[OSList] Open Space for the Grey Panthers of northwestern Switzerland

[Catherine Pfaehler]

Dear Open Space friends

Today was the day! We had a very good time, a generous schedule, and two
fine, small round standing-lunch-tables in the middle, as most of the
seniors couldn't get down to the floor to write down their burning issues
and topics.

My most important observation was that it was simply wonderful to have my
dear friend Rita, a member of the Grey Panthers, be my assistant. I spent
the night at her home after setting up the room for the event with two more
members. This allowed us to go through all the checklists and announcements
last night with enough time, taking into account once more the special needs
of this group. We did some good signs to make the finding of rooms easy, and
we combined the matrix on the wall with the post-its with room numbers and
times to stick to the topic sheets, so that everybody understood well what
workshop was taking place in which area.

Today was as fresh as always (no difference from older to younger
participants - at least those who were able to attend!). It was a wonderful
day full of rich exchange, new members who liked what they experienced, and
some important issues which can be addressed right away, amongst which the
procedure for finding the successor of one of the co-presidents.

Thank you all again for your most valuable inputs! It felt so wonderful to
be back in the circle after quite some time... :) And it was truly great to
feel my experience growing over time. 

News from the personal side: I have been employed for a part-time job as the
secretary of a feminist peace building NGO in our capital Bern as of June
1st. Part of their work is empowering migrant women in Switzerland, and
empowerment is the main focus of what their partner organisations do around
the Mediterranean as well. I will be able to bring Open Space to this work
sooner or later, interest has been expressed! www.cfd-ch.org is our website.
This is the last piece of the puzzle of my new life. I am so very grateful
that things are back to normal now... New cosy apartment in a new city, new
partner, and now also an interesting new job in a great team of women...
(Yesterday, it has been 3 years and 8 months that my girls have died.) It
feels as if somebody had lifted my train up from its track and carefully set
it down again on a new track, wagon by wagon. It was a longish process which
took a lot of patience, but it took as long as my soul and body needed for
their grief work. There are no shortcuts, and it's great to be able to take
the necessary time. Thank you all again for your support!

Heartfully, Catherine
 
Catherine Pfaehler
lic.oec.HSG
Open Space Begleitung
Burckhardtstrasse 2
CH - 3008 Bern
Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31
Mobile  +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46
c.pfaehler at open-space-begleitung.ch
www.open-space-begleitung.ch