to gather in the Pink Parlor at 7:45 P.M.
At 8:15, lower the lights and wait briefly for the audience to become silent.
Welcome the audience.
Introduce each performer with enthusiasm, telling the person’s name and the musical selection.
Close the performance by thanking the audience and the performers.
- Ask members of the audience to help return the chairs to their appropriate places.
A name tag contains information to help fellow conferees connect with each other. New Shoalers appreciate all the help they can get–and give–with a name tag. Old Shoalers can put a name to a face from the past and continue to grow in relationship.
Using a Computer for Data Input, Formatting and Printing
o Ask the Registrar for a sorted List of Conferees that contains the following fields:
First Name, Last Name, New Shoaler, City, State.
Use a software program to translate the information for each conferee to a name tag format. E.g.,
• The first name is most prominent, at the top.
• The last name is less prominent, in the middle.
• The city and state are the least prominent, at the bottom.
• The designation as a New Shoaler is at the lower-right corner. It’s helpful to make this designation a noticeable graphic, e.g. a colorful star.
· Finally, you can add LOAS 1 or 2, the current year, and a discrete design at the upper-left of the tag.
It’s important to choose a legible type font. People like to read a name tag quickly.
For accuracy, check your formatted data against your original list.
After evaluating the formatted text for a proper fit, print the data on perforated name tag stock.
Assembling the Name Tags
Purchase plastic name tag covers.
- Covers with pins work well.
- Place a small piece of adhesive tape on the back of the cover, preventing the tag from falling out.
Distributing the Name Tags
o If possible, arrive at the dock by noon or 12:30. You may be sharing a table with whomever is distributing luggage tags for the room assignments at Star.
o Package all unclaimed name tags and–once on Star–place them on Oceanic’s Lobby Desk. Write on the Message Board, “Pick up unclaimed name tags here.”
Note: Bring extra stock to make replacements for people with new information or who have lost their name tags.
The goal of this half-hour tour is to introduce the New Shoalers to the major buildings and landmarks that they will need to know at the beginning of their stay on Star.
· Before arriving on Star, ask the Chairs or Registrar for a list of New Shoalers.
· Ask the Desk Clerk at Front Desk in Oceanic Lobby for copies of the Star Island map for each New Shoaler.
· The New Shoalers will have been instructed in the Chairs’ Letter to New Shoalers to meet at the “Island Tours” sign on the East Porch at 4:00 P.M. (or whatever is the assigned time).
· Introduce yourselves as the Tour Leaders. Ask the New Shoalers to introduce themselves to the group.
· Distribute the maps and begin your tour of the nearby buildings, meeting places, and landmarks. Explain that the far-flung points of interest await their exploration—with a companion—on another day, if they choose.
· Explain basic traditions—like the silent walk to and from Evening Chapel, customs of the week like Social Hour, the Musicale, the Pel Show and the Talent Show—that aren’t discussed at the upcoming meeting with the Star Island Manager.
· Ask if each New Shoaler has found his or her Old Shoaler contact. Help those who have not yet met their Old Sholaers to find them.
1) Try to pair New Shoalers with Old Shoalers who have loads of experience and many friends at Star. Choosing Old Shoaler contacts who are, for example, past Chairs, would be very effective in getting newcomers connected socially. Whereas New Shoalers will naturally gravitate to other conferees having common interests (e.g., kids), having an Old Shoaler contact who is steeped in the society and traditions of Star will broaden the New Shoaler’s experience.
2) Ask the Registrar or Chair for a list of the LOAS conferees who are (1) New Shoalers attending without Old Shoaler family members, and for (2) Old Shoalers who indicated on their registration forms that they’d be happy to contact New Shoalers.
3) Phone or email the Old Shoalers and ask if they are still willing to befriend a new person or family. The tasks of the Old Shoaler contacts are:
- to answer questions that the New Shoaler(s) may have;
- to meet the New Shoaler(s) at the dock in Portsmouth—helping compensate for the overwhelming atmosphere of “someone else’s family reunion” that the New Shoaler(s) may feel;
- to dine with the New Shoaler(s) on Saturday evening, meeting outside the dining hall at 6:25 P.M. to enter on the first bell, and to find seating before the others rush in.
