More than 400 of Bermuda's men of all ages, races and economic persuasions will get together next month without the women in their lives to deal with issues unique to them.

They will spend a whole day at Sonesta Beach Hotel to learn, with the help of three overseas speakers, how to open up and share their feelings and speak freely about other important manly issues from health to simply being more communicative fathers.

And because of the nature of the concerns, women will not be allowed to attend the conference. It will be just men dealing with men's concerns.

"We apologise to the women but this is a men's thing,'' said Bryant Richards who is the chairman of a 14-man committee putting the conference together.

"Women are always saying that men can't get their heads together and do anything constructive so we're going to demonstrate that we can do that.'' Added conference secretary Brenton Roberts: "Women have their networks, they have an excellent resource for the issues that they deal with but men don't.

This is our attempt to open up a vehicle for men to express themselves on a multitude of issues.

"We are about the business of providing a safe environment for men to come and express themselves.'' The conference is an offshoot of a US movement called Men on the Move, "a spiritual-based campaign designed to build healthy and wholesome families by assisting men in developing their minds, bodies and spirits''.

The three guest speakers are Adeyemi Bandele, founder and director of Men on the Move, Rev. Cochise Brown, co-founder of the Spiritual Oasis Foundation and a spiritual life counsellor and Dr. Akmal Muwwakkil, founder of the Energy Institute of Healing Arts.

The staging of the conference comes at a time when there are on-going concerns about the behaviour of Bermuda's young men. That, too, will be addressed.

"It couldn't have been more timely and to that end some of the patron tickets will be going to those teenagers to come,'' said Roberts who noted that distribution will go through the teenage agencies such as Teen Services and Pride.

"They will then provide tickets to those teenagers who they feel will get the best benefit from this experience. We're looking at 60-something tickets and we have already raised (funds for) 50.'' Tickets for the conference cost $50 for adults but, in an effort to have men bring a son or nephew with them, the cost will be $37.50 each.

The cost of the ticket will include conference material and a copy of the journal called `The Book of Life', which encourages men to keep an ongoing record of their feelings -- an important step in getting in touch with their inner-selves. Also covered in the fee will be a morning coffee break and buffet lunch.

"Men who attend the conference are in for an event that will surely enhance their lives because it's not every day that men are able to drop their egos, their facades and just be themselves,'' said the organisers.

"This conference can be a first step in that direction.'' Both Mr. Richards and Mr. Roberts have worked with young people for more than 20 years, Richards now three years retired as co-ordinator of Addiction Services where he worked for 20 years while Roberts is the Director of Youth, Sport and Recreation.

The other members of the committee come from various backgrounds, with treasurer Alvin Gouldbourne the president of the Fathers Resource Centre and Rev. Christopher Haynes, the chairman of the promotions committee, the Pastor of Mount Zion AME Church.

Lew Simmons, the chairman of the programme committee, is also involved in the 100 Black Men group. Other committee members include Keith Smith and Norbert Simons of Youth, Sport and Recreation, martial artist Alvin Lee, Cal Ming of the National Drugs Commission, Tyrone Smith of Pride, and Leroy (Nibs) Lewis, Rudolph (Mutt) Lawrence, Keith DuBois and John Perinchief.

"The push on the tickets is the concentration that we now have,'' said Mr.

Roberts, noting that there is space at the conference for 425.

"The advertisements will now pick up and in fact the committee members are already out there canvassing and have had direct contacts with all of the agencies promoting ticket sales.'' Added Mr. Richards: "We would like those who, for financial reasons, who are not able to attend, to have that opportunity to attend. This has been disseminated to the community by a couple of our committee workers who have an idea of the people they think can benefit from that.

"We've had a few of the sponsors give us clear-cut directions of what people they would like to see sponsored by their tickets, while others have allowed us to do as we see fit.'' There has also been interest from overseas but Mr. Roberts added that the committee has made the decision to restrict the number of tickets available to overseas persons to 25 "in order to ensure that we maximise the opportunity for Bermudian men.'' Both men admit that the Bermuda Gathering of Men might become a charity in the future with conferences held annually. There is also the goal of having as many as three chapters in Bermuda, in Somerset, Hamilton and St. George's once interest in the support group grows.

The weekend of activities also include going onto Court Street with the visiting speakers on the Thursday evening to talk to young men there and then into the Prisons on Friday, October 13 to speak with the prisoners. Only the sunrise service on the Sunday morning will women be allowed when, says Mr.

Roberts, "we put closure to the whole weekend''.

Said Mr. Richards: "We welcome the opportunity to have some input from the presenters from abroad but also we want the community to realise that this is going to be a Bermuda-based programme.

"We'll get some ideas and guidelines from abroad but it will be a Bermuda design, will have a Bermuda flavour with Bermuda input and a Bermuda focus. So we're not just bringing a programme from abroad and trying to stuff it down their throats here.

"We going to listen to what they've done and we may take some of what they have or we may not take any of it. There are enough people around our table who have the experience of organising and setting up groups that we can then say `this is what we need for Bermuda, that may work in the United States but in Bermuda that won't work'.'' Added Mr. Richards: "This is not a one-off thing, this is one of many. We hope each year to have a seminar of this like and eventually to have an international seminar. To open it up and embrace other agencies and other Gatherings of Men worldwide.'' Mr. Roberts also recognises the need for continued support of the type being offered, especially in a community with so many issues to deal with.

"The vision of the committee is to establish an ongoing men's resource in this community that can continue the process of dialogue, discussion and resolution of issues that are particularly germane to Bermuda,'' said the secretary.

"That is vitally a important aspect as to how we see ourselves. Yes the impetus will be given to the seminar on October 14 but what we are concerned about -- indeed our energies are being directed there now -- is what happens on October 15 and thereafter.

"We see ourselves having three men's resource groups developed in this community to continue the initiative of providing an environment where men can come and deal with the issues that they are confronted with.'' The issues which impact on men include relationships with their families, including their sons, their jobs, frustrations in personal lives, the issues of divorce.

"Responsibility for your children and being accountable for your children,'' said Mr. Richards.

"Just because you and your wife don't hit it off doesn't mean that your children should suffer the result of that. We also want to encourage men to take a risk and get in touch with their feelings, learn how to grieve and put closure to issues.

"We're not just talking about one segment of Bermuda's male population, we're talking about the whole of Bermuda's male population, young and old, black and white, rich and poor, across racial barriers, geographical barriers, economic barriers.

"Wherever it is men have issues. Please take a risk and come to the forum and bring your teenage son.'' Tickets are on sale at 27th Century Boutique, Advantage Computer Solutions, Ministry of Youth and Sport and all committee members.

For further information, contact Mr. Roberts at 295-0855, or Mr. Richards at 295-3723.