Lisa-- As a person with an invisible disability, food allergies, I appreciate attention to the fact that everyone does not eat the same things. Since a series of allergy treatments, I can eat small amounts of most anything, so for a short event, I can just eat what is served. But in a longer event, the accumulating allergens make me tired and fuzzy-headed, headachy or bilious.
So, when I plan an event, I try to see that there is enough variety that someone can pick and choose from the items on the table and still get a good meal. The very first Open Space event I ever attended was at a remote conference center, no place to duck out and get supplementary food. The food was magnificent, everything made fresh in their own kitchen. And their registration form asked about special food needs. At every meal, there was a generous main dish that met all the special needs in the group--it was out on the buffet with everything else, labelled as to content, and large enough that anyone could have a helping, whether they had asked for special food or not. This felt like a very gracious way to be hospitable to everyone! On the other hand, one OS I attended was at a resort that had little experience with vegetarian meals, and several in the group were Hindu. The resort served them fruit plates for breakfast, vegetable sandwiches for lunch and steamed vegetables for dinner, every day. By Day 4, they were hungry! The last OS that I facilitated, I was asked to provide ahead of time the times for all the food service, and I realized that this could be an issue for diabetics, those who need to eat more often than 3 meals a day, and those on certain medications. I just keep on learning! Had not thought about bringing clipboards (thank you Lisa!) but I save the cardboard backs from writing pads and offer them with paper and pens in the opening, as I am not usually the only one in the room who prefers not to kneel on the floor. Almost all of us need special attention or accommodation at some time in our lives, and for some it is a lifelong journey. Just part of life! Joelle * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html