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 Creating
a March Gathering: WHY, HOW AND WHAT
Why should you create a gathering in March?
International Women’s Day provides us all with an incredible
opportunity to create an energetic field of women coming together with shared intention
around the world on the same day. Together
we create a unified whole that is much greater than the simple
sum of the parts.
When you register your gathering on our website, you become an
active part of an interactive global community of women. Women on
the other side of the world can connect with your ideas and creativity;
women in your community can find out details about attending
your gathering.
We invite you to use Gather the Women as a unifying energetic meeting place
in which all can gather. Gather the Women requires no permanent
affiliation; in fact, we welcome women who are already passionately
affiliated with other organizations. Whether you come as an individual
doing a small circle or an organization with a large venue, we trust
that your gatherings will be much more meaningful if they are created
through your leadership and grow out of the context of your own
creativity and passion, your own cultural values and your own perfect
understanding of the needs of the women in your community.
Common Threads
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When you register on our global calendar, we will send you
a reading or meditation which will bring our thoughts to the
women and the events being held all over the world on this day. Alternatively,
you may use the meditation detailed on our
Themes and intentions page, or your own preferred
unity meditation.
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GTW's vision of weaving a world that works for all is an important contribution to
International Women's Day. You may read the version of Gather the Women's vision statement
on our Themes and intentions page or use your own
aligned vision.
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The impulse to come together as women is generally accompanied by a sense of wanting
to contribute or make a difference. We ask each of us to open to our felt sense of this
and commit to our next step. As we do, we will change and our world with us.
- Each of us stepping forward contributes to the overall movement
that must occur to ensure a positive future for humanity. GTW's website is committed
to reflecting back the big picture of women arising everywhere. We offer
this possibility... a place to become visible with our dreams, projects, and events. Please share your dreams, your event
at GTW's LightPages and Intl Women's Day Calendar.
How to Create a
Gathering
Gatherings can be as small as three women sharing a tea ceremony
or as large as thousands of women joined in a candlelight vigil.
Here are some common questions … and simple solutions:
Where? Logistics of space
and environment
Gatherings do not have to cost a lot of money. It takes only some
thought to create an environment that reflects beauty and peace,
whether you are meeting in circle, having friends for a potluck
or meeting in a church hall, library or larger venue.
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Create a circle whenever possible. We have done that in my
community with over 200 women! It works. (Large rounded horseshoe
really)
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Decorate your space with beautiful fabric, banners, artwork,
candles, plants, flowers or figurines -- whatever you and your
team have on hand.
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Outdoor gatherings can be beautiful if you have good weather
during this month. If there is any chance of rain, plans for
outdoor gatherings can cause added stress.
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There are many different kinds of meeting rooms available in
your community. Have you explored all the options available
for a large room at local churches, community centers, schools
or universities, park shelters, business conference rooms?
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If there is a small fee for using a room, you can ask for donations
from your attendees – or seek sponsorship from a local
organization or business to underwrite that cost.
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Consider developing a list of available rooms and associated
costs that your team can use year after year.
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Local businesses are often willing to donate flowers, refreshments,
printing, etc.
Music
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It is easy to use a portable CD player to provide music for
your gathering.
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Entering the room with background music begins the connection.
Soft music, classic sounds, vocals, whatever helps you to begin
to feel calm and peace within will do the same for the participants.
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Provide the opportunity for women to raise their voices in
song – provide simple printed lyrics to a familiar song.
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There are many powerful songs that can add punctuation and
emphasis to your gathering. Among your planning team, you can
easily identify 2-3 to use.
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You may have local musical artists who want to share their
gifts with a live performance.
Funding
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For those who plan more elaborate gatherings, a little pre-March
work can raise some money.
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Some groups charge a small fee to cover the cost to rent a
hall.
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You can begin approaching individuals and merchants immediately
to underwrite the costs.
How to gather a diverse
group of women
If we are EVER to get beyond our differences, we have to start somewhere
to explore our commonalities. The following suggestions are those
GTW holds as a container for bringing women together.
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You might begin with your own circle of friends. Would they
be interested – and would they each bring one other friend?
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A special focus just now may be intergenerational
gatherings - reaching out to younger women and to the elders
of our communities.
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Consider contacting the heads of local women’s groups
to co-create a gathering. While Gather the Women is not issue-oriented,
certainly many of the women leaders in our communities are focused
on issues.
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Reach out for balance. E.g. invite groups representing all
major political parties, both sides of an issue, all faiths.
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Diversity and variety in an environment of open exchange, peaceful
interaction and inspiration tends to open hearts and honor all.
Program: What happens
at your gathering?
Your gathering should be an expression of your co-creative brilliance.
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Certainly a small gathering can use this day for ceremony,
discussion and introspection.
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Always allow plenty of time for dialogue in a circle. Every
woman should have a chance to speak and be heard, to listen
and to reflect back what she hears. If your group is large, consider
breaking down into smaller circles for deeper conversation.
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You might also consider ways to reach out to the women in your
community though more elaborate events that promote partnership,
collaboration, fund raising or to initiate specific projects.
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Larger venues might weave together musicians, movement, ritual,
film along with inspirational speakers and lots of opportunity
to connect individually women to women.
Ask for Help
Marilyn Nyborg would be happy to answer your questions
and give you support as you create your gatherings. Contact her
at Marilyn@GatherTheWomen.org.
Follow Up
We want to strongly suggest that a follow up evening in a casual
setting would be a great opportunity to get feedback and hear what
connections might have been made.
We also encourage women EVERYWHERE to create a circle of women
to meet with on a regular basis. If you have not already done so,
it is an opportunity to meet other women who would appreciate the
connection and support. We all need more safe places where we can
witness and learn from one another.
2008 will also have a special emphasis on forming ACTION CIRCLES
as a way to address local issues of concern to your community.
Circle Building
We encourage you to review www.millionthcircle.com
for suggestions and tools for creating a meaningful circle.
Please register your circle (old or new) on www.PeaceXPeace.com.
Here you will have an opportunity to network with other women in
circle around the world. We can learn so much from one another through
the topics that are being explored, the spirituality being expressed
and the oneness of our sisterhood.
Register on GTW's International Women's Day Calendar
Finally, we invite all women gathering to register themselves in
GTW's LightPages Connectory,
and to register their March events on
our International
Women's Day Calendar,
so that we may continue to
build this Global Matrix of incredible women.
In the words of Marilyn Nyborg:
“We have the opportunity to build a community
of women connected by a golden thread that runs through all life.
As I come to know you, I come to know myself better. And together
through our intention, connection, education and our network,
we can bring the influence of compassion, peace, diversity, and
strength of purpose to a world greatly in need of healing.”
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