An Important IC08 Update

Reader Group Exposition Area

There are many great organizations and projects that have arisen within the Urantia movement and we are focusing the entire conference on the "thrill" of the service they provide to our communities worldwide.

The format this year is taking some exciting turns. At IC08 there will be an exhibition area consisting of tables and/or booths where grassroots Urantia organizations as well as Fellowship committees can create spaces to provide information about their services and projects. We will all be able to ask questions, actually see the work that is going on “in the field” and get ideas for service projects for your Urantia community.

The Cosmic Cafe, Outreach, International Fellowship, Marketing, Interfaith, Fellowship Information Technologies, the Executive Committee, and many more groups and organizations will have exhibits to familiarize you with their varied programs and answer your questions. Representatives from exhibiting organizations will be present at scheduled times throughout the entire conference.

If you are interested in reserving space for your group, please contact us. Space is limited.

This is a great opportunity for your group or organization to network with conference goers and inform them about your projects, goals and accomplishments. It will also be an excellent place for attendees to find service projects which they may be interested in supporting through volunteer work or financial contributions.

A special area will be provided for study groups and societies to share contact information, meeting times and days and sign up sheets. Study groups and societies interested in participating are asked to register and be prepared to provide assistance at the booth during the conference.

For further information, please contact Aurora Hill.

Download registration form for study group and society exhibition space.

Download registration form for organizational exhibition space.

Pre-Conference Spiritual Retreat

Immerse yourself in the Spirit prior to our family celebration at IC08! Come join us as we experience together the Contemplative Journey! The retreat facility will be just a few minutes away from UCLA. It will begin on Sunday June 29th and continue through noon, July, 1st... registration day for IC08. The setting will be the sublime heights of Pacific Palisades overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the St. Joseph Retreat House.

This retreat will be limited to 30 people; so, register your intent early!
Email Gard Jameson if you are interested. More details to follow...

Bed for the Night: A Message from Cristina Seaborn

	There’s nothing like attending an International Urantia Book Conference.  My first time was ’79, and I haven’t missed since.  Each year I am awed anew at how much people have to give.
The camaraderie and joyous celebration of the plenaries and social events at every International Conference have been greatly enhanced by the efforts of those who are close as we can get, on a material world, to celestial artisans.  Those who love music and cannot live without it are seldom in the wealthiest tax brackets.  Their dedication to their art makes their performances all the more spiritually fragrant, especially those who play for free, like the musicians I have invited to perform for IC08.  All they ask is a bed for the night. “Bed For The Night” is the name of a fundraiser.  Our musicians play for free, but they still need a place to sleep and something to eat while they are here in Los Angeles.  We invite you to sponsor a musician by contributing funds to be used for room and board. There is a checkbox on the conference registration form for contributions towards defraying entertainment costs.  I ask that you consider using that simple means to add a few dollars to your registration cost to help someone bring music to you at IC08.
If you would like to help out as a local Society, please contact me at seaborn@cloud.net.  Sponsorships can be for a specific plenary, worship, performance, or for a worthy individual.  I will acknowledge sponsors at the beginning of each of the many performances you will enjoy at IC08. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Your Photos Needed

We want to make this conference visually spectacular. To do that, we need your digital photos of people in action at conferences, book fairs, service projects, etc. Please email your digital photos to us as soon as you possibly can so we can begin this creative project. We thank you for helping us!

Jerusalem Marketplace

The life and times of Jesus will come alive for children of all ages at the IC08 Jerusalem Marketplace. Shops, booths and craftspeople will cluster around the village well in the study lounge on the second floor of the conference center. This area will be transformed into a bustling marketplace, circa AD29. Maybe Jesus will visit! Watch out for the pesky tax collectors and those awful Roman soldiers!

Children are free to work at their own speed as they visit the shops of the potter, carpenter, basketmaker, apothecary, jewelry maker, and more. Relationships build naturally as the children help each other learn the crafts of Jesus' time. We will also enjoy traditional games and songs. Each day a story from the Urantia Book will be dramatized in the marketplace. The Jerusalem Marketplace is just one part of a wonderful program for children 4-12. Tweens and adults can participate as shopkeepers or as part of the drama team. Simple crafts, directions for the shops and drama scripts and costumes are provided. Volunteering for an hour or an afternoon would be a significant contribution to our effort.

Contact Wendy Anderson for further information or to volunteer.

"Whosoever shall humble himself and become as this little one, the same shall become greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (page 1761)

Tweens Program (Ages 11-14 with completion of 6th grade.)

The Tweens program will be structured and geared towards service during the conference. The leaders in charge of the program are professionals that work with children in their day-to-day world. The Tweens will help people who have responsibilities in this conference and act as aides.

A volunteer center will be staffed with Tweens and equipped with beverages, snacks, and the latest video equipment and games. All Tweens who sign up will receive two white t-shirts with the Fellowship logo that will identify them as helpers. They will be working with the stage crews, filming talks, working with computers, and helping workshop leaders set up AV equipment.

Tweens will arrive 15 minutes before plenaries and/or afternoon workshops and will work with a buddy. Adult leaders will oversee their assignments and activities and parents will check them in and out. The Jerusalem Marketplace will also have activities in which the Tweens might wish to participate. We look forward to this program and hope you who are adults, will join in and help us.

Note: 7th and 8th graders can choose to be assistants for the Elementary program for children ages 5-10.

Truthseekers Catalina Island Camping Adventure (Ages 14-19)

Tom Choquette and Fred Harris are leading this 4 day, 3 night expedition to Santa Catalina Island. They need volunteers to drop off truthseekers on Tuesday afternoon at the appointed destination and also pick them up on Friday evening. They also need items like blankets, sleeping bags, and ice chests. Tom and Fred guarantee these items and if there is a mishap, will reimburse you for any damage. Questions? Contact us.

More information is available on the IC08 website.

Saturday Evening Banquet Masquerade Ball and Silent Auction

Please imagine what personality you might want to portray in our Urantia Book and prepare for a little reversion therapy. This is playtime and we want you to have a wonderful, playful time! Feel free to wear your costume during the conference.

We will also have a silent auction with many interesting items. You can help us by committing to bring an item to be auctioned off. Bids are written on a sheet of paper and at the dinner, the highest listed bidder wins the prize. Contact Elisabeth Callahan if you are bringing an auction item.

• Prizes for craftsmanship, creativity, and performance
• Categories for juniors, duo/couples, and groups

Conference Store

The sale of merchandise will be combined with our bookstore and art gallery. It's very important you make arrangements in advance, as space is limited. We need to know about the merchandise you intend to offer for sale as well as the amount of space you think you need. Contact us about the conference store.

Art Gallery

If you would like to display your art in the gallery, please describe the type of work and number of pieces. You'll also need to spend a couple hours in the gallery to help us out. Contact us for about the art gallery.

Volunteers Needed

Just some of the areas in which we need volunteers are the following:

• Bookstore
• Art Gallery
• Expo
• Registration
• Children and youth programs
• Study group facilitators on our light day
• Setting up and/or tearing down the Jerusalem marketplace
  
  If you are interested in joining our team of volunteers, please contact us.

Note: UCLA recreational facilities include two swimming pools, weight rooms, tennis, racquetball, and handball courts. Any person with a room key will have access to these facilities. Bring your bathing suit!!!