LOGBOOK
This is the second March in a row that I have abandoned Maine for California. Certainly the fact that my daughter now lives here is a big draw. And the wet lingering Maine winters become trying in March. But, that aside - I am finding being here more than an escape, more than restorative, more than deepening my connections with my daughter and west coast friends - I am tuning up my vision. The contrast lifts up possibilities. The unfamiliar environment raises questions. The creative urges emerge renewed, refined, and refreshed. By the end of my stay I am more than ready to return, greet the black flies, celebrate the crocus buds, and move into new ventures. See you in April!!
Carol
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RESUPPLY
What is vision? How do we support vision? Listen (2 minutes) to Bill Drayton (CEO
of Ashoka) speak about the importance of Youth Venture in empowering young
people to lead and make lasting social impact.
Ashoka envisions an Everyone A Changemaker™ world. A world
that responds quickly and effectively to social challenges, and where each
individual has the freedom, confidence and societal support to address any
social problem and drive change.
Podcast. Everyone a changemaker , interview with
Bill Drayton
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Scouting?
For more information,
to engage us in a dialogue about sustaining vision, and/or to schedule a free 30-minute, sample, coaching-session,
click here to email us.
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 Reading the waters
We asked Alan Furth, executive director of the Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC) in Trescott, to reflect on holding the vision. Here are his thoughts: "You have to be willing to fail. Move forward with the intention to succeed, but know that there is a probability of not making it and then do everything you can to achieve your vision. Hold onto some of your guiding quotes for wisdom. One of mine is from Miles Horton: "If you can't work where you are, you can't work where you ain't."
My friends in the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Live Oak, Florida taught us the One Step Processional - singing and clapping and calling out, "One step, mmm. One Step, My lord. All you got to do is take one step; And He will do the rest, the rest, the rest ...." Over and over and over again. And so, holding the vision is about being in that step and welcoming it as part of the long haul journey. With the Cobscook Community Learning Center, part of holding the vision is being sure that I am not the only one holding it, but that we take opportunities to visit it often - to understand and communicate about it often. And, we work with great intention to keep the vision current - keep it in the mix - accountable to the day, as we are. We sustain a reciprocal relationship with our vision. We are accountable to it as it is to the work of the day - the conditions and demands and opportunities - invitations of the day. There is no sense in keeping a vision that is accountable to an outdated or obsolete set of conditions. Then we are simply preservationists - at best. I hold the vision by working with it every day. It is a touch stone, as real as the Herring Cove pebbles I carry in my pocket. I touch it, roll it over in my fingers, let my words form with and through its lines. We can trace our work of the day to a vision that is living - like good soil - alive and full of nourishment for the seed we sow for today's crop of actions. I surround myself with people who are also doing the work that they love. I travel in good company." |
Steering the Course
Professional development to support your leadership:
LEADERSHIP SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable are you as a leader? Are you thriving? Are competing demands pulling you in too many directions? Are you out of balance? Is your position as a leader one that keeps you isolated from peers who could offer valuable perspectives? Come to this free, 90-minute session, Thursday, April 28th, from 3:30-5, with other leaders from the community to explore these critical issues, engage in lively dialogue, and come away with some personalized strategies for your leadership sustainability. Carol Carriuolo will facilitate this interactive session. This session is open to anyone who identifies themselves as a leader, is an executive director, a board chair, a manager, or a community leader. If there is interest, the possibility of an ongoing group will be discussed. RSVP required. Space is limited. Reply today to reserve a place. Where: Downtown Lewiston, location will be sent with your confirmation Who: any leader interested in exploring this topic STRENGTHENING YOUR SKILLS AS A BOARD CHAIR: Board chair consultation groups. Board chairs are volunteers with significant responsibility for the oversight, stewardship, and planning for the sustainability of their nonprofit. Meet with other board chairs in a facilitated and confidential forum to expand your knowledge about your role, build a toolkit of resources to maximize your effectiveness, and discuss issues of relevance. Each session will use a combination of best practice presentation, discussion, peer consultations and case study inquiry. Sign up now and take your board leadership to the next level. 4 sessions, 2-hours per session, meets monthly. Forward this newsletter to your board chair. Register now. Cost: $250 - a $150 deposit will reserve a place for you.
