WISCONSIN RURAL WOMEN’S INITIATIVE
GLOSARY OF TERMS
ADVISORY COUNCIL – consists of persons or organizations or foundations supportive to the program through funding, shared resources, input and evaluation.
BRIDGE OF UNDERSTANDING – providing opportunities to gather in order to share stories and experiences, exploring commonalities and accepting differences, opening lines of communication, celebrating womanhood.
CONSORTIUM OF WOMEN – a group of women of varied backgrounds and areas of expertise coming together to participate in a process of understanding. Sharing their personal stories and involvement in women’s issues in a safe environment and offering their resources in a collaborative effort to address the needs of women.
ELDERWOMAN PROGRAM – is meant to gather socially isolated women in ways that address loneliness, abuse, transition and their value as elders in the community
FACILITATOR - has completed the facilitator training program, follows the circle basics, understands process, maintains objectivity, invites and honors each participant allowing them to stand in their own truth.
FARM/RURAL WOMEN’S WEEKEND – an overnight experience including the Gathering Circle process, input on self-care, assertiveness, communication skills and women’s wellness. (Some include free health screenings)
FARM/RURAL WOMEN’S DAY AWAY – gathers women using the Gathering Circle process around a variety of topics focused on personal development, wholistic lifestyle and empowerment.
GATHERING CIRCLES – a process through which confidentiality is key to building trust and a safe environment, stories are shared revealing thoughts and feelings, listening without an agenda is promotes no judgment of another’s reality.
Decisions are made through consensus; each person takes responsibility for one’s own needs. Commitment involves shared intention.
LEADER – person identified in a geographical area who represents an area of interest, agency, health care facility, county service or funding source.
LEADERS MEETING – meant to identify needs in an area, share resources that may help meet those needs, works to find collaborative agencies and funding sources and invites women to participate in gathering circles.
PROCESS – a way of being together that is organic, collaborative, and open ended. Results evolve from the shared wisdom and values held by the participants.
RESOURCE STAFF – required to complete the Women Gathering Women Facilitator Training Program. Shares their expertise in various aspects of the program, may at times travel with the facilitator or director to help with logistics, may be paid for travel and receive a stipend on a per time basis for individual sessions or workshops. Other services are rendered on a volunteer basis unless otherwise contracted.
STATEWIDE GATHERING - A gathering of Wisconsin women. The overnight experience includes the Gathering Circle process, input and dialogue on personal development, time for informal sharing and creative activities.
WOMEN GATHERING WOMEN FACILITATOR TRAINING - trains women in a process empowering them to facilitate Gathering Circles that bring women together in a non-threatening, nurturing environment. Provides women with tools needed to gather women together creating transformation and systemic change for themselves, their families and communities.
