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Last month I announced that, after much deliberation, the Conference Planning Committee decided to postpone the 2021 International\u00a0 Conference and plan a smaller, mostly local\u00a0African<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Relationship Summit (Khanyi Thwala\u2019s suggestion), on 1-3 October 2021 instead. At this stage, the planned theme is\u00a0\u201cExploring Human Connectedness \u2013 an\u00a0African<\/span>\u00a0Perspective.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This month we are giving you a bit more background about the whole Conference Journey, as we\u00a0would love your help, questions, participation, and input going forward<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Imago<\/span>\u00a0Africa<\/span>\u00a0has long been wanting to host the\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0International conference. Over the years we have made numerous requests, but every time something got in the way of it happening.<\/p>\n In an attempt to give\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Africa<\/span>\u00a0a presence and a voice so that our requests could be heard, Johanri Engelbrecht joined the International Conference Planning Circle in 2018. Last year both\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Africa<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0South Korea expressed interest in hosting the 2021 international conference. South Korea very kindly and graciously stepped back, \u00a0supported our bid and we were successful. We were over the moon! Finally,\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Worldwide would experience our vibrant community and exquisite country!<\/p>\n We jumped in right away and started organizing \u2013 got the venue (Lord Charles in Somerset West), lined up the keynote speakers (Stephen Porges and Sue Carter, as well as Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt), worked out different conference fees \u2013 from Best Kept Secret to Last-Minute registrations, etc. We were on a roll, especially since we had learnt many invaluable lessons at the conference in Vienna last year.<\/p>\n And. Then. Covid-19. Happened.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The whole world was turned upside down. Hugging, such an essential part of human connecting, and such an integral part of the\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Community fabric suddenly became a potentially life-threatening gesture. The world experienced (and continues to experience) collective grief. Covid-19 changed the texture of what we knew in the most fundamental way. The virtual conference did as good a job as is possible through technology \u2013 the 2020 conference planning committee did magnificently, especially at such short notice! Thank heavens for technology, otherwise, we wouldn\u2019t have been able to learn, have fun, meet with old and new friends. Alongside these, there were many challenges. Once again, we learned invaluable lessons.<\/p>\n The reality became clear \u2013 Virtual just cannot fully replace Face to Face. It offers many other benefits, but nothing matches in-person connecting. This became the final motivation not to do a virtual conference.<\/p>\n There is a possibility that\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Relationship North America (IRNA) could host their\u00a0conference\u00a0in Nashville in 2021 and not lose their substantial deposit. South Korea is hosting the International\u00a0 Conference in 2022, and we are hoping that we would be able to host a proper face to face International\u00a0 Conference in 2023.<\/p>\n Winston Churchill is said to have remarked, \u201cNever let a good crisis go to waste\u201d.<\/p>\n In hosting a mostly local face to face\u00a0African<\/span>\u00a0Relational Summit in 2021 a wonderful new horizon has opened up. Our vision is to use the time to transform this \u201cgood Covid-19 crisis\u201d into healing and growth in our community, our country, and ultimately the world.<\/p>\n In order for this transformation to happen our deepest aspirations are:<\/p>\n Our planning for the Summit includes finding a new venue, as our original venue The Lord Charles has closed its doors. Even though the original venue was in the Cape, we are open to venues in other provinces as well. \u00a0We were thinking of between 250 and 350 delegates (although current COVID-19 rules restrict this to 250).<\/p>\n Below please find the link to a quick survey monkey about the Summit. This survey is to include the community in our decision making with regards to a new venue.<\/p>\n We would love more members to further participate in and join this planning task group.\u00a0 Contact Carol (imagocd@gmail.com<\/a>) or myself (sonia@safricom.net<\/a>) if you would like to answer this call.\u00a0 As always, we hold the balance of attention between work and play!<\/p>\n Together we shall reach the\u00a0African<\/span>\u00a0Relational Summit!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#059886″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n 14 October 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Elaine Fourie presented on\u00a0\u201cThe Alchemy of the heart:<\/strong>\u00a0what happens in the space between at the KZN Diggers October Chapter Meeting.