Art of Gathering banner

What:

Athenian Dialogue

When:

Sunday, May 3, 2026, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Where:

DoubleTree Hilton Billings, MT

PLEASE NOTE: This is an in-person event only. No virtual attendance will be available. 

Facilitator:

Lydia Maunz, Associate Specialist, MSU Local Government Center

Book:

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Price:

$35.00 (Does NOT include the book. Participants are responsible for obtaining and reading the book prior to the Dialogue.) 

Coffee, lunch, and afternoon snacks and beverages are included.

Payment:

Please submit credit card payment through the payment portal.

Capacity:

25 participants maximum

A minimum of 8 participants is needed for a successful Dialogue. 

Registration Deadline:

5pm, Friday, April 17, 2026

Credits:

Municipal clerks may earn 6 CMC or MMC education hours (3 IIMC education points) for participation in this event.

Before You Arrive:

Read the entire text, take notes in the sections that resonate with you, and bring the book and your notes with you to the dialogue.

Upcoming Book:

Stay tuned for our October League conference Dialogue selection!

  

  

Description:

In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive--which they don't have to be. We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play.

Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show what works, what doesn't, and why. She investigates a wide array of gatherings--conferences, meetings, a courtroom, a flash-mob party, an Arab-Israeli summer camp--and explains how simple, specific changes can invigorate any group experience.

The result is a book that's both journey and guide, full of exciting ideas with real-world applications. The Art of Gathering will forever alter the way you look at your next meeting, industry conference, dinner party, and backyard barbecue--and how you host and attend them.

 

Participants are responsible for obtaining and reading the book prior to the Dialogue. Pick up a copy at your local book store or on Amazon.

 

What is an Athenian Dialogue?

Athenian Dialogues are 6-hour intensive conversations that allow participants to explore leadership theory, practice, and principles while earning IIMC certification education credits.

Clerks have the opportunity to relate their experiences in public leadership roles to the book's themes and key ideas, drawing connections and insights they can apply in their professional and personal lives.

This opportunity for rich, deeply engaged conversation and shared insight is a treasured Institute tradition and not to be missed!


Questions? Feel free to reach out to lydia.maunz@montana.edu.

 

Montana State University Extension Local Government Center
IIMC