Elderberry Retreat

Nov 19-20th was an amazing Elderberry retreat.  We brought in Laird Schaub and Maria Stawsky to help us improve out meeting skills, as well as our skills in consensus decision making.  What a wonderful weekend!  On Friday night we talked about what is precious to us at Elderberry.  It was really heart-warming to hear the responses.  On Saturday and Sunday we learned a new process for decision making and conflict resolution, and tackled a tough decision that we had been trying to make for a year.  We had always planned to buy one of the Elderberry homes, and eventually to have that possibly be a home for a caregiver.  But we decided instead to not buy it, and to put some of the money into a fund to support aging members, and some of it in a fund to improve infrastructure that addresses safety issues (better walking surfaces, lighting, etc.)  On Saturday night we had a pizza party - great fun!!  In addition to 8 kinds of pizzas, we had great dancing! And Maria told us that she and Laird were VERY inspired by our community (and they have worked with MANY communities).  It was a fantastic retreat.

Mary making pizzas

Dance party!!!

 At the retreat...

Richard and David working on the wood shop (original barn on the property - being restored)