Why have Soularize in the Bahamas?

Spencer Burke sent this out as a part of TheOozeletter today.

This year Soularize is a counter intuitive relational learning party

There are three important reasons why we chose the Bahamas;

This is the first international venue for the missional / emerging conversation. I am surprised how many people in the USA are unaware of how difficult and expensive it is for our international friends to come to US. It is only 60 miles off of our coast but it makes a world of difference for many desiring to engage on neutral ground.
We are always connected to a local ministry and spend a year or more working with them on the event to ensure this is not a “road show”. All of the creativity and experiences are in collaboration with Clint, Tim, Kelly, Gillian, Christian (New Providence Community Church) and local artists, musicians and families. You should check out all of the spaces we are using to create the conversation and learning experiences Soularize, (no hotels or conference centers).
It is hard to fight the perception of the Bahamas – cost was one of the factors (although it is cheaper to fly from NYC, Minneapolis, Seattle and Canada, stay in our host hotel and pay the registration fee for Soularize than it is to fly to a San Diego conference). Soularize has been the one safe place for those who have left the comfort of the established church and their conference budgets. Many have to take time off of work as well. But this has become more than a conference, for some, it is a family gathering. It is always great to see the friendships pick up from last year and new ones begin. The key to Soularize is relationships. Online 24/7, in person Oct. 25-27, 2007.

Below is some Soularize Resources, please pass the word on and I hope to see you on the sand with the rest of my friends Frank Viola, Becky Garrison, Karen Ward, Mark Scandrette, Kristyn Komarnicki, Michael Dowd, Barry Taylor, Dwight Friesen, Jim Palmer, Gareth Higgins, Ron Martoia and more being added weekly.

Spencer’s Description of Soularize 2007 on YouTube

Update:
Passport Application Required for travel to the Bahamas!

Regular (today) – $249
Late (after Sept 1) – $299

Myth Busters
Myth #1 – The Bahamas is too Expensive
Fact – October is the Off Season with great deals on airfare and hotels

Myth #2 – The Emerging conversation is limited to the USA
Fact – We chose the Bahamas because it is an International venue, it may be a short flight from Miami, but it is a huge leap towards our friends

Myth #3 – Conventions are talking heads in stuffy rooms
Fact – Soularize includes a Private Island, Art Studios, Swimming w/Sharks, Social Networking website, Beach Reclamation Project

Myth #4 – Big name speakers equal big impersonal crowds Fact – We limited the event to 500 attendees, with a key note line up of the decade (N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Rita Nakashima Brock, and Fr. Richard Rohr)

There will also be some Canadians there. We will be the ones playing road hockey on the private island while swimming with the man eating sharks.