CHAPTERS

What are COLAGE Chapters?

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COLAGE Chapters are locally based groups that help carry out the COLAGE mission on a local level. While there are variations between the types and scope of programs that COLAGE Chapters provide, each one is committed to creating a safe, just world for children of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender parents.

Join COLAGE for the 2nd National COLAGE Chapter Institute!

When: Friday, November 14th - Sunday, November 16th, 2008

What: COLAGE Chapter Institute

Building on the success of our first-ever Chapter Institute in Dallas, TX in 2006, this weekend will engage current and emerging COLAGE chapter leaders in a combination of skill-building trainings and networking retreat. While we aim to foster the skills of our chapter leaders to maintain, run and facilitate their groups, we also invite you to immerse yourself in COLAGE community, relax and celebrate the amazing folks who make the COLAGE Chapter network a reality.

What to expect during the weekend:

• The opportunity to meet other chapter leaders
• Share and learn best practices for all aspects of chapter coordination
• Build your skills in fundraising, outreach, group facilitation and event planning
• Enjoy dynamic leadership training with special focus on incorporating COLAGE's curriculum and anti-oppression framework into your chapter
• Meet and learn from the COLAGE National Staff, a diverse team of seasoned organizers and movement leaders.
• Go back to your chapter with new tolls, ideas and energy for success!
• Enjoy the beautiful setting and wonderful company, after all it's COLAGE so we'll have lots of fun!

Where: Point Montara Lighthouse, Bay Area, CA

Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, just 25 miles south of San Francisco the Point Montara Lighthouse will be our home base for the 2008 COLAGE Chapter Institute. Originally established in 1875 as a fog signal station after several ships ran ashore in the late 1860s, this historic lighthouse is still an operating aid-to-navigation maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. The hostel has been in operation since 1980 through a partnership with California State Parks. Sleeping arrangements are in dorm style rooms of 3-5 beds a piece. We will have shared meals in our own kitchen/dining area and our activities and trainings will be in the Fog Signal Room which has been converted into a retreat space for groups. The grounds come with the added bonus of cozy lounges, a secluded beach cove with tide pools, and landscaped native plant gardens.

Visit www.norcalhostels.org/montara/ for more information about this historic venue.

Who: Current and emerging leaders from COLAGE Chapters Nationally.

The COLAGE Chapter Institute is appropriate for youth and adults who are actively engaged in running or starting local COLAGE groups. (In order to qualify, your chapter must have signed the COLAGE Chapter Affiliation Agreement that was debuted in 2008). The mix of activities and workshops will provide unique networking and skill building opportunities whether you have run a COLAGE Chapter for 5 years or 5 months. We also encourage larger chapters to send more than one representative and especially invite youth who are leaders in their groups to attend. For attendees who are under the age of 18, a special waiver form will be required with signatures from your parent or guardian. We are not able to accommodate the partners, parents or children of chapter leaders who are not themselves, leaders in the COLAGE Chapter.

Travel Information:

We suggest that Institute participants arrive between 10 am and 3 pm on Friday, November 14th. We'll help arrange transportation from San Francisco to the Point Montara Lighthouse. The best airports to arrive at are San Francisco International (SFO) or Oakland Airport (OAK). On Sunday, November 16th, we'll finish our program after lunch (2 pm) so suggest arranging flights from these outgoing airports at 4:30 pm or after. If your travel arrangements require that you arrive on Thursday or depart on Monday and you need help with community housing, please let us know.

Cost

The primary cost to attend is travel to and from the San Francisco Bay Area. Once you arrive in San Francisco ALL transportation, lodging and housing costs will be covered by COLAGE. A limited number of travel scholarships will be available. First, we encourage chapters to do fundraising to support their chapter being represented at the Institute. For ideas about how to fundraise, please refer to the COLAGE Chapter Guide or contact the COLAGE office. For the last chapter institute, one group hosted a Bowl-a-thon to fund their leaders attending while another sponsored a youth-produced talent show that raised travel money. If you are a college student or work at a supportive business, consider asking for sponsorship from your school or company. Contact COLAGE for ideas on how to approach sponsorship. If these possibilities don't work for your chapter, and there aren't resources in your chapter to help support travel, COLAGE will be offering partial and full travel scholarships to COLAGE Chapter Coordinators. More information about travel scholarships will be available soon.

How do I sign up?

To get a copy of the registration form, please contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director. Applications are due by September 19th, 2008. Separate information for those wishing to apply for travel scholarships will be available soon.