TODN Bulletin Board

Vets to Vets United: Non-Profit Journey from Change SIG to Today - (Coffee/tea/snacks)
Six years ago, Dr. Terry Morris came to the Change SIG with a dream, and our response was "Go for it!" That is exactly what Dr. Terry did. Vets to Vets United, Inc. (VTVUI) became a 501(c)(3) within a year and now Dr. Terry is one of five contenders for 2019 American Humane Hero Veterinarian Award, sponsored by Zoetis Petcare.

If you have wanted to start or work with a non-profit, join us for a look at what's involved in getting one off the ground and producing results (i.e., graduating service, therapeutic, and emotional support teams after two+ years of Dr. Terry  and the veteran selecting a dog that is trainable and then Dr. Terry training the veteran to train his/her dog).

Purpose: VTVUI consists of local veterinarians and volunteers working together to provide service, therapeutic, and emotional support animal/veteran teams, and discounted veterinary care to our U.S. Military Veterans suffering from loneliness, depression, Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and physical disabilities. This service will also significantly reduce the number of animals euthanized at the local animal shelters.

More information on VTVUI available at https://www.vetstovetsunited.org/.

Dr. Terry Morris, DVM, PhD
Dr. Terry Morris, D.V.M., Ph.D., is a native of Durham NC. She is extremely passionate about the welfare of veterans suffering from emotional and/or physical disabilities and the animals that are suffering and euthanized at animal shelters due to over population. Dr. Terry recognizes the healing power of the animal-human bond. She is thankful to God and is honored to have this opportunity to serve our U.S. Military Veterans and animals, both of which are in need of love, companionship and healing. Dr. Terry dedicated the Vets To Vets United, Inc. program to her father, who died during his tour of duty as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, and to her sister who also served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force

NOTE: if you would like to vote for Dr. Terry, here is link created by one of their most ardent supporting organizations: http://herovetawards.org/vote/ where you select Dr. Terry and they rotate the nurses each day. You can vote once a day until 12 PM Pacific Time August 8, 2019. Here are clues I discovered:
1 - Click on Dr. Terry Morris, then SELECT
2 - SELECT whichever nurse is there
3 -  SUBMIT VOTE by filling in First Name, Last Name, Email, Zip, checking I am at least 18 years old, confirming your are not a robot, and clicking VOTE

“Synchronicities:” Hidden Threads Impacting Our Professional & Personal Lives - (Coffee/tea/snacks)

"Carl Jung held that Synchronicities are "meaningful coincidences" if they occur with no causal relationship - yet seem to be meaningfully related". 

• What are these imperceptible and hidden threads that seem to profoundly impact us?
• How do they play out in our professional and personal lives?
• How can synchronicities inform our work?
• What can we do to raise our consciousness to better recognize and utilize these remarkable coincidences? 
• What impact can these “seemingly” random events have on us? 

Through experiential exercises and group discussion, we will explore the incidence and impact of synchronicities in our lives. Drawing from the work of analyst Jerry Ruhl PhD, Carl Jung, neuroscience, Jean Houston and research into Quantum Physics, participants will gain a greater appreciation of the “mindset” that helps in creating and recognizing the seemingly acausal connections between the “seen” and “unseen” worlds.  We will explore how synchronicities appear and what we can learn from them.

Peter Metzner, MA, MPA, PCC, BCC

In addition to Leadership and Team Coaching, Peter facilities seminars on Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence and Peak Performance. He incorporates guided visualization and dream work in many of his leadership, coaching and training programs.   Peter regularly facilitates seminars at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University Medical Center.   He has researched and studied stress, mindfulness, meditation, visualization, synchronicities and dreams through the Journey Through Wholeness, Triangle Jung Society, Rhine Research Center, Robert Johnson, Jerry Ruhl, Barry Williams, Jeremy Taylor, John Ryan Haule and others. Peter has given key-note presentations as well as workshops to organizations such as the National Wellness Institute, Center for Creative Leadership, the Georgia Southern University Staff Council, as well as for Global and Regional ICF conferences.

More information is on his web site at www.dynamicchangeinc.com.

For more information, contact SIG leaders, Vickie Bevenour  or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-493-5424).

Navigating Career/Life Transitions With Courage: A Collaborative Discussion

• Are you motivated to move up, become more visible, influential, or known as a leader in your field? Or do you wish to slow down and shift direction after years in a fast-paced profession?

•  Are you building your career, seeking wisdom from others who survived similar challenges and opportunities? Or are you mid to late career, eager to give back and help less experienced colleagues make the most of their gifts?

Careers take off, stall, soar, come to a dead stop, and re-start in unpredictable ways. A quick, high-stakes decision may change things in an instant. Slow, awkward -- yet desirable -- transitions may take years, as you struggle with letting go of an outdated and successful professional identity.

