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Take Back Your Time National Conference
June 10-13, 2004 @ Loyola University
Table Of Contents
Conference Report
The first Take Back Your Time conference, held at Loyola University in Chicago June 10-13, 2004, was a great success, with more than a hundred attendees representing a wide range of religious, family, labor, environmental, academic, business and other organizations. The conference program is still available below, and thanks to Robert Bernstein, photos can be viewed on the Shorter Work Time web site at www.swt.org. Was it the caliber of the speakers, the range of perspectives, the beautiful Lake Shore Loyola campus, the rousing meal time discussions, the excitement of coming together for the first time, or the combination that made for a dynamic and galvanizing experience? Whatever it was, from the feedback we've gotten, it's clear that (though they were a little tired from keeping up with an overscheduled schedule) participants left inspired and committed to furthering the goals of the campaign. We are working hard to make available the materials generated in the workshops and the video of the keynotes and plenary sessions. Much of this information will be on our web site soon. In the meantime, we want to share with you a few of the highlights and some of the feedback we've received thus far. Highlights
New voices brought fresh perspectives to the discussions, including Kendra Walker, VP from Hilton Hotels, Kim Bobo, Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice, and Tosh Anderson, Ruth Herrera, Mercedes Esquerette and Shirley Brewster from the National Mobilization against Sweat Shops. At the same time, many of the founders of the time movement were present to offer insights and context for the discussion, including Ben Hunnicutt, Bill Doherty, Tim Kasser, Joe Robinson, Barbara Brandt and Cecile Andrews. Everyone got along famously, despite sharp differences in ideological, political and cultural perspectives. Other highlights included:
Conference Feedback From Attendees
We have received a great deal of feedback from conference attendees. Here is a sampling: The conference was so informative and such a grand opportunity for people to meet. I really valued the broad range of activists at the conference and learning about the impressive work they are doing. Word is spreading... all my colleagues are talking about quality of life issues related to time. -- Kathleen Walsh, Portland, OR
The conference provided a wonderful opportunity for me to meet people of different backgrounds who were working on the manifold ways in which time poverty affects our lives. I am busy collecting more data on how time vs. material affluence relates to personal well-being. I have planned at least 2 more studies. -- Tim Kasser, Knox College
What I valued most about the conference was meeting people working in related fields and the dedication they bring to the issue of "Time" For me, it is a continuation of my professional work--helping companies to recognize the need to help their workers get time to balance their lives and helping individuals create the opportunities. -- Bonnie Michaels, Chicago, IL
What incredible people: real, down to earth, open, and interesting! The conversations and presentations were convivial and enjoyable as well as stimulating and inspiring. I'm focusing on the slow life as part of my work to create the Phinney Eco-Village, an urban eco-village. We're focusing on people living simpler, slower, and smaller, and we'll be having a series of workshops on the slow life. For October, the subject will be "Slow Work," and we're encouraging people to have friends over for a candlelight dinner of slow foods on October 24. -- Cecile Andrews, Seattle, WA
It was an amazing time to connect with like minded persons from all over the country and world, who are working to make this world a kinder, gentler place. It was an opportunity to be heard and to hear from others, to know that we're not in this alone. It also provided a time to encourage each other in ways we can all Take Back Your Time! At present, I am working on getting information about the Four Windows of time distributed in my community. I'm meeting with other parish nurses today, in fact. I have written an article for our church newsletter and will be offering 3 adult education classes this fall. I plan on getting all this to our local newspaper and radio, too. -- Mary Hart, Decorah, IA
The conference, for me, was wonderful and absolutely necessary at this stage of development, and I can't thank you enough for all your work. Having said that, I'm now free to say that the eight-hour movement was the brainchild of socialists, anarchists, syndicalists, and other raving radicals. And the only reason France has a thirty-five hour workweek is that the CGT can shut down the country whenever it so chooses. Our push for shorter work time is complicated by the marginalization of whatever tiny, tiny socialist sentiment still remains in this country. The conference was reflective of that general and dainty avoidance. You chose to place the Hilton Corporation high on the marquee, while the IWW and I were polite listeners. After talking with as many participants as I could, I have to conclude that you made the right decision. Everyone there seemed to believe that rational appeals to corporate self-interest could do the trick. Throw in a few chicken coops in Seattle and a few legislative resolutions, and you have a perfect recipe for a liberal political initiative that might work in any sane European nation. And I accept that consensus. I really am the odd man out, and that's as it should be. See you next year. -- Gabe Sinclair, Baltimore, MD
What was most valuable to me was the opportunity to network and actually connect personally with others about the Time issue. It was also exciting and empowering to see all the people with different talents and expertise working towards the same goal. For example, economists, professors, authors, psychologists, workplace activists, faith based leaders -- and to see that my focus on over-scheduling and families fits in to this bigger whole. I was also struck with this: that no matter what speaker I listened to or group I was involved in a conversation with, it always boiled down to the same issue: we need, as a culture, to decide what really matters to us -- that this issue truly is a value issue. If we decide that relationships, family, community service really matter to us more than material stuff and greed, then taking back our time will naturally follow. The trick of course is to find a way to convince people to take the time to consciously explore their values and be sure that their current life choices truly reflect these values. We are continuing with our Ready Set Relax night for 2005. Also are trying a new event this fall in our town called Ready Set Relax -- Free Play Day. Our elementary school gyms and fields, as well as two town fields, will be designated as Free Play Zones. Parents will be encouraged to take the day off from organized activities and just let their kids play. The idea is to use this event as a way to remind parents of the incredible value of unstructured play for children and to encourage families to create a balance between organized activities and unstructured ones. -- Marcia Marra, Ridgewood, NJ
