LOAS II 2011

August 20 to 27, 2011
The World In Your Pocket

This year's co-chairs will be and Diane and John Shriver.

The Flyover pictures from LOAS I 2011 are finally done. Click HERE!

The Theme Speaker for LOAS II 2011 will be Peter Phipps. Peter is the Managing Editor for New Media at The Providence Journal and an instructor at the University of Rhode Island.

We live at a time when media and culture blend into an almost irresistible force. Media connects us to friends, family and the world, and the mix of media and culture defines how we connect to each other and therefore who we are. With mobile devices and YouTube, you’ve got a printing press and the power to speak to the world in your pocket.

We’ll explore the transformative power of communications technology -- how it has changed family, politics, culture and commerce. Subjects will include the change from analog to digital; the music technology battleground; how advertising’s cultural narratives create desire and demand; how the media manipulate us for power and profit; how movies transfer culture and define our values; capitalism, sexism and racism; mass media and the colonization of our minds; television and the shared cultural experience; and the rise and fall of newspapers, now at the point of transition or destruction. What is the future of media when all media is digital? Does journalism have a future? Does it matter to society? Join us as we examine the amazing technological revolution that is truly changing our world and the way we live in it.

This exploration will leave plenty of time for relaxation and fellowship. Rock on the porch in between stimulating workshops, hearty meals, gorgeous sunsets, fun, and fellowship. Our children will enjoy their own program with wonderful leaders and fun activities.

Minister of the Week:
Rev. Carie Johnsen
After a career in social services, Rev. Johnsen embarked on a second career in ministry, graduating from Harvard Divinity School in 2009. She is in her third year as minister of the UU Community Church of Augusta, Maine. Carie grew up in the Midwest and was raised Lutheran. Her call to ministry was seeded when she was a member of First Parish Brewster, where she was active in the Children and Youth Ministry. Her experiences include working with women in transition and with the Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality, and she is on the Board of Trustees for the Religious Coalition against Discrimination.

Youth Leaders:

Our youth coordinator is Mary Heafy, who will form our youth groups once we know how many children are coming, and their ages. The list is still changing, and we will decide later in the summer on the size and makeup of the various groups. Our leaders are:

Linda Geiser, Allison Will, Scott Will, Toby Dills, Edie Crane, Victor Finizio, Jennifer Messner, David Messner and Lynn Coakley

Workshops and Starbursts:

WORKSHOPS Week long classes offered daily
The Ever-Changing World of Movies David Landau A look at the evolution of on-screen entertainment. Your guide, industry insider David Landau, will explain how movies have been made, distributed and viewed, from the Hollywood studio era to today's no-budget YouTube productions. In between we'll explore drive-ins, 3-D, exploitation and low-budget films of the '60s and '70s, and mini-studios and art-house independents of the '80s and '90s. What's worked, what's failed, and what might be coming soon to a pair of eyes near you!	Writing Circle Ellen Schmidt The Writing Circle is a time to relax and write from the heart in a supportive, warm, and stimulating environment. Each day a new "writing spark" will help kindle a memory, ignite a poem, or fire up your imagination. Because we think and speak differently than we write, you will have an opportunity to get to know yourself and others in surprising ways through writing. Feel free to come to one session, several, or every day, whether you consider yourself a writer or not. Bring a notebook and your favorite writing implement.
YOGA Darlene Nadeau, MS, MEd Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, Yoga & Pilates Instructor AVIVA Wellness Plymouth, NH • 603-493-1478 Darlene’s interest in yoga and meditation began at age 18. Darlene’s gentle yoga classes are infused with awareness, acceptance, compassion, and mindfulness. She has been teaching yoga since 2005 and integrates yoga traditions from Anusara, Iyengar, and Ananda yoga studies. Currently as a massage therapist Darlene recommends yoga postures which support and enhance clients’ health and well being. For example, specific poses increase range of movement, improve postural alignment, relieve repetitive strains, increase immune response, lower blood pressure, and much more. Darlene enjoys connecting with supporting each person’s highest levels of wellness. She has a passion for learning, growing, and thriving. She also delights in travel, nature, gardening and dance.	Felting: Wearable Art Beth Copithorne Explore the age-old art of wet felting. Starting with wool, we’ll use a little water, soap, and friction to create wearable items. This creative possibilities in this hands-on, interactive workshop are limitless! Beth is an award-winning fiber artist. A knitter since age eight, she also spins yarns. She teaches fiber arts and demonstrates at several agricultural events each year. This will be her fifth workshop on Star. (materials fee: $10)
Adult OWL (Our Whole Lives) *Gary Kunz & Kelly Schnur* One could argue that adults need this exploration of sexuality and human relations even more than the teenagers who take it in many UU churches. Gary and Kelly are experienced, certified guides to this endlessly fascinating topic, which goes far beyond the “nuts and bolts” of sexuality to discuss how people relate to their bodies and to one another at all stages of life.	Covenant Circles Myra Aaronson, George Hays, and Beverly Hays Something extraordinary happens in a Covenant Circle – people actually /listen/ to one another! While one person speaks, the others can /only/ listen, for no comments or replies are allowed. The person doing the talking can relax and let their thoughts emerge without any pressure or interruption, and the listeners can devote all their energy to actually listening, rather than to thinking up a reply or formulating advice or recounting something similar that happened to them. The power of this simple structure cannot be overstated. Join a circle and make some truly deep connections at Star, connections far beyond a chat on the porch. Myra, George and Beverly have all led Covenant Circles in their home congregations.

