Welcome

Dear Retreat Participant:

Welcome to your retreat! We look forward to working with you at Bend of Ivy Lodge. If you haven't been here before, you can preview your visit at http:// bendofivylodge.com.

The retreat is very participatory. Please anticipate working hard; you can also look forward to some relaxation and reflection as well!

Here are a few things for you to know:

Arriving

The retreat will begin at 9:00 AM on the first day. Please arrive by 8:30 AM, so that you have time to settle in, relax a bit, and be ready to begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Most people choose to arrive the evening before after 7:00 PM; you are certainly welcome and it provides an opportunity to settle in and meet other participants. The cost for the extra night’s lodging is $62 (tax included,) and is payable by check or credit card when you arrive. Reservations are not necessary.

Dinner the evening before the retreat is not available at the Lodge, so plan accordingly. Breakfast will be served the first morning. (Restaurants and a supermarket are ten minutes away in Weaverville; you’re welcome to keep food in the refrigerator if you wish.) We’ll finish by 2:00 PM on the final day.

Please consider this a retreat experience, and we often have early morning and evening sessions. We strongly advise against planning visits with friends in town, or booking conference calls or other business while you're here. The retreat will require your full attention.

If you're flying, the Lodge is about 35 minutes from the Asheville airport (AVL,) served by USAirways, Continental, Delta, and United. You are safe to book a flight any time after 4:00 PM on the final day of your retreat. You can rent a car from the major agencies, or arrange for a limo by making reservations in advance with Carolina Transport at 800-242-9712. Cost can be shared between up to three passengers. You can also fly into Charlotte; while ticket prices are sometimes cheaper, drive time is about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

About three weeks before the retreat, Jenny will send out an email to ask who is interested in coordinating ground transportation. She will connect those who respond, and you can work out details with each other.

If you're driving to the Lodge, driving directions from all points are included in this document. On arrival, unload at the Lodge entrance, then move your car immediately to the parking area, as the turnaround area at the Lodge is small. There is no need to stop at the office.

Living at the Lodge

We will be very casual, you're invited to feel at home and to explore the land. There are 63 acres here, with gardens, waterfalls, a river, and lovely trails with high views. Spending time outdoors is an integral part of your retreat. Please bring comfortable walking shoes, and clothing appropriate for being outdoors in mountain weather that can change dramatically and rapidly. Plan accordingly. You can get a ten day forecast on weather conditions from http://tinyurl.com/bilweather.

We ask that participants remove shoes at the Lodge entrance; you may wish to bring slippers. Also, bring comfortable loose clothes for indoor stretching: light sweatpants and a T-shirt are great.

You will most likely have a roommate; if you know another participant and wish to room with that person, let us know. There are four shared bathrooms. Towels, linens, soap, and shampoo are all provided.

If you have special dietary needs, please email our caterer, Dava Melton, directly. Because of her planning and purchasing process, she will need this information no later than seven days before the first day of your retreat. Last minute requests may not be accommodated.

Pre-Work

Presence-Based Coaching retreats each have a required text. Reading the entire book before arrival will provide the cognitive frameworks that support the strong experiential focus you can expect at the retreat. We suggest ordering books well in advance, to ensure time for reading. For the PBC I retreat, the text is The Mindful Coach. For PBC II, the text is Presence-Based Coaching.

For EcoSomatic Leadership as well as Presence-Based Coaching retreats, expect further information about pre-work about six weeks in advance.

Communication

There is a phone for calls in the entryway, and wireless for laptops. The number at the Lodge is 828-658-9865; there is an answering machine to take calls when retreats are in session. Mail and overnight services can be delivered to you c/o Bend of Ivy Lodge, 3717 Bend of Ivy Rd., Marshall, NC 28753

Please email Jenny or call her at 505-988-9550 with logistics questions, or feel free to email me. I look forward to seeing you soon in the North Carolina mountains!