Jenn Romaniszak - Goals and intentions

 1) Why do an Eco-tellers retreat?

The exchange of ideas around a broad theme can be beneficial to a broad range of people.  Nature and Environment bring to mind very different types of stories for different people.  Traditional folk tellers, ecological activist tellers, and naturalist educators could learn for each others' styles and perhaps fuse it with their own.  I imagine, for example, someone who tells a really good tortoise and the hare story learning to twist it a bit to inspire a new eco-consious response in the listener.

Like many others have written here, I am interested in how we tell stories relevant to current issues, without painting the world disaster-colored, or creating an enemy of someone who exists in reality.  For both traditional tales meant to inspire respect or warning tales about a man-made environmental issue, it's hard to tell a story that speaks to multiple groups of people or doesn't come across as a thump on the head.

So many nature stories float out there in the ether.  Simply inspiring respect for nature is good, but with so many environmental hot button issues out there, are we, who are calling ourselves "eco-tellers", not called to do something more specific?  Without some degree of recognition to current events and issues, I fear many stories may just be perceived as eulogies, memorials, or memoirs for ideas whose times have passed.

 2) What is your intention for the retreat?

I hope to be a sponge soaking up as much wisdom as there is to share.  I would like to connect with other people doing similar types of work as myself, as well as those who would have relevant insight and critique as to methods.

My project, collecting stories about Mountain Top Removal, could easily have a specific enemy, and I am having a difficult time conceptualizing if/how this could be a non-partisian project.  I hope come come out of the retreat with some insights to frame it better.

3) If you have only one hour of the time with the whole group of 15 to 20 people what would you do?

I would have an open dialogue about the responsibility of storytellers, and question what, if any, responsibility we have to current issues when so many stories are about the past.  I would like to hear testimonies of those who have had to deal directly with the political arena or high stakes issue, with positive or negative outcomes.

Knowledge comes from the past, mistakes and victories.  I personally believe (and I am sure I am not alone) storytelling is the best way to teach.  There is a quote I like, it may be from George  Dawes Green, I am not sure, "If everyone told their story, then we would have the truth."

Jenn Romaniszak