We are pleased to invite you to A Seaside Tasting

Please join the Star Island community to enjoy a gourmet food tasting and program, featuring artisanal cheeses and chocolates. This will be held at the Hampshire Inn in Seabrook, NH.

The Pelican Homecoming Reunion will be held off-Island due to Hurricane Earl. We would like to invite all members of the Star Island community and their friends to this event.

Friday, September 3, 2010
7:00 PM
Hampshire Inn
20 Spur Rd (rte 107)
Seabrook, NH 03874
(603) 474-5700

Suggested donation: $20

Please RSVP to Emily Cann, by messaging on Facebook or e-mail her at  Hiya217@aol.com. We look forward to seeing you!

See our earlier post for the official announcement and also visit http://starisland.org/news/ for the latest information from the island.

We now need to hear from all conferees that they are aware of this cancellation. If you are reading this online please fill out the form below to let us know you are aware of this change and also please include information related to the following three areas:

1) We need to make sure all conferees are aware of this information. Please list all family members & friends that you had registered so we can cross them off our list too. We will be calling all registered conferees who we don’t hear from via this form, so please save us a step and fill this form out ASAP. If you can call any friends

2) There is a possibility of a 1 day conference from Sunday – Monday afternoon. If you are interested in this please state so in the form below and we will send you updates when we have official boat times.

3) There is a possibility of a Portsmouth area gathering Friday &/or Saturday for Pels in the area. If you are interested in this please let us know and include the best phone number to reach you at.

We will let you know as soon as we receive any more official information from the Star Island Corporation offices.

Please fill out the form below and respond to the 3 points mentioned above.

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Dear Conference Leaders,

Thank you so much for your assistance and patience during this unpredictable time. Please review this email and notify your registered conferees ASAP:

1)       As of this time, after speaking with the Coast Guard, evaluating path projections, and consulting with our staff, we have made the unhappy decision to close the island due to the forecasted impact of Hurricane Earl. This means that we will not be running any boats out to Star for Pel Reunion and Laity conferees.  We are also evacuating the island of all volunteers and staff members save a few essential personnel. We believe that an island evacuation is the safe and therefore only call to make given today’s worsening forecasts.

2)       We are working with the Thomas Laighton on setting up a boat on Sunday for your conferees (weather permitting), should they choose to come out for the night.  Rates for this night (per person) would be Triple: $108; Double: $117; Single: $154; Motel Double: $132; Motel Single $220; 12-17 year olds $89; 6-11: $61—for reference, these are the Conference Overnight Guest rates listed in the Conference Handbook on page 8. We will be updating our web site, www.starisland.org, over the next couple of days with more information on this option should it become available.

3)       In the unlikely event that the forecast changes in our favor overnight and hosting guests becomes possible, we will post options for coming to the island on our website, www.starisland.org.

Over the next few days, we will be updating the website regularly and conferees can check for updates there.

All deposits will be refunded unless otherwise donated to the island.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we work with everyone’s safety at the forefront of our minds.

Shannon

Shannon Roecklein
Assistant Conference Center Director
Star Island Corporation
30 Middle Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Island: 603-601-0488
Office: 603-430-6272

As mentioned in the update yesterday (http://starisland.org/2010/09/01/weather-update-for-pel-reunion-and-laity/)  the Saturday boat is officially cancelled and the status of the Friday afternoon boat is questionable at this time. If you can switch your schedule to come out on the Friday 9:25 AM boat they are currently collecting names for that boat roster. Note if you wish to come out on this boat they request people show up at the dock 90 minutes in advance (7:55 AM). Please let me know if you can make that boat and I’ll make sure your name gets on the list. Also, if you are unable to switch to coming out on Friday and need to officially cancel let me know that too.

