CRONES COUNSEL XXIV
Denver, Colorado
SEPTEMBER 21 – 25, 2016
SEASONS OF OUR LIVES
PRE-GATHERING INFORMATION
Please read – this contains information you will need before arriving for the gathering. If you have any questions, please call or email
annie lehto, cronenancy@q.com, 303-697-6016
FIRST TIMERS
If you are new to our gatherings, we offer you special greetings and a warm welcome. Virginia will greet you at registration and answer questions. Greeters will be looking for you when you register. Feel free to ask her or any Board Member any questions you may have.
GATHERING REGISTRATION
Check in at 3 pm Wednesday, September 21. Once you’ve arrived at the Renaissance Hotel, look for the women directing you to our registration table. Register for your hotel room first.
Opening ceremony for the gathering begins at 7 pm. in the Telluride room.
WEATHER
The weather in Colorado is beautiful this time of year. Since it is a transition time from summer into fall, weather is changeable, from warm to cool. Be prepared for sun, rain or even an early snow.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Hopefully, you have made your hotel reservation by now. The Renaissance Hotel has given us special rates for our gathering. These rates will be honored for a few days before and after the gathering. Here is a link to hotel registration.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
LIGHT RAIL
The A-Line travels to and from DIA to downtown Denver. The cost is $9 one way cash. Age 65 and over: $4.50.
Get off at the Central Park Station to go to The Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel which is located about one mile away.
SHUTTLES
Central Park Station to Hotel: The Hotel has a complimentary shuttle from the station to the hotel running every half hour.
Airport to Hotel: The Hotel also has a complimentary airport shuttle which runs every hour from the “ground transportation” level of the airport to the hotel.
PARKING
The cost for registered hotel guests is $5. a day unless you secured your room prior to June 21st which allowed for complimentary parking. It is a covered parking garage, with in-and-out privilege, and handicapped parking spots.
SHUTTLE USE FOR RESTAURANTS
A shuttle can be reserved for transportation to restaurants for $25. one way. The 12 person shuttle is restricted to a radius of 3 miles.
Questions re: transportation options can be sent to Carol Friedrich, cronecarol@earthlink.net
MEALS
Since we are in a hotel setting, meals are not included in your registration, except for a luncheon Banquet on Friday, continental breakfast, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, appetizers at the Meet & Greet Wednesday evening and dessert at Thursday’s Poetry evening. There are many restaurants near the hotel. See list included in the welcome packet. The hotel has complimentary shuttle service to the restaurant area on a first come, first serve basis up to a distance of 3 miles. Or the shuttle can be reserved at a specific time for a group at a nominal cost.
FOOTHILLS & MOUNTAIN TOUR
This optional Grayline bus tour scheduled during free time on Friday, September 23, will leave the hotel at 3:00 pm and return at approximately 8:00 pm. The tour will include Lookout Mountain, Buffalo Bill’s grave and museum, Idaho Springs, Echo Lake, Evergreen and Bear Creek Canyon through Morrison, Colorado. These are all scenic and historic spots within 50 miles of Denver. The approximate maximum altitude is 9,000′. Cost is $50.00 per person. Tickets for this tour may be purchased here before August 15, 2016. If you have questions about this tour please contact Pat Shepard at patj1213@gmail.com or 303-980-9234.
FOLLIES
One of the most fun events of Crones Counsel involves you and your talents! It’s the annual Crone Follies – a venue where you can perform! If you sing, play an instrument, have a stand-up comedy routine, dance or anything else, sign up at registration. We will have a sound system, a cassette and CD player for the performance. Bring any other materials. It’s fun! It’s Saturday night.
EMPTY CHAIR
If there is a person you wish could be with you at the gathering but who has made her transition, bring her spirit with you. And, if you wish, bring her picture or something that reminds you of her to put on the empty chair.
SHARE TABLE
See the table in at the end of the ballroom for many handouts, brochures, and other information of interest. Bring your information to share.
ALTAR
It is the tradition at our gatherings to have an altar to signify that there is a spiritual component to our gathering. Everyone is invited to bring an object to place on the altar. Your object can be whatever calls to you to bring, and can symbolize your connection to Crones or to our theme, Seasons of Our Lives. When you take your object home, it will be imbued with the sacred energy of our gathering.
ARTISAN’S BAZAAR
Come see the wonderful creations of our sister artisans. Treasures of all types will be located in Vail, near our main meeting room. To be a vendor, please contact: Marta Quest at
RAINBOW RHYTHMS & ART, RRandArt12@gmail.com
OPENING CEREMONY and CLOSING CEREMONY
Opening ceremony will be Wednesday evening, beginning at 7 pm. in the Telluride room. Our closing ceremony will be Sunday at 9 am, ending around 11 am. The hotel checkout is 11:00 and, when requested, late checkout, is at noon.
GRANT FUND/SCHOLARSHIPS……….Please Pass the Hat
A tradition at our gatherings started by co-founder/wise woman Shauna Adix. It’s simple; we pass the hat for donations toward the grants/scholarship fund for our sisters who require some of their counsel expenses deferred. Over the years, the recipients of this fund have created a stronger counsel through their creative and enthusiastic participation.
COUNSEL OUTREACH
Every year, a donation is made to an organization that supports women in the community where the gathering is being held. This year the Outreach donations are going to Family Tree an organization innovative services designed to end child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness. The intent of the Community Outreach fund is to leave something behind in the communities in which we gather each year, funded by donations. We will pass the hat Sunday morning after hearing a presentation by Family Tree.
GIVE AWAY TABLE
We will once again have a give-away table. If you’d like, bring a small gift for the give-away. Doesn’t have to be new, but please no white elephants. Your gift should mean something special to you, whether it’s a rock picked up in a special place or something more valuable that was given to you sometime in your life. Our elders will select first, after the honoring ceremony.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Any brochures, handouts or information you might want to bring
for the Crone Share Table - Anything you might need for the Follies – costumes, music,
instruments, etc. - Crone clothes or dress up for Honoring Ceremony and banquet, if you wish
Drums, rattles, etc. - Something for the Give-Away table if you wish
- Something for the altar if you wish
- A remembrance for the Empty Chair if you want to honor someone who has passed.