Healing

Learn from the past – yes! Dwell there...
Read more
Healing

Practice The Presence: How? Part 1

As I grew up throughout my childhood I was taught, either by direct or indirect conversation and teaching, that somehow, church buildings housed the presence of God. So imagine, and I’m sure you can imagine, what it was like for me when I saw that the ‘house of God’ was the place where I heard the worst gossip and most hateful things said against people. No it wasn’t ‘preached’ from the pulpit; it was ‘preached’ often by example.

As I grew older, I was then taught that my body was the ‘temple’. Yet again, I looked around and saw others who abused their bodies by so many means. And then there were those who abused other people’s bodies. In my case that was done by a pedophile regularly as part of my transportation to the church.

I was taught that food was wonderful and necessary; and that eating it was good. But I was shown that overeating was normal even though we were also taught that greed and over indulgence was not good. Food became a friend that I could always trust to make me feel good. Even now, when I feel stressed or down I would much rather reach for chocolate than go for a walk. This has become a lifelong habit and difficult to break.

I could go on and on with examples. They aren’t necessary. I don’t want to come across as judging those of any belief or philosophy. As I matured as an adult I realized that God was not exclusive to church buildings. I learned that my body – and other bodies – were human and thus prone to mistakes. I realized that no matter how much we promote love and joy and peace, that as long as it’s done by and with humans, it will always be imperfect.

So why bother? I’ll tell you why. Because it feels good. I’ve learned that how to practice the Presence is NOT exclusive to a certain group, a place or even a person. I learned that how I practice that presence is NOT done in a place. I learned that the Presence was always and everywhere, not just in the ‘temple’ of bricks and mortar, nor in this ‘temple’ of flesh. Nor was it restricted to a certain liturgy or weekly service.

When I look around me, now, I see God. But I see God as something very different to what I saw as a child. I see God in that smelly street person at the corner of Commercial Street and the Old Island Highway. I see God in the towering cedars surrounding and almost protecting my home. I see God in Christmas trees that fill my home (yes I did say treeS). I see God in all things. Why? Because God IS in all things. I may address God as  Spirit, Creator, Allah or my Higher Power. I’m good with whatever title is ascribed to God, because I believe that God is both big enough and small enough that a mere title means nothing.

My Truth: I have come to realize that Practicing the Presence, is the most natural thing we can do. That is because it is really the awareness that God is everywhere. Yes, everywhere. God is in the church, but also the shed out back. God is in the gentle wee lady in the front pew, but also in the gossip in the back pew. God is in the terrible experiences of life as well as the most joyous occasions. God is in my failures (are they really failures?) as well as in my triumphs.

So how do I practice the Presence? I practice with the awareness that God is everywhere. Therefore I can practice everywhere.

Practice The Presence: How? Part 1

Life Is Like Photography

I can remember as a kid owning various cameras. We always had to pick and choose what to take though. We only had one chance, basically, to take the perfect shot. With today’s digital cameras I can take literally thousands of shots and dispose of those I don’t like. It’s the same as with life. We aren’t all expert photographers – me included. We can take lots of shots – there are no mistakes. If it doesn’t work put it into the “I learned a lesson” pile. And enjoy the good shots.

 

Life Is Like Photography

Meeting Management - Formal Meetings

Wednesday Co-authored Blog Series

For the Reader’s Information: We will be using our initials for these conversations we have so, Lynne Brown (LB) and James Latour (JL).

(LB) Most of us are quite familiar with staff meetings, team meetings, parent-teacher meetings but perhaps less so with formal meetings. In this case I am talking about an Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is legally necessary for many not-for-profit organizations, foundations and registered Charities (Canada – same throughout this blog).

AGM’s are a creature of their own with fairly strict rules to follow. The first rule is they normally require advance notice of the time, place and agenda.

(JL) Although the rule for advertising the AGM is pretty well engraved in legislative stone, the way chosen to advertise is not. Advertising can range anywhere from leaflets, to traditional newspapers, radio, T.V., all the way to the more modern, websites, social media (too numerous to list here), email, SMS (short message service – texting) and just about any other way you can think of. But it cannot happen by word of mouth only.

