Important info about the MGB Retreat in Florida!!

[Guest guest]

If you are planning to attend the MGB Retreat in Florida on January 17-19,

please print and read this note thoroughly!

Registration is required for all attendees; this covers use of the facility,

lunch, snacks, and the bonfire. Everyone pays this fee, even spouses. Advanced

registration is $30 per person. (Register now at:

http://www.mgbhelp.com/Retreat) The deadline for advanced registration is THIS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11.

If you do not register in advance, on-site registration is available at $35 per

person and is payable only by cash or check. (No credit cards or PayPal

accepted for on-site registration.)

If you want to join us for dinner on either evening, you must have advanced

reservations. (Register now at: http://www.mgbhelp.com/Retreat) The deadline

for dinner reservations is THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 11. If you do not have a dinner

reservation, we cannot guarantee that you will be permitted to join the dinner.*

(Please note that the cocktail-less party and professional photographer

originally planned for Sunday evening has been cancelled. In lieu of the party,

we will have a nice dinner in the dining room; feel free to dress up for the

occasion.)

If you plan to spend the night at the Retreat grounds, you must reserve your

room in advance. (Register now at: http://www.mgbhelp.com/Retreat) The

deadline for room reservations is THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 11. If you do not

reserve a room in advance, we cannot guarantee that a room will be available for

you.

The location of the retreat is the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Leadership

Training Center (LTC). This is a rural location located approximately 50 miles

south of Orlando. The LTC adjoins the Broussard State Park and is

situated on the southeast shore of Lake Pierce. The address is 5000 Firetower

Road, Haines City, FL. (Driving directions follow at the bottom of this note.)

* Please be aware that the LTC is located at least 25 minutes from any shopping,

dining, lodging, bank, or ATM. Please be sure to bring enough cash with you

should you want to buy raffle tickets, rent a canoe, purchase something from a

vending machine, etc.

Now for the fun stuff about the weekend!

The workshops we have planned will be informative... with lots of attendee

participation. In addition to having speakers from our own MGB family, we are

pleased to welcome several guests: a professional fashion consultant, a change

management consultant, a licensed personal trainer, a licensed professional

counselor, and of course, our own Dr. Peraglie. Come with an open mind and be

prepared to learn!

In addition to the workshops, there are many exciting opportunities in which you

and your family can participate. Some of the activities include nature walks,

volleyball, basketball, and horseshoes. You can also fish from the floating

dock on Lake Pierce or from the shore of Catfish Creek; be sure to bring your

rods, tackle and bait! You can even rent a canoe ($25 for a half day) and glide

down the creek. We'll have a bonfire on Saturday night followed by a pajama

party for any who want to join in the fun!

On Monday, we'll hit the road and take advantage of the MLK holiday sales at

retail stores, as well as visiting some local consignment and thrift shops.

One highlight of the weekend will be the clothing exchange. Be sure to bring

your no-longer-needed clothes (whether too big or too small) that are in good

condition for the exchange. (Please be prepared to drop off these clothes as

you arrive on Saturday; best not to have them packed with your weekend

wardrobe.) Even if you don't have any clothes to contribute, you're invited to

go through the exchange... so be sure to bring an empty suitcase. It won't be

empty when you go home! The price is right, too: everything is FREE!

We're also hosting a 50/50 raffle over the weekend. The money raised from the

raffle ticket sales will be split evenly between the raffle winner and MGB

Friends (to help defray some of the weekend's expenses). Ticket sales are CASH

ONLY and will run from Saturday at noon until Sunday at 4:00 pm. The drawing

will be held on Sunday at 4:00 pm, and you must be present at the drawing to

win. Ticket prices are as follows, and there's no limit on the number of

tickets you may purchase:

a.. 1 ticket for $1.00

b.. 6 tickets for $5.00

c.. 15 tickets for $10.00

(Due to the lack of interest, we have cancelled the Master Chef Tourney,

scrapbooking, and pontoon boat ride. If you already paid for either of the

latter two events, your money will be refunded.)

