December 11, 2008

Dear Colleague,

Could you use a little bit of good news?  Our Chaplain’s Training has now been approved and rescheduled for January 27-29, 2009.  To make this possible it was necessary for us to submit a 25% reduction under last year’s budget.  We will need your help to keep our cost down.  In spite of a “Scroog-enized” budget, we promise a quality, relevant and fun time. 

Last year 125 of us gathered for a memorable and helpful training. You are all encouraged to join us for a much-needed time of R & R and the enjoyment of a great learning experience.  We need both.  Next year’s state budget looks like it will be a greater challenge than this year’s.  I encourage you to take advantage of this present opportunity.

Training will be held in Sutter Creek at the Days Inn. Registration will be on Monday, January 26 from 4:00 – 8:00pm.  The first fifty will be able to secure rooms at our headquarters hotel.  Included with your room will be a continental breakfast.  One of our overflow hotels is the American Exchange Hotel, a short walk from the Days Inn.  The American Exchange will take you back to the 1800’s.  This will be a unique experience and it would be my first choice for lodging.  Our third hotel is the Amador Inn Best Western in Jackson, about a 10-minute drive from the Days Inn.  A breakfast buffet is being offered at Denny’s for those staying at the Best Western.   Call the Days Inn at 209-267-9177 to register for your room.  If the Days Inn is full when you call, they will give you instructions as to how to register at the other hotels. 

For those who are traveling by air, car rental will not be paid by the State.  The American Exchange Hotel will provide a shuttle service for all who are arriving at the Sacramento Airport by the specified times.  The shuttle will drop you off at the Days Inn for registration.  Shuttle pickups will be at Southwest Airlines terminal at 11:15am and 4:00pm on Monday and leave the Days Inn on Thursday at 1:00pm.  Return flights can be booked anytime after 3:30pm on Thursday, January 29.  The shuttle service will be covered by ACCSS at no cost to you.   

Religious dietary needs will only be provided at the banquet.  All other meals are each participant’s responsibility.

This year’s training will feature Tom O’Connor, the administrator of religious services for the Oregon Department of Corrections. He is a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally.  Mr. O’Connor has degrees in law, philosophy, theology and counseling, including a PhD from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.  Tom’s PhD dissertation was on the influence of religion and culture on the US penal systems.  He has published several articles on the integration of religion and effective correctional programming and a book (with Nathaniel Pallone, PhD) entitled Religion, the Community and the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders.  Mr. O’Connor will present a review of research findings on religion and spirituality in state institutions.  He will also focus our attention on evidence-based programming and help us to understand the expectation of our various departments.  Concepts will be shared about the fundamentals of the evidence-based approach called Motivational Interviewing (MI), developed by Miller and Rollnick.  It promises to be an informational and practical presentation. 

Each of us minister in a unique and often times stressful environment.  Periodic times of retreat are very important for our health and well being.  Every effort will be given to make this a time of refreshment, renewal and learning. At this year’s training, the ACCSS officers will do all that we can to minister to you.   It is my sincere prayer that when you leave, you will say, “I am so glad that I came.”  We look forward to being with you.

With many blessings,

Dave Skaggs

Days Inn

209-267-9177

271 Hanford Street

Sutter Creek, CA  95685

American Exchange Hotel

209-267-0242

53 Main Street

Sutter Creek, CA  95685

Amador Inn Best Western

209-223-0211

200 S. State Hwy 49

Jackson, CA  95642

Enclosures:

Registration Procedures – Please bring with you to training for reference.