Attention: Faculty, Extension and Academic Staff, Post-Docs, and Graduate Students
Thursday, October 24—Friday, October 25, 2024
Bay Pointe Inn
Shelbyville, MI
Come write with us! The fall Community-Engaged Scholarship Writing Retreat returns to a rural setting at the Bay Pointe Inn on beautiful Gun Lake in Shelbyville, Michigan (about a 90-minute drive from campus). We have reserved two full days to step away from work and home responsibilities to write together.
University Outreach and Engagement and The Writing Center at Michigan State University invite faculty, Extension and academic staff, post-docs, and graduate students from MSU and other campuses to this retreat.
Bring your public/practitioner pieces, journal articles, grant proposals, book manuscripts, theses and dissertations, conference papers, community partner pieces, and other important writing that could use your undivided attention in a supportive community of writers.
Expectations:
You are expected to have a writing project (or multiple pieces) in mind and to bring along your laptop, power cord, and writing materials. Some participants attend with their project teams to write collaboratively.
As much as possible, protect this writing time. Past participants have cleared their meeting schedules, turned on their out-of-office email notices, and let their colleagues know that they will be busy those two days. You will benefit the most from this retreat if you do not have other meetings during your precious writing time.
Schedule:
On Thursday, October 24, at 9:00 a.m., the retreat will start with a welcome and light continental breakfast, an overview of various retreat writing spaces throughout the property, and the sharing of writing goals. We will break for lunch 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Woods Sycamore Ballroom.
Snacks will be available throughout the day. Dinner will be on your own, depending on your writing schedule and personal preferences. Dinner options include: bring your own dinner (rooms have mini-fridges and Keurig coffee makers), eat at the hotel restaurant, or travel to nearby restaurants individually or in smaller groups. Throughout the day, optional workshops, consultations, and peer review sessions will be available.
On Friday October 25, a continental breakfast will be available in the hotel dining room 7:00-10:00 for overnight guests. Lunch will be served 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Waterfront Room, with snacks available throughout the day. We will continue with optional workshops, consultations, feedback, and conclude with an important wrap up session 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Location:
This two-day writing retreat will be held at the Bay Pointe Inn in Shelbyville, MI (11456 Marsh Road, Shelbyville, MI). This three-star resort is located on beautiful Gunn Lake and features an indoor pool, terraced gardens, lake views, firepits, and walking trails.
Cost:
Registration fees include hotel accommodations for the night of October 24; breakfast, lunch, and snacks on October 24 and 25; and all retreat materials and consultations. Dinner on October 24 is on your own, individually or in small groups.
- MSU faculty, staff, post-docs, students ($395)
- Non-MSU participants ($475)
- No Overnight Stay ($250)
Extras and Options:
For those who would like to stay extra days either before or after the writing retreat, please contact Bay Pointe Inn at 269-672-8111 to make and pay for your own extra days.
Please note: On Thursday, October 24, hotel check-in will be at 4:00 p.m. On Friday, October 25, hotel check-out will be at 11:00 a.m. Multiple public writing spaces will be available before check-in time on Thursday and after check-out time on Friday. If you want access to your individual hotel room earlier than the 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, we recommend you make a reservation on your own for Wednesday evening.
Refund Policy:
- Send a substitute: You may substitute a colleague at any time with no charge or penalty; but please notify Julie Crowgey at crowgeyj@msu.edu or 517-884-1407, so that we may make appropriate arrangements about workshop materials and meal preferences.
- Ask for a refund: You may cancel your registration and get a full refund without penalty if you let us know about your change in plans no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 13, 2024. If you cancel by September 20, 2024, you will have half of your registration refunded. If you cancel any time after September 20, 2024, we will not be able to offer you a refund because of room and meal guarantees. Please put your request in writing to Julie Crowgey at crowgeyj@msu.edu.
- No shows: Participants who have registered and fail to attend the writing retreat will be liable for the entire conference fee. No refunds will be issued.
Sponsored by: University Outreach and Engagement; The Writing Center; Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development; The Graduate School; Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