4) Give the name, phone number and email address of the New Shoaler(s) to a participating Old Shoaler contact, asking him or her to get in touch soon after you send a letter of introduction to the New Shoaler(s).
- As the coordinator, it could be helpful to review the dates of birth and connect people whose ages are within a decade of each other.
5) When you have assigned a New Shoaler to an Old Shoaler contact, quickly send a letter of introduction to the New Shoaler to:
-introduce yourself as the Coordinator of New Shoaler—Old Shoaler Contacts;
-introduce the Old Shoaler contact by giving the name, phone number and email address—explaining that the Old Shoaler should be in contact soon.
The position of Porch Bell Ringer is one of delegation. You could literally go though the entire week without ringing the bell yourself as a flock of kids will be asking you if they could ring the bell!
Coordinate with the Chairpeople and the Conference Services Coordinator to determine the schedule of events that will require ringing the bell.
You can create a sign-up sheet if you choose, but remember that you will be working with small children, so planning anything can be a challenge. It might be easiest to choose your "ringer" at that moment.
- Bell strikes will be single, sharp, clear strikes.
- Mealtime bell strikes will be instigated by the Island's Hostess. Only she determines that it's time.
- Mealtime bell strikes HAVE to have a warning called out, loud and clear, to warn of the loud noise. A simple "BELL!" will suffice.
You will be responsible for organizing and running the silent auction, the proceeds of which go into our Lee Reid Scholarship Fund. The first thing you will need to do is contact all of the conferees. This can be done in a number of ways. You may mail a letter to everyone, you may send a group e-mail to all of the conferees, you can ask the chairs to include your information in the letter they mail to the conferees in July, or you can do any combination. It is critical to have the conferees think about what they want to donate or make for the silent auction before they leave for Star, otherwise, they will not be able to participate.
Before you arrive on Star, you will need to make copies of a bidding sheet. The bidding sheet should contain the following information at the top of each sheet:
Name of item, donor of item, starting bid, and the minimum increment for bids.
Then make four columns down the length of the sheet: bidder name, amount of bid, bidder name and amount of bid.
You will need to bring the following items with you to the island:
Bidder sheets, pencils, tape, push pins and any material you wish to use to decorate the tables which will contain the auction items.
The auction is usually set-up in Newton front, however, check with the chairs to see if they have a different location in mind.
At the orientation on the first night, introduce yourself, tell people how to get their items to you, when the auction will begin and when it will close. In the past few years, the auction has been closing at the end of social hour on Thursday night. The auction used to close at the end of social hour on Banquet night, however, people found it was difficult to get everyone to pay and hand out their items, get to the banquet on time and then they were spending Friday evening tracking people down to pay and give them their items.
If you have one really nice item, you could consider holding a separate raffle for that item. If so, plan on bringing raffle tickets with you and also check with the donor to see if they are agreeable with the idea.
On Thursday night, have the social hour hosts announce when the auction will be ending. At the appointed time, go around and circle the highest bid on each sheet. Have a table set-up where the highest bidders may pay you. You an accept either cash or checks made payable to "LOAS". Turn the money over to the treasurer.
Keep track of who owes you money and who has not picked up their items. Sometimes people will pay during social hour and forget to pick up their items before they go to dinner. All auction items need to be out of Newton by the end of the banquet so people can begin to set-up for the final party.
Near the end of the week, there is a softball game played on the infamous Star Island Softball Field between the Conferees (who choose to play) and the Pelicans (who are young, cut and play together all summer). The Softball Coach is to field a team and to try to win.
Decide if you would like to hand out a Trophy for MVP and if so, bring it with you (past awards have included the Game Ball, singed by all players, Golden Gloves, Silver (mini) Bats, Certificates and Starbucks.
Announce at the Conference Orientation that we will need conferees to field a team to play softball against the Pels. Putting a signup sheet on the writing desk allows players to sign up. Here is a downloadable PDF file for the sign up sheet: Softball Sign Up Sheet
Suggest players be at least age 16 (because of past injuries).
Set up practice days (usually 2 to 3) in between other afternoon events. Do it early and make sure it shows up on the chalk board. Check with the Chairs to make sure there are no conflicts. (One suggestion is to have practices at 4pm on Monday & Wednesday and have the game on Thursday or Friday).
