May 18thFundraising Report:
A fundraising letter was sent to all 105 current donors in Sept. The total raised in 2011 was $35,315. Salva Terra has contacted the Lilly Endowment and the Ford Foundation as well as the Lannan Foundation in Santa Fe. Request for youth scholarships was made to Lilly. Ford was asked for a Capacity Building grant mainly to support the website and social media initiatives. No response yet. The Lannan Foundation was asked to sponsor a presentation by John Philip and Fr. Richard Rohr. This is under consideration.
Visa Application Report:
The application was not denied but the response from the examiner discouraged us from proceeding. As a result, we withdrew the application without prejudice from submitting a new filing. We learned a lot in the process and, fortunately, those failings should not keep us from being successful in securing an O1 visa for John Philip. We have engaged new counsel so that we can have a clean start. When the O1 application is in good order, a new O1 will be filed, one which we expect will be successful.
Event Liaison Report:
At the annual meeting in July we hired Joni Mack Weed to do the advance and follow-up work on John Philip's events. And she has undertaken this with high energy and talented efforts. You will hear from her if John Philip is on your schedule for a visit!
Youth Outreach Report:
There has been a very generous anonymous donation to Ghost Ranch to give scholarships to the young pilgrims who will be coming to the 2012 event at Ghost Ranch, July 16-22 called To the Home of Peace: A Spirituality for Change.
In July 2012 John Philip Newell, along with his wife Ali, will be leading To the Home of Peace: A Spirituality for Change, a week at Ghost Ranch, for young adults in their twenties and thirties seeking inner and outer transformation in their lives and world. Ghost Ranch, over its 50 year history, has been a place of new beginnings and commitment to peace. In the development of his work and vision, John Philip has placed a priority on working with young leaders in the belief that they hold part of the key to new beginnings in our world. To the Home of Peace is designed to support this work.
Each day at Ghost Ranch will begin and end with the rhythm of prayer and meditation together, either at the Agape Center or Casa del Sol. In the mornings John Philip will teach on themes related to the oneness of the human soul and the healing of creation, asking what sacrifices we are to make in our lives as individuals, as nations, and as a species, if we and the world are to be well. The afternoons will be given to hiking, conversation, and rest. In the evenings Ali will lead us in embodiment practices of chant and meditative movement and further reflection on the way of transformation in our world, including song, chant, movement, mandalas and dance as well as reflecting on what we are feeling drawn to do or be. On at least one of the days we will walk the desert pilgrimage route together to reflect on the journey of our lives and universe. Participants are welcome to bring children to stay at the Ranch with them and to participate in mealtimes. There is a children's program from ages 3-16 years.
For costs and registration information contact ghostranch.org
Scholarships:
Ghost Ranch and the Friends of John Philip Newell dba Salva Terra, salvaterravision.org, is offering a limited number of scholarships for this event .The deadline for scholarship applications is April 15, 2012. And scholarship awards will be announced May 1st, 2012. For further information and application forms contact Helenmarie Zachritz, Executive Vice President of Salva Terra, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We need all your help in recruiting the promising young pilgrims needed for this event. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 15, 2012.