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December 2013 Issue 106 
In This Issue
SMPGs: The Heart of SENG - Introducing SENG Online Parent Support Groups!
Director's Corner
Feature Article: Mining For Gold: Helping Your Children Discover Their Passion
100 Words of Wisdom: Stephen Chou
 
Upcoming SENG Model Parent Group
Facilitator Training
 
January 16-17, 2014 
San Jose, CA
 

Times: Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:40 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. - noon

Trainers: Lori Comallie-Caplan and Molly Isaacs-McLeod

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose.
2050 Gateway Place, San Jose CA (408-453-4000)
Cost: $300

Materials Provided: A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children and Parent Groups: The SENG Model, 2nd Ed.

REgister Now button
A limited number of reduced-rate rooms are available for participants, so book as early as possible. Reserve your room through the hotel website by selecting "Add special rate codes" and typing "SEN" in the Group code field on the next screen. You may also book your room by calling Antionette Vasquez, Reservation Coordinator, at (408) 437-2810. Inform her that you are with the SENG training.
 

Spaces are limited, so register now! Please visit our Web site for more details. 



Last Call for Speaker Proposals ... Deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 18:
 
We are  accepting speaker proposals for our 2014 conference. Proposals must be submitted through our online form by December 18. 

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Advertising Opportunities: Reserve your space now. More information is available online. Please direct questions about sponsorship, exhibitor, and advertising opportunities to SENG Executive Director Liz Campbell at  (845) 797-5054.

Support SENG with a 
Tax-Deductible Contribution 

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SENG relies on contributions from friends to support our mission. Please consider donating so that the organization can continue its vital work. Thank you!
    

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New SENGinar Announced:

 

January 16, 2014   

Culturally Different Gifted Students: Social-Emotional and Racial Identity Issues and Needs  

Presenter: Donna Y. Ford, PhD

 

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2014 Adult  
Gifted Series:
 

January 7, 2014  

Giving a Name and a Face to Adult OEs
Presenter: Molly Isaacs-McLeod, JD, LLM  

 

February 11, 2014
Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusionment, and Hope
Presenter: James T. Webb, PhD   

 

March 11, 2014
Finding, Creating, and Building Meaningful Work
Presenter: Paula Prober, MS, MEd  

 

Learn more about the 2014 Gifted Adult Series...  

 

 
Spot a SENG Speaker  
in Your Area
 
February 20-21, 2014:
Gifted 101, Keynote, and more
presented by Carolyn Kottmeyer and hosted by Nebraska Association for the Gifted 

Are you presenting on the social/emotional needs of the gifted at an upcoming event? Please provide us with the details.
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 View our profile on LinkedIn

View our videos on YouTube

 

Dear SENG Friends & Family,   

Lori Comallie Caplan

 

As I approach the end of my term, I want to use this final opportunity to offer much appreciation and a few reflections regarding my SENG journey over the last six years. It was six years ago that I was elected to the board and in the next month the Secretary of the Board. Two years later I was elected President Elect, and for the last two years it has been my extreme honor to serve SENG as President of the Board. I laugh with my husband and say that I gave the six best years of my life to SENG, but the truth of the matter is that SENG made those last three years the best of my life. I have had the privilege to work with the most dedicated, talented, and inspiring people - and each has left me with gifts and life lessons that I will always treasure.

 

Jim Webb taught me to dream big and to lead people to dream even bigger.

 

Arlene DeVries taught me to love what I do with all my heart.

 

Ed Amend taught me to work hard and play even harder.

 

Wenda Sheard taught me to take a risk.

 

Heidi Molbak taught me to open my arms to new friendships.

 

Rosina Gallagher taught me graceful forgiveness.

 

Sheri Stewart taught me that anything worth doing is worth doing well.

 

Mary Lovell taught me to balance responsibility with innovative decision-making.

 

Sheri Plybon taught me to value silence and the importance of listening.

 

Lisa Rivero taught me the courage to put my feelings in writing.

 

Carolyn Kottmeyer taught me to be adventurous and to enjoy the journey.

 

Jane Hesslein taught me that any problem can be solved with a little intellect and a lot of laughter.

 

Steven Pfeiffer taught me to fearlessly stand up for what I believe in.

 

Tiffany O'Neil taught me to enjoy the spontaneous moments.

 

Rose Blackett taught me to look at things from multiple perspectives.

 

Marianne Kuzujanakis taught me to never give up.

 

Tiombe Bisa Kendrick taught me to value and appreciate people in all their diversity.

 

Joy Navan taught me to take time to smell the roses and has reminded me that it's never too late to plant new roses.

 

Stephen Chou taught me the great skill of diplomacy.

 

David Berg taught me to never stop fighting the "good fight" for the gifted.

 

Amy Harrington taught me the road less traveled is often the best road.

 

Molly McLeod taught me there are no regrets, only celebrations.

 

Kathleen Casper taught me the pleasure of unlimited enthusiasm. (She also gave me a run for my money with my nickname, "the Energizer Bunny.")

 

And finally, I thank Vidisha Patel, who gave me and taught me friendship, loyalty and love.

 

There are many others I have met on this SENG journey who have added to the blessings in my life in innumerable ways. Our current Executive Director, Elizabeth Campbell, has taught me that I still have much to learn and to continue to enjoy this journey from another role.