Also – Regarding housing for those arriving Thursday night or, if the conference is cancelled, we have a suggestion for alternative lodging on the mainland. Kris Lofrumento, one of the Pel Reunion conference chairs, has contacted Mark Woolley, former Pelican and General Manager of the Hampshire Inn (and independent hotel) in Seabrook, NH. ( http://www.hampshireinn.com/) This is 7-10 minutes from the ISSCo dock. He welcomes any Pels/folks coming for PR to contact his hotel, especially if folks want to come Thursday night to be on a Friday morning boat OR if the conference does get cancelled, a place for those who can gather to do so.

Currently he has 27 rooms open Thursday night
16 open Friday night
4 open Saturday night (he expects more to open as some of these folks decide to change their plans)
12 open Sunday night

He also has a function room available.

When you call the Hampshire Inn’s front desk at 603-474-5700, ask for the Pelican rate which will be 30% off his reg rate per night or $79/night/room.

That’s all for now. We expect another update from the island on or before 5 PM today.

-Matt
—
Matthew J. H. Baya
85 Guptill Farm Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605-4109
H: (207) 667-4892
e-mail: matt@baya.net    web: http://matt.baya.net/

We are closely tracking Hurricane Earl and considering all options for your group.  Safety is the number one factor, and we are evaluating wind speeds and seas to determine what is safely possible for your groups.

Here is our current update:

• The Saturday Thomas Laighton boat is cancelled.
• The Friday Thomas Laighton 9:25 a.m. boat is still a go.
• The Friday Thomas Laighton 1:55 p.m. is still a possibility, though may be cancelled.
• Anyone who comes early on Friday who was planning to come on Friday does not need to pay extra.
• Anyone who comes early on Friday who was planning on coming on Saturday would need to pay the 3 night rate; for a double room, this rate increase is $65 (which represents a significant reduction from our standard per night rates).
• Sunday boats may or may not run.
• Boats for Monday are expected to be back to normal.
• If we expect sustained high winds on Friday night and Saturday, we will likely cancel your conference and evacuate the island.

We know uncertainties are a stressful factor in planning for the next few days.  We will continue to make updates on our website at www.starisland.org, and we will send another update such as this one tomorrow afternoon.  Though cancellation is a possibility, we will wait to cancel your conference until we’re absolutely certain this is necessary—this may be Friday morning.  We wait until this time so as to give those individuals who can work within a smaller window the opportunity to make it to the island.

If we are able to host you this weekend, please note that people with health concerns should NOT come out to the island this weekend, as there would be a chance that an emergency medical evacuation would not be possible.  Also, we will likely ask you to remain in the main hotel/Gosport buildings during periods of high wind, meaning activities may be limited.  We do expect there can be fun and interesting ways to pass the time on island, but we want the expectations to be clear up front.

Please send any questions and concerns to your conference leadership and they will route those questions to me.  I am working closely with our Marine Services Manager, our Fire and Safety Manager, our Logistics Manager, and Joe Watts, our primary Island Manager to ensure any decisions are thoroughly thought through and in everyone’s best interest.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation through this ‘stirring’ time!

Shannon Roecklein

Shannon Roecklein

Assistant Conference Center Director

Star Island Corporation

30 Middle Street

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Island: 603-601-0488

Office: 603-430-6272

Star Island will be featured in a new New Hampshire Chronicle episode to be broadcast on Friday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m. on WMUR-TV.  The show will also be available on line at http://www.wmur.com/chronicle/index.html following the air date.

The Jennifer Crompton, the producer, and Chris McDevitt, the videographer, spent last Wednesday on the island.  Jennifer interviewed Vicky Hardy, Sarah O’Connor, Molly Mansfield and Jeff Cullinane. Thanks to all of you for giving such splendid interviews.  Chris recalled doing the camera work when Fritz Wetherbee filmed a segment on Star about five years ago.  Chris shot a lot of extra film around the island; he clearly likes the place.  Jennifer is related to the Haley’s of Smuttynose – she and Sarah has a lot to talk about. They had a wonderful time and were pleased with all the material they gathered.

