Since 2002, Bioneers has been bringing the Bioneers Conference experience to locations from coast to coast. Each Beaming event brings innovative solutions for healing the planet to diverse locales, who personalize their program to address the needs of their own community. Beaming Bioneers sites provide opportunities for participants to network and share information, to learn and be inspired, to start a whole new kind of conversation.
Currently, there are 20 Beaming Bioneers sites in the United States. Two of these are located in New England. One is in Montpelier, VT and the other in New Bedford, MA.
Beaming Bioneers is being held Friday, Oct 14 - Sunday, Oct 16, 2011. The conference activities will take place in Montpelier at the Savoy Theater and Vermont College of Fine Arts.
After attending the 2010 Bioneers Conference as a participant, Terry Youk, the owner of the Savoy Theater, was inspired to offer a Beaming Bioneers Vermont site in Montpelier. The Savoy Theater, dedicated to fostering individual and community awareness, development and action, thru films, stimulating discussion groups, and the lively arts, then applied to host this event.
This is the seating capacity for the Savoy Theater's two film screening rooms.
We are committed to making this conference affordable and flexible to best meet your time and budgetary needs. We are offering:
Please email us if you are unclear which category you fall under.
Registration for the full weekend includes admission to all Plenary and workshop sessions, as well as a wine and cheese reception on Friday evening, admission to the resource/networking room, and complimentary coffee and tea each day.
If you are registered for one day, your registration includes all events scheduled for that day.
There are 5 consecutive plenary sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-4 pm.
Friday:
Musical performance by R. Carlos Nakai
Opening remarks by Bioneers founders Kenny Ausubel and Nina Simons
Plenary speakers: John Liu, Karen Brown, Roxanne Brown, Rebecca Moore, and Gloria Steinem
Saturday:
Opening remarks by Kenny Ausabel
Nature film clip by Louie Schwartzberg
Plenary Speakers: Paul Stamets, Natalia Greene, Joshua Fouts and Rita King, Anim Steel, and Amory Lovins
Sunday:
Opening remarks by Nina Simons
Plenary speakers: Melissa Nelson, Dayna Baumeister, Pam Rajput, Mary Evelyn Tucker, and Phillipe Cousteau
There will be five simultaneous workshop sessions held per morning on Saturday and Sunday from 9-10:30 am. See the conference schedule for the full description of topics and presenters.
Yes, the evening events are open to the general public at $10/evening. You can either email us to pre-register or show up at the door.
We have had a number of inquiries from faculty interested in bringing their students to the conference. Seats are limited at the Savoy and this first year we haven't had enough lead time to raise sponsorship money to offer scholarships. But to try to make it possible for students to attend, we are offering a day pass to high school students for $5/day (they must pre-register for this by sending us an email). Day passes are available to college students for $30/day when they register in groups of three. Email us to pre-register.
There are a handful of volunteer positions available for this conference that have already been filled. In future years we intend to offer more work study/volunteer options for attending the conference.
There are a number of housing options in the greater Montpelier area. Area hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast stays may be found at:
http://www.visitvt.com/lodging/locator
http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g57324-Montpelier_Vermont-Hotel-Deals.html
Check back soon for area hotels that are providing a discount to conference attendees.
There are many fine local options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner within walking distance of the Savoy.
Because our schedule is determined by the timing of the California conference, times for meal are on the short side. The Hospitality room will be open during breaks in the schedule where you can bring in your own food if you would like.
Good places for breakfast and sandwiches include: Bagitos, Capitol Grounds, Coffee Corner, and Skinny Pancake. Good places for take out: Hunger Mountain Coop, Pinky's, slices of pizza at Positive Pie, Uncommon Market, Village Pizza, and Royal Orchid. Places for dinner are: Bagitos, the Black Door, Julio's, Kismet, J. Morgans Steakhouse, NECI, Royal Orchid, Sarduccis, Skinny Pancake, and That's Life Soup. Downstairs at NECI is a great place to get a quick meal of tapas. McGuilliguddy's, a bar on Langdon St., offers quick hamburgers. And Three Penny Taproom offers appetizers. Many of these restaurants offer local and organic selections. Several restaurants in town will allow pre-orders so good will be ready during the breaks as well as a discount to participants. We'll have additional information at registration.
The Montpelier Farmer's Market is open from 9-1 on Saturday morning and is a wonderful place to get food before the afternoon plenaries. Because the breaks are short, you might consider bringing your own sandwiches and food to eat from home.
Jesse Jacobs has generously donated the use of the renovated Old Chittenden Bank/Capitol Grounds space on State St. to be used as a downtown gathering place during the conference. Bear Pond Books will be selling books during breaks and our sponsors and partners will have information available. Coffee and herbal teas will be available for free, thanks to the generosity of Capitol Grounds and Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism. Pastries and muffins will be available for purchase.
The room will be open during these times:
Friday, October 14
10-11:15 am
5-7:15 pm for Wine Reception
Saturday, October 15
10:30-11:15 a.m
4:30-6:45 pm
Sunday, October 16
10:30-11:15
Parking is always a challenge in downtown Montpelier.
Parking is available at Vermont College of Fine Arts (view map). The gym at the end of E. State St. is most likely your best bet. Parking downtown especially on Friday will be difficult and you might consider arriving in time to park at the college and walk downtown (approximately a 10 minute walk). The evening events will both be held at the Vermont College of Fine Arts Chapel, a short walk from the gym.
Parking is easier downtown on Saturday and especially Sunday morning. Meters are free that day and you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a space on the street to park.
It is approximately a 1/2 mile walk from Vermont College to the Savoy Theater.
We will do our best to help coordinate carpools for those who would prefer to drive rather than walk. Please let someone know when you register that you will need help coordinating rides.
The Savoy Theater is located at 26 Main Street, Montpelier and Vermont College is located at the intersection of East State and College streets.
View maps here.
Terry Youk, owner of the Savoy, is committed to continue offering the Savoy as a monthly meeting place to continue this work. Sign up on the website to receive information about future programming and look for calls for presentations for the 2012 conference in June 2012.
