Our thought leader today was Becky Donofrio. She got us started by sharing some thought about the community of CHOICESS and how it relates to the larger community that we all belong to. She began with an opening quote:We did an opening round using talking cards where each person paird up and selected a question and discussed with each other their ideas to get to know each other. Then we share some of the questions to the larger group. Some of the questions were: what teacher had the greatest impact on you? Why? If you could require everyone to read just one book, what book would it be? what is your favorite place to think?
There were posted topices/themes from our last choicess gathering and we voted for the topics that we wanted to have deeper conversations together today. We counted up the votes and the topice that recived the most votes was Communication.We broke into small conversations circles of 4 persons and began to think and share our thoughts. We stayed in these cicles of conversations for the remaining our time. The first question was:
What are the possibilities of better communication?
When we were done sharing our thoughts in a 10 minute round we quickly share out thought to the larger group of what sturct us from our conversation.
- honesty from contibutors of our conversation
- communication between staff
- listen to people's perspectives
- The difference of support staff perspectives of wanting a clear person centered overview
- Overview of personal preference, like and admire and how someone may want their eggs cooked.
- We all came from different perspective
We next chatted about what doubts do I have about better communication and what have you sad yes to you no longer really want? (better communication)
The one page overview could have bias from individual support staff
Fear that the overview would be done by support staff not the individual- Overview will only have negative stuff about the person not the positive information
Next wisdom circle we answered what have I done to contribute to the very thing I have complained about related to better communication? After their conversation for 6 minutes we asked participants who have not shared yet to share what had meaning for them?
Thinking outside of the box
Talk about his friends and family- more team meetings
- change words
Last question was What promises am I willing to make?
I am willing not to be negative and personally vendictive against the person- i will have better listening skills
- help staff learn about my basic skills
I will ask my support staff not to use their cell phones at work
We closed out time together with sharing the gifts of our conversations to each other in our wisdom circles? some of the gifts shared to the larger community of choicess were:
- More comfortable
- feel appreciated
- learned allot from Vicky
- proud
- listening to philosopy of Supported Living by choicess community
- given the opportunity everyone can give their heart
- heart
We shared our thoughts on the day with post-it notes relating the highs and lows of our time together and what should be next?
Highs
more discussions are really something to look forward to. It helped us to become more whole as a group.
enjoyed the time very interesting lots of ideas flowing. enjoyed the interaction with people i don't get to talk to.
I really enjoyed listening to what everyone had to say
I liked to listen to everyones ideas and suggestions. I hope i'll be able to put out my imput better.
Getting a fresh perspective for new employees
Very informative met more staff all good.
I really like these people and this agency I feel the "connection".
I liked how everyone communicates and respects each others opinions.
Thought provoking questions
Lows
Only highs, no lows.realzing I talk more than I listen
I wish more of our community support staff could have been here
Would of been nice to change groups
Ice breakers usually make me nervous (but it wasn't to bad)
There was nothing I didn't like
Whats next:
Starting a journal for the individual
like to have more people show up to hear the impact and ideas
how to start with outline---- what comes first
