First Light Men

Welcome!

2006-12-03T19:31:00.011-05:00

The Winter Gathering will take place on the weekend of February 4-6, 2011. We will be gathering at the Chewonki Foundation site. Look here for more information about the Gathering.

PERSONAL GROWTH:
Where do we grow from here?

The theme for this year's First Light Men's Gathering is
personal growth.
Are we still growing? Do we have hopes and
aspirations? Do we anticipate that major changes will
continue to take place in our lives just as they have in
the past, or are we pretty sure that our lives are
essentially formed at this point and have coasting the
rest of the way in mind?
Anybody have plans to develop a talent, overcome an
addiction, address a health issue, improve people skills,
start a business, write a novel, undertake a new area
of study, learn to swim, or take up a musical
instrument? Is there something that's putting a lilt in
our step?
Ah, the news is that change, major change most likely,
is going to take place in our lives whether we embrace
it or not. So we might as well think in terms of getting
comfortable with the notion rather than resisting or
dreading it. That might mean looking at our lives and
asking ourselves where we want to be in the
foreseeable future.
Hum-m-m ... maybe in order to experience growth we
need to acknowledge that we are currently less than
we could be. Ouch! After all we've been through.
What a thought. Well, it's a comfort knowing that we've
come a lot further than certain people we could name.
But then, other people have never been the standard,
have they? We've got to look to ourselves for that.
So, our week-end together this year will be focused on
helping one another take a candid look how much room
for personal growth we're allowing in our lives. Maybe
together we can shake things up a bit and really get
growing.
"If you're not busy being born you're busy dying."
Bob Dylan

For a registration form, contact First Light.

Organizational Guidelines

2005-05-30T14:06:00.000-04:00

The following are the Organizational Guidelines as the Council has worked them out. It has been our intention to construct a framework within which to administer the First Light Men organization, allowing the maximum flexibility within that framework. These guidelines, like our Vision Statement (at the very top of the page) are intended to be a living document, always open to revision and amendment as is found to be necessary. If you have any comments about this document, please let me know.

ORGANIZATIONAL GUIDELINES of
FIRST LIGHT MEN

ARTICLE I-NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1-Name: The name of the organization shall be First Light Men.

Section 2-Purpose: First Light Men is organized exclusively for social and educational purposes.

The vision of this organization is:

to provide opportunities for men to explore, share and celebrate their diversity and common experience

to provide gatherings within which men can communicate with and through their true voice

to foster wholeness in ourselves, our families, communities, and the world.

ARTICLE II-PARTICIPATION

Section 1-Participation: All men are welcome to participate in the activities of First Light Men, regardless of age, ethnicity, creed, or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE III - COUNCIL
Section 1-Council role, size, and compensation: The council is responsible for overall policy and direction of the association, and delegates responsibility of day-to-day operations to specific council members and committees. The council shall have up to 9, but not fewer than 5 members. The council members receive no compensation other than reasonable and approved expenses.

Section 2-Terms: All council members shall serve two-year terms, but are eligible for re-election for up to three consecutive terms.

Section 3-Meetings and notice: The council shall meet at least quarterly, at an agreed upon time and place. An official council meeting requires that each council member have written or email notice at least two weeks in advance. All council meetings are open to all men participating in the activities of First Light Men.

Section 4-Council elections: During the last quarter of each calendar year, the council shall elect council officers and members to replace those whose terms will expire at the end of the next winter gathering. This election shall take place during a regular meeting of the council, called in accordance with the provisions of these Organizational Guidelines.

Section 5-Council nominations: In preparation for the 4th quarter council elections, the chair shall receive nominations for new members from present council members two weeks in advance of the council meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to council members with the regular council meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the regular 4th quarter council meeting.

Section 6-Election procedures: New council members shall be elected by a majority of council members present at such a meeting provided there is a quorum present. Council members so elected shall be introduced at the next winter gathering and serve a term beginning on the first day after that gathering.

Section 7-Quorum: A quorum must be attended by at least 50% of council members for business transactions to take place and action items to be approved.

Section 8-Officers, Terms, and Duties: There shall be three officers of the council, consisting of a chair, secretary, and treasurer. Their duties are as follows:

The chair shall convene regularly scheduled council meetings, sending out meeting announcements, and shall preside or arrange for other members of the council to preside at each meeting.

The secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of council actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all council meetings, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each council member, and assuring that appropriate association records are maintained.

The treasurer shall make a report at each council meeting. The treasurer shall prepare the budget and make financial information available to council members.

Terms: Each officer shall serve a term concurrent with his term as a council member. The terms of the officers shall be adjusted so that all three officers alternate the start date of their terms to provide for some continuity of executive functioning from term to term.

Section 9-Vacancies: When a vacancy on the council exists, the chair shall receive nominations for new members from present council members two weeks in advance of a council meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to council members with the regular council meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next council meeting. These vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular replacement council member's term.

Section 10-Resignation, termination, and absences: Resignation from the council must be in writing and received by the chair. A council member may be removed for just cause by a three-fourths vote of the remaining council members.

Section 11-Special meetings: Special meetings of the council may be called upon the request of the chair, or one-third of the council. Notices of special meetings shall be sent to each council member at least two weeks in advance.

ARTICLE IV-COMMITTEES

Section 1 - Committee formation: The council may create committees as needed, such as fundraising, housing, public relations, data collection, etc. The council appoints all committee chairs.

ARTICLE V-AMENDMENTS

Section 1-Amendments: These Organizational Guidelines may be amended when necessary by two-thirds majority of the council. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the chair to be sent out with regular council announcements.

CERTIFICATION

These Organizational Guidelines were approved at a meeting of the council by a two-thirds majority vote on May 14, 2005.

Gathering

2005-05-14T16:41:00.007-04:00

First Light Mens Gathering will take place on the weekend of February 4-6, 2011. We will be gathering at the Chewonki Foundation site. For registration information contact First Light Men

The First Light Men's Gathering is an intentional community, created by the men who participate. We come together to encourage and support each other as brothers, giving of ourselves and being open to the gifts of others. Through workshops, music, preparing and offering food, listening, talking, laughing, singing, and sometimes crying, we work toward breaking down some of the walls that separate us from each other and the world.

We begin our gathering on Friday night with a potluck dinner. Each man is encouraged to bring something to share with the rest of us. Enough to feed 4 others is suggested. - entertain your passion in the kitchen!

Opening Circle follows Friday dinner. It’s a time for
general orientation as to the purpose and nature of the
gathering, and for getting to know each other better
through individual check-ins. Opening Circle is intended
to set the tone for the time we will be together over
the weekend.

Saturday: Opening Session, in the morning, involves
a group exercise, and will be followed by morning and
afternoon workshops presented voluntarily by
attendees inspired to share with the rest, to enrich
others or to explore a topic of interest or a question in
the company of other men. All men are invited to
voluntarily present and/or participate in workshops. If
you are interested in leading a workshop, include a
description of it with your registration.

Saturday night brings Arts and Entertainment.
Sing a song, read a poem, tell some jokes, play an
instrument, stand on your head. We all have talent.
You will never find a more welcoming audience to
perform for. This is the place to let your light shine for
the rest of us.

After A & E there is a drumming circle open to all.
Men playing drums together has an ancient history.
We can experience and share deeply in a drumming
circle. It is a time of playfulness and for many men, it
is the high point of a gathering.

Sunday concludes with Closing Circle, which is the
end of our weekend. Here, we gather together, share
some of our feelings about our experiences, and
prepare to re-enter our usual lives, hopefully a little
more centered and enlightened.