Sisterhood Summit FAQs
If you have more questions, please feel free to contact Kamarah, the GEMS Customer Service Specialist, at hello@gemsgc.org OR 616-616-4367
HOW IS SUMMIT 2023 DIFFERENT FROM OTHER YEARS AND WHAT’S THE SAME?
One change is that the dates for Summit are shorter by one day. We will be live on Friday, July 21, in the evening and for most of the day on Saturday, July 22. But, the content you know and love at Summit will be the same. We will worship together, hear from amazing keynote speakers, and have time for lots of conversation, connection, and fellowship at your host site.
IS THIS THE NEW FORMAT FOR SUMMIT GOING FORWARD?
No, this is a format unique to 2023, as our original plan needed to be reworked unexpectedly. Once we heard about the change, we immediately started planning ways that we could still provide the parts of Summit that we have heard you say matter most – being together in fellowship and community, and training for your upcoming GEMS year, while keeping it affordable too.
Plan to join us in Florida in 2024 for a large group Summit gathering.
WHAT ARE THE SPEAKER TOPICS FOR SUMMIT?
Breakout Sessions:
- Crafting with a Purpose at your GEMS Club with Mieke Mutschler
- Leading Large Group with Excellence with Karyn Dekker
- Planning Your Year as a Club Coordinator with Elizabeth Akindejoye
- How to Retain Volunteers in Your GEMS Club with Josh Denhart
- When Grief Comes to Your Club with Bruce Martin
- Open Doors (Outreach Events with your GEMS Club) with Melissa Macdonald
Keynotes:
- The GEMS Leader’s Backpack with Cindy Bultema
- 2023-24 GEMS Theme Content with Lenae Bulthuis
- “How to be Human” with Carlos Whittaker
- “Broken Crayons Still Color” with Toni Collier
- How to Have Hope in Hardship with Katherine Wolf
- Trouble or Treasure? (Tough Behaviors in Club) with Kim Botto
- All Abilities in the Body of Christ with Victoria White
- How to be a Certain Voice in a Shaky World with Caris Snider
- Bringing Hope to your GEMS Club with Robyn Dykstra
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT A SUMMIT LOCAL HOST SITE?
Fellowship with other GEMS leaders in your area, great Summit content, and learning from other GEMS Sisters. You can expect that your host site will be welcoming and accessible and that there will be snacks throughout the event and a meal on Saturday. You can expect direct communication from the host site leading up to the event for specific details, and for Summit resources to be available on-site.
DO I HAVE TO ATTEND A HOST SITE?
No, you do not. Registration is also available for individual attendees who will be watching the Summit live outside of a Summit Local Host site.
WHAT IF I WANT TO WATCH SUMMIT 2023 WITH JUST MY TEAM?
This is considered a watch party, not a Summit Local Host Site. All attendees must register as individual attendees to access the event, even if watching together with others.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
Every attendee must a ticket for Sisterhood Summit if they intend to join through a Host Site, Watch Party, or Individual.
Registration happens through GEMS, which will process all personal information and payment details. GEMS will share only your email address and name with your chosen host site so they can communicate with you about site-specific information.
Registration Prices:
Local Host Site Ticket – $79* Member Club, $119 Non-Member
Watch Party Ticket – $89* Member Club, $129 Non-Member
Individual Registration Ticket – $99* Member Club, $139 Non-Member
*On July 10, member ticket pricing will increase by $20.
CAN I MAIL IN MY REGISTRATION?
To help keep everything organized and streamlined for this event, we are not offering a paper registration form. Please get in touch with Kamarah, the GEMS Customer Service Specialist, at hello@gemsgc.org OR 616-616-4367. if you have difficulty registering online.
ARE THERE REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS?
Attendees who select to attend Summit at a Summit Local Host Site will save $20 on their registration costs. Tickets to attend at a Host Site cost $79* USD, while attending individually cost $99* USD.
*On July 10, member ticket pricing will increase by $20.
Due to the virtual nature of the event, each attendee must register individually.
IS THERE A GROUP RATE? HOW CAN I REGISTER ALL OF MY LEADERS?
Every attendee must register with a unique email address to ensure that Host Site and Watch Party attendance is accurate. We have streamlined the registration form this year to make this process as easy as possible with the new Summit format.
I’M NOT CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A GEMS PROGRAM, CAN I ATTEND?
Yes, the GEMS Sisterhood Summit is open to all current and past GEMS leaders and ANY woman who desires to be encouraged by a sisterhood of faith-filled women. If you want to learn more about walking alongside young girls, or worship with and be encouraged by other women of faith, the Sisterhood Summit is the place for you. We will have a GEMS Friend rate on the registration form.
WHEN DOES REGISTRATION END?
You can register through the end of the day on July 14 for live Host Sites. All other sites and on-demand Host Sites and Watch Parties will have access to register through October 12, 2023.
CAN CITS ATTEND THE SISTERHOOD SUMMIT?
Yes, we welcome and encourage Counselors-In-Training (CITs) to attend.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?
If you find yourself unable to attend this great event, there are several options:
- Give your ticket to another GEMS Leader in your group. All registrations are completely transferrable. You must contact us at hello@gemsgc.org about the ticket transfer.
- If you registered for a Host Site or Watch Party but cannot attend, you will receive access to all the event recordings following the event.
Summit registrations are not refundable.
HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE VIRTUAL SUMMIT?
During registration, you will register with an email address, the address we communicate details through. As we get closer to the event, you will receive emails from GEMS with links and instructions on how to view the event.
WILL WE RECEIVE A SUMMIT PROGRAM BOOK LIKE WE’VE RECEIVED IN THE PAST?
A digital Program Book will be available to each person who registers. This comprehensive book will contain loads of helpful information. You can print the entire book or select which pages you’d like to print out.
HOW CAN I BE SURE MY INTERNET SPEED IS FAST ENOUGH TO STREAM THE SISTERHOOD SUMMIT?
We recommend at least 4-5 megabytes per second (mbps) of connection speed to stream the event with minimal interference. To check your current speed, you can go to SpeedTest.net.
I’LL MISS SHOPPING AT THE GEMS STORE. WHERE CAN I FIND THE LATEST PRODUCTS AVAILABLE?
Please visit our online store at https://gemsgc.org/store/.
DO I HAVE TO TUNE IN AT THE TIMES POSTED?
If you are watching on your own, we recommend following the published schedule to get the most from your Summit experience. We’ve designed the Summit to be interactive and engaging, and our event hosts will be coming to you live throughout the event. Each session link will become active before the official start time to give everyone a chance to settle in.
WHAT IF I WANT REPLAY ACCESS?
Replay access for the Host site and Watch party attendees will be sold after the event when the On-demand videos are available.
WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to contact Kamarah, the GEMS Customer Service Specialist, at hello@gemsgc.org OR 616-616-4367.