What's Next
Rapporteur: Diana Twiss

The dominant theme, the dominant energy in this group was that we want something! What it looks like, who does it, where it will be, whether it is a regional thing, whether is a national conference – we were unable to answer all of those questions. People want some kind of a committee to be set up, a group of people to seek out the energies and enthusiasms and to give voice to diverse groups.

We do need to establish some sort of network so that we can continue to build on this wonderful energy. Is there a network? What's next for a network? Do we let it stew for another bit and see what comes to the surface, or do we give it a structure?

Individual Reflections

BARB MARSHALL

We had a discussion in Marina's group this morning about our feeling about her sessions, but also the whole thing. One of the things that came out from me especially was how much I like the format of this whole Institute. I like the fact that I got to go to the same place every morning with the same people to learn a lot about one thing. Because so often we go to things and we learn little bits of a lot of things and then go home and say, "Oh my God, now what am I going to do with that?"

My initial introduction to research and practice was with Helen and Mary this year and I tortured Mary and Helen to death with my confidence issues. "But I can't do research; I'm not a researcher. I'm just Barb Marshall from L'anse au Loup, Labrador. What do I have to say?" And I wanted to thank Helen and Mary and also Marina and the people in my group in the morning, because now I am feeling, well, I am Barb Marshall from L'anse au Loup, Labrador and I do have something to say. I just wanted to thank Helen, because she has introduced me to people like Elsa Auerbach through her writings or people like Allan Quigley, who is not here, or Jenny Horsman, who is here. Helen has taken it on herself to educate the masses. She has allowed me the confidence, I guess, to say to people who make decisions, "No, I don't agree." and "Yeah, I like that part, but I don't like that part." She's given me the confidence to say the "YES" word, when I am really passionate. Sometimes in my writing I say I'm really passionate about that, instead of I'm really pissed off.

So I just wanted to thank Helen and to say how much I appreciate the support you have given to me and to a lot of people like me. So thanks to everybody.