It is a time of reflection on our beloved and 
mysterious Shalom Mountain as an evolving hope structure for our community and the world. We have all in some way been captivated by her gifts and our lives have been transformed, although not often easily, by how she has required each of us to lay down our lives in ways we never imagined. Yet, we have no choice but to follow her divine calling as it guides our individual and collective unfolding.
My story begins when I was 17 and attended, with my father, my first Shalom Retreat led by the wild and ingenious Jerry Jud and his then wife, Elisabeth. Jerry and his consorts brought into our world this transformational process rooted in loving community. When it was time for him to
move on, he called on Joy and Lawrence, who said yes to something not yet imagined in their lives. In answering their call, their lives also transformed the many who came on retreat with them and even the nature of the organization itself. As well as leading retreats and running the center, they began to teach others how to do those things and a leadership base began to emerge.
When Shawn and I began to feel the call, we were standing on top of Machu Picchu in Peru, in a healing ritual with Joy, Lawrence and a group of Shalomers. Terry received his call to service in circle with Jerry Jud. We imagined that our part was to make it possible for Joy and Lawrence to move to the next stage in their lives and to support Shalom through a transition time where a collaborative leadership base would develop to run the business and a whole community of stewards would unite and mobilize to sustain the future of Shalom.
Our calling to be part of this process has required of us time, energy, finances, sweat and tears far beyond our comfort zone. And yet, our calling and love for Joy and Lawrence, each other and Shalom Mountain left us no choice but to heed it. Our lives have once again been transformed in ways we do not even yet fully realize.
Many are stepping forward to answer their call to serve and support and we are very excited to be a part of this unfolding vision. At this time a group of leaders is in discussion around buying the retreat center business. FSM, with the help of the community, has decided to explore the possibility of buying the property. We, the steward owners, fully advocate this transfer of the retreat center to the leaders and feel it is the right time for you the community to become owners of the land as the best way to support the continuation of the work of the retreat center. We are eager to continue to do what we can, both financially and energetically, toward this next evolution. Many of you have expressed your desire to be a part of securing the transformational power of Shalom and are intimately aware of what is required to lay down one’s life as the process takes hold of you.
To take the next step always requires us to stretch and step out of our comfort zone to fully enter what is to come. I invite you now to stretch into what Shalom is calling you to 
make possible and join us in becoming a part of holding, loving and securing Shalom and all she has to offer.
More information coming soon from FSM!
Blessings,
Victoria
Memorial Day Work Weekend!
Friday, May 28 – Monday May 31, 2010
April 2010 Work Weekend
Love is goodwill in action.
Love is a response to need.
Come join us for a weekend of serving your beloved Shalom Mountain and living into the Skills and Principles of Loving
After an amazing April Work Weekend where many projects were attended to, the temple and grounds still needs lots of loving tending! One way that you can tend the temple of Shalom this summer, is to bring your love in the form of flowers to be planted over the weekend. Our flower garden will be the product of your generosity of a flat or a couple pots of your favorite flowers or something from your garden that you would like to share.
Friday evening we gather for a potluck supper (bring a dish for eight) and community building. Saturday and Sunday we work for six to eight hours during the day and then spend the evening together with dancing and an auction to benefit Friends of Shalom Mountain and a Sunday night Talent Show. We wrap up the weekend celebrating our time together with a renewed commitment to live lovingly in the world. Here are some of the projects that will need loving hands:
· Clearing fallen branches on the land, chopping wood and gathering kindling
· Painting the pool (scraping and priming got done in April!)
· Washing windows
· Gardening, gardening, gardening
· Cleaning and reorganizing
· Many indoor and outdoor tasks of tending to house and grounds for all ages and skill levels
Important info:
- Rooms are first come first served.
- Arrive after lunch on Friday, please! Early arrivals must be negotiated with us in advance.
- Bring a tent, sleeping bag (linens not provided) and your personal belongings.
- Bring a flat or a few pots of your favorite flowers (with a tag with your name and description of plant)
- Bring a potluck dish for eight for Friday evening
- Cost to help cover food: $35 adults $10 children (6-12 yrs old). CASH preferred.
- Work weekends on Shalom Mountain are drug and alcohol free events.
Let us know you’ll be here so we can plan for you! RSVP to: 845-482-5421, email@shalommountain.com or use our online registration.
Life On the Mountain
NEWS FROM THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
By Judy Hall
Welcome Alex York!
First visit to Shalom Mountain:September 2001
Resident tenure: May 15 – the end of August
RSVP Position:Maintenance, general support
Former jobs: food service, landscaping, sales, limited painting apprentice, limited carpenter apprentice.
Favorite pastime on Cattail Road: Bonfires… hands down
Last book read: Fear and Trembling Kierkegaard, but there is a new one every day or so…
Quote: well… "All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant’s revolving door." – Camus
and Maeba Jonas!
First visit to Shalom Mountain: October 2008 Maeba Jonas
Resident tenure: Summer 2010 – May Work Weekend through The Family Festival
RSVP Position: Helping out Betty Ann in the office and house, also working on special video projects.
Former jobs: Johns Hopkins School of Public Health – HIV/AIDS research with at-risk drug users in Baltimore, Maryland.
Favorite pastime on Cattail Road: Exploring new and exciting secrets of the mountain
Last book read: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Quote: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the mind." – The Little Prince
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Recent RSVP Acts of Kindness
A special thank you to nine RSVPers who contributed in the months of April and May!
Bara Brown (Feb/Mar)
Maeba Jonas
Leslie Krasner
Jen Kuhlman
Roberta Mahler
Emma Wrigley
Above and Beyond the Call:
Easter Weekend Painting Party:
Jen Kuhlman
Arianna Santoriello
David Turpin
Alex York
LRae York
and thanks to Carrie Jamison for supplying the kitchen with some brand new tea towels! 
If you would like information about arranging to come early or stay after a retreat to volunteer, please contact Betty Ann or Judy at 845-482-5421 or email@shalommountain.com
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