Here's how the weekend is stacking up (events and times are still subject to

change):

Saturday, January 17

12:00 - 1:00 pm Retreat registration & clothing drop-off

1:00 - 2:00 pm Retreat kickoff: Welcome & announcements

2:00 - 3:00 pm Workshops:

- " Bringing out your best style " (women only)

- " Things to expect " (men only)

3:00 pm Get room keys and settle in

4:30 - 5:30 pm Workshop: " Exercising at home "

5:30 pm Clothing Exchange opens

6:00 pm Casual dinner buffet

8:00 pm Bonfire & discussion:

- " The highs & lows; before & after "

10:00 pm Pajama party!

Sunday, January 18

6:00 - 8:30 am Continental breakfast

7:00 - 8:00 am Group walk on the nature trails

9:00 - 11:30 am Workshops:

- " Lift those saggy arms "

- " Did you take your vitamins today? "

11:30 - 1:00 pm Soup & sandwiches

1:00 - 5:00 pm Workshops:

- " Fighting the 'fat' mentality "

- " Everyone's favorite doctor "

6:30 pm Dressy dinner

8:00 pm Clothing Exchange concludes

Monday, January 19

6:00 - 8:30 am Continental breakfast

7:00 - 8:00 am Group walk on the nature trails

8:00 - 10:00 am LTC check out

10:00 am Shopping excursion

If you have any questions or concerns about the MGB Retreat weekend, please

don't hesitate to contact us:

a.. Food services co-chairmen - Donna Leopold <stetsonmom7314@...> and

le Leopold <dleopold@...>

b.. Registration and finances chairman - Elinor Reynolds <laussie04@...>

c.. General retreat chairman - Ava Vanyo <ava@...>

..

Ava Vanyo

for the MGB Planning Committee

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO FFA Leadership Training Center, 5000 Firetower Road,

Haines City, FL

From the North:

Take I-4 to Highway 27 South. Travel south approximately 12 miles to Highway

544, turn left (east). Continue east to Route 17 (1st stop light), turn right

(south), go 3 miles. Turn left (east) on Highway 542 - Lake Hatchineha Rd. (look

for a green " FFA Training Center " sign) go 8 miles. Watch for the next green

sign on the right on Highway 542 - Lake Hatchineha Rd., turn right on Firetower

Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA Leadership Training Center.

From the Northwest:

Travel south on I-75 to the Florida Turnpike. Exit turnpike at US Highway 27, go

south. Travel south approximately 35 miles to Highway 544, turn left (east).

Continue east to Route 17 (1st stop light), turn right (south), go 3 miles. Turn

left (east) on Highway 542 - Lake Hatchineha Rd. then go 8 miles. After green

" FFA Training Center " sign on right on Highway 542 - Lake Hatchineha Rd., turn

right on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA Leadership Training Center.

From the Southeast:

Take the Turnpike or I-95 to State Road 60. Travel west on Highway 60 to U.S.

Highway 27, turn right (north). Travel north on U.S. Highway 27 to Dundee

(Approx. 9 miles). Turn right at the stop light in Dundee onto Highway 542.

Travel east to the first stop light, turn left on Route 17. Travel north for

1.25 miles to Lake Hatchineha Rd. (Highway 542), turn right. After green " FFA

Training Center " sign on right on Highway 542 - Lake Hatchineha Rd., turn right

on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA Leadership Training Center.

From the Southwest:

Take I-75 to State Road 60 East to U.S. Highway 27. Travel east on Highway 60 to

U.S. Highway 27, turn left (north). Travel north on U.S. Highway 27 to Dundee

(Approx. 9 miles). Turn right at the stop light in Dundee onto Highway 542.

Travel east to the first stop light, turn left on Route 17. Travel north for

1.25 miles to Lake Hatchineha Rd. (Highway 542), turn right. After green " FFA

Training Center " sign on right on Highway 542 - Lake Hatchineha Rd., turn right

on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA Leadership Training Center.