As you respond to the following questions, remember that others will be reading your self-description who are also interested and involved in this field. Focus on those areas of your interest and work where you would most like to engage with such a community of colleagues and friends. For some examples, take a look at the People page and click on any of the images on the photo gallery.

If you do not have time just now, or would rather not complete a full Self-Portrait, we encourage you to send us (1) a photo, (2) your contact information and (3) a single question that describes the underpinning of your work. These would be most helpful to our ability to see more of what is at the heart of this field as well as your place in it.

A maximum word count is suggested for each answer. Brevity is good. Clarity is important. Consider how others might most easily and clearly know who you are and what is the focus of your involvement in this field related to groups and group capacities of collective wisdom. Speak as well as you can from the essence of who you are and what you care most about.

You may also suggest web links, papers, photos or audio clips that you believe would inform the larger understanding of this field and would be linked directly to your Self-Portrait. We hope that such materials will come to mind for you or be created naturally through your engagement with the website. If you would like to submit a paper, photo or audio clip to be linked to your Self-Portrait, follow Guidelines for Submissions, in addition to completing this questionnaire.

NOTE: We haven't yet created a web-based form for you to input your information directly on this page, so you will need to cut and paste these questions into a document where you can edit your answers and then email the document to us. Alternatively, you can print this page and use it as a guide while creating the email to be sent to us at the address below.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mark an X next to any item below that you do NOT want posted as contact information for you on the website.

[ ] Name:
[ ] Organization:
[ ] Address:
[ ] City, State, Zip or Postal Code:
[ ] Country:
[ ] Telephone(s):
[ ] Fax:
[ ] Email:
[ ] Website or other Internet connections:
[ ] Links: (List websites you would like linked to your self-description and/or include such website addresses embedded in the text of your self-description. We will hyperlink these to other webpages, documents or website locations.)

[ ] I give the Fetzer Institute my permission to include on their website everything I have described of myself above except in those places I have marked with a X.

If you have not already visited the Fetzer Institute website for description and connection with the initial phase of mapping the field of Collective Wisdom, please take a look as context for your choice to participate.

We also suggest that you spend time on the Collective Wisdom Initiative site (this one) to become familiar with where your Self-Portrait will appear, the context in which it will be placed and examples of other Self-Portraits already completed

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO ANSWER ALL 6 QUESTIONS:

We invite you to send us a photograph, contact information and your response to Question #1 (below). This will add immense value as people seek to know others through the Collective Wisdom web site and to sense more of who is present in this endeavor. This will allow us to add you to the Self-Portrait listing, even if you choose not to complete the entire questionnaire.

QUESTIONS FOR SELF-DESCRIPTION:

1 - What is an underlying question that gives form to your work or interest in this field? (one question please)

2 - What is your personal experience of collective wisdom in groups?

3 - What is it about the work in this field that excites you and connects you to your own deepest self? You may wish to describe this in metaphor or as a challenge or in a statement about what aspect of the work feels most at the edges of your understanding.

4 - Please provide a brief storyline or written snapshot of what brought you to this work. Feel free to mention important work experience, transformational experiences, theoretical frameworks, mentors, or schools of thought.

5 - How would you like to be available to others in this field? What would be a meaningful connection? Are you available to talk with others? What contribution might you be able to make?

6 - Please let us know of others with a depth of experience and interest that we might invite to participate in deepening our understanding of this field. (We are especially eager to extend our reach to invite participation of people from cultures and countries outside of the USA and to include a wide diversity of perspectives.) Please include the name, full mailing address, telephone number and email address of those you would like to recommend. Add a note briefly describing EACH person you recommend. Include why you believe it important that we invite the person to join us in this endeavor.

To complete your submission:

(1) Email Terri Seever the above information

(2) If you have a physical photo print, send it to Dave Potter at 1009 Tolo Trail, Moscow, ID 83843, USA. If you have a digital version, email it to Terri with the self-portrait.

ABOUT THE PHOTO:

IMPORTANT: Please select a photograph that shows you in a context that is important to you and in a way you want to be seen, e.g., doing something you most enjoy, in the action of your work, with your family, with a friend, with an object or favorite animal, out of doors, in your home, etc. (We prefer NOT to use head shots or portraits.) Choose a photo that you feel says a lot about who you are. For examples, see other Self-Portraits. Should your photo include more than yourself, please explain who else is in the photo so that we can clearly identify everyone when posting it to the site.

Photos can be in almost any electronic format (JPG, GIF, TIF, etc.), or you can send us a photo print and we will scan and post it along with your name and contact information. Working with a printed photo is actually easiest, because it allows the most flexibility and greatest resolution. If you trust the post office and don’t want to make print copies, we will return what you send. In this case, send your print photo to: Terri Seever at 2340 Hemlock Lane, Petoskey, MI 49770-9016, USA. Terri will scan the photo image, post it to the website together with your contact information and then will return the photo as you specify.

Thank you and blessings to you.

If you have questions, email Terri Seever, or speak with her by telephone at 231-439-9132.