Here is a usual agenda with comments.

1. Call to Order: Starts the meeting.

2. Establish a quorum: Are the required number of members present? (JL) This is regulated by the Constitution & Bylaws of the organization, but guided by Provincial & Federal regulation. This is becoming more and more of a challenge for most organizations and hopefully will be addressed soon in legislation.

3. Adoption of agenda: Now we know what is going to happen. There cannot be any new business added to the agenda. If people want to discuss a new item it needs to be part of the formal notification prior to the meeting.

4. Adoption of minutes of last AGM: In fact, Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised will tell you that a Board that meets regularly between AGM’s should adopt the minutes at their regular meeting. In practice, this does not usually happen. The Board, however. can review and make sure there are no errors. It is difficult for people to remember something that happened a year ago.

5. Reports: These can be from the President, Executive Director, Special Committees or any other reports the Board of Directors wants to share with the General Membership. If the reports are long and printed out is is best to allow people to read them and have the writer answer any questions. Each report requires a motion to adopt.

6. Financial Report: This is usually the Audit or Review Engagement Report. It makes life easier if you have the Accountant present that did the audit and report to answer any questions. This report also requires a motion to adopt.

7. Appointment of the Auditor for the next fiscal year: Motion to select the Auditor, usually made by the Treasurer but it doesn’t have to be.

8. Election of Directors: The formal way to do it is for the Chair to declare nominations are open. Then call for nominations. Once all nominations are in, the chair closes nominations and takes the vote. If, for example, there are 6 vacancies and 6 people running for office, the Chair can declare them elected by acclamation. If there are a number of people contesting a limited number of seats then ballots need to be issued. At that point the Chair needs to name 3 people to count and report back on the vote. The format for that report is quite simple and should read:

• Number of ballots received


• Number necessary to elect (usually 50% plus one, so for 17 people voting, you would need 9 to elect)


• The names of the candidates with the number of votes each received

This report is handed to the Chair who makes the announcement and declares the new Board of Directors. There is a temptation to spare people’s feelings by not giving the numbers. This is incorrect as the Electorate needs to know the complete results.

At this point the Chair requests a motion to destroy the ballots. The ballots are destroyed at the end of the meeting.

9. Adjournment: The Chair can adjourn the meeting without a motion to do so although many people do ask for a motion. (JL) Personally I prefer a motion so that no one can later contest even this smallest detail to throw the AGM and call for a new one.

You will note there is no place for new business. An AGM is simply the wrap-up of the previous year’s work. Prior to adjournment there can be special recognition or awards given out if that is the desire of the group.

So, that’s it, the quick and easy guide to an AGM.

(JL) I had worked with an organization a couple of years ago that had a person declare the AGM mismanaged and called for a new AGM. I had already closed off my contract with the organization about 3 months prior. Had I still been connected this would not have happened. The AGM was called sooner than the usual AGM, so therefore is called a Special Meeting of the Membership. It was revealed that the organization was broke and it was declared to be insolvent and thus to be registered with the Province as closed. In an unusual development, the Founder of the organization who’s (employment) contract had been cancelled the previous year and did not have a paid membership made this call. He was correct in making the call because the legal process was not followed during the meeting. However, it still baffles me that he who had no legal connection with the organization anymore was permitted to register the complaint. We just never know when the unusual will occur.

(JL) A few years prior to this AGM an organization that both Lynne, her partner and I had worked with had a coup d’état occur. The organization had not made allowance in their bylaws for a probationary period before new members were permitted to vote. A small group of employees and members got all their friends to attend the AGM, purchase memberships and then throw the whole meeting into chaos causing funders to leave the meeting and withdraw support. It was a total fiasco for months. Lynne would completely agree with this.

So it’s so important to follow process when it comes to an AGM. The smallest detail left unchecked could have disastrous impact. With my second story it is also VERY important to make sure that all your t’s are crossed and i’s dotted before solidifying a constitution and bylaws. And unfortunately the only way to get the best of that is by paying the top dollar for a specialty lawyer to review the documents. It is also important for the organization, and especially the Board of Directors, to review yearly these legal documents and update them.

