Upcoming Monthly Men’s Sunday Brunches (bring something to share/cook up): Sunday, May 20th at Rick Gravrok’s, 2925 Monterey Ave S, St. Louis Park, 55416 952-926-6655. (on the west side of Lake Calhoun, off Lake St.), and Sunday, June 17th (Father’s Day – children welcome) at Jim Lovestar’s backyard picnic table, 2629 Upton Ave N, Minneapolis (1 block east of Theodore Wirth Parkway and near the Broadway/Lowry Jct), 612-588-8984. 13 attended the February brunch at Stephen Fullers’s and 14 attended the brunch at Eric Mann’s. - Andy Mickel, 2007-03-04.

“I have only been to a few center meetings/presentations in my many years as a Men’s Center member, but I feel safer knowing you are there if I need you.” - John H. 2007-01-09.

“Two continents hear fine comments about TCMC. Your bi-monthly newsletter & schedule of events I find keeps me knowing what is taking place. Thanks to all who assist in creating the fine programming and great spirit.” - Pat Reisinger, 2007-01-01.

Andrew Weil, M.D. (Healthy Aging), Robert Bly (Evening of Poetry), Jim Mitchell, chairman of ManKind Project Int’l (Creating Leadership with Passion Power & Presence using Archetypal Energies), John Lee (Courting Your Own and Your Lover’s Soul: Deepening Intimacy, Connection & Conversation) and Christopher Kennedy Lawford, (Men in Recovery: The Process of Surrendering) all keynote sessions in a 4-day Conference for men and “the women who work with them”: A Healthy Spirit: Healing the Bodies and Minds of Men. The participant will have the opportunity to learn in-depth information about topics related to Men’s health and well-being. A wide range of topics will be presented, including physical health issues, emotional growth, relationships, spirituality, addiction, anger management, depression and issues related to childhood growth and father and son relationships. April 22-25, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. $479. Register online: <http://www.dualdiagnosis.org/>, or 1-877-345-3274. FFI: <karen@cmehelp.com>. - 2007-02-01

National Men’s Health Week is June 11-17. <http://www.menshealthweek.org/> FFI: Men’s Health Network, P.O. Box 75972, Washington, DC 20013 <info@menshealthweek.org> 202-543-6461 x101 - 2007-02-23.

The Man-Making book by Earl Hipp was officially launched and now in its 2nd printing. The Ancient Call: For thousands of years, in cultures around the world, when the time was right the men of the village came for the adolescent boys. Guiding young males toward a solid and responsible manhood was men’s sacred work. Today, too many men are not answering this man-making call. The result is an epidemic of lost, damaged, and under-male-nourished boys. Man-Making is a practical and inspirational guidebook for men, showing them how to awaken and apply their instinctive man-making skills. Every man, regardless of his level of commitment to this work, will find something he can do to support a boy or boys on the journey to manhood. The website <http://www.man-making.com/> has references to books, films, and men’s responses to the research questions I asked while writing the book. Those questions and men’s responses will take any man back to his adolescence and his first steps on his journey to manhood. Two articles are available on the website resources page: Why Men Don’t Mentor Boys, and a “home spun” rite-of-passage ceremony created for a boy’s launch off to college.
- Earl Hipp, 2007-02-14

Judson Family Center in Minneapolis hosts free Educational Events every 2nd Thursday, 7-8:30pm. On May 10, Janet Putnam will present “Demystifying Therapy” at Lake Harriet Christian Church, 5009 Beard Ave S. - Judson Family Center, 101 Harriet Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55409, 612-827-2631 - 2006-10-01.

The next ManKind Project-Minnesota New Warrior Training Adventure will be held April 13-15, 2007 at Eagle Lake Camp near Brainerd, MN. The cost is $650, with many payment plans available. To learn more, attend an Open Circle event: Observe, Ask Questions (or Participate if you like) in a safe container with a group of men who are practicing authenticity and connection to feeling at Open Circle of Warriors events at the Men’s Center every 2nd Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Contact Andy Mickel with any questions 612-279-6416 or see: <http://minnesota.mkp.org/> for Open I-Group dates/times. Register online at <http://minnesota.mkp.org>. - Andy Mickel, 2007-03-04.

From the book jacket of John Eldridge’s book, Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul 2001, 223pp, ISBN-10: 0785268839: “A Battle to fight. An Adventure to live. A Beauty to rescue. This is what a man longs for. This is what makes him come alive. Look at the films men love. For that matter, look at the dreams of little boys, the games they play. There is something fierce, passionate, and wild in the heart of every man. That is how he bears the image of God. And the reason that most men “live lives of quiet desperation” is because men have been told that the reason God put them on earth is to be a good boy. To be nice. God designed men to be dangerous. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. Sadly, most men abandon those dreams and desires — aided by a Christianity that feels like nothing more than pressure to be a nice guy. It is no wonder that many men avoid church, and those who go are often passive and bored to death.” - Jim Lovestar, 2007-02-28.

The Men’s Leadership Alliance has created programs in the Art of Leadership for 20 years. July 13-20 at the Traditional Wilderness Camp and September 16-22 at a comfortable New England Lodge. Also available in 2007 are Colorado Men’s Spirit Camps, Vision Fast for Men, Boys Wilderness Trip, Elder Retreat, and Men’s Leadership Alliance. FFI: Men’s Leadership Alliance, 2115 Poplar Ave, Boulder, CO 80304, 303-444-9066, <http://www.mensleadershipalliance.org/> - 2007-02-02

Bill Dobbs and I will be updating our website, <http://www.tcmc.org/> this summer allowing you to bookmark interior pages. - Andy Mickel. - 2007-03-04.