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

[Suzanne Daigle]

Catherine,
Dear Catherine,

Thank you for describing the detailed preparations for the Grey Panthers
event as if creating a picture for us of what happened through your
beautiful sprinkling of words:

" a generous schedule", "fresh as always","a day of rich exchanges" leading
to "important issues" that could be "dealt with right away".  Sounds like
Open Space at its best!

And then the greatest gift  of all is you sharing of your life with us, from
the tragedy that happened over three years ago to the big grief works with
no shortcuts afterward to this soothing "sunshine present"  embodied in all
the "new" -- home, city, partner and job.

There is much that is precious in our Open Space Community and I celebrate
when the postings are not only about "how to questions" or "reporting of the
event".  Under the surface, there are deep things happening, with our
clients, with us and yes in our families.   It is the essence of life and I
celebrate so much when people choose to share, hoping it will invite others
to feel safe and do the same.  It is how we find courage and know that we
are not alone as we continue this work.

So thank you Catherine.
Hoping you enjoy many Sunny summer days in Switzerland relaxing while also
empowering migrant women and others.

Be well, Suzanne



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
>
>
>
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-- 
Suzanne Daigle
NuFocus Strategic Group
7159 Victoria Circle
University Park, FL 34201
FL 941-359-8877;
CT 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com
s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
twitter @suzannedaigle
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