PSYCHODYNAMICS OF FAMILY BUSINESS

ANNUAL RETREAT (PDFB XVI)

April 30 - May 2, 2010 -- EVANSTON

Theme for PDFB XVI April 30th – May 2, 2010 Hotel Orrington, Evanston : The Many Faces of Narcissism

The Program Committee is pleased to confirm that PDFB XVI will take place on April 30th through May 2nd at the Orrington Hotel in Evanston, Illinois. The general theme for this year will be Narcissism and related topics. We are communicating with you now to invite your ideas for presentations on this general theme and any related topics. We would hope to explore the many facets and faces of narcissism within the context of our work with families who are in business together.

These different aspects of narcissism might include:

• Creativity and narcissism
• Positive and negative sides of narcissism
• Arrogance, entitlement, nastiness, the abrasive personality
• Our own narcissism: narcissistic injuries in the work with families; what we carry into the room with us in our work.
• The client’s narcissism
• Resistance of family business leaders to let go for the next generation
• The narcissistic system and how we operate within that
• Cases

Other major categories which might be addressed:

• Functional versus dysfunctional narcissism: in the system, in us, in the family.
• The impact on the system: on the business and on the family
• Compelling issues from your own practice

The Program committee believes that Narcissism is such a rich and deep area to address, that with the creativity and enthusiasm of our members, this will be an outstanding program.

Timeline: What we need from you

Please get back to us by December 18th or sooner. We will complete the selection of presentations by January 30th. Please get back to Gerry (gerryd@big-leap.com or 781-863-5354) with your thoughts about presentations on this topic.. You do not need, at this point, to have a fully formulated presentation. Both content and format ideas are welcomed.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The Program Committee, PDFB 16: Barry Graff, Andrew Hier, Paul Sessions, Lilli Friedland, Michael Stern and Gerry Donnellan.

The PDFB Retreat is an annual gathering of experienced consultants to family firms. We are a cooperative learning community, sharing the planning, expense, and responsibility for each year's Retreat. The PDFB mission is to develop our knowledge of the psychosocial dynamics of family owned businesses and family business consultation.

Invitations for PDFB XVI will soon be mailed to prior participants, who have priority for the 32 slots. Remaining slots will then be open for registration on a first come first served basis to qualified professionals.

PDFB is a learning community; a safe environment in which colleagues can feel comfortable sharing tentative ideas, discussing failures, asking for feedback and genuinely exploring our practices. Because we work mostly alone with our clients, we have insufficient opportunities for such dialogues with professional colleagues. Family Firm Institute conferences and regional study groups provide learning opportunities across the disciplines and for less experienced consultants within the disciplines; but PDFB is the forum for the growing edge of knowledge and feedback within the community of experienced family/business systems and mental health professionals.

A word about the PDFB participants. No one is allowed to come just to listen and learn. Each of us participates in various ways. We are almost all either family therapists, or psychologists (organizational or clinical), or have psychiatry or social work degrees. A few are "dual diagnosis" OD consultants and family systems types; and we have a few members who come originally from business consulting backgrounds but are well steeped in family therapy literature and thinking. Some of us are more heavily qualified on the strength of research and academic degrees; others more on the strength of practical experience with business-owning families. Each member, in fact, is unique; but none of us is new to this field.

We are accepting inquiries for this year's Retreat. Group size is limited to 32 participants whose training is in psychologically-based fields, i.e., family systems, clinical psychology, psychiatry, social work, and organizational development. Participants have an experience range of working with 25 to 150 cases, yet it is expected that the average participant will have worked with at least 50 family business cases.

Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. We share the costs and try to keep them under $600 for the two days including lodging and meals. (Participants who live close to Chicago subsidize the meeting expenses to compensate for some of the out-of-towners traveling expenses.) For current information about costs, see the invitation letter that was sent to prior participants (below).

If your background, experience and interests match the above, please consider joining us at PDFB XVI. Please send an outline of your background and current professional activities, to the conference registrar, Marc Silverman, 5900 Collins Ave., Suite 1401, Miami Beach FL 33140.

Please see the PDFB Charter for a full understanding of our purpose and expectations.

Why Participate?

• Field development. PDFB provides a synergistic learning environment that promotes knowledge, creativity, professional and personal growth, affiliation, respect and fun among participants.
• Psychology foundation. Being involved with a group of practitioners from diverse psychologically-oriented backgrounds provides a deep and broad discussion of the psychological issues impacting on family firms while enhancing personal knowledge and contributing to the field.
• Productive debate. PDFB provides a forum for constructive debate, productive critique, and the opportunity to develop or refine insights into theory and practice.
• Participation. We encourage participants to prepare their thinking and goals in advance of the Retreat, to take risks with their thinking, and to actively participate in an encounter with others interested in learning.
• Concept development. Although not a requirement of all participants, individuals have the opportunity to present their work-in-progress to the group. Final form is not required.
• Basics assumed. The experience level of participants allows for advanced discussion without the need to review the basics.

Terms of Invitation letter :

Again this year, our meeting and lodging will be at the Orrington Hotel in Evanston, Illinois. (30 minutes north of the Loop and 40 minutes from OHare).

All participants, whether lodging at the Orrington, or with friends/relatives in Chicago, or locals commuting from home, MUST COMMIT TO SPEND THE FULL DAYS AND EVENINGS WITH THE GROUP. Much of our success depends on the group process, so any splintering off to enjoy the town and relatives must be done before we convene (around 3:00 PM on Friday) or after we all leave (no earlier than 1:00PM on Sunday). If you are traveling by air, you'll need to arrive by around 1:00 pm at OHare in order to check in and be ready to start by 3:00. You can make a 3:00 departing flight on Sunday without difficulty. Alternatively, Midway airport is 30 to 45 minutes further than OHare.

As a courtesy to others, we emphasize that you should NOT register for this retreat if you may find it necessary to arrive late or leave early. In the event of a partial conflict, please cancel so that your place may be taken be someone on the waiting list.

The non-refundable registration fee is $300. (If you live in Chicago or suburbs, and will not be staying at the Orrington, make your registration check for $600 (to help equalize expenses). All meals are included, unless revenues don't quite cover expenses, in which case we all chip in; this hasn't been necessary in recent years.

Mail your registration check for either $300 (if coming from out of town) or $600 (if local and not staying at Orrington) to Marc Silverman, 5900 Collins Ave., Suite 1401, Miami Beach FL 33140. Marc's phone is 305-865-8186.

A block of rooms has been guaranteed at the Orrington at $145 + tax per night (two nights). You will be provided with the reservation code when you register for PDFB. As we are a cooperative venture, any additional costs or any refunds will be divided among participants.

After we receive your registration fee, we will send you reservation details for the Omni Orrington.

Hope to see you in Evanston in April!