[Dialogue] ICA-USA

Mon Oct 8 16:35:11 EDT 2007

Sandra, thank you for your encouraging words about the Living Legacy event.

  I was not there in body, but I did send the DVD's that you saw on Saturday night, and I did make the suggestion that the Fifth City Elders be invited to lunch. So I believe that an important part of me was really with the pain and joy of the process you experienced.

  My hope for the residual effect of this event is that it will come to represent a turn-around--or act of repentance, if you will--for the recent institutional history of ICA-USA. At risk of severe understatement, I believe it has been at least a public relations disaster, if not an institutional disaster of unprecedented scope and impact.

  So, leading up to Joe Mathews' birthday today, I spent the weekend in a funky mood, sick with a rare cold, and wondering how we--and I in my own life--got to this place, while I painstakingly typed chapter 2 of the Rossinow book (that you can now read on the wedgeblade website) and tried to come to terms historically with an inner sense of loss. Like, who were we then, and who are we now? And what has changed and why?

  Thirty years ago this month Joe Mathews died his death, and thirty years ago last July Kathy and I returned from six months of visiting HDP's (saw you in Sudtonngan, Sandra!) and shooting the 'epic' that became The World of Human Development. So I have a very personal stake in trying to wrap something up or come to terms with the passingawayness of "the way we were."

  As many of my colleagues have heard, I'm working with ICAI to re-release on DVD many of the 'lost' gems of film and video that otherwise would remain totally inaccessible. I think of us humorously as 'the raiders of the lost ark-ives', and I've found in the far back reaches of my walk-in closet and in the ark-ives of my colleagues some great moments in addition to what you saw in Techny: JWM presenting the Iron Man statue to Hizzoner Mayor Daley in 1973, for example (thank you Shirley Snelling for shooting this!), and the Fifth City movie narrated by soon-to-be-famous Oprah. 

  And while you'll all get the DVD as a Christmas gift just for being your wonderful selves, having mixed your being with our common history, ICAI really needs your support NOW to get this project done. So become a member or renew your membership on their website today by using PayPal and your credit card: http://www.ica-international.org/donate.htm

  In working on this project I have an impending sense of completion about the forty-nine years since I first 'encountered' the CF&LC at age 18. I don't really believe in leaving behind tombstone inscriptions, but I'd like to leave behind this DVD for our grandchildren and others who will dare to dream big and put their whole lives into it.

  And, having finished DVD postproduction by November, I'm anticipating meeting many of my colleagues at the next Springboard meeting starting 11/30 in Lake Junaluska, where we'll be focusing on the future. I hope you'll all consider joining us.

  Grace & Peace,

  Wayne Marshall Jones

Sandra/Bob True <icatrue at igc.org> wrote:
        v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}                I am heartened and appreciative of the positive and conciliatory wishes for the Living Legacy event held this past weekend. Most were posted on the beginning day of the event, so suspect many who attended will be reading these messages after the fact. Some were received and read at the event.

  It was with prayerful consideration that I attended the “Living Legacy” event.  The decisions made in October 2006, were shocking but seemed to be simmering for some time. The October decision, the resulting pain and sorrow, many defenses and justifications, and other “hear say” events continue to baffle, sadden, anger and puzzle me. Nevertheless, I did attend and I am grateful to have been there. The formal report will be published soon. Meanwhile, some reflections. 

  There were ~35-40 present. An eclectic group representing nearly the full historical spectrum of OE/EI/ICA. Laughter, care, singing, tears and determination were evident throughout our time together. The Saturday celebration included the showing of the “the World of Human Development” and the CBS program shown in 1964 of Joe Mathews and Joe Pierce and students attending the Summer Program in 5th City.  We had lunch with Fifth City pioneers - Verdel Trice, Floyd Stanley and Lillian Fox, who continue the Fifth City Reformulation Project. 

  Our facilitators, Mirja Hanson and Duncan Holmes, reflected the skill and grace that brought honor to the deep theological source of ICA processes and lead us to authentic dialogue regarding the three questions posed. Namely, What does ICA-USA need to do to support and serve emerging change networks? What does ICA USA need to do and be as part of the global family of national ICA’s? What does ICA USA need to do to preserve and share 40 plus years of wisdom contained in the Global Archives and embedded in each pioneering spirit? The product of the small groups addressing these questions reported as advice to the Board and Staff was amazingly similar. About ten broad categories were identified in the cross gestalt. The official, final report will be the source for detail but they did include substantial items regarding conciliation, future relationships, ICAI, communication, participation, research and the care and preservation of the archives. 

  My experience of the weekend re-awakened and strengthened my deep love, care and appreciation for my life beginning with RS1, all my Order and Movement colleagues, the treasure of life experiences related to these times and the way my day to life is informed by them. I came home with a sense of hope for a positive future, the decision to continue to participate in the dialogue and to work toward the how to create the new forms that can only come from and build on our past wisdom and experience.  Hopefully, we all will look to the future with our hearts and minds open to new possibility and participation.

  With love and respect to all, 

    Sandra True

      From: dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of FacilitationFla at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 4:11 PM
To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] ICA-USA

        Much thanks, Jack

    I wholeheartedly agree with you.  The future is open.

    Cynthia Vance

    In a message dated 10/5/2007 7:17:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, icabombay at igc.org writes:

    Dear Colleagues,

I have watched the list serve messages about the ICA include  
embittered attacks on the Board and I am saddened by it.  It is not  
surprising in the light of the reality that the literally thousands  
of us who both received our life (via RS-1) and gave our lives in the  
Spirit Movement have both a profound sadness and an anger about the  
fact that what we did and what we were/are and what we dreamed about  
putting into history seems to have been dismissed as irrelevant, or  
not to be included.  To me, the Living Legacy event is but a shadow  
of what is really the living legacy, and that is the thousands of us  
who are still giving our lives to make the world responsive to the  
Lord of History, if I can use that language.  Be that as it may, it  
serves no purpose, in my mind, to continue to castigate the Board.   
Their deeds and decisions will be judged by the Lord of history just  
as the deeds and decisions of the rest of us.  If they can bring into  
being something new and great, in the name of ICA, then so be it.  It  
would be appropriate for all of us to pray that they do.  They have  
to live with the reality of how people were treated and we can decide  
to say no (or yes) to what they have done, and move on.  It does them  
and us no good, in my opinion, to vilify their motives or intents.    
Please, let it be, and let us continue to keep our faces and hearts  
moving toward the future.  It needs all of us, and it will take all  
of us and many many more the rest of lives.  So let's get on with it.

With respect and love to all of my fellow Order/Movement members.

Jack Gilles

    Cynthia N. Vance, M. A.
Strategics International Inc.
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