Presented by the Central Midwest District Women and Religion Committee in cooperation with local committees.

Note: I have copied the spelling of Womanspirit, etc.) as printed on brochures of each year, or noted that I did not have a copy of that brochure. I have also copied descriptions of keynoters from brochure as written and available.
Compiled by Jan Sandretti, Member CMwD Women & Religion Committee 1994-1998. Updated 2009 by Gretchen Ohmann, Member W&R 2001-2003

WINTER

1989
Womanspirit...First Annual Conference
North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, IL
Reverend Elinor Artman, spiritual tour guide, Cincinnati, OH. A UU minister who has been leading women's groups for over twenty years.
Shelly Jackson Denham, musician, Cincinnati, OH. A lifelong UU whose songs and texts convey her original and creative expression of religion as an integral part of our daily lives.

1990
Oak Park, IL
Keynote: Elizabeth Dodson Gray, author of Green Paradise Lost, Patriarchy as a Conceptual Trap and Sacred Dimensions of a Woman's Spirituality. Dr. Gray holds a graduate degree in Theology from Yale and is coordinator of the Theological Opportunities Program at Harvard Divinity School.

1991
Bloomington, IL
Keynote, Carol Christ, author of Diving Deep and Surfacing and Laughter of Aphrodite.
(did not have a brochure from this conference) 1992
Claiming the Sacred: Women's Worship
The Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL
A Spirited Gathering with Dr. Rebecca Parker. Dr. Parker is president of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA and is a feminist and liberal theologian with special interests in preaching and social action in areas of domestic violence and lesbian/gay concerns. During the weekend, brief worship services reflecting Ecumenical Humanist (Rev. Lynn Smith-Roberts), Pagan (Phaedra), Native American (Melinda Perrin), Liberal Christian (Marianne Hachten-Cotter), and Jewish traditions (not announced in brochure) were conducted.

1993
Birthing the Active Spirit: Reflection, Reform... Revolution.
First Unitarian Society Madison, WI
Dr. Sharon Welch, author of The Feminine Ethic of Risk. Friday ingathering was Picking Your Own Persona: Bring on Your PowerSelf. Choices and costumes, art work for Amazon, Creator, Nurturer, Seeker, Wise Woman.

1994
Women of the Whirling Rainbow
The First Unitarian Church of St. Louis, MO
"Sacred Encounters" Keynote by Dr. Thandeka, Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion, Williams College, Williamstown, MA. A UU whose father was a liberal Baptist minister.

1995
We Sing the Bodies Electric: A Celebration of Women & the Earth
The Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL
Charlene Spretnak, Editor of The Politics of Women's Spirituality, and author of Lost Goddesses of Early Greece, Green Politics: the Global Promise, The Ritual Dimension of Green Politics, and States of Grace.

1996
A Celebration of WomenPower, Women With Wings
North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, IL
"The Return of the Great Goddess in the New Millennium" keynote by Rev. Shirley Ann Ranck, Ph.D., author of UU curriculum Cakes for the Queen of Heaven.

1997
WomanSpirit/SisterSpirit '97: Embracing Our Connections
Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL
"Sistering: From Hearth to Horizon," Keynote by Jennifer Armstrong and Rebecca Armstrong.
Jennifer is a performance artist, poet, singer and storyteller who specializes in autobiography. She tours with her one-woman show, "WomanSong" and has recorded 3 CDs: "Dancing and Dreaming," "The Leaves Entwine," and "Dancing in the Circle."
Rebecca Armstrong holds degrees from University of Chicago Divinity School and the UU Seminary and is founder of the Joseph Campbell Society. She now works as International Membership Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation.

1998
We Are the Garden
Unitarian Universalist Church, West Brookfield, WI
"How Does Your Garden Grow?" Keynote by Peg Thompson, Ph.D., author of Finding Your Own Spiritual Path: An Everyday Guidebook. Peg Thompson teaches a course on religious and spiritual development at two Twin Cities graduate schools.

1999
Tending the Fire
Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church, Palatine, IL
"Ecofeminism: First and Third World Women," Keynote by Rosemary Radford Reuther, Ph.D., drawing from her book Women Healing Earth: Third World Women on Ecology, Feminism, and Religion. Reuther is a Catholic feminist theologian teaching at Garrett Theological Seminary and Northwestern University and has written 32 books.

2000
Women, Wisdom and Wellness . . . Making Connections
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI
Keynote: Margot Adler, "Lessons from My Mother's Sisterhood." Margot Adler has been a radio producer and journalist since 1968, pioneering live, free-form talk shows on religion, politics, women's issues, and ecology. She lectures on the subject of Paganism and Earth-Centered traditions, and leads workshops on the art of ritual, celebration, and song.
She is currently the New York Bureau Chief for National Public Radio and a well-known correspondent on NPR's All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Ms. Adler is also a noted authority on feminist spirituality and the author of Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshipers and Other Pagans in America Today (1995, Pengiun) and Heretic's Heart: A Journey Through Spirit and Revolution (1997, Beacon). She writes a regular column for BeliefNet.
Workshop topics included career, inner expression, family, creating wellness, learning to move, hypnosis, herbs, abundance, soul, sexuality, labyrinth, journaling, backpacking, yoga, CUUPS, drumming, breast cancer, and wisdom.

2001
As the River We Flow:
celebrating the creative flow of our lives and our connection to Mother Earth
First Unitarian Church, South Bend, Indiana
Keynote: Susan Wittig Albert, Ph.D., is the author of the best-selling China Bayles Herbal Mysteries and co-author of the Robin Paige Victorian mysteries. She has also written two critically-acclaimed non-fiction books: Writing From Life: Telling Your Soul's Story, and Work of Her Own: A Woman's Guide to Success off the Career Track. She is the founder of the Story Circle Network and a nationally-known speaker for women's organizations and writers conferences. She is a former professor of English and university vice president.

