This page is for archiving updates that we send before the retreat to enrolled students. This is the best place to go to see if any changes have been made to our schedule of events and other information that may be of interest. The updates will be in order of the last shown first.
Update #1, September 13th
Hi All,
We are just under six weeks away from O’Flaherty’s, and we are getting more excited by the day. A lot is happening right now as we prepare, and there are some things you need to know. Here are some important items to review:
Deadlines Approaching
Please be advised of the following deadlines:
- The last day that you can receive a full refund for lodging at Camp Hoblitzelle (e.g., cabins, rooms, dorm beds, etc.) is Monday, September 19th. To request a refund, email our registrar Rick Roberts at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org.
- If you paid a deposit, the full balance is due Monday, September 26th, and it will automatically be charged to the same card that was used for the deposit.
- Our online enrollment will end on Saturday, October 8th and it is likely that many classes will be full by then, so please tell your friends who interested to sign up soon. To enroll after October 8th is the registration site is no longer active, email our registrar Rick Roberts at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org for options.
- We have a limited number of scholarships available and the deadline for submission is Saturday, October 8th. If you know of someone who might qualify, send them here – SCHOLARSHIPS.
Schedule Changes
The SCHEDULE that is on the website is NOT finalized and won’t be until closer to the retreat. Due to changes in class sizes in the coming weeks, we will wait until after Sunday, Oct. 16th to publish the final schedule with room assignments and any last minute changes.
Check-In Changes
We are going paperless again this year, so our SITE MAP and SCHEDULE that we normally include in a packet is only available on our website. We suggest you print out these documents after October 16th before you head our way or see how they look on your Smartphones. We will have the site map and schedule enlarged on stands at check-in for viewing. Our registration team will be passing out badges and keys and “bed bundles” for those who ordered them (see below).
Dorm Bed Bundles
If you are staying in a dorm and you would like a pillow, pillow case, sheet, blanket and two towels, contact Louvain Guiomard at lguiomard@gmail.com and order a bed bundle for $10. Pay for it (cash or check payable to Salvation Army Camp Hoblitzelle) and pick it up at check-in. If you ordered and paid for a bed bundle through online registration, you can also pick up your bundle at check-in.
Camp Requires Waivers
As in the past, Camp Hoblitzelle is requiring waivers to be signed. Unfortunately, they didn’t make these documents available to us until recently, sadly, long after our enrollment began. So we are going to display posters of the documents at check-in and ask everyone to sign a spreadsheet we have created acknowledging its provisions. If you would like to read the documents in advance, go to WAIVER-1 and WAIVER-2.
No Monday Breakfast Served at Camp
Because of the small numbers of students who typically sign up for breakfast at the camp on Monday mornings, we have had to end that service. It’s just not profitable for the camp to prepare breakfast for so few. Even though it wasn’t offered in our online registration site, it was shown on several web pages that have since been corrected. We just don’t want anyone misled into believing that breakfast is available that morning.
We Need Drivers
If you can help pick up students and drivers from the Dallas airports on Thursday afternoon to early evening and/or help take them back on Monday morning, please let us know by emailing info@oflahertyretreat.org . We also need volunteers to help transport students to and from the Marriott Hotel and camp.
New O’Flaherty Retreat T-Shirt
We will be selling our new retreat t-shirt in both men and women styles at our Retreat Store in the Chapel. For a sneak peak, here is the design in the men’s style – SHIRT. Thanks to Candy Schell, our amazing volunteer graphic artist, who has produced most of our shirt designs, posters, flyers, and logos over the years.
Thank You for Your Donations!
It is wonderful how so many of you added donations to your registrations or made separate PayPal donations from our website. As in the past, it is the generosity of our students and friends that enable us to organize the retreat each year. Thank you for your support!
More updates will be sent to you soon that contain more important info. For a review of the updates we send, go to UPDATES. If you have any questions, please let us know. Take care and thanks for coming this year!