The conference was an ideal blend of fascinating people from all different backgrounds representing a wide spectrum of time management philosophies and initiatives, which seemed to make the event highly rewarding and beneficial for life balance advocates at any level. -- Kendra Walker, VP for Brand Communications, Hilton Hotels
Truth be told, I was totally burned out and kind of depressed when I arrived from a full year of my own version of nose to the grindstone, and to my surprise I quickly relocated my excitement about my work, mostly just by being around people with such passion about making our country and world a better place! I felt privileged to be among you. -- Peter Fraenkel, Director, The Ackerman Center for Time,
Work and the Family, New York I liked meeting face to face with individuals whose work I admire and meeting other individuals who care deeply about changing how out of balance our way of life has become. I was especially encouraged by the enthusiasm, initiative, and creative ideas the college students and recent graduates brought to the TBYTD conference. I will again be involving my students in planning and implementing Take Back Your Time Day activities on Central Missouri State University's campus and the surrounding communities. I am also applying for a Service learning grant from my university to help pay for materials related to the development of our Take Back Your Time Day project on campus and the community. My students will be meeting with area churches as soon as school resumes. They will speak with them about the program that Barbara Brandt helped to bring to fruition -- the collaboration between the Massachusetts Council of Churches and Take Back Your Time Day. My students will distribute the brochures that are available through www.masscouncilofchurches.org about this program. My students will also be contacting schools of social work around the country about Take Back Your Time Day. Students will contact area organizations, politicians, and the media about TBYTD, as well. I was just interviewed by a reporter from the National Association of Social Workers about Take Back Your Time Day. I'm hoping the article will appear in the September NASW newspaper. -- Maureen Wilt, Central Missouri State University
It was an excellent conference. To meet the organizers of this good work and to share the hope and energy of all who attended was very motivating. It is a very important topic and good to see people of all faiths and ages and interests come together in one place. The good news was the high caliber of the presenters. The panel plenaries were engaging and well timed -- not too long, not too short. The workshops were intimate enough to really brainstorm and learn and meet great people. Invigorating conversations were every where. More politicos need to be involved and urged to attend. An earlier push to get them on t he agenda might yield some results. I hope this will become an annual or at least a biannual event. Our office learned a lot. We will be sharing an overview with all the parishes in Chicago. Congratulations on a job well done. -- Elsie Radtke, Archdiocese of Chicago
Thanks again for inviting me. It was an inspiring event! -- Lissa Bell, National Partnership for Women & Families
Before I went to the conference, I felt isolated in working for the cause. People I spoke to were surely interested, but I felt lonely in trying to do something about it. Now that I am back from the conference, I feel part of a larger movement, and it is electrifying. I used to think that everything I tried to do would be difficult. Now, I think that everything is possible. The conference, and, above all else, the people, brought meaning to the work I am doing. They reaffirmed my goals and pursuits, broke my isolation, and even strengthened my commitment to my beliefs and lifestyle. I am extremely grateful for the week-end I have just lived. It was powerful in ways previously unimaginable. The conference and the people I have met have opened in my mind thousands of doors and possibilities. They have removed the barriers. I now have the resources to accomplish all I could dream of doing. On a more logistical note, I want to thank you for running such a smooth conference. It was “cozy” and comfortable, with little to worry about, with a comfortable dorm room and diverse, easy-to-access meals, and a schedule that alternated passive listening and active participation in just the right balance. The location was great (nice beach!) and the easiness of it all made it a very relaxing week-end. I also liked having access to so many resources (I took all the handouts!). And finally, what to say about the people! Oh my, I have never felt more welcome and made at ease at a gathering before. The warmth, friendliness, and willingness to learn and exchange was fantastic. We were so sad to leave each other. I stayed with some friends until we had to hug at the airport terminal. There was such an ambiance, it was heart-warming. And nobody was made to feel second-class, people exchanged on an equal footing. It was super. Thank you so much for everything... -- Isabelle Gingras, Montreal
It was such a pleasure to meet you at the TBYT conference this past weekend. I truly enjoyed learning more about the movement and talking with many of the founders. What a committed, thoughtful group of people! I was honored to have this opportunity as well as the chance to share a bit about what we are doing with ParentsWork. -- Rhonda Present, Chicago
The Take Back Your Time conference was a great way to generate an action agenda to further the campaign. Bringing together professionals devoted to these issues enabled collaboration, growth, and a forward-thinking discussion of the issues most pertinent to Time Day. It was a pivotal weekend of idea-sharing, connection, and planning. The Center for a New American Dream will certainly raise awareness of and support TBYTD in some fashion. -- Kathryn Delonga, Takoma Park, MD
What I valued most about the conference was the amazing collection of thoughts and ideas regarding time --- our time. I certainly got a lot out of all the workshops, keynotes and from simply meeting and talking with attendees and presenters. A wonderful conference, loaded with many, many great things to implement. I will be talking with leaders in my community and in my church, about Time Day Concepts and about the importance of letting go of clock time in favor of getting back more of our “natural time.” -- Mike Lenich, Voluntary Simplicity Chicago
Thank You Sponsors & Volunteers!!!
We want to say a special thank you to the conference sponsors. You can find a list of them by clicking here. We also want to acknowledge the efforts of the individuals who volunteered at the conference, including Jill Brown, Jean Dames, Nicole DeBias, Mary Hart, Elizabeth Holland, Damon Holland, Pamela La Londe, Mike Lenich, Sandra Molas, Lee Valentyn and Maureen Wilt. Next Year's Conference To Be Held In Seattle
We are planning a 2005 conference in late July or early August in Seattle, WA. We are exploring several venues and will announce the final date and location in the next month.
Conference Program
Note: You will need the Acrobat® Reader® to view and print the above PDF file.
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