Play softball against the Pels and win or lose with dignity, grace and good humor.
Report the score or major accomplishments at the Final Banquet. Present the MVP award and if desired, congratulate/console the Pels (especially if there is a large LOAS component).
The setup of the team is your decision and who you pl;ay and when is all up to you. here are some of the structures that have been used in the past:
Limit the amount of players to 20 to field two 10-person teams. They can alternate innings in the field or you can mix and match. With this, you then can bat all 20 in one batting order. PRO: very easy to manage, everyone gets lots of playing time. equitable. CON: Hard to win. Some may be upset they cannot play.
Allow for any amount of players and you can either set up one batting order, or if ambitous, you can bat 10 people and substitute as desired. PRO: Easiest way to get the best players on the field and in the batting order. Best chance to win. All can play. CON: Can certainly be unequal, as better players will play more. May get hurt feeling if someone does not play, or play enough. Much harder to manage.
The Adults’ Social Hour occurs each afternoon of the conference. It’s a time for mixing, munching and enjoying a glass of wine or beer. (For conferees who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, an alternative venue is usually offered in the Pink Parlor.)
Preparation:
· Consult with the LOAS Provisioner to learn the scope of the snacks and alcohol that the budget affords, and to learn what the Provisioner will order and what you must order. The provision provides wine, beer & sherry. No liquor is allowed to be served at social hour.
- In some past years, people have purchased tickets for “Clams & Mussels." (This is a separate volunteer job.) Also, conferees have offered a wine-tasting. The budget may allow you to order hors d’oeuvres from Star’s kitchen on one day.
· Consult with last year’s hosts to learn how they managed the set-up and the clean-up of glasses, snacks, and beverages each day.
- The kitchen in Newton Center is your preparation area.
- A Pelican from Star’s Conference Services may help with set-up and clean-up.
· Consult the Chairs to decide the location of Social Hour.
- In good weather, Social Hour can take place on the lawn of the Stone Village or on the Lindquist Deck. In windy or rainy weather, Social Hour occurs in Newton Center.
* A Pel delivers and puts away the sound system each day.
* Electrical outlets are in Parker (near lawn of Stone Village) and on the Lindquist Deck.
· You may choose a theme for the Social Hour, and assign daily sub-themes to enhance humor and sociability. A balance that honors introverts and extroverts is wise.
- Inform the Chairs if you plan themes; they’ll be listed in the Chairs’ Letter to Conferees so that people can plan in advance.
- Consider bringing prizes—gag gifts—for winners of the daily theme contest.
· Consider arranging with the LOAS Registrar to arrive on the conference’s first day on an early boat so that you can begin preparations for Social Hour.
Procedure:
· On your arrival at Star, ask the Front Desk Clerk to help you contact Star’s liaison for Conference Services. Arrange for daily set-up and removal of tables, glasses, etc. Also confirm that you and the Music Appreciation Host have a spot for the sound system.
· Prepare your snacks in the kitchen and set up tables and glasses at 5:15.
· The Social Hour runs from 5:30 to 6:15. At 6:10, inform parents that they must leave to pick up their children from their Social Hour(s) at 6:15.
· Welcome the participants; at about 5:45 present a competition around the theme; award a prize for the person who best represents the theme.
· Verbally solicit contributions to help pay for refreshments. (No signs with written amounts may be posted at Social Hour.)
- You may set a “Contribution Basket” on a table with snacks, but not with liquor.
· LOAS’s liability insurance does not cover damage to persons and property that results from intoxication.
· People under the age of 21 may not be present where alcohol is being served.
· Clean up the area at the end of the Social Hour.
The Adults’ Social Hour utilizes LOAS's Mobile Stereo System (which will be delivered to the designated area and should already be there) to flood the Social Hour area with background music (and to occasionally make announcements). A Maestro's job is to prepare music for each of the social hours. Expect to supply music for 7 sessions, each approximately 1 hour.
- The preferred source for music would be an MP3 player, such as an iPod, iPhone, iPad or SmartPhone. There is a headphone plug to insert into the headphone jack of your device.
- You can either plan a "theme" of music for each night, or shuffle the playlist or you can take requests. It's entirely up to you.
- Don't be surprised or insulted when someone makes a comment on the music. Remember: you WILL NOT please all of the people, ANY time. So the shoot for the music you think will enhance the gathering.
