CWC Participants 2010

Front row: Janet Bloom, Darlene Olivo, Kathryn Cullen-DuPont, Catherine Chambers, Jen McConnell

Second row: Carolyn Locke, Chrystal Wing, Yvonne Rutford, Sam Sherman, Chris Mackowski, Jill Moore

Not pictured: Julie Parent, Maggie Thompson

Photo by Jill Moore

Thoughts After CWC

This morning back in my own space, Lucy and Satsi not home yet from their pet resort, fans keeping the still-coolish night air circulating (windows closed against the rising heat outside), I sit with my journal and mug of iced coffee to reflect on, and not let go of, what it is that makes CWC at Goddard so special. As I was packing up to leave yesterday, the dorm was silent and breezy, and the thought occurred to me that, if financial circumstances require that I choose between going home for Mardi Gras and CWC next year, it might be better for me holistically to go back to Goddard.

This surprised me because I feel so alive in the Quarter on Carnival day--it satisfies my need to play in the visual paradise of creativity, to run into old friends, feel my homeland beneath my feet--know that I belong. Yet, the intensity, the expectations for peak moments (think of the joy at the crescendoes of laughter when we play If-Then) sometimes unmet make it risky; so much rides on that one day.

CWC unfolds gently. I emerge from my shell and am more who I really am: smart, funny, kind-hearted, involved, present, eager to learn. I feel valued (key word) among you because you reflect these things back to me, something often lacking in life outside Goddard. Or, at least, it's harder for me to detect and believe. The slings and arrows of non-safety are such that I'm guarded, and when too plentiful cause me to go into a fog. I slog as if through jello, weighted down with a kind of despair. I am very lonely.

So, for me, the seed is being valued. CWC in the context of Goddard (I doubt it would be the same off-site) provides the fertile soil, the nutrients and benevolent light that allows germination, encourages growth of a tiny bit of life long packed inside a hard ball of armor. And for that--for you--I am profoundly grateful.

Perhaps these musings are my debriefing plenary address--what's the closing parenthesis of plenary?--something I feel the urge to impart. I'm sure you have your own -- and if you choose to share them, you'll find a willing audience in me.

Blessings, blessings and hugggggggggggs that go on forever,

Darlene Olivo

Please feel free to comment below, and to send me (surog8@comcast.net) your thoughts and photos to post.

CWC 2010 Photos

The top photo is of the path to the Pratt Library. The lower one is the Clockhouse from the Manor back steps. Both photos by Jen McConnell Doron.

CWC-East Registration Information

The Goddard College MFACW (East) Alumni Writer’s Conference & Retreat:

The mornings are devoted to writing, the afternoons, to workshops, and the evenings, to readings.

CONFERENCE DATES:

Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 1:00-3:45 p.m. – Arrival and Check In

Saturday, July 3, 2010, 1:00 p.m. -- Departure and Check Out

A full conference schedule will be mailed to all registrants in early June. In the meantime, here's the schedule for the first day:

Tuesday, June 29th

1:00-3:45 p.m. - Arrival and Check-in

4:00-5:30 p.m. - Community Meeting

5:45-7:00 p.m. - Dinner

7:45 p.m. - Plenary Panel

The Topic: Striving for Balance in Writing

Scheduled Presenters: Kimberly Beam, Val Carnevale and Susanna Graham-Pye

Scheduled Moderator: Sam Sherman

DEADLINES

May 1, 2010: Registration and Selection of Housing/Meal Plan Options. Please note that some housing options are limited and that double-room reservations will be made on a first-come, first-serve basis, and that requests for single rooms will be filled after that.

Download the the information and registration form here.

Haybarn Retreat

Announcing the 2010 Haybarn Retreat! June 11-13 at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont!
Join your fellow alumni, faculty, staff and friends for a celebration of Goddard's unique history and exciting future! Scheduled events include community art projects, a Trustee panel discussion, Michael Arnowitt in concert and much more! Click here to register now!

CWC Plenary Panel

Sam Sherman will moderate this year's Plenary Panel to kick off the Clockhouse Writers' Conference and Retreat East at 7:45 June 29.

The topic for this year is Striving for Balance in Writing, and the scheduled presenters will be Kimberly Beam, Val Carnevale, and Susanna Graham-Pye.

Register for CWC-East here.

CWC News

Clockhouse Writers' Conference and Retreat (East) will be held this summer on the Plainfield campus to overlap the MFAW residency.

The dates are June 29 - July 3, which will overlap the MFA-W residency.

The Plenary Panel, as you can see by the schedule below, will be the first evening after dinner.

Information and Registration are available at Clockhouse Writers' Conference and Retreat (East).

TUESDAY, JUNE 29

ARRIVAL AND CHECK-IN, 1:00-3:45 p.m.

COMMUNITY MEETING, 4:00-5:30 p.m.

DINNER, 5:45-7:00 p.m.

PLENARY PANEL, 7:45 p.m.

We hope to see you there. If you have questions, please contact Board of Stewards Lead, Bill Moser (surog8@comcast.net) or CWC&R Co-ordinators Kathryn Cullen-DuPont (kcd@womenandhistory.com) or Sam Sherman (sam2climb@aol.com).

We hope to see you in June.