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The
Center to BE is unique among spirituality centers because of its independence
from any religious congregation or church. We are inclusive, welcoming
people of all faith traditions. We offer programs which honor the many
ways that people approach the Mystery we name God. Our financial support
comes from program fees, donations and grants rather than formal sponsorship.
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We make use of a weaving metaphor to refer to the relationship among individuals
as threads in the fabric of life. The eye of the Weaver sees how all the
threads come together and support the others in the larger design. Spirituality
is seen as a continuous thread that takes on different textures, colors
and meanings, sometimes bold and easily seen and other times very deep
and hidden. |
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| The Center to BE was incorporated in 1995 as the Fond du Lac Weavers, Inc. in Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin. Its origins, however, began in 1990 with a series of retreats for women called
Weaving Retreats. These retreats created a safe inner space for women of any faith tradition or
no faith tradition to come together for silence, solitude, teaching, ritual and community. Participants
came to know the Divine Mystery in the weaving of the fabric of their daily lives.
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A small group of
women in the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin area who attended several of the Weaving Retreats began
to explore the possibility of making this experience more than just an annual event. Using input
from a survey of 500 people within a radius of 150 miles
of Fond du Lac, they imagined developing a
spirituality center. This was to be a place for quiet
and reflection for those searching for deeper
spiritual meaning. The spirituality center was
envisioned as The Center to BE and
the Fond du Lac Weavers was formed to bring this
vision to reality. From 1996 through 1999, the
Fond du Lac Weavers operated as a "center
without walls" presenting annual programs on spiritual topics, developing a newsletter and raising
funds. In 1999, the search to find a physical location for The Center To Be led to the
Cedar Valley Retreat Center with its 100 acres of natural beauty in the heart of the Kettle
Moraine outside of West Bend, Wisconsin. Administrative office space for The Center to BE
was leased at this site. An Executive Director was hired. In March, 2000, The Fond du Lac
Weavers formally adopted the name The Center to BE, Inc and began its programming at
Cedar Valley. The Board of Directors continued to reflect on the mission of the organization as
the first programs were presented at the Cedar Valley site. Through this reflection, it became clearer that the focus of The Center to BE should be less about having a place and more about embodying a philosophy of inclusive spirituality through accessible programming and presence. This refined emphasis led to a change in the approach to presenting programs and to a new location as well. In January, 2001, The Center to BE moved its administrative office to space leased in the St. Joseph Center of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee. Programs are offered there as well as at Cedar Valley, in Fond du Lac and several other communities.
The Center to BE is now a "center with many walls". It is a movement which takes programs to the
people.
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The
ministry of The Center to BE complements the faith traditions of many of
our participants as easily as it speaks to those who have no affiliation
with any church. It connects and interconnects individuals and all creation.
The Center to BE honors the universal Mystery we name God found in spiritual
traditions such as Judaism, Christianity, many Eastern philosophies and
indigenous wisdoms. We celebrate spirituality by bringing it into everyday
life. |
| The Center to BE offers a spiritual presence through our programs,
our choice of faculty, a quarterly newsletter and the location of our administrative
office. We call people to BE-to be still, to be present and to honor the
wisdom of the Divine within each of us. The Center to BE is committed to
developing and sustaining relationships not only with individuals but with
other organizations as well. We prefer to work through collaboration and
partnership whenever possible. This helps us reach more people and models
the community-building that is an important aspect of our Mission.
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The
Center to BE, Inc. is as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is registered
as a Charitable Organization in Wisconsin.
It
is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors:
- President, Nancy Anderson joined the Board in 2005 and is an instructor
in RISEN and serves on the faculty of Lakeland College in Sheboygan,
Wisconsin where she lives with her family.
- Vice President, M. Lynn Connolly joined the Board in 2007 and is retired from Parish
Nursing. She lives in Milwaukee and has completed CAPACITAR Training
in Healing and Transformation.
- Secretary, Nancy Schmitz is a founding member of The Center to BE and is a registered nurse serving as Clinical Infomatics Coordinator at Agnesian Healthcare in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
- Treasurer, Madelyn Rambo is a founding member of The Center to BE
and is a registered nurse serving as a Quality Improvement Coordinator
at Hospice Hope in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
- Julia Danaher joined the Board in 2008. She has worked for the YMCA for more than 17 years, currently at the Kettle Moraine YMCA @ River Shores. She lives with her husband and two children in West Bend.
- Eileen Jaskolski joined the Board in 2008. She retired recently as the Vice President for Mission Integration at Columbia-St. Mary’s Health System in Milwaukee. She and her husband live in Sussex.
- Gayle Martin joined the Board in 2007 and has been a chiropractor
for over 22 years, practicing now with her colleagues at Dynamic Chiropractic
and Wellness Center in Fond du Lac.
- James McCann joined the Board in 2008. He is the Dean of the Nursing School at Marian College in Fond du Lac.
- Doug Trost joined the Board in 2007. He is the President and CEO of
St. Francis Home in Fond du Lac. He lives in Ripon with his family
- Carol Waranius joined the Board in 2007. She lives in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and teaches at Lakeland College, Milwaukee campus.
- Reverend Keith Weiland joined the Board in 2007 and is Pastor of St.
Paul's United Church of Christ in Malone. He lives in Howard's Grove with
his family
The
Executive Director of The Center to BE since 2000 is Marjorie
Wilbur of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. |
