What does it mean to 'be a Groves'?
At the 2001 meeting, Connie Steele, President, asked various Groves members the question: "What does it mean to be a "Groves"?
Here are some of the answers:
Being a "Groves", for me, is a distinct privilege! I have only attended 2 conferences -- but both experiences have been enriching and stimulating beyond all expectation. Groves is an amazing group of very special people and I look forward to what future experiences will bring!
Interested in family relationships; flexible; collegial; passionate
Getting lifelong friends who always talk about interesting things
You're not only interested in research and theory about families and children and communities, but in social action! Social policy, making changes, learning from people who are making changes that help families.
Groves is a very special family , my tribe, my clan, for me—a group of people who have known and loved me longer than anyone other than my brother and my remaining aunt. People with whom I feel safe to be wholly my self—my emotional self, my spiritual self, my intellectual self. People who have been with me from graduate school to retirement, through children, divorce, remarriage who I know will accept and respect me no matter what. And when I fantasize about whom I would wish to encircle my bed as I die, it would be my Groves family, not just my blood family.
Traveling to the borders of my known world, beyond the borders of my discipline in the company of friends. Returning home with images and ideas that broaden and deepen my understanding of the part family plays in the world and in my life.
I think about the year I first attended Groves in San Antonio, where Pauline Boss told the story of her life and my husband said to me "What a true life storyteller she is! Do you belong to this organization?" I said, "No, but I hope I'll be invited to join! Because they care!" And that was obvious when Ellie Macklin appealed for social action to find solutions to the problems of AIDS. That appeal became a book that's still selling! We share the passion of wanting to know about what's happening to families -- not just in the lower 48 but throughout the world. ... It's not just the sharing of research...[it's in] feeling connection with each other and with all those we touch when we have a conference.
Here are some of the answers:
Being a "Groves", for me, is a distinct privilege! I have only attended 2 conferences -- but both experiences have been enriching and stimulating beyond all expectation. Groves is an amazing group of very special people and I look forward to what future experiences will bring!
Interested in family relationships; flexible; collegial; passionate
Getting lifelong friends who always talk about interesting things
You're not only interested in research and theory about families and children and communities, but in social action! Social policy, making changes, learning from people who are making changes that help families.
Groves is a very special family , my tribe, my clan, for me—a group of people who have known and loved me longer than anyone other than my brother and my remaining aunt. People with whom I feel safe to be wholly my self—my emotional self, my spiritual self, my intellectual self. People who have been with me from graduate school to retirement, through children, divorce, remarriage who I know will accept and respect me no matter what. And when I fantasize about whom I would wish to encircle my bed as I die, it would be my Groves family, not just my blood family.
Traveling to the borders of my known world, beyond the borders of my discipline in the company of friends. Returning home with images and ideas that broaden and deepen my understanding of the part family plays in the world and in my life.
I think about the year I first attended Groves in San Antonio, where Pauline Boss told the story of her life and my husband said to me "What a true life storyteller she is! Do you belong to this organization?" I said, "No, but I hope I'll be invited to join! Because they care!" And that was obvious when Ellie Macklin appealed for social action to find solutions to the problems of AIDS. That appeal became a book that's still selling! We share the passion of wanting to know about what's happening to families -- not just in the lower 48 but throughout the world. ... It's not just the sharing of research...[it's in] feeling connection with each other and with all those we touch when we have a conference.
Send your contribution of what it means to be a 'Groves' to [email protected] and we'll add it to this page.