If it’s men only: clean, simple, reasonable price, fire pit. If some of our wives join us (ladies program?) then a bit more space, view. Prefer restaurants (maybe fine-ish dining, maybe a good diner) to cooking duties.
My hunch is that if significant others are included, it is a radically different experience then if they are not. I'm not saying that one way is better than the other way, just different. Which would you prefer?
Three day weekend at a secluded site. Limited to 15 Emeth subscribed participants. One organizer. Non-refundable pre-pay. Master Masons only. More or less centrally located. Late July or early August. Capable or enjoying life - negative individuals do not apply.
I'm not arguing your point re: Master Masons only. I'm just curious to get perspective.
Are we better off keeping it MM only so that we can have discussion without any sort of limitation? Or would we be better off allowing a Mason to bring a friend who he believes would make an excellent Mason so that the friend can see who we really are?
I'd love a weekend retreat with my brothers. I don't care about any organized events. Make it a pot luck, with the group all pitching in for the meat purchase for the saturday night dinner. Otherwise, folks can fend for themselves for lunch. Next day breakfast could also be handled collectively.
Not sure about the centrally located part, I don't know what kind of facilities can handle something like this. There is the Rainbow Girls Potts of Gold facility that is relatively inexpensive and can handle up to 30 guests, but it's out along Hood Canal.
Otherwise, just sit around and talk about whatever moves us. Maybe play some cards, board games, etc. Have a few drinks. Socialize. Some can sit and smoke their stogies outside.
On our way to Potts of Gold (the facility we used) we would swing into the WalMart as a group and buy mountains of food for the trip. We'd then just divide up the receipt by the number of men there and get everyone's share. Ultimately whomever wanted to cook cooked, whomever wanted to clean cleaned, we didn't have any formal division of duties. That worked very well in my view.
Do you think that would work with a more diverse (rather than all coming from a single Lodge) group of Brothers, or would it need to be something more formalized?
We did not ever have any set events or program, we just went with the flow as Glenn suggests. Does everyone think that is best?
Notoras Lodge in Soap Lake Washington gets my vote. Plenty of cabins for folks, generally 2 or more beds in cabins. Rates are very good and there is conference and outdoor space.
Looking over their website, it looks nice, but it seems a bit restrictive and actually kind of expensive, with having to pay extra for event space, and I'd assume no outside alcohol since they would have a bar. Doesn't seem to offer the privacy we'd be looking for.
This points to, I think, the fundamental question.
If we want complete privacy and freedom, we'd need to rent a big house somewhere to be all alone. That would require us to handle all the cooking/cleaning and all the rest.
If we wanted someone else to cook us fine meals and clean up after us, then a fancy resort seems the way to go. But, we'd lose much in the way of freedom and privacy.
So, that is the fundamental question to my mind.
How important is absolute privacy for a retreat like this?
A remote natural location, with restricted television and Internet, a set but somewhat loose schedule of group discussions and private time, starting with ice breakers and ending with comfortable vulnerability.
I'm with you 100% re: TV, Internet, and all the rest of distracting tech. But, do you think it's unavailability would cause people to not want to come?
I ask, because on my latest trip via ship, it was striking to me how many people were willing to pay for ungodly overpriced internet.
When my Lodge used to hold these, the phones didn't work where we went, and there was no TV. Amazing that we were able to keep ourselves quite amused without any tech!
include a day where you all share your expertise is. If you’re out in the country or mountains where it’s easy to see the stars, perhaps if you have an astronomy enthusiast among you, and he can show you the stars. A poet — some poetry. That sort of thing where you are sharing what you know and learn from one another. ✨💖🤗
When my Lodge used to hold these events, this sort of happened naturally I think. All together in a big old house, with no distractions, we were able to engage with each other's interests in fairly deep ways. And that was really cool.
Potts of Gold is a great location although as you said not always available. I think something along those lines would work best for a guys weekend event. There was never a problem with the cooking and cleaning up that I can remember, every one just pitched in. We had some very good discussions on a variety of topics.
You're right, we never had any conflicts about getting the cooking and cleaning done, and in fact, I think we always left the place better than we found it.
Do you think it was too rustic? Would something a bit upgraded be better?
My only question is that they charge per day instead of per night.for a weekend, it’s a two day charge? I think it was $200/day for masons, so $400, split by up to 30 men? That is still amazingly cheap.
It's been a long time since Centralia Lodge has rented Potts, so I just don't remember.
But yeah, for a group, renting a house is really quite inexpensive when divided among everyone. Earlier this month we rented what can legitimately called a mansion down in Scottsdale, and shared it with seven people. That made the per night cost per person quite low.
Definitely needs a fine dinner, and a fire pit.
Awesome old hotel with a fine restaurant attached like Lake Quinault Lodge?
https://www.olympicnationalparks.com/lodging/lake-quinault-lodge/
Cabins like The Virginian?
https://thevirginianresorts.com/
Or a big private home?
https://www.vrbo.com/
Some place where we do our own cooking, and have complete privacy, or a place with a restaurant or near a restaurant where there is less privacy?
Yes!
Any of the three eh? No preference in type of accommodation?
If it’s men only: clean, simple, reasonable price, fire pit. If some of our wives join us (ladies program?) then a bit more space, view. Prefer restaurants (maybe fine-ish dining, maybe a good diner) to cooking duties.
