So much to Celebrate! by Pam Kehoe

Pam Kehoe

I did my Woman Within Training Weekend in December of 02, on the beautiful Lake Michigan grounds of the Dekoven Center in Racine, Wisconsin. It was cold, snow covered, absolutely beautiful and still. A Warrior from Milwaukee had consistently given me brochure after brochure and email after email announcing the upcoming weekend trainings. My 50th birthday weekend approached and I thought “Why not? If I stay in town they will throw some black laden, ridiculous party for some old person. That’s not me!” So off I went committing to attend on just the Wednesday before the weekend. What was I getting into? A nice little spa weekend away alone? Hardly.


The Dekoven Center is a beautiful historic retreat center. We each had our own room (monastic cell), no clocks, and no noise, just quiet. The creaking wood of the ancient staircases was one of the only sounds heard throughout part of the weekend. That was exactly what I needed; that quiet; that alone time. I had raised three children and did what had to be done. My MO was to never be quiet. I was always babbling whether you wanted to listen to me or not, I was going to tell you all about it.


Something happened that weekend in all that quiet. I found an inner energy, a calmness, a peace, something that I never knew was possible. My weekend was just the beginning of more growth than in all of my first 50 years of life. Post menopausal and sound asleep would be how I thought of myself then. I’ve woken up after a long period of numbness. I celebrated my 50th with a phenomenal group of women.

I now sit in circle every other week and listen. I’ve learned to listen to myself too; empowering me to sort out all the distractions that kept me from knowing my authentic self.

I’ve continued to do workshops and now staff weekends. I heal just a little bit more when surrounded with the balm of the spirit of the weekends. I recently did WWL2 and created a new mission statement; “My mission is to reach my full potential and to be of service.”

I’m honoring that mission statement by volunteering to be the Women In Circle Celebration Coordinator for the next two years.

My goal is to create sacred celebrations for our graduates. To encourage staff members and all initiated women to attend our celebrations with friends and family as we build community.

Our next celebration will be held June 3rd to celebrate the women of the May 2007 weekend. I hope to see you there.

WWTW Women of May Celebration
June 3, 2007, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Radisson Hotel and Conference Center
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Phone: 262 857 3377
11800 108th street
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158

Located between Milwaukee and Chicago, just off Interstate 94 and Highway EXIT 165 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, north of the IL/WI border and south of Highway 50.  (Click here to see flier with map)

This is an open event to celebrate the women who have completed the May 2007 training. Please share this invitation with your friends, family, E-circle and other women. We encourage you to invite women that might be interested in attending a WWTW weekend.

Pam Kehoe
WWTW Racine, WI, December 2002.

Josefa Jensen (6/90) , Edna Wilson (3/89), Dawn Clark (11/05), Pam Kehoe (12/02) &Deb Strel-Williams (9/05) at the May 10, 2007 MKP graduation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.