Special Characteristics of the Rust Workshop and Their Influence on My Facilitation Process

Abstract

The author describes her impressions of the Carl Rogers Peace Project workshop in Rust, Austria, in November 1985. Four ways in which this workshop differed from others are described: (a) focus on a theme rather than on process alone; (b) focus on social rather than personal issues; (c) participation by invitation rather than through self-selection; and (d) sense of urgency. These differences gave an atypical character to this workshop, which required special skills from the facilitators. The internal workings of the staff are discussed as the author gives her personal reactions during the workshop. She relates through illustrations how the group process developed, and ends by hypothesizing on the distinctive role that facilitators played in this unique workshop.