Thanks to everyone who added their support for the film crew and a special thanks to Deskie Noah Braiterman who set up a room for the crew to videotape on very short notice.

Priscilla Hodgkins
Community Outreach Coordinator
Star Island Retreat and Conference Center
30 Middle Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 430-6272

We want you to know about some changes that have been happening within your conference. The Pelican Reunion Conference is in the process of reorganizing as a Pelican Alumni Association. In fact, we’ve begun calling the conference “Pelican Homecoming Weekend” to reflect the changes that are happening. We want you to be a part of those changes!

Since former Pelicans (and Penguins) are basically ‘alumni’ of Star, the Steering Committee has begun to think about how we can reorganize ourselves like an alumni association, where all Pels are members and have a standing open invitation to be involved in all activities and operations, as they wish. We are in the thinking/forming stages and welcome, encourage, and need your input about who we are, what we want, and how we can bring Pels together on and off island in meaningful ways. We are looking for ways to create opportunities for Pelicans to stay involved with Star Island, meet with groups in their areas, stay connected with their crews, network, and be welcomed together on island.

A survey, posted at http://pelicansarepelicans.org/survey, is an easy way for you to be involved. It takes about 5 minutes to complete. We have also sent mailers to those Pels for whom we have addresses and we’re looking for help to connect with Pelicans who have lost touch with the island.

Finally, on a more nuts-and-bolts level, we’d like to announce some changes within our leadership.

After 15 years as conference registrars Marc and Jane Soule decided to step down. We’ll miss their warmth and good humor and are grateful to them for their hard work and dedication to the conference. They’ll be a tough act to follow but we’re grateful that Matt Baya has stepped in as interim registrar for this year. We’re taking applications for the registrar position. More information is posted at http://pelicansarepelicans.org/reunion/registrar-job-description/

We are also looking for an Assistant Treasurer, who can train under our current, longtime Treasurer, Bob Lightfoot, and eventually take over the position. We thank Bob for his careful stewardship of our finances.

And, the biggest change is that Steve and Edie Whitney have retired from the Conference Steering Committee. They are two of the founders of the Pelican Reunion Conference and have nurtured and supported the conference these last 30 years to the point where a new generation can take on the challenges and rewards of leadership. Steve and Edie have been steady, strong, involved leaders and their guidance and mentorship will be missed. We’re so grateful to them for giving us roots and wings.

So, in summary, there are a lot of changes happening and we hope you will be part of them. Fill out the survey; let us know what you think about the new alumni format; and anything else. We hope you’ll attend Homecoming Weekend September 3-6 (four days) or September 4-6 (three days). And we hope that you will get in touch with us so we can keep you connected to Pelicans and Star Island all year long.

If you want to learn more about Homecoming and/or volunteering please visit StarIsland.org, PelicansarePelicans.org, or connect with us via the Facebook group Pelicans are Pelicans. We’d love to hear from you.

RATS,

The (formerly-known-as Pelican Reunion Conference) Steering Committee: Matthew Baya, Emily Cann, Sean Elliot, Sue Flynn, Joel Harris, Laurie Lentz-Marino, Bob Lightfoot, Kris LoFrumento, Nancy Meyer, Bruce Parsons, Carole Parsons, Diane Parsons.

We’d love for you to fill out our survey to help keep you connected all year long – help us by filling out your contact information, tell us about yourself, and let us know how we can get you back to Star Island. STARt getting connected! You will come back!

Get Connected survey:

http://pelicansarepelicans.org/survey/limesurvey/index.php?sid=45542

Photos from a summer working on Star Island, Isles of Shoals. All photos by Sarah O’Connor.

Video by Candied Camera; music by B.A. Canning.

Star Island is one of the rocky, wind-swept Isles of Shoals, located off the coast of Rye, New Hampshire. For over 100 years, summers here have provided individuals and families with a welcome respite from their busy mainland lives. Star Island Corporation is a nonprofit organization which maintains the island and its facilities and provides hospitality services for visitors.