Stay tuned for next week: xxxxxxxxxxx

James Latour is the owner and coach of JLP Solutions and writer on Life’s Roller Coaster. James has over 25 years of experience working with the profit and not-for-profit sectors with project management, human resources, fundraising and volunteerism and industry – related consulting.  He is known for his team approach and follow through.  If you are looking for an enthusiastic coach/consultant who walks the walk and talks the talk, you’ve found him. Recently James has turned his passion, writing, into a blog and is using his talent in more direct ways.

Lynne Brown is the owner and coach of Orca Coaching & Consulting. Lynne Brown has been a coach and mentor for the last 30 years. She has a passion for working with people by empowering them to achieve their dreams and set realistic and attainable goals. Lynne has high energy as well as a positive and empathetic approach. Lynne is a firm believer that one of the purposes in life is to have fun and she incorporates that into her coaching and consulting.

Meeting Management - Formal Meetings

Choose Joy

 

Surround yourself with people who bring you joy. It is so easy to allow the lows of life to affect us. Why surround ourselves with people who wallow in the lows. Lift your vibration. Joy takes practice.

Choose Joy

Believe In Magic

Believe In Magic

50 Things Money Can't Buy

50 Things Money Can't Buy

Meeting Management - Agendas

For the Reader’s Information: We will be using our initials for these conversations we have so, Lynne Brown (LB) and James Latour (JL).

(JL) Now last week I said that business meetings can be fun! No, I wasn’t crazy. They truly can be and I aim to make most, if not all of my meetings just that bit lighter than the regular same old same old. Last year I managed a project locally to help teens to set up a movie theater. We had to have weekly business meetings. Now if you know teens like I know teens, same old, same old just doesn’t cut it. So I had to put variety into the meetings to keep their attention. This ranged from changing location, changing the room around, having snacks and even playing ‘games’ to keep them engaged.

This week we are going to look at agendas. Most of us are used to the agenda that goes from the top of the page down to the bottom of the page. I will talk a bit about this one. There is another type of agenda, which can be a tool to help keep people on track, the Mind Map. Lynne will address that one because she was the person who introduced it to me when I was the secretary on a committee a few years ago. When she came into the room with it, I have to say I wondered what to do with it. But as the meeting progressed it made my minute taking a real breeze.

So let’s get back to the regular agenda. First let me say that I think it is important to do three things:

1. HAVE an agenda

2. Get it out in lots of time for additions

3. Stick to it as best as you can

1. A lot of people don’t use agendas. Then they tell me as their consultant that they are accomplishing nothing at their meetings. It is so important to have an agenda at meetings as they are the road map to where you want to go; what you wish to accomplish. Without it you have no reins to pull back on when the horse veers off the beaten path. An agenda not only helps you keep on track, it tells the participants approximately how much needs to be accomplished and maybe even how long it will take. In fact I’ve worked with agendas where each item had a time limit next to it.

It also helps the minute recorder/secretary to keep accurate meeting minutes. A good secretary will even use the agenda to scribble short notes on the actual page, while writing out the bulk of the meeting on another piece of paper.

2. There are some benefits to getting the agenda out in lots of time.

• You are showing participants courtesy. They have a better idea of how much time it will take away from their schedule, hopefully.


• You have a chance to control the meeting before it starts by giving the guidelines. You also allow opportunity to add items to the agenda BEFORE the meeting. It is so unproductive to have a dozen agenda additions at the start, or during the meeting. You will lose control of the meeting before it gets off the ground.


• You also make it look good for yourself. Your participants think, “Wow! James is organized. I better get on my game too.”

3. This is crucial. I believe agendas need to show respect to the attendees. When you are calling a meeting, sending out an agenda, you are saying, “This is what we will talk about at the meeting and I, as the Chair, am committed to keeping us on track and respecting you and your time.

