Breakout Groups

September 2018

Believe it or not, NSS is almost six years old. The last two years have seen some great changes as we matured in our venues and formats. We cannot say enough good things about

• the additions YOU have made as symposiasts lending your voices to our dialogue,
• the contributions of PANELISTS and MODERATORS bringing their insights and questions to selected topics and
• the new home we have found at FRIENDS UNIVERSITY providing us access to great facilities and exceptional faculty.

But as we grow older we change … and we want to be sensitive to that at NSS.

Breakouts: from audience observation to panel participation

As we consider our final 2018 gathering in November, the thought occurred to us that instead of US preparing a topic and panelists for YOU … we would ask YOU TO BECOME THE PANELISTS for the evening … on the topic "Wealth Matters" ... as we “breakout” into smaller groups each of which would have:

• a pre-selected dialogue leader/moderator and
• 10-15 persons willing to participate in ad hoc discussion [with group assignments to be made at the door as symposiasts arrive].

Change in perspective can be good for us

This format would effectively MERGE the PANEL and the AUDIENCE into one … which is really how NSS began … giving everyone an opportunity to be more involved. And although the dynamics and responsibilities would change, the potential for hands-on growth in our dialectical skills and personal relationships would almost certainly be greatly enhanced. In fact, our initial meetings of NSS tried to follow this model ... until attendance grew too large to have everyone at the "same table".

Let us hear from YOU !!!

If you would like to help us test this new format in November, send us an email at NewSymposium@gmail.com. We need an indication of the level of interest to prepare properly.

Rest assured that we have no intention of abandoning our existing moderator-panel-audience format which has proven itself to be effective and popular. However, if the breakout format "works" for us, we will probably try to use it at least once [and possibly more] during 2019.

So think about it and give us your input and ideas by COMMENT below or by email to NewSymposium@gmail.com … we need and want to hear from you !!