Photo album of ALIA Europe Seminar 2011 - at the Mennorode Conference Center, Elspeet, Netherlands.

Having arrived on Monday morning, March 7th, being part of the faculty for the second ALIA seminar in the Netherlands. It takes place at the Mennorode Conference Center, which is located in the midst of a national forest (as big as it can be in this relative tiny country), but yes there is some wildlife such as deer, foxes and boars.

I am here as part of the arts team to present one of the creative processes module, and taking photos. Here follows a short summary mixed with some of my experiences.

The Monday morning time was for all faculty, board and organization to come together, check in with each other, to reconnect, see old and newer friends, and taking time to see where are we, where one is, and sharing that by having a paired-up mini-walk outside, and then go into the program logistics and dynamics. I so much appreciate this because as the week goes by we do of course see each other, and meet here and there and we are all busy and focused on our hostings, presentations, exchanges, dialogue, and more!

On Monday evening an enjoyable bus ride to the Amerongen Castle, which after 40 minutes started become mixed with concerns, irritation and singing as some obstacles arose on the way - such as not being able to drive under a bridge(too low!) and a detour. But the seemingly lost time was well spend and all dissolved as soon as we were welcomed on the estate by hosts and participants, waiting for us, with wonderful inspiring storytelling, and music by Joshua Samson who was playing on an instrument called 'hang' during diner.

Tuesday morning had two parallel tracks; the Women Conference and a Collaboration summit, for me this morning turned out to also be a bumble bee between the two.

After lunch in the afternoon a pre-program dialogue - U-theory, Embracing the Larger Forces of Change with Otto Scharmer.

Wednesday morning the core group of participants started with playful exercises and moving on to reflecting what our intention is one brings. Hearing back the intentions as we sat down in silence I found was a moving experience.

And in the afternoon the tracks, the main modules, began. The journey continues.

Photo album ALIA Europe 2011 - Mennorode Conference Center

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