<\/p>\n 15 \u2013 18 October 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Carol Dixon, Johanri Engelbrecht, and I attended the\u00a0<\/span>IRNA (Imago<\/span>\u00a0Relationships North America)\u00a0online conference.<\/strong>\u00a0This experience confirmed for us that a virtual\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>conference \u2013 no matter how well organized and run \u2013 can never replace a face to face one! We shall be giving some feedback about it at the next chapter, so please attend!<\/p>\n 16 October 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On 16 October, the Gauteng Chapter made history by being the first Face to Face meeting after the strict lockdown. There were altogether ten participants.\u00a0 Missing each other and longing for connection, the group used a containment circle to connect and share.\u00a0 A hearty thank you to Kobus for generously sharing his venue for the occasion.<\/p>\n 29 October 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Once again\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Africa<\/span>\u00a0hosts presenter Marilet Kotze for a\u00a0Part 2 Webinar.<\/strong>\u00a0Theme:\u00a0Everybody likes Vanilla \u2013 Normal Sexual Function and Dysfunction.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0Despite fewer attendees at this webinar, it was a huge success. Marilet has done a brilliant job of integrating Sex Therapy and\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0in a seamless way.<\/p>\n 11 November 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0KZN Chapter Group<\/strong>\u00a0(Diggers, who dig for gold in relationships) met for the last official meeting of 2020 on Wednesday 11th November. Since lockdown,\u00a0 we have been having online meetings which have been well attended, and have worked well. We follow a flexible format where we first receive feedback from\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Worldwide and from\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0Africa<\/span>; then we check in with each other; and following a grounding exercise, we have a talk and discussion, and often an experiential exercise, and finally closure. At our November meeting, Michele Naude explained the developmental stages in couples, and the discussion focused on how and why couples have similar childhood wounding. Michele gave examples of phrases that couples use that will indicate the particular stage of wounding which the\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0therapists can use to determine the type and depth of the dialogue to use. We all commented on how interesting and stimulating these meetings are!<\/p>\n We will be having our special end of year lunch outside at a plant nursery this year at the beginning of December.\u00a0 We have various rituals that have grown over the years. We all elect a charity, and the destination of our donation is chosen by drawing a name from a hat. A special ritual is instead of gifts, we flood each person with a quote or phrase that resonates for them. And finally, Carol and Michele and the other extroverts always bring in an element of fun. Last year Michele brought a bag of funny hats for everyone to wear. We are still deciding what fun to have this year.<\/p>\n The Diggers wish all our\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>colleagues a supportive, caring, and fun ending to this difficult year, and we look forward to building relationships in the new year! \u00a0\u2013\u00a0Cathy Haselau,\u00a0 Durban.\u00a0<\/em>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#059886″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font_size=”25px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_2_font_size_phone=”32px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n 25 November 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Group as Expert:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Please join Michele Naude and me for the next opportunity to ask all your burning clinical questions.<\/p>\n 27 \u2013 29 November 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Imago<\/span>\u00a0Africa<\/span>\u00a0Board Face to Face Meeting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 3 December 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Fourth National Online Chapter meeting:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 4 \u2013 6\u00a0<\/strong>December\u00a0<\/strong>2020<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Face to Face English\u00a0Getting the Love you Want workshop<\/strong>\u00a0with Kobus van der Merwe
Imago<\/span>, though, doesn\u2019t let a virus stand in the way of connecting.\u00a0Imago<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Relationships North America changed its planned 2020 conference in Nashville into a Virtual Conference.<\/p>\n\n
Click here for Monkey survey\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n
October and November News<\/h2>\n
Save The Date<\/h2>\n
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\nTo register, contact El\u2019Marie @\u00a0elmarie@huwelike.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n