The Gathering

Digital Storytelling Facilitator's Gathering*
August 17-20, 2006
Saratoga Springs Retreat (near Ukiah, California, 2 hours north of San Francisco)

We invite you to a special international gathering of active Digital Stortelling facilitators working with the Center for Digital Storytelling. The gathering will give us the opportunity to discuss our practice in detail - from deepening our awareness in story work and creative writing, the sensitivities of group process and reflective listening, the role of body/health in our practices, the expanding use of various complimentary technologies (blogging/podcasting/cellular), and the social change values that bind our work to community survival and development.

The gathering will be held Thursday through Sunday in a beautiful retreat setting near Ukiah. The costs will be limited to our direct expenses for the facility and food for the weekend. The format will be a symposia, with everyone attending encouraged to participate as equals in discussion and presentations. The gathering will be organized to provide for both small and large group dialogues, lots of story sharing and informal discussion and other interactive explorations in writing, photography, improvisation, video and media design. We will also encourage people to take advantage of the natural setting for walks, swimming and meditations.

The goal of this effort is to formalize and expand upon our process of developing Digital Storytelling facilitators, and to further establish the retreat setting of Ukiah as home for our more in depth training in our practice and methods.

We are confident this will be a transformative experience for all of us.

Joe Lambert and Emily Paulos, Gathering Coordinators

*Invitation only

Event details

Dates & Times:
Retreat begins: 5pm, Thursday, August 17 (check-in 3pm)
Retreat concludes: 2pm, Sunday, August 20

Location:
Saratoga Springs Retreat and Conference Center
Mendocino County
10243 Saratoga Springs Rd Upper Lake, CA 95485
Phone: (800) 655-7153 or (707) 275-9503
www.saratogasprings.com

Event Schedule:

Thursday, August 17
6pm Dinner at Saratoga Springs
7pm Welcome, Introductions, and opening Story Circle

Friday, August 18
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am First discussion session: Storywork in Our Lives - Purposes and Principles

Why is Storywork important for individuals, community building, and social change?
Does Digital Media enhance Storywork?
What are some of the values and principles of Storywork?

11:15am break
11:30am Interactive exercise: Theater Game – Tell the Group’s Story – One Word At A Time
12:00pm Lunch
1:30pm Second discussion session: Nuts & Bolts - Helping Others Tell Better Stories – Prompts, Process, and Problem-Solving

How do we help others find their authentic voice?
- Under the constraints of:
-- Time
-- Multiple levels of literacy
-- Expectations of Audience
-- Expectations of Production Values
What role does interviewing play in authorship?
What role do prompts play in authorship?
Story Prompt: Place (Stories collected for ceremony at Ingel-Haven Ranch)

3:00pm Informal sessions and walk-abouts
3:30pm Community Caucus (optional)
5:30pm Dinner at Saratoga Springs
7:00pm Outdoor Story Ceremony at Ingel-Haven Ranch

Saturday, August 19
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am Third discussion session: Listening as Facilitation - Exploring Ways to Enhance Group and Individual Creative Process

What is our role as listener?
How do we listen?
- With the awareness of: personal agenda, attitudes (fears, judgements, opinions), life experience, cultural background, group dynamics, environment
How does listening help storytellers re-frame their stories?

11:15am break
11:30am Interactive exercise: Listening Game - Playback
12:00pm Lunch
1:30pm Fourth discussion session: The Art and Design Of Digital Storytelling – Show & Tell

Is Digital Storytelling a distinct art form?
How do we help people make design decisions?
What do we consider a successful piece?
- Under the constraints of:
-- Time
-- Multiple levels of literacy
-- Expectations of Audience
-- Expectations of Production Values

3:00pm Informal sessions and walk-abouts
3:30pm Education Caucus (optional)
6pm Dinner at Saratoga Springs
8pm Performance of PlaceMeant Project at Saratoga Springs
9pm Story Sharing - voluntary

Sunday, August 20
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am Fifth & Final discussion session: Open Forum - Ways Forward, Untackled Topics
11:15am break
11:30am Closing remarks
12:30pm Lunch