Men of all-ages, all backgrounds and
from all walks of life are beginning to
look to a new source for answers. This
new source is within themselves.

Many men are making this
introspective journey with the help and
support of other men by joining together
in groups to help one another search out
and understand these answers.

A Gathering of Men, a workshop
presented for men by men, will offer just
such a unique experience for men in the
Fraser Valley.

This one and a half day workshop will
take place at the UCFV Chilliwack
campus on Friday, February 28 from
7-10 p.m. and Saturday, February 29
- from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We will look at the beliefs, patterns
and learned behaviours that arise out of
our conditioning as men,” says David
Hrycenko, facilitator. “Some of those
support our being creative and alive, but
others limit our growth.” }

Hrycenko has been facilitating
workshops for men in Vancouver and
the Valley for a number of years. “You
can expect a wide range of techniques
and approaches including body work,

movement, writing, film, drumming and
others to help you explore your
particular area of concern,” says
Hrycenko.

“We will compare through
storytelling what our beliefs are about
being male and about our actual life .
experience. We can talk about our dads,
our sons, our relationships with women,
our relationships with each other and
ourselves, or anything else of interest or
concern to the men in the group.”

Confidentiality is stressed in
workshops of this kind says Hrycenko.

“Often times buried emotions will
come up at these gatherings. Men have
been trained by our society to deny
many of their emotions, particularly
grief. They will often cover their grief
with anger. Men need to learn they can
challenge the world without beating it
up. We need to change the form of our
aggression. We need to take a stand and
say ‘I will not stand for this war. I will
not stand for putting down women. I will
not stand for these kinds of jokes.’ In
that sense we need to get aggressive.”

Every man has to answer the question
of what a man is for himself, according

SS ate cae made nanscla ee a caller SR Se eee ones

Headlines/Feb. 24 1992

Pig pool winners Nancy Helm (a
pre-nursing student) and Tom
Baumann, (an Agriculture
instructor) pose with their piglets.

Helm and Baumann came closest
to guessing the birthdates of the
first pigs of two litters born to
UCFV pigs Priscilla and Petunia
earlier this month. They won the
right to name their piglet, andthe .
proceeds of the pool.

Baumann named his piglet
Pigpen.

to Hrycenko.

“Ts your PhD blocking you from
being a man? Does your money block
you from being a man? Does your pretty
woman block you from being a man?

“Men tend to keep themselves too
busy to reflect inward, yet a lot of men
are becoming aware on some level that
something’s missing in their life.

“T really hope we’ll get a wide age
range in the workshop. Young men can
learn so much from older men and older
men can learn what it feels like to be
honoured by younger men.”

Respect, humour, support,
understanding, curiosity, self-analysis,
empowerment and energy are all aspects
of these group experiences, Hrycenko
says.

“Bring your fears, your thoughts and
your aspirations with you and let’s be
together and see what can happen,”
suggests Hrycenko.

Registration for A Gathering of Men
is being accepted now at all UCFV
centres. The fee is $50. For more
information phone 792-0025, local 2809.