What we need

All kinds of energy!
This Retreat is Divine business, not ours, though we are the necessary guardians, for grounding and fulfilling the purpose – helping to create the ‘tapestry’ design, as part of that weaving ourselves. This understanding underwrites our openness to what is meant to be – the best possible outcome for all concerned – within our attempt to offer a strong, positive and flexible future. It takes courage to say we don’t know the answer, though we can feel the strength that there is a future, and a splendid one – but the tapestry gets completed at the perfect divine right pace – not ours, and it is possible that the final picture includes you!

Here is our current view, therefore, of what is needed:-

Money

Investment at this stage is an essential ingredient to purchase this property and so make it ‘safe’ to build and grow for the future. The land is currently for sale (organised by Julie Murray’s family) and here is a link to the web site set up to sell it: www.cretepotential.eu. The asking price for the property is 1.7m euros in total. This is for the area - 24,000m2 or about 6 acres, and the 3 buildings on the land.

There is a clock ticking for the ownership of a valuable part of this property, an important if not essential piece of the White Mountain Retreat picture. The Bottom Line is, if we can raise 500,000 euros in the next month (July 2011) – or the promise of such a sum from trustworthy source or sources within 3 months, we can turn the corner for White Mountain.

However we proceed from that point, in the terms of investment and development for the future as well as completion with the past, a strong foothold will be established in the safeguarding and ‘ownership’ of the whole property. We have friends at the negotiating table and White Mountain Retreat will then be the obvious candidate for owner/occupier or long-term tenant!

We hope this explains the sense of urgency in our communications, which you have no doubt felt. It is strange and somehow a paradox, that the energy of the place continues to feel, just so safe and secure. It must surely be that Presence is already here, and we - the human team - have just got to get it sorted in the world!

Capital Investment

The property could be bought in parts and we could amalgamate part-ownership into a whole. We believe there may be a possibility of setting up a stage payment scheme. However your responses to this urgent appeal come in will determine how best to take WMR forward, and in what form.

Here are some ideas:

The land could be centrally owned with a non-profit organisation – a form of Trust. This Trust does not need to be registered in Greece to own land here.
A hybrid from committed shared ownership – a neighbourhood scheme. This would most likely be set up as a company with shareholders. The new owners could work collaboratively with us to build the Centre.
An investor or group of investors may want to buy the property and allow us to develop the Retreat Centre on it, following our declared principles, and help it grow into its potential.
There are also several pieces of land around that could be purchased and developed or held as land parcels, so the collaboration could grow further.

Working Capital

We require some working capital to get the place in good shape and running once more. An estimate of start-up costs would be 180,000 euros, to do necessary repairs, maintenance and improvements, set up the business structure and staff, to open this place again, paving the way for development and expansion.

Gifts/Donations

Gifts or Donations to support the re-birth of White Mountain are welcome, and as before we are open to dedicating such gifts to a purpose, or to include a dedication for a loved one or beloved cause, on the land.

People Power

It would be helpful support for developing our business plan and for the new Team, to hear if you are interested to come and stay, or bring a group when we re-open.

With the support we are asking for, we could open for the 2012 season. A new price list is not yet set up, but given it is hard to pledge without some idea of cost, ballpark figures are between 450€ - 650€ per week (depending on the type of stay, i.e. half/full board, retreat/workshop).

Guests

Give us a boost of encouragement at this stage, and let us know of your interest and enthusiasm to come and stay at White Mountain when we do open; as a Retreat guest, to bring a Group or for a special event. Some of your diaries have to be planned further in advance, so your interest and ideas for future years is also welcome.

Teachers, Therapists and the Staff Team

Many people have contacted us with regard to working here as part of our Team, or leading courses over recent years. Please let us know of interest and skills for these roles now, given a possible opening next season, whether you are abroad or live locally on Crete.

Volunteers

White Mountain has always benefited from the kind, happy participation of Volunteer help or our Work and Play schemes. We will set these up again, for developing the garden or with the upkeep of the buildings, at the beginning and end of the season, so let us know if this is of interest to you.

Ideas

Not to forget, this is an opportunity for sharing; give us any ideas that pop up for you as obvious, attractive extras to include in the future.