Orcas Crossroads is Changing Direction

Tuesday, October 27, at 5:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Parish Hall

 — from the Orcas Crossroads Committee —

Orcas Crossroads is at a crossroads — changing our format and mission.

Crossroads is moving away from offering lectures and toward promoting community engagement through conversations focused on topics relevant to Orcas Island residents. Our tagline has always been “Join the Conversation” and we are expanding on that invitation by facilitating more in-depth discussions among community members.

“Being Mortal” is the subject of the Crossroads Conversations

The context of the first conversation will be Atul Gawande’s book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. This best-selling and widely read book looks at decisions made at the end of life and pertains to anyone who is mortal or knows anyone who is. The book invites us to examine what is really important to each of us and to those we might be caring for or making decisions for as life comes to a close.

Gawande is a general and endocrine surgeon in Boston who has written four books about the medical field in America. Being Mortal draws on experiences from his own patients, other doctor’s patients, and his own family. He explores how medicine has become increasingly technical and driven to prolong life in ways that often diminish quality of life, actually shorten lives, and deprive people of what is of value to them.

“The ultimate goal is not a good death but good life—all the way to the very end.” This is a conversation for ALL ages. Reading the book, (available at the library, at Darvill’s and online), and/or watching one of Gawande’s videos  is encouraged to add to the depth of the discussion on Oct. 27.

This event will take place at Emmanuel Parish Hall on Tuesday, October 27, at 5:30. There will be a short introduction to kick off small group discussions. Each small group will have a facilitator who will have a short list of discussion points. However, conversations will be primarily directed by participants.

The Orcas Public Library will be a co-sponsor of this event. Interested participants can read the book itself and/or view two videos at Atul Gawande’s website. Light refreshments will be
available at this free community event.

Questions can be directed to Janice Wiemeyer at 376-3870.

Come Join the Conversation!