Delaware Valley Synergy (DVS) is a group of friends and acquaintances who believe in and/or practice open, non-exclusive relationships. We find the traditional roles of men and women in marriage, dating, and relationships too limiting to our personal growth.
We have a strong emphasis on honest communication and respect for others. We expect thoughtful consideration as a matter of course. We treat men and women as equals. We see sexuality from the perspective of a holistic human lifestyle. Our level of honesty and genuine mutual respect make us a very warm, nurturing group.
DVS offers a supportive and encouraging environment for new approaches to relationships that may or may not include sexual intimacy. We frequently establish long-term, sometimes loving, associations. We advocate the acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, including open marriages, expanded families, and voluntary monogamy.
Synergy members come from a wide range of backgrounds, careers, and life experiences. Many of our members find Synergy to be a terrific support network. Members can provide insight, guidance, and encouragement to each other. We conduct rap groups and workshops on topics such as jealousy, possessiveness, sexual roles, intimate relationships and social interaction.
Delaware Valley Synergy sponsors many social events, parties, game nights, brunches, restaurant and theater outings, business meetings, hot tub parties, massage, and presentations by guest speakers.
In our meetings and activities we stress growth, discovery, sharing and cooperation. Some of our events are gender balanced, while others are not. To maintain the level of trust we desire, we reserve the right to censure or expel members whose behavior prompts complaints. We do not tolerate manipulation or disrespect from anyone.
What does "Synergy" mean?
The word synergy dates back to the year 1657. It was first used in theology to describe the religious doctrine of the Synergists. It derives from the Greek, meaning “working together”.
More recently, Buckminster Fuller expanded and explored the concept in his book, Synergistics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking”. There he defined synergy as “the behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the behavior of their parts separately”. In other words, the whole is greater than its parts.
In the early 1970’s, Family Synergy, a sister organization based in California, expanded the concept to intentional families and open relationships. They realized that people can live more rewarding lives, achieving more of their potential, by belonging to “family” groups larger than the traditional nuclear family. They promoted the “expanded family”, as well as other intentional communities based on open relationships. Delaware Valley Synergy evolved from this.
Open relationships are based on the philosophy that, interacting with others outside the primary pair-bond enriches the primary relationship. This can expand the horizons of the couple, while strengthening the primary bond. It emphasizes communication, honesty, commitment and acceptance.
Couples practicing open relationships may or may not be legally married, and may or may not live together. The critical distinction is that a person is in a primary, committed relationship with another person, and the relationship is open and inclusive, rather than closed and exclusive.
