Fall 1999 Go To Spring 1999 Go To Fall 1998
Ring Lake Ranch - Dubois, Wyoming
an ecumenical retreat and conference center
Fall - 1999

NEW MANAGER

Maggie Kahin must be smiling. Visitors to Ring Lake Ranch in the 1970’s remember well the 12-year-old junior staff member on a Ranch postcard with her horse, Shorty-- Ann Mebane. Little did Maggie know that her acceptance of this young volunteer junior staffer was the beginning of Ann’s preparation and grooming as Manager of Ring Lake Ranch.

After five years on the junior staff of Ring Lake Ranch, four years training Tennessee Walking Horses for Sylvia Crouter--former Ring Lake Ranch Board member and dear friend of Maggie Kahin--college, and 14 years with the US Forest Service, Ann has accepted the position of Manager of Ring Lake Ranch. Ann began her new position on October 1, 1999. Asked about her desire to return to the Ranch, Ann said:

“My summers at Ring Lake Ranch were a pivotal influence in my youth. In the years since, I have often come to the Ranch for rest and renewal. Ring Lake and all its people have given me more than words can express, and I’m thrilled to have a chance to give some of that back.”

Ann lives with her husband, Doug McWhirter, in Pinedale, Wyoming, along with their four horses, one mule, and two dogs. Doug works with the US Game and Fish Department.

Ann, Tucker, and Shiloh in 1999

~ Joan Guntzelman

 

 

SEMINARS

What an array of delightful seminars, leaders and guests populated Ring Lake Ranch this past summer! We opened our season with another of Maggie's junior staffers from the past--Gustav Niebuhr of the New York Times-- engaging participants with stories of mega- churches and new directions in religious search. Christopher Niebuhr, age one, began his apprenticeship to junior staff.

Larry and Sandy Reimer, on a return trip with a number of other Floridians, helped a new group of "writers from the soul" emerge. Shared stories, shared dreams and hikes brought about a specially warm community atmosphere.

David Petersen's first seminar was an artistic delight as the words of Genesis came alive with new meaning and expression. From this up-lifting experience we dove in the second week we heavier places--several current issues of struggle and culture warfare, which did nothing to dampen the spirits of the participants.

In a masterful way Speed Leas showed us how to resolve conflicts we might encounter in our churches as well as in other situations. The guests at this seminar turned out to have an amazing array of talents as we held the first Annual Ring Lake Ranch Talent Show under the direct of Amanda Cook and Vanessa Martin.

Carol Newsom drew a full house and took her participants on a journey through the book of Revelation, provoking lively discussion. Before she left the Ranch Carol seemed to have found the name of each and every local wildflower.

In the last seminar of the season, Tom Troeger shared some of his many talents from dramatic and stimulating preaching to
baroque flute music. This seminar also spawned the birth of the Ring Lake Gospel Jazz Band that rocked the Living Room as never before. Musicians were Carlyle Richards on piano, Debra Angell on flute, and John Townsend on drums.

STAFF

Summer 1999 was blessed by a great, hard- working staff. Many thanks go to Kathy Taylor, Nelda Gilliam, Dave Buckles, Ethan & Sylvia Landis, Elaine Casteel, Darlene Gonzales, Judy Winter, Tom Brown and Gayle Halladay, as well as junior staff--Elly Stewart, John Townsend, Amanda Long, Jarett Veldhouse, Chris MacDuff, and Heather Robeson. We also appreciate the work of our three volunteers--Sue Bailes, Janice Cramp, and Kay Younge.


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