- Also remember that this is background music. Sing-a-longs don't generally go over well at social hour, unless it ties in with the theme.
The Youth Groups and locations (subject to changes) for Children's Social Hour are:
Malaga (Baby, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten) in Louise’s Barn
Lunging (Grades 1, 2 & 3) in the Children’s Barn
The following Youth Groups will gather on the Front Lawn (subject to changes from the youth coordinator):
Cedar Grades 4 & 5
Duck Grades 6 & 7
Parents of children can place their children in these supervised Social Hours before attending the Adults’ Social Hour.
The Younger Children’s Social Hour runs from 5:30 - 6:15 P.M.
Before your arrival at LOAS recruit three adults to supervise both Malaga and Lunging each day and two to supervise the older children on the Front Lawn. Parents can be recruited in the spirit of "cooperative babysitting." Often, conferees without children are happy to volunteer.
- Post a copy of the Sign-Up Sheet at the Oceanic Lobby’s "Sign-Up Desk" as a reference for parents and volunteers.
- Remind the volunteers of their schedules on the evening before their assignments.
Volunteers should arrive at 5:25 P.M., and expect to leave at 6:20 P.M.
- Parents must sign a Drop-off and Pick-up Sheet for a child.
- Stress to the parent that the pick-up time is 6:15, allowing the volunteers time to gather their own families for supper at 6:30.
A snack of juice and crackers supplied by the Youth Coordinator and set out by a Pel from Conference Services will be provided for the children.
- Contact Conference Services at the Lobby Desk to insure that a snack will be provided daily.
- A volunteer should supervise the snack table so that each child has enough, but not too much, snack before supper.
In the event of rain, use the Children’s Barn and Brookfield for quiet activities and games. You can borrow board games from the Oceanic’s Lobby Desk. During fair weather, members of Duck may congregate in Brookfield at this time only with adult supervision.
The Talent Show is an opportunity for Shoalers—both youth and adult—to entertain us. The Show is traditionally a high point of the week.
Notification:
· Announce early in the week that there will be a Talent Show on a given night, starting at 8:00 P.M. Describe the range of entertainment that is customary.
· Remind people that there are several venues for performance at LOAS 1. Suggest that—to prevent the Show from being too long—if people choose to entertain at the Musicale or at the Coffee House, they could consider giving others the first chance to entertain at the Talent Show.
Auditions:
· Announce the “try out” times a couple of days before the Show.
o Place a sign-up sheet for “try outs” on the Writing Table in the Lobby.
· When reviewing potential acts:
o Encourage brevity.
o Try to use everyone who wishes to perform.
o Stress appropriateness.
§ If a youth hopes to perform something that’s questionable, ask him or her, “Would you want your parent to see this?” or “Would your parent want to see this?”
§ Tell adults that 10-year-olds will probably remain after the “intermission” that allows younger kids to be put to bed.
§ Although props are the performers responsibility, make helpful suggestions.
§ Coach a performer if guidance will help.
Help from Star’s Conference Services:
· Meet with the staffer from Conference Services to discuss how Star’s resources can support the Show.
o You may require help with the sound system, with stage lights, and with props.
o You may need Star’s Music Director as an accompanist.
o Ask for drinking water and cups back-stage for the performers.
Help from Volunteers:
· Ask someone to work the curtain. Usually a teen does the job.
· Ask someone to work back-stage to cue the sound system so that any intended recorded music plays soon after an act is announced. Have the Sound Person MAKE SURE the music is cued up on whatever device they have.
Arranging the Show:
· Limit solo acts to three minutes. Allow a bit more time for group acts.
· Tell the performers to prepare and to await their turns in the Sandpiper Room, across from the Press Room.
· Arrange for younger children to perform first, while sequencing the types of their performances for enjoyable pacing and variety.
· Tell the first few performers to arrive early and be in place for a prompt curtain time.
· Post an Order of Performance in the stage’s anteroom (Press Room) so that participants will know when to perform. This will limit unnecessary conversation.
· When time, announce a 10-minute break for parents to put young children to bed.
· Have an Interlocutor entertain the audience between acts that require a longer time to set up.
· End the Show at 9:45 at the latest. Evening Chapel is at 10:00 P.M.