So the typical linear agenda may look like this:

Agenda
“Board” Meeting
Date, Time & Place

1. Call to Order

2. Reading of the past meeting minutes

3. Financial Report (if applicable)

4. Item 1: Presentation, discussion, voting, questions

5. Item 2: Same as above

6. Item 3, etc…

Next Meeting Time:

Meeting adjournment

Now you may wonder how you can have fun when you look at that agenda. Be creative. Laugh a little. Loosen up, especially if it’s going to be a long meeting.

Another possibly creative way to work an agenda is to use your computer to project the agenda onto the wall or screen. This keeps eyes forward and on the Chair and is also ‘environmentally friendly’, which is what a lot of people are moving towards.

(LB) As James indicated I am a proponent of using mind maps for agendas (and a bunch of other stuff). The visual is different and quickly catches people’s attention. So a mind map agenda would look like this:As you can see it is bright and easily followed. Normally I start at the top right side and work my way around in a clockwise direction. There is lots of space to take notes. In the beginning people may be a bit resistant to this graphic. Over time that changes. One of the beauties of this format is that you can project it and have someone make the notes right onto the map as decisions are made. It becomes a living record that can be quickly shared.

These are just a couple of the types of agendas for standard Board  meetings. They are also a good template for staff and committee meetings. As you can see, we had much to say about this issue and it looks like we will be doing Agendas part 2 next week.

 So stay tuned. Next week: Agendas – Part 2

Meeting Management - Agendas

The Right Time, Person, Reason

The Right Time, Person, Reason

Practice the Presence: Practice when?

As I’ve said in previous posts I grew up in a very conservative religious atmosphere. We were told that we should do ‘devotions’ every morning before the day started. This way we began the day with an attitude of gratitude and forgiveness. It made sense. But for many years I struggled with that discipline because I was not a morning person. It wasn’t until I was in my forties that I really began to appreciate mornings. Over the last two years that switched back again due to some health issues. Recently that seems to be switching back again.

This morning as I sit by my living room window and watch the neighbourhood wake and see cars moving and people starting to walk – even on a Saturday, I realize how truly blessed I am. I live in a place where, although it’s winter, the temperature only drops below freezing occasionally. There is very little snow. I was surprised yesterday to get up to a weather warning signalling a snow fall and high winds. When I was growing up that meant blizzard. But we had neither in this community. Other parts of the province were not so lucky though.

Practice the Presence: Practice When? As I said in the opening paragraph I was taught that morning was the best time for this. And for many it is the best time. Some are morning people and get up either before or at the crack of dawn and meditate, do yoga, read, pray, exercise. These can and are all expressions of a being present, practicing the presence. For others the morning are early and harried. So it’s not the best time for them. They choose evening or afternoon or after the kids are gone to school. In the years that I struggled to get myself out of bed leaving enough time to practice devotions or meditation I would sometimes just fall asleep! It was really not very helpful. In fact it was downright frustrating.

I have learned that as many ways there are to Practice the Presence, there are many times to Practice the Presence. One of the beautiful things about true spirituality is that rules are gone! You choose to listen to your intuition and see what is most beneficial for you. You choose the time, the place and the way you do it.

Most mornings when I rise I take time to have a decent breakfast and sit quietly often with a cup of coffee. When I am done my breakfast I read a bit and journal a bit. Currently I am in the second year of Melody Beattie’s More Language of Letting Go. I think that I may just continue with Melody next year and do the daily reflections on her website. Some mornings I also may do some meditation depending on how I feel and how much time I’ve allowed myself.

This is my quiet time. This is the time that I reflect and project my life.

But there are other times too. Times when practicing the presence is not about sitting quietly. I have been doing a fair bit of driving this week. I practice the presence then too. I do have to be careful how I do it? It can so relax me that I am not really present to my driving. That can be and is dangerous. But I sometimes choose quiet music like Enya and just breathe, clear non-beneficial energies away, prepare for where I’m going, especially if I have any concerns about the meeting or place I’m heading to. Or, I may just put on something more stimulating and sing my heart out. I love watching the faces of people in the other cars as they chuckle at the nutty singer in the next car. Sometimes I am in a fluster and I take time to acknowledge The presence of One greater than I. And sometimes I take time to acknowledge that I am part of that presence.

