Southeast Unitarian Univeralist Winter Institute Miami
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The Southeast Unitarian Universalist Winter Institute (known colloquially as SWIM or S.W.I.M.) is a Unitarian Universalist (UU) retreat that runs annually from Dec 26th to Jan 1st near Miami, Florida. SWIM is an intentional community which provides religious, inspirational, educational, growth oriented programming. Started by a group of SUUSI participants, SWIM has taken place on the last week of the year in every year since 1970.
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[edit] Mission & Values
SWIM's mission is to evoke 'the best within each of us, in concert with the principles of Unitarian Universalism.' It strives to nurture connections among people of diverse ages, backgrounds, abilities and interests in the spirit of open communication, inclusiveness, spirituality and growth. It is an inspirational place to grow, take risks and step outside one's ordinary environment into something transcendent.
[edit] Spirituality
Being a UU retreat, SWIM has a decidedly spiritual bent. Spiritual events run the gamut from rational humanism to Wiccan services. SWIM's nightly workship services, for example, have included sermon topics as diverse as "Modern Spirituality," "What It Means To Be a UU" and "Politics and Religion." In addition, some SWIM workshops have focued on spiritual subjects, specifically "Hinduism for the Millennium," "Buddhist Meditation," "Group Yoga," "Could You Be A Pagan?" and the "State of the Universe."
[edit] Workshops
SWIM workshops have ranged from the artistic to the intellectual. Past years' workshops have included handicrafts, such as watercolor painting, weaving, beading and knitting. They have encouraged participants to expand their writing capacities, through poetry, short works of fiction and letters. They have asked participants to discuss current political, economic and social issues. In addition, SWIM produces workshops designed to provide a taste of local Florida culture. In previous years, SWIM has put together excursions where participants could try local cuisines, from Cuban to Mexican to Peruvian. Other outings have included regular trips to the King Mango Strut, volunteering for the wildlife rescue league and contributing to hurricane relief efforts.
[edit] Nature Trips
SWIM makes a point of running a collection of nature excursions that take advantage of Florida's state and national parks and other areas. It is all about communing with nature in a southern Florida setting.
[edit] Nightlife
SWIM concludes each day with a variety of evening programming. Events include nightly campfires, themed dances, coffeehouse concerts, live & silent auctions and a New Year's Eve Ball.
[edit] Guiding Principles
SWIM (as a member of the Council of Unitarian Universalist Camps and Conferences (CU2C2), an independent affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association) is guided by the Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
[edit] Governance
SWIM is an independent, incorporated, not-for-profit organization. SWIM has a 10-member Board of Trustees, all of whom are voting members who are either elected or appointed to their positions. The Board chooses the Director of the Institute, the Director-Elect, and the Treasurer; provides policy guidance to the Director; and approves the annual operating budget.
All participants in attendance at SWIM are voting members, eligible to vote on by-law amendments, to petition for by-law amendments, and vote for at-large Board Members on the annual ballot.
SWIM is a member of the Council of Unitarian Universalist Camps and Conferences (CU2C2), an independent affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