S T AR B U R S T S Single, 45 Minute Mini-Workshops to fill in your days
Eleanor Roosevelt: Transformative First Lady *Maurine Beasley* Maurine will discuss her new book, Eleanor Roosevelt: Transformative First Lady, which details the way in which a woman who considered herself a betrayed wife transformed both herself and American politics, making the role of first lady into an important part of the presidency. In the June 9 issue of the New York Review of Books, Russell Baker called it “notable for offering a fresh view of Eleanor's unorthodox world and the women she loved.”	Open-G Guitar Diane Taraz Learn an easy alternate tuning that adds a lot of interest with little effort. Digital Photography Doctor *Ron Cox* The doctor is IN! Photographer Ron Cox will answer questions about how one's digital camera works, how to take a particular shot, how to print and share images, and other parts of the brave new world of digital photography.
Alternatives to Traditional Funeral Arrangements *Tanya Van Order* Explore the options available for the decisions we will all have to face someday, including cremation, green burials, home funerals, and burials at sea.	Fun With SUDOKU *Alan Grometstein* Learn the rules of Sudoku puzzles and some of the tactics for solving them. Alan will offer a test problem and award a prize to the first person to solve it.
Explore the Flora *Carolynn Sears* Get to know the plant life of Star Island through poetry and lore, and by meeting them as natives, invasives, or introduced species. Expert gardener Carrie Sears will coordinate a visit to Celia Thaxter's garden on nearby Appledore Island and explain what to do in your own garden come September.	Wild Collage *Nika Lopez* Fun for all ages! Let your imagination run wild as you create a harmonious visual extravaganza from random-sized papers, cardboard, fabrics, and other collected items. Nika will bring examples of collages by contemporary artists and will supply all the materials, which are non-toxic and child-friendly.
The Shiny Side to the Current Unemployment Mess Rich Dahab Yes, there is an end to this economic morass, and a bright future beyond. Come hear about how all of the economic stress will lead to a better tomorrow. Surviving the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis Donald Blum Don will recount his experiences as one of the few survivors of this naval tragedy in the closing days of World War II.	‘Programmed to Receive’ Will Emmons This Starburst is a book review of “The Filter Bubble” by Eli Pariser. Mr. Pariser discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the increasing use of ‘personalization’ by popular web sites, including Google and Facebook. Personalization applies a filtering mechanism to internet searches which screens the wider world from users in an attempt to show only the items it “thinks” we want to see. Pariser also discusses how personalization is further corrupted by its tie-in to focused advertising. A 2000 graduate of Simon’s Rock, Pariser is the Executive Director of MoveOn.org. Come join us for a lively discussion of the filter bubble effect and how it shapes discourse in today’s culture