tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post1759634408319577014..comments2024-03-22T03:10:08.766-05:00Comments on The Good Raised Up: The Gathering's workshop selection processUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-38438992030191364222007-10-12T10:16:00.000-05:002007-10-12T10:16:00.000-05:00Hello everyone.There is, of course, much more I co...Hello everyone.<BR/><BR/>There is, of course, much more I could write. The original draft of this post was 2-3 times as long as what's here. <BR/><BR/>For example: the Gathering Committee is under the care of FGC's Long Rance Conference Planning Committee (LRCP), which in turn is under the care of FGC's Central Committee. <BR/><BR/>Think of it this way: <BR/><BR/>- FGC's Central Committee (CC) is like a yearly meeting, gathering once a year to address the business of the organization; <BR/><BR/>- LRCP is an important and very large committee within Central Committee; <BR/><BR/>- and the Gathering Committee is like an ad hoc committee that gets reconstituted each year--with continuity provided by LRCP connections and by FGC's Conference Coordinator and one or two other staff people.<BR/><BR/>My point is: any change to the process will take some time! Testing the possibilities; threshing them with all sorts of folks; seasoning them...<BR/><BR/><B>Tom</B> --<BR/><BR/>I wanted to address you in particular, given your experiences. Of the many proposals that the Workshops Committee had to decline, I heard from a good many of those Friends that they were unexpectedly freed to be available to do other things as a result. <BR/><BR/>In your case, it was to help with Junior Gathering. For another Friend, she was able to travel to a conference she had been wanting to attend. For a third Friend, she fell ill during the week of Gathering and would not have been able to carry out a workshop had it gone forward.<BR/><BR/>One thing that was very important to me to include in the letters that were sent to Friends whose proposals were declined, was to remind Friends that <B>the testing of leadings and right-sharing of gifts continues to rest with the monthly meeting; and that the Workshops Committee's decision was not intended to reflect on that discernment process.</B><BR/><BR/>It was an eye-opener for me to be "on the other side" of that process for the 2007 Gathering, since in an earlier year, my own workshop proposal had been declined. <BR/><BR/>It hurt like hell, being the human that I am, but I understand better the context out of which the workshop selections are made.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-61470352472828801742007-10-12T09:11:00.000-05:002007-10-12T09:11:00.000-05:00In recent years about 10% of the workshop leaders ...In recent years about 10% of the workshop leaders have come from Pacific YM which is not a member of FGC. <BR/><BR/>I have led workshops 2 times and Sandy has 4 times, only once together, but always with a partner. We've had three different combinations of storytellers lead the Becoming a Storyteller workshop. I am part of a fourth combination proposing it this year. Sandy is proposing a workshop on implementing our revised Earthcare for Children curriculum and would be glad to have a partner.<BR/><BR/>Last year when our proposal did not make the cut and nothing on the list grabbed our attention, we served as coordinators of a 5th/6th grade morning workshop on the theme of community. We had a great support staff and a good experience.<BR/><BR/>TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-34206384495194799742007-10-11T20:46:00.000-05:002007-10-11T20:46:00.000-05:00Would the submissions and workshop offerings chang...<I>Would the submissions and workshop offerings change if the Nominating Committees and Committees of Ministry & Counsel from all FGC-affiliated monthly meetings--and other monthly meeting "cousins"--received a request that THEY identify 1-4 Friends from their meeting who may have a ministry that should be brought forward through the Gathering?</I><BR/><BR/>I think this is an excellent idea. Not only could it be the "way opening" someone has been waiting for or the nudge, but it could also invite Meetings to help finance travel for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to do a workshop.Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08779680819545525601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-33619822027829269712007-10-11T10:48:00.000-05:002007-10-11T10:48:00.000-05:00Thank you Liz, for adding to the transparency of t...Thank you Liz, for adding to the transparency of this process. I also recommend reading an old post from Martin Kelley's blog with additional insight on this topic, <A HREF="http://www.quakerranter.org/fgc_gathering_program_is_up_whew.php" REL="nofollow">FGC Gathering Program is Up</A>, not so much for what Martin wrote, but for the comments from a variety of Friends on the workshop selection process.<BR/><BR/>I am personally in a discernment process about whether or not to submit a proposal this year. It's hard. Is this the right time for the ministry I am called to? Do I have a plan for a workshop that other people would want to be in? The not-so-spiritual factors also include whether my whole family wants to or can afford to go to Pennsylvania next summer. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for holding all of us who are considering this process in the Light.Robin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.com