Theme 2024
Given the challenges of managing the clutter in our minds, perhaps it should not be surprising that sages from many spiritual and religious traditions have advocated for various forms of contemplative/meditative practice that enable us to move from worrying about self to engaging with our communities and the world.
The theme of this year’s MSR Retreat is taken from the title of a piece, “Think Less, Think Better” (2016), by Moshe Bar, neuroscientist, director of the Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University, and professor at Harvard Medical School.
If we engage at the start of the Academy of Management (AOM) conference with spiritual and religious practices that clear our minds of unnecessary mental loads (think less), we increase the possibility of experiencing a stronger ability to think creatively as we engage with the ideas and concepts that we encounter throughout the rest of the AOM conference (think better).
Additionally, by starting the conference with the retreat, we can foster relationships that will enable us to connect throughout the week and on after we have left Chicago.
Schedule
This year’s MSR retreat will be held in-person, as a Professional Development Workshop on the first day of the AOM conference.
Friday, August 9, 2024
12:00-5:30 PM (CDT)
During the 5.5 hours, participants will be invited to co-create the event through sharing spiritual and/or religious practices followed by dialogue around how our experiences relate to our research, teaching, and practice. Later in the evening, we will be gathering for a voluntary dinner together at a local restaurant. Full details of the schedule and the dinner will be provided to registrants the week before the retreat.
Co-creation
Our tradition is to invite retreat registrants to contribute to the program’s experiential sessions that draw on spiritual/religious traditions and practice (such as specific meditation process; the Catholic practice of the Rosary; Hindu chanting of mantras; exploring the shadow; Chaya Sadhna; the Quaker clearness committee; Aikido; Yoga; art as spiritual practice; musical bowls; etc.). When you register, you will be sent a link inviting your contribution – don’t be shy!
Registration Details
The registration fee to cover refreshments and supplies is $40.* At the same time, we want everyone to attend! So, there is an assistance-based registration ranging from $0 to a voluntary amount. We encourage our participants to contribute more than the regular registration fees, whenever possible. The extra amount collected would be used to cover assistance-based registrations and MSR scholarships. *Please note: the registration does not cover the voluntary dinner in the evening.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received before Thursday, July 15, 2024 will be fully refunded. Cancellations received after July 15 will be considered donations for future MSR Scholarships.
For more information, please contact one of the members of the MSR Retreat Committee: