Gold Lake Mountain Resort and Spa, Ward, Colorado June 4-7, 2006
Summary Report by Dan Wheeler, June 14, 2006
Summary Outline
• Purpose
• Highlights
• Outcomes
Meeting Purpose
• To engage in authentic dialogue with respect and civility in a
private, retreat setting about what divides us as well as what unites
us as Americans over the issue of long term energy security.
• To focus on solutions that integrate concerns about national
security, economic competitiveness, climate change, and environmental
health.
• Align around a shared vision and create aligned strategies.
Highlights
Through the skilled facilitation of Mark Gerzon and Bill Ury, a
broad spectrum group of scientists, industry representatives, policy
experts, former politicians and directors of national organizations
came together to explore the challenges and opportunities within the
subject of energy security and independence. It began with both
enthusiastic and skeptical introductions by participants the first
night.
After the group established shared values and areas of common
concern, Bill Ury facilitated a Samoan circle where four participants
sat together—two from one side of the global warming issue and two from
the other side and entered into a more provocative conversation. It was
an opportunity for individuals to express their positions, while still
respecting others in the group. It was also a chance for the other
participants to witness and make observations about the style and tone
of a more intimate conversation.
This was a part of the facilitation team’s intention to bring
awareness to the “archaeology of assumptions”. It was also part of a
process to: 1) Define values—where participants say “yes”. 2) Clarify
core personal positions—where individuals say “no” on a topic. 3)
Explore areas of potential agreement—the second “yes” required for
moving the group forward together in common cause.
Over the first two days in small and large group settings, there was
both debate around positions and the overall topic for discussion, as
well as dialogue generating new learning and alignment. One of the more
provocative and effective ways in which assumptions were revealed was
the challenge by Mark and Bill to have individuals team up according to
their position and to map the assumptions they have as well as those
assumptions the “other” group would have about them. This challenge
invoked some productive insights as revealed during the report out the
following day, however aspects of doubt and disagreement were still
apparent in the tone of many conversations.
Rich dialogue flowed into the evenings, which was interspersed with
dinner, casual conversation and recreation at majestic Gold Lake. In
addition there were spirited presentations by Al Gore, Fred Smith, K.C.
Golden, Steve Andrews, Michael Eckhart and John Caldara. The wide
spectrum of communication formats elicited a sense of both emerging
chaos and coherence, yet in this milieu there was a sense that
something very important was taking place. Along the way Mark Gerzon
facilitated a dialogue around the topics of integrity and wholeness and
the challenge of building trust was brought to the surface through a
variation of the “prisoners dilemma” game. Through engaging in the
crucial topic of energy, in the open-air natural setting of Gold Lake,
new perspectives were slowly being entertained.
As the retreat was drawing to a close, there was acknowledgement
that much of the conversation over the last two days had been centered
in the intellect and that in order to engage this subject in the depth
that it deserves, a head and heart unification would need to take
place. There was an understanding that many more people need to be
“engaging across the divides” on the energy issue as well as others.
Historical reference to Abraham Lincoln’s warning of the concept of
“thrall”, of becoming enthralled in ones view, was a poignant
touchstone.
In the end, after each person restated his or her core value, what
he or she was saying “no” to as well as “yes”, a new sense of the group
began to emerge. Upon hearing Joseph’s personal story and witnessing
the value of multiple perspectives, a new recognition was surfacing
which had not been there before. It was an acknowledgement of the
common challenge we all face when encountering the conflicts within
ourselves and between each other. There was a tacit knowing that in
order to move forward on the issue of energy or any other significant
topic, we all need to respect the differences between us while stepping
into the potential that lies ahead of us.
Outcomes
In addition to the clarification of Values and Issues listed below,
tremendous success was found in the subtle yet profound building of
relationships between individuals. Through the opportunity to come into
true dialogue with others who view the world and the subject of energy
differently, new awareness of the interconnections between perspectives
was brought to the surface. The primary outcome of transpartisan
relationships—built from the values of trust, respect and clear
communication—will have far reaching consequences for supporting the
U.S. and the world in energy security and independence.
A further outcome was support for additional energy retreats
engaging more stakeholders capable of enacting positive changes in the
U.S. energy system.
Values and Issues
Values we need to Reunite us as Americas --
1) Integrity
2) Individual Responsibility
3) Freedom
4) Liberty
5) Truth—Search for Truth
6) Mutual Respect for Others
7) Responsibility—Shared
8) Trust
9) Sustainability—Enhancing the Future
10) Dignity
11) Peace
Key Energy Issues to be addressed
1) Economic and Environmental Sustainability
2) Market vs/and Government Solutions
3) No National Energy Security Without World Energy Security
4) Climate Change/Global Warming
5) Reconnecting Energy Security and our Environmental Stewardship
6) Diversity of Supply
7) Supply/Affordability
8) Oil Policy/Transportation
9) Energy Physics vs. Long Term Adequacy
Significant small group discussion topics
1) Metrics and Criteria for policymakers
2) Efficiency/Transport
3) Review of Potential Subsidies
4) Tax Policy for Energy Security
