This year, CWI will gather at the Comfort Suites, 300 Main Street in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Plans are afoot to make this another fun weekend with old and new CWI friends. The weekend will include a wine and cheese reception, great "ice-breaker" fun to get to know other attendees quickly, fine food and fun. In addition to our formal programming, optional offerings will include makeup tips, card readings, and suggestions of great local sites, shops, and restaurants.

Our featured speaker this year is Patricia Monaghan, author of several books on contemporary issues in spirituality, including The Book of Goddesses and Heroines and The Red Haired Girl from the Bog. She holds a doctorate in science and literature and lectures nationally on the connections between mythology, spirituality, women's studies, and science. Pat is also a founding director of the Brigit Institute and Black Earth Institute in Wisconsin.

We have a block of rooms set aside that will be held until April 1, so if you plan to attend, we suggest you book ASAP by calling Comfort Suites at (262) 248-2300. Rooms are $93.46 (includes all taxes) per room per night, single or double. There is no additional charge for a second person in the double rooms. Mention Celtic Women International or our group number - 100687 when you make your reservation. If you would like to help plan the gathering, please let us know. E-mail us at cwi@celticwomen.org

There was a Celtic Invasion in Plymouth, Wisconsin from April 25 to April 27th. The "Spring Fling" in Plymouth CWI Getaway Weekend was the biggest venture (so far) of the Sheboygan County Branch of Celtic Women and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all attendees. This year, we explored the Celtic areas around Plymouth, Wisconsin, home of our newest CWI branch. Read more about this fun gathering of Celtic women.

View photos from the 2007 "Great Galena Getaway Weekend"

Before the "Gold Rush" there was the LEAD RUSH. Galena (Latin for Lead), Mineral Point, New Diggings - are all towns connected to the mines and worked by Cornish miners. Using as our base, we toured several of the historical sites.

March 31 - 7 pm & April 1 - 3 pm
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N. Knox, Chicago, Illinois

Featuring:

Anne Hills sings "Beauty Attends: The Heartsongs of Opal Whiteley", Lyrics by Opal Whiteley, Music by Michael Smith

Jamie O'Reilly sings "Songs of the Kerry Madwoman", lyrics by Patricia Monaghan, music by Michael Smith

Angels at the Edges Ensemble

A Multi-Media Art Exhibit Curated by Deborah Maris Lader

Irish American Heritage Center Book Display

Online Recommended Reading List sponsored by Celtic Women International & American Heritage Center Library

More details about the program.

One of the ways that Celtic Women International has recognized its achievements is by giving women the chance to get together in various different settings and formats. At the current time, these gatherings may take place on a local branch level or they may be centered around existing celtic fests or other events. In the past, CWI gatherings included wonderful large conferences that offered fun, educational and cultural presentations. If you are aware of a conference or other celtic event that you feel would be of interest to other CWI members, please e-mail us so we can publicize it, include it in our newsletter calendar, and possibly co-sponsor it.

• Second Annual Conference - 1999
• Third Annual Conference - 2000
• Fourth Annual Conference - 2001
• Fifth Annual Conference - 2002
• Sixth Annual Conference - 2003

In 2004, the Board of Directors evaluated the financial feasibility of continuing to sponsor large conferences on an annual basis. It was decided that the organization needed to focus on building and strengthening its local organizations before offering its next large international conference. Local groups of women should consider forming a local chapter of Celtic Women International - See Local Branches for more information.