Bangor: 4-6PM, Tuesdays, April 13, May 11, June 1, June 29 ADJUST, RE-ADJUST: THE GEOGRAPHY OF BALANCE, Webinar: Have you been wondering how to create more balance in your life? If the answer is yes, join your colleagues for this 90-minute webinar designed to guide you through a process to do just that! Carol Carriuolo and Corda Kinzie will facilitate this lively and valuable session. You will leave with tools, a personal goal, and several strategies for moving toward your preferred future. April 14 (Registration Deadline: April 7, 2010) ; 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. (Join us at 3:45 if you want TA on how to use Adobe tools in the session.) Note: Instructions for logging in for the webinar will be provided in your registration confirmation. Cost: FREE SHIFTING THE BALANCE. Often our professional lives require our attention to be diffused in so many directions that our personal and professional goals get put to the side. It is easy to get out of balance. We are offering facilitated groups (4-6 participants) to focus on shifting into better balance. Over the course of five two-hour sessions, participants will identify and commit to taking actions that are critically important to them, but are continuously overlooked. The first four meetings will occur every other week for two hours. The fifth and final session will be scheduled a month later for check-in, peer support, accountability, and tune-ups. Is there something that you have been wanting to move forward in your life? Are you looking to re-adjust for more balance? This group is open to anyone in any role who is interested; it will start after 4 individuals have registered. We will collaborate on setting dates that work for everyone. Fee: $250. Location: teleconference, Augusta, and Portland. Contact Carol with your interest/questions or to register. PADDLING THE RAPIDS FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS IN THE LEWISTON AREA, a new group is forming. It's format and design will reflect the expressed needs of the participants. Are you interested? |
Guidebook
The Art of Possibility, by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund ZanderExcerpt from their website: Presenting twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity into action, The Art of Possibility is the dynamic product of an extraordinary partnership. The Art of Possibility combines Benjamin Zander's experience as conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and his talent as a teacher and communicator with psychotherapist Rosamund Zander's genius for designing innovative paradigms for personal and professional development. The authors' interwoven perspectives provide a deep sense of the powerful role that Possibility can play in every aspect of life. Through uplifting stories, parables and personal anecdotes, the Zanders invite us to become passionate communicators, leaders and performers whose lives radiate Possibility into the world. I connect 'possibility' with 'vision' - and this is a book I come back to over and over again to remind me of that connection. Each chapter is useable, accessible, and very readable - filled with moments of insight and grace. I highly recommend it. ~ Carol Full Circle Learning -- Mentoring Leadership Through Personal Development. Excerpt of Zander's presentation at Davos in 2009. (5 minutes) |
Navigation Tool
Use a vision board as an effective way to build consensus within your organization, prime the pump, and provide fuel for productive planning for the future.
Materials needed: large tack board or designated wall space, tacks (or tape), small pieces of paper, markers,magazines, scissors, string/yarn/or paper strips.
Preparation: gather materials, arrange at agreed upon location, set time frame for participation (from 1-2 weeks). Tack up current mission/vision at top of board. Just below it, in large font post a date in the future (5-15 years forward of today)
Task: Over the designated time, participants are invited to post words, phrases, quotes, and pictures that illustrate the preferred future. As items are posted people may group and re-group them. No one may remove, cross-out, or change anyone else's contribution, but they can change its location on the board. Connections/barriers can be made with the string.
Completing the Process: Gather to view the vision board together and give everyone 10 minutes to look it over and make any additions.
Ask the following questions and document where there is consensus:
- What story does this tell?
- What are we doing now that will support this vision?
- What do we need to be doing more of? Less of? Stop doing? Start doing?
- How can we continue this dialogue with our vision?
Having a desired future take shape visually can be powerful. Have fun with this process. Watch what happens as the collective vision becomes clearer, and clearer.......
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