IWF Western Regional Retreat
“Community Connections Celebration”
Saturday, May 24th
10:30 am - 3:30 pm (Pacific)
Register by May 9th
Join us for the 3rd Annual IWF Western Region Retreat and to celebrate our five years of Western Region Cocktail Cafes.
The Retreat, “Community Connections Celebration," is a specially curated day of events to build on the relationships and connections between members of the eight Forums in the Western Region: British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Southern California, Idaho, Utah, and our newest member Forum, Hawaii.
The Retreat is planned to complement the Global Conference in Seattle for members who are planning to attend the Conference and would like to enhance their experience through a more intimate Retreat setting, or for those who are unable to attend the conference but would like to join with other Western Region members for a day of celebration and shared experiences.
Location: Seattle Opera Administration Building, 363 Mercer St., Seattle, Washington
Activities:
- Behind the Scenes at the Seattle Opera with tours provided by the Seattle Opera Board of Directors.
- Concert pianist and educator, Lisa Bergman, will introduce us to women composers.
- Hosted Networking Lunch for IWF Western Region members at the Seattle Opera.
- Private JCoco chocolate tasting, owned by IWF Washington State member Jean Thompson, with tailored wine and mezcal pairings provided by IWF members Katarina Bonde, owner of West Wines and Rosalinda Mendoza, owner of Mocel Mezcal.
A no-host post-event casual dinner is also being organized; please indicate if you plan to attend when you register.
IWF Member Hosts: Western Region Retreat Planning Committee
Date: May 24, 2025
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Cost: $135
Capacity: 60 members
Register by May 9, 2025
Participating Partners
Seattle Opera
Seattle Opera is a well-regarded, leading opera company in the United States, known for its high-quality productions and nurturing environment for artists. Founded in 1963, it is particularly famous for its Wagner productions, especially its complete Ring cycles. The company also presents a diverse range of operas, including world premieres and classic works.
Classical KING
Classical KING is a non-commercial classical music radio station in Seattle, Washington. It is owned by Classic Radio, a nonprofit organization. Classical KING holds periodic on-air fundraisers to help support the station through listener contributions. This organization is led by Brenda Barnes, Chief Executive Officer since 2018. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, Seattle.
JCoco Chocolates
Chocolate crafted as food. Giving back with every bar. Bold yet balanced flavors. And a rainbow of color. When CEO Jean Thompson founded jcoco in 2012, her mission was two-fold: elevate the way people experience chocolate and turn an everyday indulgence into an opportunity to make a difference. In addition to paying fair prices for our cacao, 10% net profits go to support cacao farmers to ensure a thriving future for this precious fruit.
Featured Concert Pianist: Lisa Bergman
Lisa Bergman is a concert pianist specializing in the fields of collaborative piano and chamber music. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and the University of Washington. For 10 years, she served as an Artist in Residence and faculty member at the University of Washington School of Music and is a member of the Hall of Fame for the Washington State Music Teachers Association. Lisa serves as Classical Music Program Advisor of the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth, Washington. She has been a vital part of Classical KING since 2012 and was a classical music host on KOHO FM for 10 years.
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