Author: Don Wilson

GSV 2018 Fall Conference

Fall Conference

GSV 2018 Fall Conference

Insatiable Curiosity

September 27 – 30, 2018

The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, Highlands, NC

4 day / 3 night package (Thursday through Sunday)
Bunkhouse $324.18 | Cabin $380.22 | Lodge $418.65
5 day / 4 night package (Wednesday through Sunday)
Bunkhouse $398.90 | Cabin $473.63 | Lodge $524.87

Dear Brothers,

By recognizing ourselves as evolving gay spirits we are forced to question the norm. This questioning opens the world and allows our curiosity to expand and be a force that can guide us throughout our life. We begin to become curious about phenomena beyond our love for men. We question what we have been told about sensuality, beauty, ambiguity, science, compassion, and the world of the spirit. By being this ‘outsider’ we have a unique perspective on the world and can share that perspective with others. Some cultures value this perspective, and others do not.

With this curious perspective also comes a responsibility to go beyond being curious. It is one thing to ask the question and another to seek an answer. The process of seeking is the process of revelation and empowerment.

When one considers who we have become, one often looks to those who have come before and have inspired us. We have individuals from our past, and we have those who are larger than us who came down through history. We can choose to select the role models to further our individual growth and inspire us toward the realization of our potential. In “Bazar’s Book of Genius – And How to Unleash Your Own,” the person who rated highest in “Originality,” “Versatility,” “Dominance of Field,” “Universality-of-Vision,” and “Strength and Energy” is a gay man — Leonardo da Vinci.

Through our insatiable curiosity we find ways to test our questions and demonstrate our thoughts. We exalt in our sensuality and how we experience the world. We celebrate ambiguity and paradox. We cultivate grace, beauty, and spirit. We balance logic and imagination, art and science. We grow to recognize and appreciate the connectedness of all things and phenomena. We embody persistent empowerment. These are the ideals that encompassed the life of Leonardo, and these are the ideals that will be the driving force for our time together at the Fall Conference.

We will gather at The Mountain to ask questions, celebrate, and enliven our insatiable curiosity.

Be prepared for Pageantry and Artistic and Scientific Expression. Bring material for artistic expression — poetry, musical instruments, art supplies.

Bring fashion, garb, costumes, and makeup for the talent show, dancing, music making, and daily promenades.

Bring your love for men who love men.

“Heaven sometimes sends us a being who represents not humanity alone but divinity itself.” — Giorgio Vasari, speaking on da Vinci in “The Lives of the Artists (1550).”

Randy Taylor
2018 Fall Conference Convener

Register for the 2018 Fall Conference

Council of Elders Face to Face Meeting

Council of Nine

Saturday June 23, 2018 ~ 9:00AM – 5:00PM

Sunday June 24, 2018 ~ 9:00AM – 1:00PM

office of Positive Impact ~ 523 Church Street, Decatur Georgia

The GSV Council of Elders conducts a face-to-face meeting at least once a year. This is in addition to our monthly conference call meetings. This meeting gives the Council Members a chance to actually spend time together and do more extensive planning, etc. All council meetings are open to anyone involved with GSV, but most particularly we look forward to input and participation at our face-to-face meetings. Although only Council Members can vote, we have found community input to be invaluable.

Our next council meeting will be a face-to-face meeting, scheduled for June 23 & 24. The meeting times are 9:00 – 5:00 on Saturday and 9:00 – 1:00 on Sunday. The location will be at the office of Positive Impact, located at 523 Church Street in Decatur, Georgia.

If you are interested in joining us please message Bill Harris so that we have an idea on who will be attending.

Thanks,
Bill Harris

GSV 2018 Spring Retreat

Spring Retreat

Embodying Community: Our Big Spring Thing!

April 13 -15, 2018


at The Mountain, Highlands, NC

Cost is $257.43 (double occupancy) | $332.16 (single occupancy)

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
— Mitch Albom

Greetings Brothers!

We’ll soon gather at The Mountain, GSV’s spiritual home for more than 26 years, to enjoy hugs, laughs, great conversation, open-hearted men, beautiful vistas, hiking, napping and more. During our Big Spring Thing, you’ll have opportunities to explore what Embodying Community is all about. If you haven’t registered, there’s still time. Click here to get started.

Community Workshops

If you have an idea for a workshop, activity or discussion at the Spring Retreat, we still have a few times available. Just send a short description of your idea to [email protected] and include a list of supplies you would need, if any. Please send your proposal no later than Tuesday, April 10th.

