December 2018
 

As we look back on 2018 at Naramata Centre, we are grateful for another year of growth and increased opportunities for personal transformation. Since 2016, we have seen year-over-year increases in attendance in programs and accommodations, topping out this year with 2,100 people staying on site from May through October.  Thank you to everyone who attended Naramata Centre this year!
 
You can help us to continue offering those opportunities for personal growth and transformation to our participants by making a donation to the Centre.
 
It is heart-warming to welcome returning participants who are overjoyed to be back to their spiritual home! And, it is equally rewarding to meet people who are excited to be here for the first time and find a place of welcoming community and a spiritual home. In both cases, the Centre Spirit is alive and well, and people experience the magic and warmth of the Naramata Centre community that draws us in and holds us while we are here. Things have changed at the Centre, but the essence is intact!
 
Our amazing 2018 summer intern team     Photo:Keri Wehlander

This summer our new intern leadership program was a big hit with people on site. The program is not the same, but it has elements of Summer Staff training of days gone by. Seven teens/young adults spent up to four months on the Centre team where they gained experience in all areas of the Centre's operations: community life, administrative tasks, housekeeping, children's programming and grounds keeping. Centre staff and outside professionals provided training and spiritual nurture to help them grow and develop their self-awareness, leadership, and the skills required for living in community. All of them found this a deeply rewarding experience and at the end-of-summer debrief some reflected:
  • "My experiences this summer will help me and guide me through the rest of my life."
  • "This was a summer of amazing journeys and incredible self-reflection, shared with so many others through the love of Naramata."
  • Read more intern reflections in the August newsletter here.
70th Anniversary - What year did you come to the Centre? - Most recent on the right!

At
our 2018 AGM in June, a large group of participants gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Naramata Centre. It was an exciting and joyful day to remember what the Centre means to us and everything that we have experienced and learned here - indeed, how it has helped to shape our lives and who we are today.

As we write this letter, Advent will soon begin, bringing a time of anticipation of what is to come: Christmas - and the gift of joy, peace and beauty that it brings each year. At this time of year, we anticipate how 2019 will unfold, but we also reflect back on the many gifts of 2018: our programs, new and returning participants, our wonderful interns, the donations we receive each year and much more.
 
We are deeply grateful for all the donations the Centre receives throughout our year, whether they are from monthly, annual or occasional donors. Support from our donors is key to helping us provide future opportunities for youth leadership, building community and learning together how to be in this world.
 
Would you consider making a donation to the Centre to allow us to continue this important work? If so, you can donate online here or call 250-496-5751, extension 1, or toll-free at 1-877-996-5751 extension 1 t o donate over the phone with your credit card. Or, you can mail a cheque to:
 
Naramata Centre
PO Box 68,
Naramata BC
V0H 1N0

All donations are gratefully received!
 
Tax receipts for online donations are issued immediately and receipts for donations by phone or mail are issued in February each year.
 
Thank you for your support of Naramata Centre. We hope to see you next year!
 
Doug Woollard
Board Chair, Naramata Centre Society
 
P.S. - Watch our Facebook page (The Naramata Centre Society) for the 12 days of Christmas starting in mid-December!

Ways to Stay Connected
  • If you haven't already done so, become a Naramata Centre member to support the work of the Board. 
  • Watch for our monthly emailed newsletter to stay informed about Centre activities and Board plans as they unfold. 
  • Follow us on Facebook, and if you "Like" our page and share our updates, you will help spread the word about Naramata Centre. 
  • Check out our blog posts for news about the Centre. 

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