[Viva] Fwd: PWN Staff Meeting Invite

[katherine greene]

hi all, 
 
i have some thoughts on the draft response to pwn.....
 
if i remember correctly, our response to pwn's original request for collaboration with viva included expressing the need for an apology and reconciliation before any collaboration could take place.  i don't know the details of the history between viva and pwn, but feel it is enough to know that there are members of viva who feel deeply wronged by policies or people running pwn.  
 
so pwn has now replied, basically saying they will not apologize.  am i understanding this correctly?  i agree that it is healthy to put the past behind us, but reconciliation and forgiveness requires conversation not denial.   if no one expresses regret for what happened in the past, if there is no conversation about how/why people feel injured, then there is no healing and the past is lilely to repeat itself.  
 
i feel like this is so much bigger than "forgetting the past".  yes, it is healthy and helpful to FORGIVE the past, but i hope we don't forget - my hope is rather that we take with us a lesson for life.  
 
i guess i don't understand why pwn responded this way.  i am sure they have their own version of past events.  perhaps they feel hurt or indignant or threatened, or don't feel they can invest the time into a true reconciliation, perhaps they feel they are the ones who were wronged.  whatever their reasons,  my gut feeling is that this is not the right time to collaborate with them.  that does not change the fact that i appreciate the services pwn offers to positive women and wish them well.    
 
i hope some of you vivacious viva women have something to say on the subject! 
 
love and respect, katherine
 
 



Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 23:17:38 -0700
From: vivawomen at gmail.com
To: viva at lists.resist.ca
Subject: [Viva] Fwd: PWN Staff Meeting Invite

Hi everyone,


FYI

We are forwarding the reply from Patti Telford, Chair of the Board of Directors, at PWN.
If anyone would like to have input into a draft response please REPLY to the listserv or email the working group at vivawomen at gmail.com or call Margarite toll free 1 866 482 3445.
Thanks,
ViVA Working Group



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Telford, Patti (CA - Vancouver) <patelford at deloitte.ca>
Date: Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Subject: PWN Staff Meeting Invite
To: "vivawomen at gmail.com" <vivawomen at gmail.com>
Cc: Marcie Summers <MarcieS at pwn.bc.ca>




Hello VIVA women,
 
Thank you for your patience in us responding to your inquiries about the purpose of the invitation to a PWN meeting. As the Board of Directors chair, I am pleased to say that the agenda is in the spirit of working collaboratively together for a cause everyone is passionate about, Women & HIV, for VIVA to share their work with PWN and perhaps identify potential partnerships that we may be able to form.
 
I, the staff and other board members recognize that there is without a doubt a history between PWN and VIVA, however, we believe that the purpose going forward, and to reconcile the past, is not to rehash what has been done or said but rather to find the compassion to use our collective energies in a direction for the greater good in our community. We continue to be open to VIVA attending our staff meeting with the understanding that it is about moving forward and not looking back. If your group is also interested in a new beginning, and we hope that you are, please contact Marcie Summers to arrange for your group to join us at a staff meeting.
 
Patti Telford
PWN Board Chair
 

-- 
All the best,


VIVA Working Group
vivawomen at gmail.com

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