Center for Formation in the Community College

Facilitators and Team Preparation Retreat,
June 2001 (6 days)

The variety of activities that engaged our mind, body and spirit; having private sleeping rooms; the affirmation bags, having free time in the schedule, experiencing communal dining. The workshop ran long enough to enable me to really get to know others. EVERYTHING was valuable.
Morning silence in community, free time/open space for reflection and synthesis, the diversity of the group members, the gifts offered by various individuals, i.e., music, dance, at experiences as respective institutions.
The trust that I have felt and the safe hospitable space was overwhelming. I am renewed but also fulfilled and overjoyed. The experience here from facilitators and others in the group was tremendous. I am so excited to see my students as I hope to be my authentic self.

Facilitators and Team Preparation Retreat Part I,
October 2001 (3 days)

I thrived on the periods of solitude followed by the periods of community. One without the other could not exist for me.
I think it is important for facilitators to do formation activities while they are doing facilitator preparation. The work in triads was good and the time for analysis of an activity and questions was valuable. The modeling was wonderful for gifts and for open honest questions.
Certainly the location and atmosphere of the Mabel house is extremely valuable.

Facilitators and Team Preparation Retreat,
June 2001

If the question is "What is a very appropriate way to prepare facilitators? Then this agenda is the answer. I know that for me the "community college mood was significant.
Hearing more stories about what brought us to formation. What about all this life?
Maybe more focus on the "shadow" side. Occasionally participants made comments about "we need to be positive". It would have been more useful, I believe, had the facilitators addressed those comments and made room for more focused discussion of the "shadow" side. It came up anyway - just would like for it to have been "honored" a little more.

Facilitators and Team Preparation Retreat Part I,
October 2001 (3 days)

I wanted more time to meet all participants in triads. Next time.
I would have liked to have spent more time discussing and identifying touchstones and paradoxes.

Facilitators and Team Preparation Retreat,
June 2001

Take us to Taos as often as possible. I think you did an extraordinary job giving us experience and insight into formation work.
More dancing.
This even was one of the most significant times of my life. I looked at parts of myself I had ignored. I took risks I didn't think I would or could. I learned that the world is indeed a miraculous place and that there are many kind, loving, wonderful people out there. Thank you for holding the doors, the windows, and the world open for me.
Further conversation on what it means to mentor and be mentored. Continued opportunities (in person or live) to connect and share.
As this work grows, I hope we can develop some way to critically examine our own growth as formation facilitators. It is a piece which I believe has to be individual, but held in community as well.

Facilitators and Team Preparation Retreat Part I,
October, 2001 (3 days)

Continue to blend the mystical and pragmatic the way you did this time…That balance has left me with great anticipation about Essex.
My jury is still out on the 2, 3, v. 6 day preparation; though I do love that I'll see you and others again in Massachusetts.
Just follow this pattern.

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