The 10/10 Bring a Friend program back and better than ever! You can receive a 10% discount off your room and board rate for every friend you bring to Star. Up to a 50% discount! The friend you bring will also receive a 10% discount.
The 10/10 Bring a Friend program has been expanded. Now instead of the old/returning Shoaler only being eligible for a 10% discount you can receive 10% off (up to 50%) for each new Shoaler you get to enroll (those folks who have never been to Star or haven't been back in 5 or more years).
Of course we'd love new folks to come to the Star Gathering conferences, but even if they decide to go to another conference YOU can still get the discount!
The program is aimed for folks to recruit adults to adults, kids to kids, and families to families. For example if a family unit of one adult and two kids recruits an identical family unit all parties get 10% off their respective R&B rates. If an adult individual recruits 4 other new adult Shoalers that returning person gets 40% off their R&B and each new Shoaler gets 10% off. Of course, kids under 6 are free so they can't get an additional discount.
Welcome to the Star Gathering Conferences in 2010!
Step-by- Step Registration Instructions:
To register for any SG1 or SG2 conference, please send all of the following completed materials to the SG1 or SG2 Registrar (see below for full contact information):
Completely fill out both sides of the registration form and include the following:
Name, Address, Phone Number, and valid Email Address*, as all correspondence from the conference will occur via email.
Room and room type preferences (every effort will be made to accommodate requests on a first come, first served basis, but we cannot guarantee room availability). NOTE: Parents, please indicate if a crib is needed. Everyone - please note if you need a first floor room or electrical outlet for medical or other reasons.
Emergency contact name and information.
Please indicate on the form if you would like to apply for a scholarship from the SIUCC.
Any conferee under the age of 18 attending without a parent or guardian is required to submit a Minor Medical Release Form, which can be found at http://starisland.org/conferences/register/.
* Correspondence is conducted via email to further our Green initiative, reduce postal costs, and increase the speed of communication. Anyone without the ability to obtain an email address must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in the amount of $.78 when registering.
Please include ONE check made out to “Star Island United Church of Christ, Inc.”(SIUCC) for the Program Fees and Room and Board Deposits for everyone listed on the registration form. Room and Board Deposits are $150/person (age 6 and under are free). Registration fees are $100/adult (14 and up), and $75/child (13 and under).
Ex: Two adults would include one check for $500 ($150x2 + $100x2 = $500)
NOTE: The Program Fee is used to provide leadership, supplies, and more at the Conferences. The Room & Board Deposit is a deposit for the island and will be credited on your bill, the balance of which will be due when you attend the SG conference on island.
Please feel free to contact the conference registrar with any questions or concerns regarding registration.
Lori Benson, SG2 Registrar
PO Box 298 Onset, MA 02558
508-273-7672 sg2reg@verizon.net
Adult rates are per person and determined by room type.
Adult (18+ years)
Triple
Double
Single
Motel Double
Motel Single
7–night conferences (2010: SG1)
$710
$754
$972
$848
$1,343
6–night conferences (2010: SG2)
$615
$654
$843
$735
$1,164
Youth rates are determined by age on the first day of the conference, regardless of room type. Youth in
motel units at a parent’s request are charged adult rates.
Youth
Under 6
6-11 Years
12-17* Years
7–night conferences(2010: SG1/SG1 Youth)
$0
$452
$600
6–night conferences (.2010: SG2/SG2 Youth)
$0
$392
$519
*For the Star Gathering Youth Conferences, youth age 18 who have just graduated from high school in June 2010 will be charged at the 12-17 yrs rate.
Star Gathering I
Family Retreat and Star Gathering I Youth Conference 8/1 – 8/8
Star Gathering II
Family Retreat and Star Gathering II Youth Conference 8/8 – 8/14
A Star Tradition Returns...we'll be departing from Portsmouth on the Laighton. Details
The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company will once again provide transportation from their dock on Market Street in Portsmouth to Star Island for conference guests and other overnight visitors.
Beginning in June we will sail to Star Island on the M/V Thomas Laighton, the boat that brought Shoalers to Star from the mid-1980s to 2004. For newcomers, the Laighton is a 90-foot vessel, with three decks, two of which are fully enclosed and heated. It has the capacity to hold 300, and has many amenities, including a snack bar, several washrooms, comfortable deck chairs, and the boat is wheelchair-accessible.
