Post by bsimon615 on Jun 11, 2018 21:55:35 GMT -6
Hopefully many have seen the posts by now about the move this coming fall of the Deep South Star Gaze to the White Horse Christian Retreat. No doubt many are apprehensive because they have not seen the White Horse Christian Retreat or the skies from this location. Additionally many have gotten quite fond of the Feliciana Retreat Center over the 9 years that the DSSG has been held there beginning in 2009. Many may not have noticed or cared about the decline in services there over the past year and a half. Some may have noticed the changes and were willing to live with the changes given the positives of the Feliciana Retreat Center in the form of private rooms and a very beautiful setting. Unfortunately the positives do not outweigh the negatives particularly when there is little hope that there will be a turn-around. So in my mind and in the mind of a number of others of the DSSG regulars, those that have been part of the DSSG for 20 plus years or more and have helped with the success of the DSSG we had a decision to make, to either put up with the negatives and continue on with the DSSG at the Feliciana Retreat Center, not an option at all in my opinion, or look for an alternative location for the DSSG - one with more positives and fewer negatives.
The "more positives and fewer negatives" guideline has led us to the White Horse Christian Retreat. First and foremost what it gives us is what I consider our #1 priority - darker skies, and not only that, it gives us lower horizons so we will see more sky that will be darker. This outweighs any other consideration. In addition, the majority of our attendees will have a shorter drive to get to White Horse, typically about 20 miles shorter on average.
Admittedly we will not have the housing options that we had at the Feliciana Retreat Center. There are no private rooms. Speaking as a regular lodge room renter at the Feliciana Retreat Center, I will miss that, but I will deal with that as will others. I know some may not be able to deal with it and unfortunately there may be a few people who either will not be able to make the DSSG at White Horse or they may feel compelled to stay at the Magnolia Inn which is 15 miles away in Columbia, MS. I would rather you do that than not come at all. I sincerely hope that once everyone experiences the skies at White Horse you will agree that we have made the right decision.
Barry Simon
The "more positives and fewer negatives" guideline has led us to the White Horse Christian Retreat. First and foremost what it gives us is what I consider our #1 priority - darker skies, and not only that, it gives us lower horizons so we will see more sky that will be darker. This outweighs any other consideration. In addition, the majority of our attendees will have a shorter drive to get to White Horse, typically about 20 miles shorter on average.
Admittedly we will not have the housing options that we had at the Feliciana Retreat Center. There are no private rooms. Speaking as a regular lodge room renter at the Feliciana Retreat Center, I will miss that, but I will deal with that as will others. I know some may not be able to deal with it and unfortunately there may be a few people who either will not be able to make the DSSG at White Horse or they may feel compelled to stay at the Magnolia Inn which is 15 miles away in Columbia, MS. I would rather you do that than not come at all. I sincerely hope that once everyone experiences the skies at White Horse you will agree that we have made the right decision.
Barry Simon