 

SENG changes lives, changes futures. But SENG is the people who serve its mission. It is their service that continues to make a profound difference in the lives of gifted individuals around the world.

 

I have no earth shattering or dramatically different observations than those who have preceded me. I continue to say that SENG is at a tipping point. I know that to thrive and "tip forward" as we grow, we need all our constituents to be willing to serve and give back to SENG. I continue to encourage our constituents to reinvest in supporting the social/emotional needs of the diverse gifted community. I am proud to stand behind SENG's definition of diversity as it embraces diverse gender, race, age, ability/disability, socio-economic status, language, culture, religion, sexual orientation, and national origin. SENG serves us all.

 

This last six years has been interesting, stimulating, and motivating and has renewed my faith in both the importance of SENG's mission and the critical need for us to stand together in supporting the emotional needs of the gifted. SENG's success did not happen by accident, it happened because of 31 years of dedicated people standing together and understanding what really matters in the lives of the gifted. To the incoming board, I say, "You are the stars of this SENG show." Talk about standing together, I am already in awe and so deeply appreciative of all that you do and all that you will do to lead SENG to new heights. Your work will, I believe, be something that you will take great and enduring pride in.

 

It has been an honor to serve. In looking back, I can honorably say, with the support of the Board of Directors and the Executive Directors, I did my best, and especially given the importance of this cause, I hope my best has been good enough.

 

As I say goodbye, I am reminded of my favorite quote by Hillary Cooper, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." The last six years have left me breathless.

 

 With friendship,

 

Lori Comallie-Caplan 

Lori Comallie-Caplan

SENG Board President

 

Molly McLeod

Introducing SENG Online Parent Support Groups!

by Molly Isaacs-McLeod

Greetings! I have tremendous shoes to fill (thank you Lori Comallie-Caplan!) as the new Chair of the SENG Model Parent Group (SMPG) Committee. While SENG offers many wonderful programs and resources, the SMPG is the heart of SENG, and I am honored to be the Board champion for this program.

I am very excited to introduce a program whose time has come, the SENG Online Parent Support Group. Each support group will meet once a week for eight weeks and will cover a number of the topics addressed in A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, by Webb, et al. These groups are perfect for parents who have not found an SMPG within reasonable driving distance of their home or whose schedules will not allow for participating in an "IRL" ("in real life") SMPG.  

 

Parents of gifted children can often be the best resource for other parents, with their "been there done that" and "am there now, I feel your pain" perspectives.

 

I invite each of you to make a promise to yourself in the coming year that will benefit you, your gifted child, and your family. Register for a SENG Online Parent Support Group or seek out and attend an SMPG near you. You will be glad you did! 

 

The Psychosocial Development of Gifted Children 

by Stephen Chou 

 

"I did it! I can do it! I can do anything!"

Success, success, and more success. Though this is not the experience of all children who are gifted, as there is such diversity and challenges even within the gifted community, is this not on some level often the experience of many gifted children? Gifted children have been known to achieve and succeed in various facets of life ... and early (Clark, Barbara, 2008, NAGC/SENG, Pfeiffer, 2009, Mendaglio & Peterson, 2007). They are lauded for their achievements by their mothers, fathers, grandparents, teachers, doctors, and even peers and siblings. And, why shouldn't they be?  
... Read More
 
 
by Jan DeLisle

"To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness." - John Dewey

 

Some gifted students seemingly come out of the womb knowing what they want to do in life. A high school senior talks of a lifelong love for animals and prepares for a study in veterinary medicine. Another tells of taking apart a radio as a toddler to see how it works and is accepted into an engineering program. Similar anecdotes can be told by any teacher or coordinator of gifted students. Watching students with multiple areas of interests weave their talents together in advanced studies and creating careers that combine their passions is undoubtedly the most exciting facet of the job of a parent, gifted coordinator, or classroom teacher. Read More...

 
100 Words of Wisdom: Stephen Chou 

In approximately 100 words, experts from around the world offer their perspective on some aspect of giftedness. View and share the online version. 
  
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - A wisdom from Benjamin Franklin that reminds us that children don't often do as you say as much as they do what you do. Our children, who are at once exciting and anxiety-provoking, joyful and heart-breaking, sensitive and stubborn ... those teeter-tottery, roller-coastery, compelling rocketships and drop zones of intellect and emotions ... are continually ever-moving and lovingly our little selves that we are raising to be happy people. Remember for them to be happy, we, too, must nurture ourselves to be happy. Find your center and find your balance in life. Live what you Teach.

********
Stephen H. Chou, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in his private practice and a supervising clinical psychologist and the Director of Training at the Summit Center within the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Chou is also an adjunct professor at Alliant International University - California School of Professional Psychology. Prior to joining the Summit Center, Dr. Chou was a supervising clinical psychologist at the Chinatown Child Development Center through the Department of Public Health with the City and County of San Francisco and the executive director of the Big Sibling Program. Dr. Chou practices and teaches from a developmental, strengths-based, and multicultural stance through the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families. He has broad-ranging specialties with child and family and multicultural and community psychologies and particularly with gifted, talented, and 2e children and families. Dr. Chou also presents at state, national, and international conferences on a variety of topics in giftedness and is a SENG Board Member.
        
 
Copyright � 2013 SENG / Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted

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P.O. Box 488, Poughquag, NY 12570 | [email protected] | (845)797-5054
 
The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect SENG's position. 

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