ABSTRACT

In November 2003, a four-day residential conference on group relations conferences for group relations conference staff members was held in Belgirate, Italy, organised by Avi Nutkevitch of OFEK, a group relations organisation in Israel and Mannie Sher of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, London. The primary task of the conference was to review and explore the theory and design, the taking up of roles in, and the application of, group relations conferences. A major element concerning involvement in role-taking was the idea of being “chosen”, which appeared to be more significant than variables, such as gender, religion, and profession. The Belgirate conference was, therefore, designed as a particular structured opportunity for reviewing, exploring, and learning more about the different aspects of group relations conference design, dynamic, and delivery. The Belgirate conference provided an opportunity for map-building of the group relations network, of the institution of group relations that individuals and group relations organisations hold in their minds.