ABOUT THE WABA-PLC

A peer-level conference for grassroots Pagan leaders and activists, the goals of the 2006 WABA-PLC include a review of the progress made on the action plans created in 2005, to revisit the goals discussed at the initial 2004 conference, and to set new goals for the upcoming year.

What's The History Of The WABA-PLC?

In 2001, the first of what was to become a series of regional Pagan leadership conferences was convened in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This landmark gathering - which came to be called the Mid-Atlantic Pagan Leadership Conference (MA-PLC) and then the Pagan Leadership Skills Conference (PLSC) - received Pagan delegates from across the Mid-Atlantic for the purpose of sharing wisdom, identifying common needs, and creating more effective communications in support of the valuable work done by our regional Pagan groups, organizations, and initiatives.

In meeting these ambitious goals, one of the ongoing visions of the MA-PLC was the creation of smaller (and more local) grassroots conferences. To this end, the DC Radical Faeries, Ecumenicon Fellowship, The Open Hearth Foundation, The Sacred Space Foundation and Spiral Heart came together in 2004 to offer the Washington-Baltimore Pagan Leadership Conference (WABA-PLC), which marked the first time this conference model was manifested locally in the Washington/Baltimore area.

The intent of the 2004 WABA-PLC was to address three important questions affecting the Washington-Baltimore Pagan community:

• What are our highest priority needs in the next few years?
• How can we best meet those identified needs?
• How can we coordinate our efforts to meet those needs?

The event was a resounding success. With nearly 60 attendees, and dozens of Pagan groups represented, the conference generated new networking opportunities, new channels of communication, and new friendships. Projects were proposed and acted upon. Thirteen short, midterm, and long-range goals were identified, as well as 100 common community needs.

In the end, those in attendance felt that this kind of gathering was not only important, but something to be continued. With this in mind, we again rolled-up our sleeves in 2005. Building on the ideas generated the previous year as well as polling data from the WABA-PLC discussion list, we tackled six high-priority topics AND created action plans to move them forward. These included Clergy Concerns, Charitable Work, Information & Resource Sharing, Public Relations & Outreach Education, The Creation of Pagan Institutions, and Conflict Resolution.

Many of these projects went on to achieve substantial results, including ongoing charity work and outreach in our region and the ongoing provision of clergy resources. In 2006 we will re-visit these projects, celebrate our successes, and make new plans for the year to come.

Who's Sponsoring The WABA-PLC?

The 2006 Washington-Baltimore Pagan Leadership Conference is a joint endeavor of the DC Radical Faeries, the Correllian Nativist Tradition of Wicca Temple of the Sacred Arts, Becoming, The Open Hearth Foundation, Inc., and the Chesapeake Pagan Community.

How Many Attendees Should My Group Send?

There is no strict limit on the number of attendees your group can send as long as they each cover the $29 registration fee. We tend to recommend that groups send at least three individuals, as that would allow your group to cover all of the three breakout sessions during the conference.

Where Do My Fees Go?

Your $29 registration fee will be used to directly cover the conference costs and supplies. Extra registration revenue (if any) will be donated to The Open Hearth Foundation, Inc. - a nonprofit organization working to create a Pagan community center in the DC region. Underwriting revenue (if any) will be applied to the conference coffee service.

Is The Conference ADA Accessible?

The majority of the Hotel is accessible for those with mobility differences with the exception of the Versailles Ballroom which is accessible only through the banquet service elevator and the International Room and Deli which is accessible only through individual entrances located on Baltimore Street. The conference organizers will also make every effort to secure volunteer sign-language interpreters and visual aids if requested for those with hearing/vision differences, but cannot guarantee their presence. Please write us using our online contact form if you would like to discuss such requests further.

What's For Lunch?

Conference attendees are encouraged to join us in the Hotel restaurant both days of the conference in order to continue our discussions over lunch. A limited menu (with vegetarian options) will be provided. Please note that meals are not included in registration, and attendees will need to bring extra cash (or food) for meals on site.

Can My Group Help Underwrite This Event?

For $180 your group can help underwrite the WABA-PLC! Conference underwriters will receive two free admissions, thanks in the conference program, verbal thanks during the conference, posted mention in all the meeting rooms, and mention on the WABA-PLC homepage. For more about becoming an underwriter, please see our underwriting page.

What If I Have More Questions?

If you have more questions about the Washington-Baltimore Pagan Leadership Conference please contact us with our online contact form.