2014

All Star II - 2014

Discover the magic as we gather with family and friends on an Island ten miles out to relax, reflect and renew. During All Star II, young and old will awake to the sounds of ocean and gulls, marvel at the diversity of flora and fellow Shoalers, and close each day with an inspirational candlelight service in Star's historic stone chapel. Hours in between are filled with sports, art, music, rowing, theatre, dancing, reading, friendship, and a thought-provoking lecture series, or simply relaxing in a porch rocker at the Oceanic Hotel, communing with one's self, one's family, and old and new friends. Morning and afternoon children's programs led by our wonderful and expert staff offer creative fun for the kids. Gather with us in 2014 for laughter, friendship and spiritual renewal.Enjoy talks on the rocks and walks on the rocks; painting and dancing; kids and games and classes and stories, choirs and colors of evening. Tennis and softball and Frisbees and kites; speakers and singers, pickers and players and sitting and knitting. Brains and brawn, exhilaration and meditation; swimming and volleyball, expectation, exhaustion, and showering. The sun, the gulls, the moon, the stars; candles and sandals, soothing and singing, and the grass and the flowers; the ocean, the sails, the masts and the waves, and the porch and the friends, oh the friends. Rocking and reading and listening. Join us!

Dates: July 5-12, 2014Chairs: Lisa, Ellen and Sarah EberhartRenewal on the rocks...

2014 conference theme and guest speaker:

"Language from the Eyes of an Anthropologist" We are so pleased to have Liza Bakewell, PhD in Anthropology from Brown University as our guest speaker this year! Liza attended Sarah Lawrence College and received her PhD from Brown University in 1991 has been on the faculty at Brown since 1992, first as teaching faculty, and then as research faculty. She has taught courses at Brown as well as at Bowdoin College and Colgate University in the areas of linguistic anthropology, gender and language, art and aesthetics, art and politics, material culture, religion and women's studies. Liza has published broadly and has won numerous awards for her writing. We are thrilled that she will be with us to share her incredible experiences as a writer, single mother of twin daughters and world traveler.

Throughout the week—in evening candle light chapels, or just rocking on the porch—shoalers as well as our minister of the week will also lead discussions on personal transitions and personal resilience. And, as always, our children will enjoy our fabulous children’s program, complete with art and music instruction, visits to the marine lab and nearby Smuttynose Island, and plenty of time for a variety of fun activities, such as the Children’s Stunt Show and the Great People Hunt. We hope you and your family will join us for an unforgettable week.

All Star II 2014 Minister of the Week: Megan Kelly

We are delighted to announce our 2014 Minister of the Week: long-time All Star II shoaler Megan Kelly. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Megan graduated with a degree in Religious Studies from Connecticut College followed by a Master's in Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Her participation in All Star II since the age of six played an integral role in Megan's decision to pursue ministry. She furthered her training by completing a yearlong residency in clinical pastoral education at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. In 2006 Megan was ordained by her home congregation in Paramus, NJ. For several years Megan served as a chaplain specializing in pediatrics, oncology and end-of-life care. Currently Megan works in healthcare and has begun work in addictions ministry. Megan continues to be inspired by the spirit embodied in the beloved community of Star Island. She is honored to serve as Minister of the Week and looks forward to being with friends, old and new.