For over 40 years, people have been coming to attend UCC Conferences and Star Gathering Retreats. The family conferences are open to all – singles with or without children, couples with or without children – with all ages invited and included! Each year there is a Program Leader and a Minister of the Week who provide leadership on a topic and during the morning chapel services. There is children’s programming for infants thru 8th grade in the mornings, with lots of activities available in the afternoons and evenings for all. Your time on Star Island can be as filled as you would like it to be or can be completely unscheduled. The youth conferences run separate, but simultaneous to the family conferences, and are open to any youth entering 9th grade through the summer after high school graduation. There are decades-old traditions in all the conferences – candlelit chapel services, softball games, and more, but there are also new elements added each year.
History of Star Island
Star Island is one of nine islands located nearly ten miles southeast of the mouth of the Piscataqua River. Island life is typical to life on a boat, surrounded by the hushing seas and sweeping landscapes of the open ocean. The boundary line between Maine and New Hampshire passes through
the islands and ledges so that five of the islands, Appledore, Cedar, Duck, Malaga, and Smuttynose, lie within the State of Maine while four of the islands, Lunging, Seavey, Star and White, lie within New Hampshire. Star Island is in the Town of Rye Historic District and on the National and State of New Hampshire Historic Registers.
In 1614, the islands were named “Smyth’s Isles” after John Smith who mapped the seacoast, founded the islands and opened up New England to settlement. The islands are now called the Isles of Shoals, probably named for the “shoaling” or school of fish. The Isles quickly became the busiest commercial port on this side of the ocean and dominated the fish market for over one hundred years. The island is abundant with aquatic and terrestrial life and as recorded by the Cornell University Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore Island, the Shoals include 265 species of invertebrates, 139 species of algae, 49 species of fish and 145 species of birds.
Nature is unavoidable on Star Island. Visitors enjoy the colorful vibrancy of morning sunrises, evening sunsets, floral abundances and rich historical buildings. East rock, at the far east corner of Star, is a common visiting place for spectacular views of the crashing waves and cornering islands and the surrounding ingneous rock formations.
The Island is an absolute wonder of history for those interested. The small encompassing village is full of past day’s stories from hundreds of years. Vaughan cottage is a wealth of history, books, nooks and crannies for those ready to explore the mysteries of the island.
The Star Island Corporation employs a handful of year-round employees who work out of the main office in downtown Portsmouth, NH. The senior staff work tirelessly with conference leadership, dedicated volunteers, and the Board of Directors to ensure wonderful conferences and to maintain the historical, spiritual, and educational integrity of the island. To learn more about the senior staff, visit: http://www.starisland.org/about/staff/
Star Island also employs around 100 summer season employees, affectionately known as Pelicans, who do almost every job on island – maintenance, food service, housekeeping, and more. The Pelicans, generally college-aged young adults, are known for their love of the island, outstanding service and hard work, and commitment to serving the conferees. If you’re interested in being a Pelican or learning more, please visit: http://www.starisland.org/working/seasonal/
Peacefully open your eyes to the natural sounds of the seagulls and the pleasant voices of the children who sing morning wake up on each floor of the oceanic hotel. Greet the day with morning coffee and breakfast in the beautiful historic dining hall. Socialize with friends, discuss the day's events, and sit on the porch engulfed by the smells of the sweet ocean air and the rising sun. Attend the first day's workshop, delving into today's important issues and explore different avenues of perspective. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon swim at the waterfront, row over to Smuttynose Island, the Island directly across from Star, or join in the island Lobstrathalon tradition. Watch the infamous Star Island Softball game between the youth and the adults, while rocking on the porch and devouring a delightful ice cream frappe from the Island snack bar. Close your eyes for a late afternoon nap before dinner, or maybe play a tennis match, take a walk or spend some time playing on the front lawn. After dinner, watch the gorgeous, deep red sunset, one that will leave you speechless. Evening chapel is always a soulful experience, in the Stone Chapel, built in 1800 on the highest point of the island. Candlelight chapel services are a cherished Star Island tradition. At the close of each day, chapel goers gather at the foot of the hill carrying only lanterns for light to illuminate the small chapel. Say goodnight to friends and family, rock on the porch, or appreciate the clear night sky full of stars. The day has left you feeling restful, and peacefully excited for tomorrow to begin.
