Dear Friends,

This week I talked to you about looking for a location for SSS25. However, it is true a location for the next International Conference (IC26) is being researched as well.

The purpose of this letter is to seek your help regarding what are the most important considerations when choosing a place for our next conferences.

I reviewed the surveys from SSS24. Roughly 50 out of approximately 150 attendees filled out the survey and I personally don’t find them very helpful. It is likely due to the limiting nature of a survey.

At SSS24 20% were first time conference attendees. I must say I don’t believe it lowered our average age group by much. Perhaps a few of our new attendees were 45 to 65.

To my knowledge we had peak conference attendance in the summer of 1996 when the IC was held in Flagstaff AZ which is not very close to a major airport.

I heard stories of people loading up their kids, friends and Society neighbors taking road trips and caravanning to the conference in Flagstaff. I believe people were happy to share dorm rooms, sleeping spaces and bathrooms. The average age of our reader friends at that time was probably late 30’s to early 40’s.

We know most of us found the Urantia Book in the 1970’s. I’d say our average age is between 65 to 75 with many of our friends turning 80 or in their early 80’s. The young people are in their late 50’s but I’d say the majority have hit 70 or are close to it and our largest population is between 70-75.

Please correct me if you disagree.

Do we take the average age of our demographics into consideration when choosing a location to gather?

If so, I believe this means we need to be close to a major airport with easy travel to the venue. Many people are widowed or single and want a private bedroom and bathroom. Sharing space is not as desirable. The food needs to be of high quality and the meeting spaces need to be in very close proximity to the dining room and lodging. In addition, the temperature outside and inside needs to be moderate and the costs need to be kept down.

I’d like your help in understanding the needs of our demographics. What do you think the parameters and considerations are in choosing a location. Please share with me your concerns and your vision of an ideal location.

Thank you in advance for your input whether you have attended a recent conference or not. I’d appreciate you forwarding this letter to those not on our lists and you may consider only replying to me if you’d like.

Sincerely,
Jackie Koury
Fellowship Education Chair