Current as of: January 12, 2020
Life on a Star Conferences have been held yearly since 1963. Each year, two chair-persons are selected to design and bring to the conference a theme speaker, minister and workshop leaders of their choice, who will provide interesting and thought-provoking programs for all conferees. The Chairs recruit all the adult leaders for our youth program. The Chairs are responsible for all aspects of the program for their week.
The LOAS conferences are governed by a group consisting of all current and former Chairs of both LOAS conferences. The former chairs meet on-island during the conference and again in November to conduct ongoing business, make plans for the future and elect conference Chairs, Registrar and Treasurer. (Check the listing of locations below) They also elect a Coordinating Committee consisting of three people who, together with the Registrars and Treasurer, handle issues which arise between Chair meetings.
The structure of the Leadership team, their members and contact e-mails are listed below:
Coordinating Committee:
Rebecca Armstrong [off in 2021]
Tom Check [off in 2022]
Jeanie Lindquist [1-year term for 2019-2020]
The Treasurer and both Registrars are also members of the Coordinating
Committee.
Treasurer:
David House
The Registrars
LOAS 1: Patti Emmons (done in 2020)
LOAS II: Alison Green (new in 2020)
Provisioner, LOAS I:
Gifford King
Provisioner, LOAS II:
Matthew King
Scholarship Committee:
Tanya Van Order [off in 2020]
Sue Penny [off in 2021]
Cori Hoffman [off in 2022]
PPACA (Child Protection) Committee:
Nancy Witherall (Chair)
John Hoffman
Jennifer LaBarre
Julie Mabey
Gemma Scott
Emily Levine
Several years ago, the Star Island Corporation organized a Council of Conferences consisting of representatives from each week-long conference. LOAS participates in this organization with representatives for both LOAS I and LOAS II.
Council On Conferences Representatives, LOAS I:
Jill Brody
David Whitford
Scott Jones (alternate)
Council On Conferences Representatives, LOAS II
Phil Sears
Myra Aaronson
Diane Shriver (alternate)
Please contact a member of the coordinating committee if you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions.
Go to the LOAS I History and the LOAS II History to see the list of former Chairs.
Choosing the location for the annual meeting can be as challenging as the meetings themselves. There are many requirements and preferences that need to be coordinated, and unfortunately some former chairs cannot be as easily accommodated. This is one of the reasons that it has moved around so much over the years.
Considerations include; travel distance and ease, cost, food quality, room quality, grounds quality (we enjoy a good walk after lunch), facility values (we tend towards socially aware facilities) and of course, availability. Here is a historical list of the locations we have held meetings:
2017 Guest House in Chester, CT
2016 Guest House in Chester, CT
2015 Guest House in Chester, CT
2014 Guest House in Chester, CT
2013 Guest House in Chester, CT
2012 Guest House in Chester, CT
2011 Guest House in Chester, CT
2010 Guest House in Chester, CT
2009 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
2008 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
2007 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
2006 Wisdom House in Litchfield, CT
2005 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
2004 Kirkridge Retreat Center in Bangor, PA
2003 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
2002 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
2001 Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, CT
2000 Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, CT
1999 Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, CT
1998 Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, CT
1997 Mercy By The Sea in Madison, CT
1996 Carmelite Retreat in Mahwah, NJ
1995 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
1994 Fellowship Deaconry in Liberty Corners, NJ
1993 Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY
1992 Thornfield Conference Center in Cazenovia, NY
1991 Mercy Conference Center, Madison, CT
1990 Mercy Conference Center, Madison, CT
1989 Friendly Crossways in Harvard, MA
1988 Mercy Conference Center, Madison, CT