My hunch is that if significant others are included, it is a radically different experience then if they are not. I'm not saying that one way is better than the other way, just different. Which would you prefer?
Both actually.
We need guys only weekends, and we need events where the Significant Others are welcomed and maybe fussed over.
Both should be fun in themselves - and done right, both will increase interest in Masonry.
Three day weekend at a secluded site. Limited to 15 Emeth subscribed participants. One organizer. Non-refundable pre-pay. Master Masons only. More or less centrally located. Late July or early August. Capable or enjoying life - negative individuals do not apply.
I'm not arguing your point re: Master Masons only. I'm just curious to get perspective.
Are we better off keeping it MM only so that we can have discussion without any sort of limitation? Or would we be better off allowing a Mason to bring a friend who he believes would make an excellent Mason so that the friend can see who we really are?
I'd love a weekend retreat with my brothers. I don't care about any organized events. Make it a pot luck, with the group all pitching in for the meat purchase for the saturday night dinner. Otherwise, folks can fend for themselves for lunch. Next day breakfast could also be handled collectively.
Not sure about the centrally located part, I don't know what kind of facilities can handle something like this. There is the Rainbow Girls Potts of Gold facility that is relatively inexpensive and can handle up to 30 guests, but it's out along Hood Canal.
Otherwise, just sit around and talk about whatever moves us. Maybe play some cards, board games, etc. Have a few drinks. Socialize. Some can sit and smoke their stogies outside.
Centralia Lodge used to do it like this:
On our way to Potts of Gold (the facility we used) we would swing into the WalMart as a group and buy mountains of food for the trip. We'd then just divide up the receipt by the number of men there and get everyone's share. Ultimately whomever wanted to cook cooked, whomever wanted to clean cleaned, we didn't have any formal division of duties. That worked very well in my view.
Do you think that would work with a more diverse (rather than all coming from a single Lodge) group of Brothers, or would it need to be something more formalized?
We did not ever have any set events or program, we just went with the flow as Glenn suggests. Does everyone think that is best?
I'd love to see brothers from other lodges attend, we can share war stories :D
Any thoughts as to location, other than Potts of Gold? That's a great place, but not always available.
Notoras Lodge in Soap Lake Washington gets my vote. Plenty of cabins for folks, generally 2 or more beds in cabins. Rates are very good and there is conference and outdoor space.
Thank you for the recommendation! I really appreciate it.
Assuming we went there, how would the ideal retreat look to you?
Looking over their website, it looks nice, but it seems a bit restrictive and actually kind of expensive, with having to pay extra for event space, and I'd assume no outside alcohol since they would have a bar. Doesn't seem to offer the privacy we'd be looking for.
This points to, I think, the fundamental question.
If we want complete privacy and freedom, we'd need to rent a big house somewhere to be all alone. That would require us to handle all the cooking/cleaning and all the rest.
If we wanted someone else to cook us fine meals and clean up after us, then a fancy resort seems the way to go. But, we'd lose much in the way of freedom and privacy.
So, that is the fundamental question to my mind.
How important is absolute privacy for a retreat like this?
I don't think this is something that could be done virtually. The nature of a retreat is to be secluded from all distractions of the outside world.
Yep, that's what I'm thinking. Something great in the real world.
So what's your vision for the perfect retreat?
A remote natural location, with restricted television and Internet, a set but somewhat loose schedule of group discussions and private time, starting with ice breakers and ending with comfortable vulnerability.
I'm with you 100% re: TV, Internet, and all the rest of distracting tech. But, do you think it's unavailability would cause people to not want to come?
I ask, because on my latest trip via ship, it was striking to me how many people were willing to pay for ungodly overpriced internet.
That was a challenge that didn't exist back in the day when I did retreats. I think maybe a first day of brisk activities just to detox?
When my Lodge used to hold these, the phones didn't work where we went, and there was no TV. Amazing that we were able to keep ourselves quite amused without any tech!
include a day where you all share your expertise is. If you’re out in the country or mountains where it’s easy to see the stars, perhaps if you have an astronomy enthusiast among you, and he can show you the stars. A poet — some poetry. That sort of thing where you are sharing what you know and learn from one another. ✨💖🤗
When my Lodge used to hold these events, this sort of happened naturally I think. All together in a big old house, with no distractions, we were able to engage with each other's interests in fairly deep ways. And that was really cool.
Potts of Gold is a great location although as you said not always available. I think something along those lines would work best for a guys weekend event. There was never a problem with the cooking and cleaning up that I can remember, every one just pitched in. We had some very good discussions on a variety of topics.
You're right, we never had any conflicts about getting the cooking and cleaning done, and in fact, I think we always left the place better than we found it.
Do you think it was too rustic? Would something a bit upgraded be better?
I thought that the rustic/simple idea fit our agenda well.
My only question is that they charge per day instead of per night.for a weekend, it’s a two day charge? I think it was $200/day for masons, so $400, split by up to 30 men? That is still amazingly cheap.
It's been a long time since Centralia Lodge has rented Potts, so I just don't remember.
But yeah, for a group, renting a house is really quite inexpensive when divided among everyone. Earlier this month we rented what can legitimately called a mansion down in Scottsdale, and shared it with seven people. That made the per night cost per person quite low.