Wherever you are on the path, you're not alone. Join us for some big questions, a few answers, and an opportunity to encourage each other. During "check in" you will be invited to bring a career transition question to the group, or to share, briefly, where you may be headed next on your journey.

Facilitated by Julie Mitchell, MA. CoachWalks® - Your path... your pace.

Julie has walked clients (ages 16 to 88) through big opportunities, unwelcome challenges, and an amazing array of career/life decisions. She loves to help people listen, learn, understand themselves and others better, find their voices, and feel more comfortable, courageous and confident as they share their gifts. She guides clients on the paths she knows best, offering communication skills coaching and strategy, integrated leadership consulting, and realistic, reassuring guidance through transitions.

For more about Julie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemitchellcoach/

Discover Thetaland: A “Thinking at the Edge” Game Leading to Surprising Clarity - (coffee/tea/snacks)
How to think freshly with old words? How to speak from an inner knowing when words are still missing? How to find your own voice within complex and ambiguous contexts?

Thetaland is a playful way to deal with those challenges. It is based on Eugene Gendlin’s philosophy and his philosophical practice “Thinking at the Edge”.

In order to discover Thetaland, we will play the game in several stages. Starting from an open question, a vague idea or an unclear situation. By venturing out into Thetaland, you will get to the heart of your topic, discover precise language, and open up practical perspectives. We will share our experiences with the game and we will discuss possible applications.

Dr. Evelyn Fendler-Lee, Organizational Psychologist, certified counsellor and Focusing-trainer bringing 20 years of experience in leading R&D functions as a material scientist; as associate lecturer, she taught university courses in social competence for 9 years. Since 2009, she has been a coach and trainer for personal, professional and leadership development; she facilitates innovative teams engaged in strategy, collaborative decision making, concept creation, knowledge transfer; she teaches Thinking at the Edge (TAE) internationally and is applying TAE for teamwork and leadership.

For more information, contact SIG leaders, Vickie Bevenour  or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-493-5424).

Feeding Your Brain for a Change - 2019 UPDATE (coffee/tea/snacks)

It has been a year since we last discussed feeding the brain for a change. 
So . . . What’s up? What’s new? What have we all learned, experienced, and discovered?

The five presenters will share information and updates from some of the latest books, podcasts, research, resources regarding ways to nurture the brain and body to maintain and improve health and brain function.  There will be several new twists as there are major updates in brain nutrition and integrated health care.

Some books on the sharing list are:

• The Emotion Code: How to Release Your Trapped Emotions for Abundant Health, Love, and Happiness by Dr. Bradley Nelson (updated version May 7, 2019)
• Learn about Somatic Repatterning developed by Ilene Myers to consciously create your reality by "rewiring" your neurotransmitters
• 31-Day FOOD REVOLUTION: Heal Your Body, Feel Great, and Transform Your Worldby Ocean Robbins (Feb 5, 2019)
• The Longevity Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age (The Plant Paradox Book Four) by Dr. Steven R. Gundry, MD (Mar 19, 2019)

In addition, if you have stirred up any brain-healthy snacks and treats, feel free to bring them to share at the meeting, along with recipes (we will put them in the 'send out afterwards' email); and you could also include on your recipe your contact information and resources you have found valuable. 

Your guides, resources gatherers, and presenters for the meeting will be: Fay Krapf, Hope Hills, Marguerite Lawn, Mary Charles Blakebrough and Mindy Schrager.

For more information, contact SIG leaders, Vickie Bevenour  or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-493-5424).

Positive Education in the 21^st Century:  Training the Mind AND the Heart   (Coffee/tea/snacks) 

As OD professionals, coaches, and teachers, we always hope our efforts will result in insightful, innovative and profitable outcomes. Research in the last twenty years proves that supporting well-being in the workplace and in our personal lives encourages human flourishing.

Martin Seligman’s PERMA Model (Positivity, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Achievement) forms the basis for positive education. Understanding and including elements of positive education in our work increases the probability of positive outcomes for clients. We will define Positive Education, focus on its implications for our work, and explore how it might help us in our own lives.

After becoming a “positive psychology practitioner” last year, Lily Keyes became interested in how the PERMA model and other research findings are being applied to education. She will be sharing with you some of her findings and experiences related to Positive Education in the U.S. and throughout the world. She has spent her professional career helping people work and achieve together as well as shape and develop their own skills and talents. She believes bringing a sense of humor and an inquiring mind to every encounter helps us to understand and appreciate one another.

Lily started her career as a high school teacher in Atlanta, GA and Caracas, Venezuela. When she returned to the US in 1984, she moved to Raleigh and began a career in corporate training, quality improvement, and business coaching. After retiring from BCBSNC in 2010 and working another 5 years as a consultant, she returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher in Wake County Public Schools where she continues to teach and learn.

For more information, contact SIG leaders, Vickie Bevenour  or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-493-5424).

Curiosity:  What's the big deal?

Are you curious about curiosity?

When was the last time you really became curious?  A time when you wouldn't rest until you had satisfied that curiosity.  A time when your curiosity pulled you forward and made you better.

The power of curiosity is often overlooked even though it precedes nearly every personal experience.  At some level, it drives nearly every human decision. Yet, many of us don’t consider ourselves curious.  When harnessed, curiosity can move us forward in EVERY aspect of life. 

During our January Change SIG, Paul Winston will help us explore recent research, learn from thought leaders, and engage in a dynamic discussion about the power of curiosity.  Paul has recently traversed a curiosity journey of his own.  With a career serving in HR and L&D roles for small and large organizations, domestically and internationally, Paul believes most answers needed for success in any circumstance reside just beyond the noise. 

Getting curious puts us in the proper state-of-mind and quiets our surroundings long enough to identify those answers.  A leader's greatest sense of accomplishment is often coaching individuals and teams to define and prepare for "what's next".  Our session will begin with the assumption that without curiosity, there is no next.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwinstonhr/ 

For more information, contact SIG leaders, Vickie Bevenour  or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-493-5424).

Big 2018 AH-HA for You? 18th Annual Tips & Tricks Exchange
This is our annual SIG Holiday TIPS & TRICKS EXCHANGE. It is a joint Nov/Dec meeting and the agenda is one that we have had for 18 years. We gather to share something that has impacted us either professionally or personally during 2018. 

We ask that you bring a book, a tip, a technique, a brain-friendly recipe, a picture, a poem, a great quote, or anything else that has inspired, pleased or touched you in the past year. If it has been surprisingly successful, that's even better.

You can share your tip or trick with the group by telling us about it and/or making copies for everyone. We've found this to be one of our best programs - always full of surprises and a real GIFT to all of us!

NOTE: Our fourth annual after-SIG lunch will be at a nearby restaurant open for lunch. Feel free to join us (last year we went to Nantucket-Sutton Station, 5826 Fayetteville Road, Durham).

For more information, contact SIG leaders, Vickie Bevenour  or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-656-9573, mcbreakthrough@mindspring.com).

New Power:  Realizing How Power Works Now
QUESTION: How can we use New Power in creative ways to build community and design platforms that are more open, participatory, and peer-driven in our hyperconnected world? 

We will look at the core concepts from visionary thinkers Jeremy Heiman and Henry Timms’ guide to bridging Old Power and New Power, showcased in How Power Works in Our Hyperconnected World -- and How to Make It Work for YOU.  We'll discuss:

• How is Power changing?
• In what ways is New Power reshaping politics, business, and life -- for better and/or worse?
• What is helpful to know about New Power in our work?
• How can we make a difference using New Power?

For more information on the Change SIG, contact the leaders, Vickie Bevenour or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-656-9573, mcbreakthrough@mindspring.com).

Suzanne ‘zan’ Ballantyne and Andrea Laine will lead us in discussing the benefits of mindfulness, the science supporting it, and then share and collect suggestions for starting or strengthening a formal or informal practice. Included will be a brief guided meditation to set the stage for those who are new to it, as well as those bringing lots of experience.  We want to hear what’s working for you and what is not. One of the greatest aspects of a mindfulness practice is having a community in which to share."

Suzanne Ballantyne, B.A., Psychology, M.A. (abt), History & Philosophy of Education, both from Canadian universities, is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Registered Yoga Teacher approaching 1000 hours of teaching. She worked as a Wellness Coach with clients in Canada, Europe and Asia for an Employee Assistance Program, gathering enough hours to obtain her ACC. Her real love is yoga and spiritual growth & development. As well as coaching clients, Suzanne teaches yoga in private and group classes, and in organizations, including SAS and IBM. In 2015 she broke the humerus bone off the ball of her shoulder and thought her yoga career was over. With practice, determination, and the wisdom of yoga, Suzanne has virtually restored her arm even with the plate and 10 screws. She's back doing cartwheels and swimming front crawl. Her meditation practice began at age 19.

Andrea T. Laine, MLD, ACC - Andrea is a leadership and habit change coach. She helps individuals who work in the non-profit sector approach leadership with confidence and grace. She launched her coaching practice in 2013 following a long and broad career in fundraising and public relations in New York and Philadelphia and on the heels of earning a master’s degree in leadership development from Penn State and 125 hours of coach training. Practicing mindfulness is a major component of successful habit change.  An earnest meditation practice for strengthening mindfulness has been a part of Andrea’s being since 2008.

For more information on the Change SIG, contact the leaders, Vickie Bevenour or Mary Charles Blakebrough (919-656-9573, mcbreakthrough@mindspring.com).