Office of the President Dear Chautauqua Dialogue Facilitators,
April 14, 2022
I write to offer a warm welcome to all those who will be facilitating dialogues for the first time and offer my support and gratitude to all those who are returning to this cherished program for the 2022 season. The Chautauqua Dialogues program has been a value-added experience for our patrons throughout its many iterations over the past 15 years or so. The program has offered opportunities for Chautauquans of all beliefs, ages, lived experiences, ideologies and perspectives to come together in the shared spirit of mutual understanding and growth. Participants are drawn to this program because it affords them the opportunity to discuss the big ideas presented from the various lecture platforms across the week and, specifically, to be in conversation with their peers. This is not simply an intellectual exercise but also one that builds community. It is precisely these kinds of interactions that make Chautauqua a special place and keeps our patrons coming back year after year. I also think it is important to situate these dialogues in the context of our larger society. At a time when our country, cities and neighborhoods are deeply divided, there are few opportunities available for us to discuss contemporary issues in a thoughtful, engaged and contemplative fashion. I believe that many people either only discuss issues within their own echo-chambers or prefer to stay away from issues because they might give rise to disagreement, opposition, or critique. In essence, as a society, we have largely lost our ability to talk to others. This is where the Chautauqua Dialogues hold tremendous promise – to show our patrons and beyond that a different path is possible. I hold on to a strong belief that many Chautauquans will be inspired by their experience this summer, and that they will choose to take both the content of what they learned, along with the dialogue skills, back to their home communities. It is precisely this sort of work that will help heal the wounds of our society and transform our collective lives. I am delighted to share that the Institution is working closely with the leadership of the Chautauqua Dialogues program to further promote and enhance the presence of this program for the 2022 season. Some of these efforts include a new web-presence for the program on the Institution’s website (www.chq.org/dialogue -- coming soon!), a new logo for the program, additions to the program offerings, and more focused and timely reminders for our audiences to participate in the dialogues. All of this is possible because of the tireless efforts of Roger Doebke and Lynn Stahl, the lead volunteer coordinators for this program. I am deeply grateful for their efforts, vision and leadership. Additionally, I am grateful to Amit Taneja, Senior VP and Chief IDEA
PO Box 28 / Chautauqua, NY 14722-0028 716.357.6222 / 716.357.5009 (fax) president@chq.org • chq.org