Greetings!
"Cheers to a New Year and another chance to get it right." Opray Winfrey  We're declaring 2012 the year of taking risks, so search inside yourself, find your biggest fear and put it at the top of your list -- New Year's resolutions, goals, dreams, or bucket list. DO IT NOW! Commit to yourself that this will be a priority for you in 2012. Remember, no excuses. Done yet? Aren't you a bit excited? The past few months here in Lakebay have been fun, exhilarating... and full of new adventures and miracles. We would love to share it with you...read on! Have a wonderful Holiday Full of Love, Carole |
2011 Summer FUNdraiser Auction
Your Generosity Makes Auction a Huge Success
In August, we held our first ever Summer FUNdraiser -- and what FUN we had! Thank you to all our donors and bidders for making the event a success.
Some of the Items up for auction were paintings, photography, home decorations, cookbooks, clothing and accessories, personal services (massage, acupuncture, coaching), vacation lodging (Washington, D.C.; Taos, NM ski condo; Lakebay, WA; Bahamas), and much more. These items were donated by individuals and businesses too numerous to acknowledge here--but BIG THANK YOU to all the donors. Without your generosity there would not have been an auction.
We are also grateful to those who bid on auction items or donated to the Scholarship Fund. Because of you we are able to continue providing services while offering scholarships to participants who need financial assistance. Your kindness will touch many hearts.
FUNdraiser Auction: $29,796
FUNdraiser Tickets and Mystery Dinner: $4,225
Share it Forward Scholarship Fund: $1,503
Total Contributions: $35,524
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Who Put the FUN in FUNdraiser?
 We all did!Coinciding with the end of the auction, we gathered at Lakebay for a weekend of fun, games and relaxation. Guests started arriving early Friday evening for the "Mystery Dinner" where each person dressed as a character in the Caribbean "who done it" mystery, Murder in Margaritaland.
The story begins, "Somewhere in the tropics between the Port of Indecision and Southwest of Disorder where murder meets mayhem and the intrigue begins! At the resort, the guilty mingle among the guests and everyone is left with the task of deciphering between facts and falsehoods to make a killer pay for their crime." Throughout the dinner the 30 guests/characters interacted with each other to reveal clues, discover suspects and solve the murder mystery. Congratulations to Gail Terrell and Kat Westerdahl who won the smoking gun award for "their cunning wit and extra sharp sleuthing skills that helped to apprehend a cold blooded murderer."
On Saturday, more guests arrived for a day of entertainment, kayaking, outdoor games, and, of course, lots of great food. In the afternoon we were treated to a concert of eclectic talent from the Soltura community: Ron Riley played guitar and sang selections of country and blues songs, Carolyn Campbell played classical piano, and our own little opera singer Katrina Nilsson-Gorman sang an aria and popular musical hit. Singer-songwriter Dana Markland performed a selection of her own songs, Bob Herold played the saxophone, and Bill Hughlett entertained on the guitar. The concert culminated in a large drum circle with everyone playing some form of percussion instrument.
Please visit our must-see photo album on Flickr to share in the fun of the concert and mystery dinner. Big THANK YOU to Bill Hughlett for the wonderful pics.
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In Balance Ranch Partners with Soltura
 Workshops for ParentsEarlier this year Carole Rosenberg, Soltura Executive Director met with the Clinical Director of In Balance Ranch Academy to discuss how the two programs may be able to work together. This is a program for young men, ages 13-17, struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Having a child struggling with these issues invariably affects the whole family, but especially the parents who often put their own needs on hold while trying to help their son or daughter. Once the child is in placement and safe, the parent often says, "What about me?" They feel they need to heal too but don't know how.
 Following several discussions it was decided that Soltura would provide our workshop trilogy to mothers and fathers affiliated with In Balance Ranch. This will give parents the opportunity to focus on their own healing, not just the challenges of parenting a struggling teen, but a real chance to take care of themselves. The first mother's workshop, conducted in October 2011, was a huge success, helped by the wonderful assistance and cooperation of In Balance Ranch. It went so well, in fact, that as soon as the 2012 workshop schedule was published, the mothers all signed up for the Part 2 workshop in May--before we even had a chance to ask them! Okay, fathers, now it's your turn!
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Leslie Craver Joins the Board
 Board of Directors Update
We are thrilled to welcome Leslie Craver to the Board of Directors. Leslie started her Soltura journey in June 2010 when she attended a Mother's workshop. Immediately following the workshop she expressed a desire to be involved with Soltura and to eventually help facilitate workshops for others. Leslie completed the Trilogy in August 2011 and actually facilitated her first workshop a few months prior to that.
In February 2011, Leslie traveled to Tucson, Arizona to help with the Soltura booth at the NATSAP Annual Conference where she introduced Soltura representatives to In Balance Ranch Academy. Leslie has also served as a reference to other women considering their own Soltura journey and been a strong advocate for providing the Soltura workshops to parents of teens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues.
