About the Idea Forum Retreat
Between conferences and meetings and travel and reports and calls – When do you have time to think about the big issues in sustainability? How to tackle them? How to communicate them? How to collaborate with a small group of leaders not only passionate about sustainability but looking for the next step to get things done?
Exclusive for TSC Tier 1 and retailer members: TSC’s Idea Forum is a small, intimate group of change-makers interested in working collaboratively to identify, develop and implement solutions for the ever-changing landscape of sustainability. It is a place to build our leadership and explore opportunities for collective action on issues, trends, and solutions that just cannot be tackled alone. Together we can move the needle on sustainability issues, and it all starts with the TSC Idea Forum.
TSC Idea Forum Retreat is a time when the Idea Forum comes together in a beautiful setting to reflect, explore, imagine creative ideas for tackling some of the toughest sustainability issues we face and leverage our leadership roles to drive change. Deep in the Great Plains of North America, on an active apple orchard along the Missouri River Valley of Nebraska, we will disconnect from the daily distractions and plug into the solutions we can’t get to in our daily work routines. We hope you’ll join us this August for this in-person retreat where we will focus on defining the future of sustainability by:
- Exploring how to apply systems thinking to our biggest sustainability challenges,
- Reflecting upon, sharing and coming up with solutions for individual and organizational needs in driving action on key challenges, and
- Imagining and building the types of individual and collective action that we will take on in order to put our leadership skills to work and drive impact.
TSC will cover all expenses for TSC members at the Arbor Day Farm Lied Lodge & Conference Center – Just get yourself there! (Note: The best airport is Omaha, Nebraska and the Lied Lodge provides a direct shuttle for an affordable fee.)
Objectives
- Connect with other TSC sustainability leaders
- Practice articulating our challenges in addressing sustainability hotspots
- mindfully reflect and act on the challenges we face in addressing sustainability hotspots,
- learn from each other as we reflect on and articulate those challenges,
- prepare ourselves as leaders in creating the world we want to sustain,
- define the next 10 years of sustainability leadership
- Lastly, breathe, come into the space, open yourself to learning, open your mind to expanding beyond your current thinking, open your mind to being present with each other, be grateful to have this time to think.
Agenda
Tuesday, August 27: The Changing Sustainability Narrative
*1:00pm to 4pm: Arrive and get settled (Shuttle available from Lincoln and Omaha airports)
*4:00pm: Getting to know each other: Sharing what challenges we face and what we are trying to sustain in addressing hotspots
*5:00pm: Welcome and Interactive Activity: Exploring the sustainability narrative; where has it come from, where is it going
*6:30pm: Dinner
*7:30: Challenging ourselves to be bold enough to redefine and shape new systems – Eric Martin from Adaptive Change Advisors
*8:30: Refreshments on the terrace
Wednesday, August 28: Our roles in driving change
7:00am: Walking meditation in the orchard
8:30am: Tree adventure
9:30am: Expanding the limits of what is practical – Eric Martin, Adaptive Change Advisors
10:30am: Silent retreat: What does the world look like when I’ve addressed all of these hotspots? What is my role in driving that new system? How do I change my language to define that new system?
11:00am: Interactive Activity: Writing it down: Developing a creative brief using language that defines the new system I am trying to create – Erika Ferrin, TSC
12:30 : Lunch
1:30pm: What is our leadership role, individually, organizationally, collectively? Eric Martin, Adaptive Change Advisors
2:30pm: Peer to peer learning and sharing: We can’t do this alone: What is the role of collective action in mobilizing others and creating systems change that defines the next 10 years of sustainability?
5:00pm: Wine and cheese walk while we talk
6:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Bonfire and smores
Thursday, August 29: Leveraging collective action to define leadership in sustainability for the next 10
7:00am: Yoga, walking, exploring the grounds
8:30am: Interactive activity: Examining the possibilities for driving collective impact at scale – Euan Murray
9:30am: Mindful moment
9:30am: Interactive activity: Defining the next 10 years – What actions can we take now to define sustainability and drive progress collectively?
11:00am: Calling out commitments to act – what initiative can we define to continue this progress?
12:00pm: Actions and take-aways
add under lodging:
Lodging
Lied Lodge & Conference Center is truly a special place. 140 nature-inspired rooms. 14,000 square feet of event space. 260 wooded acres to explore. It is a getaway like no other. The Lodge was originally designed and built by the Arbor Day Foundation to serve as a space for like minds to gather and discuss trees, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Regardless of what brings you to Lied Lodge, one thing is certain. You will enjoy your time at this one-of-a-kind destination.
Lied Lodge and Conference Center
2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City, Nebraska 68410
+1 800-546-5433
Registration
