What is a day at the Southeastern Spiritual Conference like? Will I have to share a room with someone? If I am flying in, will I need to take a cab to the campus? Will I be bored? Will I get hungry and need to bring my own snacks? Do I need to bring my own pillow? So many questions can come to mind!
If you are registered to stay on campus, when you arrive on Wednesday afternoon you will go to the Community Center behind South Apartments where you will receive a welcome hug, a nametag, and an info sheet that shows the location of your workshops and other conference news. Attached to your lanyard will be your dorm room key and building key card. You will also receive a pass to use in the cafeteria for your meals.
Day students (staying off campus) will also receive a nametag and info sheet. Registration for day students will be in the same place (the Multipurpose Room/Community Center at the South Apartments). If you are a day student, you may purchase meals at the cafeteria door.
If you are flying in to GSO, please let us know when you register so that we can help you make transportation arrangements. You will also need to make arrangements for linens (see this explained in the next section.)
You may want to learn about our Guardian Angel program and sign up to participate. Many of our workshop presenters also do consultations for a fee. You can make appointments and pay for these sessions at the consultation desk on campus.
Your dorm room will be in the South Apartments. Each apartment has a living and dining area which includes a table and four chairs, a full kitchen, two baths, and four private bedrooms. When you fill out your registration form, you may request specific suitemates. These buildings are three stories and the rooms on the first floor are reserved for those that have physical problems that prohibit them from climbing stairs.
Linens are not provided unless you rent them. If you are driving to conference, please bring your sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, washcloths and toiletries. If you are flying, you may rent a linen packet which includes sheets, pillow and pillowcase, blanket, a couple of towels and washcloths. The cost is $25. Please order linens in advance on your registration form.
Even though there is a full kitchen, there are no utensils, pots or coffeemakers provided so if you're planning on whipping up a batch of brownies at midnight you'll need to remember that! If you think you will need some snacks during the day, it would be best to bring some, as the cafeteria is only open at specific hours. We do have a SESC sharing snack table in the Multipurpose Room. WiFi is installed all over campus, so it will be easy to connect if you choose to bring your laptop.
Our first meal together will be dinner (Wednesday 5:00 - 6:00 PM) at the cafeteria in Founders Hall and we will gather afterwards at the South Apartments Multipurpose room for our first evening program at 7 pm. Our Art Center/ gift shop is also located in the South Apartments Multipurpose room so you can browse after each evening program.
Participation in all activities is encouraged but not mandatory!
Each day starts with breakfast in the cafeteria at Founder's Hall. Hours are 7:30 - 8:30 AM. The food is amazing! Of course, if you want, you can stay in your dorm and catch some extra sleep and eat breakfast that you have brought for yourself.
Your first workshop will be from 9:00 - 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 11. You have the option of going or not - this is YOUR spiritual retreat so do with it what you will! All of our workshop presenters are knowledgeable in their fields of study, and you are sure to be enriched by their classes and the chance to interact with others with similar interests.
During the free time between the morning classes and lunch, you can visit the Art Center and see what all our vendors have made available for purchase or perhaps wander around the beautiful Guilford College campus (hint: there are some great rocking chairs in the front of Founder's Hall). The campus has a lovely lake, hiking trails in the woods, lots of wildlife like rabbits, deer and groundhogs, and some of the most amazing trees you've ever met!
Lunch will be served at noon at Founder's Hall in the cafeteria - as are all the meals included in your tuition. The college chefs make some delicious healthy meals, including enough to satisfy the vegetarians in our group. Some of the veggies are grown in Guilford's own organic gardens! Lunch hours are noon - 1 pm. After lunch, you'll have a little bit of time before your afternoon workshop, which begins at 1:30 PM. The Guilford campus is not large, so you'll have plenty of time to get to your workshop.
Afternoon workshops are from 1:30 - 3:30 PM. After your afternoon workshop, there will be structured free time activities available between 3:45 - 4:45 PM. Of course, you are free to do anything you'd like!
We will meet again for dinner at Founders Hall (5:00 til 6:00 PM) and then gather back at the South Apartment multipurpose room for our evening program at 7 PM. After the program, there will be Rap Sessions from 9:00 - 10:00 PM at various locations or you can visit with fellow attendees on the patio.
Whew! You have just finished your first full day at the Southeastern Spiritual Conference! We're so glad you are here!!!
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