I also extend a heartfelt invitation to our fellow Bread Loafers in Arizona and New Mexico to join us.

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1 Hello, Colorado Bread Loafers, Hopefully, all of you received the announcement that I posted to the Colorado folder the first week of December. Thank you to those of you who have already responded. I ve reserved a room for you. Following are the details for the retreat. WELCOME: Welcome to all of you for this Colorado (and neighboring states) gathering of people who have attended Bread Loaf or have a personal acquaintance with someone who has attended. Thank you for clearing your calendars for the weekend of JANUARY 27-29, 2012, and I know you will enjoy traveling through the beautiful Thompson Pass for this MID-WINTER BREAK WITH FREE LODGING AT KINGSTONE, a wonderful retreat center in the quiet little mountain town of ESTES PARK. Feel free to arrive anytime after 4:00 p.m. on Friday and stay as late as noon on Sunday. Of course, we would love to have you stay the entire weekend; but if that is just not possible, come anytime and leave anytime, as your schedule allows. Please find directions for getting to Kingstone at the end of this message. Of course, weather conditions are always an unknown, but I will keep you posted if adverse conditions are predicted as we get closer to that weekend. I also need to add that Kingstone has requested, "No pets, please." WHO'S INVITED? We definitely look forward to seeing people who attended Bread Loaf at one time or another. Nothing quite equals getting together with other Bread Loafers and/or dedicated teachers. We all know how much fun we have when we do meet together to encourage each other in our efforts to be the best teachers and educators we know! I also extend a heartfelt invitation to our fellow Bread Loafers in Arizona and New Mexico to join us. Then too, I want to encourage everyone to bring a spouse and/or friend for the weekend. It will be fun to share this experience with someone whose company you enjoy, and we look forward to meeting all "significant others." My list is the most up-to-date one that Sandy LeGault of the BL office could provide last year, but it is definitely not complete or even accurate; so if you know of a fellow Bread Loafer who is not on my list, please let me know so that I can forward this on to them.

2 WHERE WILL IT BE? Kingstone, the King Home, was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright disciple and provides free, top-notch accommodations to non-profit organizations. This foundation is very impressed by what we do as a group, and their CEO called me a couple of years ago just to tell me that and to ask more about Bread Loaf. As a result, they gave us a $1,000 grant, and they continue to accept our requests to hold our Bread Loaf gatherings at Kingstone. We are one of very few groups that have the privilege of using their accommodations overnight. The house is located within the city of Estes at 819 Big Horn Drive. It has two meeting rooms, a kitchen, six bedrooms, and two dormitory rooms of four beds each. Those staying at the house have free lodging. Some local motels are also available, if that is your preference. Linens are provided at the house, but each person/couple is expected to change their bedding on the last day. Personal sleeping bags and air mattresses may also be used. The house also sports a pool room the billiard type of pool and several levels of outdoor patios. Walking trails are nearby. I believe all who attended our BL Meetings during the past years would agree that the accommodations at the Kingstone are really quite nice. WHAT WILL WE BE DOING? Primarily, this will be a time to retreat from hectic lives and schedules, so lots of free time will be available to do just that. But we also need to take time during the weekend for a meeting of the Colorado Network of Bread Loaf Teachers (and to justify our use of the facilities). All are invited to be a part of that. FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING: Come in early to do some sightseeing, etc. You could contact the Chamber of Commerce Office at for information, check out their website at ( or stop at the Visitor's Center off I-34 on the east end of Estes. If you get to Estes in time for lunch, Penelope's on Main Street reportedly is "a 1950's type joint with wonderful hamburgers." You can "check in" (i.e., show up) at the Kingstone anytime after 4:00 p.m. We will plan to gather at the Kingstone around 6:45 p.m. to order in pizza or go to a local restaurant for dinner. Funds are very limited, so we all need to cover our own expenses.

