Aug 29-Sep 1, 2008
Now in its 23rd year, Rowe’s Labor Day Gay Men’s Retreat is one of the country’s oldest and largest gay men’s gatherings. Rowe’s spirit of acceptance enables a sacred and amazing community to emerge which offers a unique refuge from our busy, hardworking lives.
Men who are gay, bisexual, or questioning will find a place of acceptance, learning, and joy all in one weekend. For new participants, Rowe offers a bridge to gay community, a safe space to explore coming out, and the opportunity to make new and true friends. For men returning, Rowe offers the warmth and caring of old friends whose emotional and spiritual connections are deep.
The co-leaders, Andrew Plummer and Benjamin Seaman will take the weekend to a new level of creation, exploration and expansion this year. From the moment you arrive, until the final closing circle, the Rowe Gay Men’s Weekend is a place where you are removed from your everyday life with a promise of mystery and surprise, intrigue and wonder. The weekend will address all of the senses — sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Nature and the elements are our allies — the trees, the mountain air, and the stars evoke feelings of magic and delight. One of our goals is to let you really see the world around you, and to see the beauty in yourself and other men. We are filling the weekend with community and connection.
Expect the unexpected. Rowe is a place of transformation and the retreat is tailored to provide a wide range of emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual experiences. You will feel welcome and whole. There will be much laughter as well as some tears of release and of joy. The weekend will be filled with group ritual, sharing, gift-giving, play, and delicious home-cooked meals. Workshops led by our team of experienced leaders will include body work, relationships, dating, spirituality, art- making, meditation, movement, and much much more.
We will create space for men to share, without fear. Surprises will delight your senses. Moments of joy will create lasting memories. There will be time for walks in the forests that surround us and quiet talks with new and old friends. We see happiness and love in the faces of men year after year as life-long friendships are formed. You are welcome here. This program is one day longer and costs $85 more than our regular weekends.
Benjamin Seaman is a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City, specializing in therapy for men and for couples. He consults at Pratt Institute for Fine Arts, and regularly presents workshops in the gay community.
Andrew Plummer has been a part of the Rowe community for over 20 years. His nights are spent at his job with the theatrical show Blue Man Group and his days are spent studying landscape design at the Landscape Institute of Harvard University. Andrew is very interested in creating earthworks and environmental art, and respects and honors the Earth.
Robert Desbiens, a ceramic artist and massage therapist, is a certified practioner of Byron Katie's "The Work", and will provide a workshop on questioning the thoughts that cause suffering, using detailed inquiry and "the turnaround." George Jagatic, creative arts psychotherapist and founder of Axis Danz dance company, will present workshops on Authentic Expression and his renowned instruction on flag dancing. Adam Brown, body work therapist, acupuncturist and taoist practitioner. will present workshops on Qi Gong, Heart-Centered Touch. and other ways of being present to energy flow and communication. Bill Hubner and Dan Smith will host the Drag Workshop in which men can experience female impersonation with experienced drag professionals. A number of additional workshops will be added to the offering as the weekend design is finalized.