2002
Nourishing the Spirit Within
Hickory Ridge Conference Center, Lisle, IL
Presented by Women of
Du Page Unitarian Church, Naperville, IL
Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, IL
Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, IL
Keynote: Vicki Noble, author of the Motherpeace Tarot Deck and several books.

2003
Women of Radiance . . . Blossoming
Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center, Rockford, IL
Presented by Women of
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Stockton, Illinois
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockford
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rock Valley
Keynote: Wendy Doniger, the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago. Her topic is The Kamasutra, expanded upon from her new translation of the text for Oxford University Press.

2004
Spirit Rise and Sing
Tinley Park Convention Center, Tinley Park, IL
Presented by the women of Unitarian Universalist Community Church (UUCC) of Park Forest, IL and UU Church of Joliet, IL
Keynote Speakers:
Julie Forest Middleton ("Songs for Earthlings")
and Ann Keeler Evans ("A Rite to Remember" and "RiverPrayers")

2005
Choosing with Purpose, Living with Conscience, Women in Community
Springfield Hilton,Springfield, IL
Keynote Speaker: Anna Lappe ("Hope's Edge") 2006
Life Changes – Our Transforming Power
Countryside Church, Palatine, IL
Presented by Women of Countryside Church UU Keynote Speaker: Selena Fox, psychotherapist, teacher, author, and founder of Circle Sanctuary, an international nature spirituality resource center.

2007
Roots Hold Me Close, Wings Set Me Free
Techny, IL
Keynote Speaker Mama Donna Henes

2008
Dancing on the Threshold of Balance: 20 Years of WomanSpirit
Keynote Speaker, Rev. Shirley Ranck, author of the ground-breaking adult religious education curriculum "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven." Shirley's talk will be titled "ON THE THRESHOLD."
2009
Weaving Our Sacred Tapestry
Presented by Women of the Universalist Unitarian Church in Peoria, Illinois. Keynote Speaker Shelley Graff, feminist, teacher, songwriter

SUMMER

These wonderful retreats are held at Ronora Lodge, a Nature Preserve & Retreat Center in Watervliet, MI

1994
Teaching Lodge: Phaedra. Included T'ai Chi, Yoga, Teaching Lodge and Workshops, open time, sunset observance (Drawing Down the Moon); Maiden, Mother WiseWoman Ceremony, Week Walk, Closing Ceremony. Helen Hughes and Melinda Perrin co-chaired.

1995
Teaching Lodge: Rainbow Weaver, traditional Mohawk Medicine Woman.

1996
Honoring the Stillness Within
Carole Eagleheart, UU member of the Seneca Indian Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge.

1997
A Gather of Voices
DJ Leggitt, on Spirit Dolls

1998
Dancing With the Moon
Eleven workshops on such topics as Spirit Dolls, Dances of Universal Peace, Zen Buddhist meditation, mask making, sweat lodge and yoga.

1999
Weaving the Woman's Web
Approximately 9 workshops including 4 Rivers of Spiritual Being, Unlocking Creative Energies, Money and Life Choices, Candle Magic, Holistic Meditation/Basic Self Defense. Weekend included an unscheduled treat by Wenke Hansen who brought her own 13 foot wide replica of the Seven Circle Cretan labyrinth.

2000
Embracing our Elemental Bodies--learning to accept and embrace our selves!
Workshops included: Beginning Drumming; Advanced Rhythm; Mehndi and the Art of Body Decoration; One Body: Strong and Beautiful; Tarot Cards; Earth, Air, Water, Fire: A Movement Experience; Transformational Belly Dance; Feng Shui and Space Clearing; Labyrinth; and Chakras.
Chair: Karin Janowski

2001
Paths to Spiritual Awakening
Workshops included: "Woolendorf" Dolls, Plant Spirit Medicine, Taoist Tai Chi, Earth-Centered Traditions for Women, Mehndi, Nature Prints, Medicine Wheel, Rituals 101, Sister Drumming, No Sweat Sweat Lodge, Sacred Movement, and Sound Healing.
Chair: Brenda Mayo.

2002
Everything We Do Is Magic
Workshops included: Aromatherapy, Healing Touch, the Authentic Life, Knitting and Crochet, Garden Fare, Image Transfer, Bellydance, Myers-Briggs Personality Types, Spirit Dolls, Healing Ceremony, and Yoga.
Chair: Lisa Larsen

2003
Return to the Source
Workshops included: Yoga, Tie-Dye, Mehndi, Chanting Sacred Space, Authentic Home, Sacred Journey, Candle Magic, Plant Nutrients, Singing Bowls
Chair: Leslie Peet

2004
Standing Like A Tree
Workshops included: Hand Spinning; Spirit of the Gypsy; Energy, Wellness, and You; Drumming; Water Works; Rekindle Your Passion; Singing for Our Lives; Acceptance; Songwriting; Stone Necklaces; Culinary Herbs
Chair: Julie Ann Schleifer

2005
Breathe Deeply, Soar Freely, Spirit Take Wing
Workshops included: beading, spirit of drumming, personal freedom, hand spinning, moving mountains, dragon slaying, wings of song, bellydance, alchemic yoga
Chair: Beth Ligouri

2006
Power, Passion and Pleasure
Workshops included: Yoga, Happiness, Light of the Moon, Drum Circles, Nature Walk, Bellydance, Harmonies of Healing, Eating Raw!
Chair: Sherry Dearborn

2007
Sacred Circle: Haven for Discovery
Chair: Phyllis Panozzo

2008
Walking in Balance
Chair: Karin Janowski, Karen Books