3 Feel free to bring a bottle of wine or some beer to share, but we will consume "with moderation." One of the reasons we continue to be able to use the Kingstone is that we have not presented the proprietors "with the problem of drinking." SATURDAY MORNING: We'll start with breakfast potluck around 8:30 a.m. Please bring something to share: cereal, milk, fruit, etc. Even though the Kingstone has a full kitchen with appliances, we are requested not to do any cooking (fire insurance issues). However, we can use the microwave, crock pots, and coffee pots. About 9:30 a.m. we'll have our "business meeting and workshop. The agenda includes: BUSINESS: Presentation by Kingstone Proprietor, Jim Progress report on the publication/nonpublication of our Colorado BL Network book to all those involved in writing manuscripts for the book on putting the "Arts" back into Language Arts Classrooms Treasurer's report on money from the King Foundation Grant Discussion of applying for a grant, self-publishing the above book, a project we can undertake as a group, and anything else Should we make dinner reservations for Saturday evening?? Last year, we ordered in and played games in the evening. SHARING: All of you are invited to introduce yourself and the guests you may have brought with you. Then be prepared to share what you are doing now or have done the past year. Please invite your spouse and/or friend to be a part of this sharing. Finally, let s share how we are using technology in our classroom, work, or life. Also include how you would like to use technology in a way you have not yet tried. WORKSHOPS: This year, I did not invite anyone to lead a workshop. Instead, I ask that each of us does a mini-workshop for about minutes, dependent on the number of us there. Possibilities might include Classroom activity you use effectively BreadNet exchanges you found to be valuable Books you would like to recommend Valuable websites/resources Articles/books you have published Rewarding writing activities Report on an inspiring conference you attended, etc Presentation on use of technology

4 SATURDAY NOON: I will have some soups, breads, veggies, and cookies available. SATURDAY AFTERNOON: We can continue with the mini-workshops, if we re not finished. Then plan to use the remainder of the afternoon for free-choice activities. Possibilities might include visiting the Stanley Hotel (used as the setting for one of the film versions of Stephen King's The Shining), driving around Estes to see the Elk that come into town during the winter, shopping downtown (shops are open until 5:00), hiking around the lake, biking uptown or around the lake (three-wheelers and bikes used to be available for rent at the Marina right off I-34 on the east end of town), driving through the Rocky Mountain National Park to view the wildlife, visiting the museum, taking in a movie, sitting around the fireplace at the Kingstone and visiting, etc. The Visitor's Center off I-34 on the east end of Estes can give you some other ideas. SATURDAY EVENING: Let's gather about 6:30 to have dinner as a group. Then we can enjoy an evening of visiting, playing games, and sharing; or you may just choose to turn in early for some much needed sleep after a busy week. Sometimes people choose to take in a movie or go uptown for a drink. SUNDAY MORNING: Basically, we'll use this morning to again have breakfast potluck, perhaps from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Then we need to change the linens on our bed(s), clean up after ourselves, vacuum the carpets, pack the cars, say farewells, and get on the road. We need to "check out" by noon. WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING? Would each of you bring one or two items to share for breakfast potlucks on Saturday and Sunday (such as a box of cereal, some bagels, juice, a gallon of milk, etc.). And it's always fun to bring some snack foods to share or even a bottle of wine. Again, we do have kitchen facilities available at Kingstone, but the Foundation no longer allows groups to cook. However, we may use the portable appliances to heat food. Also, be sure to bring some money for your evening meals. HOW DO YOU GET TO KINGSTONE? These are the directions given to me by Jim, of the Kingstone Foundation, to get to the King Home (Kingstone) at 819 Big Horn Drive.

5 If you take Highway 34 through Loveland to enter Estes Park, then... Go to the first stop light (past McDonald's). Turn right at the stop light, go uphill and curve around a bit (past the Stanley Hotel) for about one-fourth of a mile, until you come to the first intersection. At that intersection, turn right again onto Devil Gulch Road (also called Glen Haven Road) and go about 3/10ths of a mile. Then take a left onto Big Horn Drive and go uphill for about another quarter to 3/10ths of a mile. There you should see a sign on a red sandstone marker that says "Kingstone." Continue on this same road (Big Horn Drive) until you see a sign that says "private drive." Continue uphill past that sign (you will be on the "private drive") until you come to a parking lot. That is the Kingstone parking lot. Look for a big brown house with a kind of Frank Lloyd Wright type architecture. The address is 819 Big Horn Drive, but apparently two houses have the 819 house number. Be sure to go past the first one to the three-story, split-level house at the TOP of the hill. Call us, if you get lost: Kingstone: Kingstone Proprietors, Jim and Pam: Lucille's Cell Phone: (Home Phone: ) WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS? Kingstone has five bedrooms (some with two single beds), two dorm rooms of four beds each, and several sofas. Let me know what you prefer, and I will try to reserve it for you. Free accommodations and choices for rooms at the Kingstone will go to the first who respond. Please call me at home (above) or me with your choice. Also contact me if you have questions or if you need to change your plans later. Sincerely looking forward to seeing many of you! Safe travels, Lucille