A sign-up sheet will be available at The Mountain for any last-minute workshop ideas.

What Kinds of Workshops Will Be Offered?

Some of the workshops we have on tap will provide opportunities to:
•Let your inner kid come out to play
•Experience a one-man musical show about life in the theater and the theater in life
•Explore yoga in a free and liberating way
•Start your day with positive intentions
•Understand what makes you happy and develop deeper appreciation for who you are
•Learn about and experience the benefits of Sacred Sound
•Surrender to the healing power of Sacred Touch
•Take a wild ride from isolation to exaltation
•Explore erotic physical play in a safe setting
•Find the joy of non-verbal communication through physical movement
•Learn the power of positive affirmation
•Explore the importance of recording gay history
•and more!

Financial Assistance

Economic challenges may make it difficult or impossible for some to attend our gatherings. The Raven Wolfdancer Financial Assistance Fund was established to help prevent registration costs from imposing undue financial hardship. For more information and to apply for assistance, visit the Financial Assistance page on our website.

Th-th-th-that’s all folks!

We hope to see many of you on The Mountain next weekend.

Your GSV Council

Register for the 2018 Spring Retreat

GSV 2018 Spring Retreat

Spring Retreat

Embodying Community: Our Big Spring Thing!

April 13 -15, 2018

at The Mountain, Highlands, NC

Cost is $257.43 (double occupancy) | $332.16 (single occupancy)

Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
— Auntie Mame

Lovely Brothers,

What are your driving passions? What fascinations do you have that you might want to share with others? What portion of the experiential banquet can you provide for Our Big Spring Thing?

We would love for you to present a short workshop on a topic dear to your heart, so that we can benefit from your enthusiasm and experience.

GSV retreats are, and have always been, a place for our community to share gifts, hone skills, and reveal our deliciousness to an open-hearted audience. This year’s Spring Retreat aims to be a showcase of our community for our community.

Sharing our interests in this way helps to expand our minds, share our fascinations with others, and tighten the weave of our community.

Several of your GSV siblings have already signed up to share their knowledge, gifts, and talents. Our Big Spring Thing is shaping up to be a delightful feast of experiences, and we’d like the benefit of your knowledge, your hobbies, and your experience as well!

Won’t you please join us for Our Big Spring Thing?

If you have a clear sense of what you would like to present, please send a short description of what you have in mind to [email protected] along with a list of any supplies your workshop might require. Those who sign up in advance will get the better presentation spaces, but, as in years past, there will also be a sign-up sheet for those who get up to The Mountain and decide at the last minute that they would like to offer a workshop, give a presentation, or host a salon.

We look forward to seeing you, and learning from you, up on The Mountain!

Your Council

Register for the 2018 Spring Retreat

2018 GSV Spring Retreat

Spring Retreat

April 13 -15, 2018

at The Mountain, Highlands, NC

Cost is $257.43 (double occupancy) | $332.16 (single occupancy)

Embodying Community: Our Big Spring Thing

Sweet siblings in Spirit, we are delighted to invite you to this year’s Gay Spirit Visions Spring Retreat that we are calling Embodying Community: Our Big Spring Thing!

From its inception, Gay Spirit Visions has woven together the voices, stories, and gifts of our brilliant, open-hearted community, and this year’s Spring Retreat hearkens back to the early days of GSV when all programming came from the vast pool of talent that is y’all.

We have always striven to make our events a nurturing, empowering setting for revealing our gifts to our community, to the world, and, sometimes, to ourselves, and this spring we are inviting you to share your talents, your passions, your hobbies, and your calling with your siblings in the tribe.

What do you know, or know how to do, that you can share with us? What fascination do you have that you might also kindle in a GSV sibling? Whether you’re sharing a skill you’ve been honing for decades or a hobby you took up last year, we would love the benefit of your enthusiasm and knowledge. Can you show us how to knit? Can you direct us in a play? Can you host a witty, erudite salon? Have you always wanted to convene a puppy pile?

If you have a clear sense of what you would like to present, please send a short description of what you have in mind to [email protected] along with a list of any supplies your workshop might require. Those who sign up in advance will get the better presentation spaces, but, as in years past, there will also be a sign-up sheet for those who get up to The Mountain and decide at the last minute that they would like to offer a workshop, give a presentation, or host a salon.

We look forward to seeing you, and learning from you, up on The Mountain!

Your Council

Register for the 2018 Spring Retreat