In the weeks leading up to the first-of-its-kind ROSE Festival, energy and enthusiasm continued to build, especially among the women who had previously participated in a ROSE Retreat. The ROSE Alumni network has been growing since the first event was held in 2023, and after attending once, many Alumni make it a priority to return.

If you ask any of them, they will tell you that attending a ROSE event, diving deeper into the community, and building your own personal firearms journey through the ROSE program is an incredible gift to yourself. The ROSE Festival welcomed even more women into the ranks of ROSE Alumni, creating opportunities to build personal friendships with like-minded women and grow their confidence along the way.

Building Friendships and Firearms Skills
Most women initially connect with the ROSE brand as they are building their comfort and competence in firearms. The ROSE program provides the foundation of skills that can be translated to brand new shooters as well as those who have been shooting for much of their lives. But the best way to build those skills is to attend a SIG-curated ROSE event where the instructors can help women wherever they are on their journey. What most women don’t realize before coming to those events is that ROSE Retreats are as much about the women they will meet and the community bonds they will form.

“I quickly realized that ROSE was about so much more than a firearm – it was about education, confidence, personal safety, and bringing women together to learn from and encourage one another,” says Pam Petrucci who has attended the Washington, DC and the May 2026 New Hampshire ROSE Retreats. “The friendships and connections are probably the most meaningful part for me. You meet people who may live hundreds or even thousands of miles away, but you quickly discover that you have so much in common. Some of those connections become friendships that continue long after the Retreat is over.

“I love being around and collaborating with other like-minded women, and the Retreat gave me the opportunity to meet women from all different backgrounds and levels of experience,” Pam continues. “I went because I was curious about the experience, but I came away realizing that the community was really the heart of ROSE. There is something so special about being surrounded by women who genuinely want to encourage, support, and see each other succeed.”

In fact, Pam met Joy Kelsey at the DC event and since they both lived in North Carolina, they decided to road trip up to the New Hampshire Retreat together. “I was interested in connecting with other women who shoot. I wanted to learn, train, and get better at it with other women who enjoy doing the same thing, but there weren’t many women near me who really want to train – so I decided to attend the ROSE Retreat,” Joy notes. “The ROSE Community made me realize that this group is what I was missing in my shooting journey. I enjoy shooting more so now than before because I get to connect with ladies who may or may not have the same issue or concern and it’s great to get a girl’s point of view.”

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
ROSE Alumni are the most passionate supporters and participants in these events because they have also taken the leap to try something new and make themselves vulnerable with a group of women they do not know. What they’ve found is a community so strong that they happily come back to help welcome those who are coming for the first time. 

It’s not unusual for women to be concerned about being around so many other women – not everyone is easily able to jump into a group setting, which can be intimidating. Paula Marsh lives on a ranch in Texas and is often isolated without many women or friends nearby. She was intrigued enough by the San Diego Retreat at the beautiful Hotel del Coronado to take the leap and had a wonderful time, but it almost overwhelmed her. Through support from staff and friends she made at the Retreat, and after becoming more involved with the ROSE Facebook Community, she went on to attend both the DC and New Hampshire events. 

“I began to feel that I could really enjoy getting away with like-minded women and learning together,” Paula said. “I keep coming back for the camaraderie, the wonderful people involved, and the truly badass training! I’ve become close friends with a small group and we travel to the SIG Academy now separate from the Retreats to train together. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for this wonderful, life-changing experience and these new good friends. I was alone so much before, with nothing exciting or much fun to look forward to… but now, that’s all changed!”

Bernadette Olson, who has now attended three Retreats, agrees that retreats are an incredible boost to self confidence. “A lot of us are really shy, introverted people. Sharing at the Retreats can be really hard, but we all do it and we all get through it, because of the level of support from everyone there. That opening up about our why or our how is so healing and so inspiring!”

One woman those of us who have attended multiple events have gotten to know well is Shari Stoican. Shari suffered from a spinal cord injury and has fought her way back to mobility, however she had developed social anxiety and PTSD due to her injury. Moving outside of the environment she is used to and could control is a big challenge. But her attendance at her first Retreat in San Diego was motivated by her embodying a friend’s advice to take the worst situation and become the best person she could be.

“Doing something where I didn't control a lot of the environment around me was very frightening and I took it as a challenge,” Shari related. “Going to San Diego was my opportunity to progress my journey on posttraumatic stress growth. Nobody knew me, so I didn’t have any previous behavior to live up to! I used the opportunity to get outside of my fears, get outside of myself, and try to make that experience better for others. And I have done that at every Retreat since, because it’s still really easy for me to get nervous in these situations and my best way to combat that is getting out of myself. 

“Deciding to go to a ROSE Retreat, I put myself against the proverbial wall to move through the fear and anxiety I had around this event,” she concluded. “I never would have thought that the meticulous, intentional, and thorough planning by the ROSE team of all the details of these events, would create this magical safe space. This is an incredible gift that went beyond what I could ever have imagined! I don’t like using the term safe space, but this ROSE event was safe for me – and now as a ROSE Alumni you want to pass that on.”

You Can Do It!
One thing all alumni will say is to just do it – go to a ROSE Event in your area.

“Take the time for yourself,” recommends Babes Gergulis who has attended three events. “As women we rarely get to focus on ourselves, we often have a stressful life taking care of other people. But ROSE Events give us the opportunity to develop something we enjoy, build the knowledge, and build lasting friendships with women who love the same things.”

Paula agrees, “I’d tell them to jump in with both feet and not look back! Don’t worry about what your current experience or training level is. Don’t worry if you’ll be liked or accepted. Know that from the moment you step into that first welcome dinner, you’re going to be surrounded by new friends. Just relax and have fun!” 

“Sometimes the person standing next to you has a story, experience, or perspective that teaches you something you never expected to learn. That’s one of the things I value most about ROSE – you can be both the teacher and the student, and there is always something new to take away,” Pam reflects. “For me, ROSE has helped reinforce that learning never stops, and neither does the opportunity to encourage and support the women around you. It honestly feels like coming home to a community that understands you, supports you, and genuinely wants to see you succeed. Most of all, enjoy the experience and the people you meet along the way. You may come to ROSE looking to learn about firearms and build your confidence, but you might leave with something you never expected – a community of women who support you, encourage you, and become lifelong friends.”

“It is really awesome watching the new women blossom and it’s wonderful reconnecting with old friends. There’s a group of alumni that are just incredible women – they are strong women in my life, and we are already planning our next ROSE adventure!” Shari concluded.