Leslie commented, "I now look inside, not outside, for my solutions, recognizing it is my choice what I choose. My life is not perfect, but when I feel that roller coaster ride starting, I KNOW that I have a choice whether to hop on and I can choose to get off anytime I want. I have been blessed beyond measure and want to share and support Soltura in all ways that I can. It will be challenging but I will choose to have the strength, focus and mindfulness to be available for whatever is needed of me. I am truly excited...beyond excited really!
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Workshop Photo Gallery
View our Photo Albums on Facebook Below are photos of each workshop conducted since our last newsletter. Click on each photo to visit the photo gallery for that workshop posted on Soltura's Facebook page. | 
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| Yellow Brick Road
July 26 - 31, 2011 | Returning Home
August 16 - 21, 2011 | 
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September 6 - 11, 2011 | Castles of Silence & Knowledge
September 20 - 25, 2011 |  |  | Caught in a Twister
October 12 - 16, 2011 | Caught in a Twister
October 26 - 30, 2011 |  | | The Knight's Dilemma
November 9 - 13, 2011 |
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Soltura Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). Soltura Foundation is also approved to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the IRC.
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Soltura Foundation
P.O. Box 445
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Phone: (253) 857-3444
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MEN'S WORKSHOPS Part 1: The Knight's Dilemma
January 25 - 29, 2012
May 2 - 6, 2012
Part 2: Castles of Silence/Knowledge
June 12 - 17, 2012
Part 3: Summit of Truth
April 10 - 15, 2012
Part 1: Caught In A Twister
February 22 - 26, 2012
March 21, 25, 2012
April 18 - 22, 2012
Part 2: Yellow Brick Road
May 29 - June 3, 2012 - FULL
June 26 - July 1, 2012 Part 3: Returning Home May 15 - 20, 2012 Spirit Wave - Women March 7 - 11, 2012
Please help spread the word about Soltura workshops
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Volunteer Spotlight
It took a lot of people to make our summer fundraiser a success, but one stood out from the rest. Katherine Lott flew in from Texas and owned the kitchen. She arrived several days prior to the event to plan the menu and do the food shopping. Taking charge of the kitchen, Katherine prepared and served the food for the Mystery Dinner on Friday and the meals on Saturday. Words can't express how grateful we are to Katherine. Not only did she help make the event a huge success, her tireless efforts allowed the rest of us to focus on facilitating the planned activities and take care of our guests.
Katherine has been part of the Soltura community for several years, being one of the early women to participate in the Twister workshop. She continued down her path of self-discovery, finishing the trilogy in September 2008. Since then Katherine has facilitated workshops to help other women with their Soltura journey.
THANK YOU to Katherine and all our volunteers. You always go above and beyond what is asked to support Soltura and help others along their path to self-discovery. Because of you and your generosity, Soltura continues to grow and help others open their hearts to their truth.
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Join Us
   
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Thank you to our over 344 Facebook fans (other others!) for helping us achieve over 135,858 post views, up by 2,045% since last year at this time.
We're also busy Tweeting, uploading videos to YouTube and adding more content to our website to keep you up to date with Soltura News.
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Feedback Corner
 Having finally overcome the biggest dissappointment of my life; alcholism, I found that it had destroyed me in more ways than I could ever have imagined. Becoming sober wasn't the cure-all I thought it would be. The demons that haunted me were still there and it was time to come to terms with them. I felt my life was a blank page filled with question marks that needed answering. I wanted to feel again and know in my heart I was not this pathetic person that my addiction lead me to believe I was. I came to this first workshop with mixed feelings wondering how 3.5 days could repair the mental and emotional battle I have been going through for the last 36+ years. To my amazement Soltura helped me open my mind to what was truely tormenting me and taught me the tools I lacked in my journey of self appreciation and awareness. I know I have a long way to go still and I am so very happy there are more workshops I can attend that will help me achieve my ultimate goal, to love and believe in myself again. Carol M. - Dill City, OK |
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Newsletter Archives
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Missed one of our newsletters or new to our community? Previous issues are posted online at our Newsletters Archive.
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Living our Dreams
 Big shout out and congratulations to Jaylene Duckworth on the publication of her new children's book and living her dream. Pictured here (right), at a recent book signing with Tara Duckworth, Jaylene has been writing stories since she was a child. Her new book, A Fraidy Pants Liar, is a story with an important message and the illustrations will delight readers big and little.
Not to be out done, Tara's dream of making and selling her handmade inspirational jewelry is also thriving. Tara's jewelry is a fun and meaningful way to honor yourself and your connections with others. Visit her website at Solitude and Soul to share her dream.
We started this newsletter with a message about 2012 being the year of taking risks. Jaylene and Tara will tell you that only by taking risks are we able to truly live our dreams. Who will be next to take a deep breath and step forward to live their dream. Let us know and we will share the news with the Soltura community. |
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