Imagine being invited to a dinner in 1819 at Monticello, the elegant Virginia
home of Thomas Jefferson—president, scientist, farmer, connoisseur,
scholar, and author of the Declaration of Independence. Around
his table, you’d encounter some of the leading spirits of the age—men
and women steeped in politics, literature, the arts, the sciences, theology,
history, mores, and manners—people that Mr. Jefferson invited
because he found them, intriguing and delightful to spend a stimulating
evening with. An evening like this was also a prime source of
education both for Mr. Jefferson himself and for the guests around the
table, all of whom were engaged citizens, eager to share and debate the
varied ideas that would shape the fortunes and spur the development of
their rapidly-growing young nation.
A Dinner Party—With a Twist
For a Jeffersonian Dinner, approximately twelve individuals, some of
whom may already know one another but others of whom do not, are invited to gather
in a private dining room for an evening of food and shared conversation with a purpose. The attendees generally include people chosen because they are likely to be interested in the group’s mission,
have supported other related causes, or have background knowledge and connections that will enable them to contribute to an interesting dialogue about the topic.
Upon a confirmed yes RSVP to the dinner, guests will receive a request for a brief written biography. These bios are emailed to the participants a day or two before
the dinner, so those who’ve never met before will have at least a general
sense of the identities and interests of their dinner companions.
To launch the conversation, a pre-announced question (included in the request for a brief bio) is used to elicit personal feelings, stories, and experiences relevant to the evening's theme.
cause, an organization, or a social problem, nor is there a pitch for contributions
or memberships. The purpose of the Jeffersonian Dinner is
to build a sense of community and partnership around a shared interest
or theme.
Unlike the typical dinner party, guests are not encouraged to engage in one-on-one
dialogues with their partners on either side. Instead, everything that
is said should be directed to the entire group, just as Thomas Jefferson
himself ordained.
What you can expect-
All evening:
At the end of the dinner:
About two weeks after the dinner:
Much of this page was created from content reproduced with permission by Jeffrey C. Walker of The Generosity Network.
All evening:
- Stimulating, thought provoking conversation.
- Delicious food paired and wine.
- A dinner moderator who can move the conversation around and stimulate discussion.
At the end of the dinner:
- The question: "How do you plan to follow-up on the evening's discussion?" There is no pressure to respond in a particular way!!
- New informal connections, networking opportunities, new ideas.
About two weeks after the dinner:
- A letter including the dinner participants' contact information and summarizing the follow-up points made at the end of the dinner.
- Follow up inquiring on whether you would like more information about the dinner's highlighted non-profit.
Much of this page was created from content reproduced with permission by Jeffrey C. Walker of The Generosity Network.
