Bringing conversation to life gathering momentum

This is happening through the offices of the Australian Civic Trust as an outcome of my Nomination in their 2012 Awards and Brickbats.

Conversare has recently been brought into the public domain. See Civility skills project in line for Civic Trust Award bouquet

and

http://www.civictrust.net.au/PeoplesChoice-bringingConversationToLife.pdf

(Once you have had a look at these you may wish to add your ‘endorsement’ through ‘You can vote here’ of No.10. Essentially to say that you welcome the attention now being drawn to opportunities for conversation among people who may not know each other, which could come to happen widely in public places. Doing this promptly – by Sunday 28 October at latest – would help to strengthen the case for a program to train hosts).

The photo was taken in the ‘country pub in the city’ the Whitmore Hotel  in Adelaide. The genial publican Peter Hogan has ‘got it’,  recognized the significance of holding conversation events as a contribution to community life and has been most supportive of the events held monthly there. And while many of the participants have been nearby residents some of those who keep coming back live a long way off, one person travelling for over an hour to ‘be there’ regularly.

Just what is the attraction? Most practically, reportedly, is that “They are a wonderful events that remind people that connecting over conversation face to face has so many pleasures.”

Could it be also that participants feel “We are not searching for the meaning of life. We are searching for the meaning of “being alive.”
Joseph Campbell

Comments of two recent participants may reflect both of these sentiments:

“The person who I ‘happened’ to share a meal with was a young woman. After about 10 minutes I thought I had her ‘sussed out.’ And then she she told me something about her life which completely changed my perception of her – which meant that our conversation took a different turn.”
Tim W, an experienced social worker

“Being that it was my first time at an event like the Conversare I arrived wondering what would transpire. The conversing started well before the event was officially underway. I arrived a few minutes early because I hate being late. Alan introduced me to the others who where already chatting. We circled up around bar height tables that gave a very casual atmosphere. Once everyone arrived Alan gave us the foundation for the event. The guests who come are the right ones for the night. That inclusive feeling set a wonderful tone for the introductions to the group. There were eight guests and only one had been to a Conversare before. The fact that not many of us had been before just made for new experiences. Being the youngest in the group with lots of traveling ahead the chatting I did was about my plans and it seemed to return stories of others travels.

During dinner we sat down for some one on one with someone we had yet spoken with. I sat with Sandy and talked about my travel plans and where she had been. As always with me I pointed the conversation in an environmental direction. This tends to be my fall back because it is something that I am passionate about. Luckily we had similar views on and we didn’t argue.

… After leaving and taking a little time to digest both the food and the art of conversation that took place I was really glad that I was invited to participate. I may find conversation difficult at times but when there is a statement like the one that Alan made at the beginning it makes it easy for me to feel comfortable and enjoy just letting conversation happen.”
Kris K,  a recent high school graduate from the USA now travelling around Australia

I wonder if you see that this experiment in a novel way of socialising could make a contribution to ‘sociability’ and even to the development of thriving communities in civic life around our little planet, 3rd from the sun?

Alan Stewart
Adelaide