Recently I was offered some part-time work doing various tasks for a local funeral chapel. I have officiated at funerals and celebration of life services for years. For a very brief time about 14 years ago, I started to train as a Funeral Director. But to many things that were going on I’m my life at the time I left the program before I ever really got started. I obviously made an impression on my Manager and her District Manager because it is they who called me back. They have both retired now and he and his wife purchased the local funeral chapel and my former Manager is also working there part-time.

I was working as a Director (Usher) at a service last week. As I watched this family pouring out their grief after losing their young son something extraordinary happened to me. He was in his thirties and leaves two small children behind. It was very sad. As I stood there I was suddenly made aware that I could Practice the Presence now! In so doing I became centered and aware of Spirit in a wonderful comforting way. I then projected that upon the family. I blessed them. In my mind’s eye I reached out and touched them and sent them supportive energy. Suddenly the sadness I was feeling was gone from me. I felt that it such a privilege to be part of their grief; to be able to bless them at such a terrible time in their lives.
My Truth:Over the last few of years as my life started to really do the loop-de-loop on the roller coaster ride I have learned that when I call out and ask God to be with me I am reminded time and again, that She already is. I’m just not allowing my awareness to know that He is present. It’s not a matter of Spirit being present. It’s a matter of me being present. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing or how I’m feeling I am always in the Presence. God, the Universe, Spirit, Creator (whatever you are most comfortable using). So really it matters not When I practice, because I can Practice the Presence at anytime under any circumstance. I just need to be present enough myself to realize that I am already in the presence. Practice the Presence: Practice when?

You're Not Too Small

You're Not Too Small

Change Is Inevitable

Change Is Inevitable

Meeting Management

(LB) For many of us meetings can be the bane of our work day. We attend, sometimes pretend to be interested and often see them as an interference to getting work done. Too many of us see meetings as this cartoon illustrates. So this blog is a little primer in how to manage meetings and make them more effective.

Meetings come in all shapes and sizes. In general, they fall into the following categories:

• Information sharing


• Work assignments & updates


• Morale raising


• Team building


• Brainstorming

In my last job I had regular morning meetings with my staff. The meetings were quite brief, involved a cup of tea, a quick update on the plans for the day and reports on completed tasks. The meetings became a little longer when we added in support time for one of the staff whose husband had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Since we were a small work group it was important for us to offer support and have a clear understanding of why work sometimes did not get completed in a timely fashion.

To make each one more effective and efficient it is a good idea for the meeting convener to ask themselves the following questions. Sometimes, meetings accomplish several of these purposes at once.

• What is the purpose of the meeting?


• What is the intended outcome?


• Who absolutely needs to be there?


• What is the agenda?


• How much time needs to be scheduled to accomplish the items on the agenda?

Once all that is clear then it is time to schedule the meeting and make it happen.

There is one other type of meeting which is a bit more difficult to categorize and that is a community development meeting. That sort of meeting involves bringing together a disparate group of people usually around one theme and then working to create cohesive action. These meetings can be messy and it often takes longer to get to action than some of the participants would like. However, in this case process is as important as product. Community development meetings are strongly built on relationships, when one or more of the players change the group may well be thrown back into chaos as they reform the group. A good introduction to this process is covered in the book “Getting To Maybe”.

(JL) I have been in many environments where meetings are plentiful, long, dull and fruitless! As a person who now facilitates meetings I try to remember those times so that my meetings CAN BE FUN! Yup! I said it. They can be fun. I believe that the following ingredients need to be part of a FUN meeting:

• 
  Comfort: Both physical and emotional


• 
  Trust: There must be an agreement around trust


• 
  Purpose: The reason for the meeting must be clear; the goals reachable


• 
  Ownership: When people really have a reason for being there, they will often relax easier

It never hurts to have the coffee pot or tea kettle ready and some snacks either.

Another meeting that I love to facilitate is Retreats. Now there again is a whole different bag. Retreats are set up by various groups for various reasons. They can be social or religious groups who are ‘training’ or just reviving themselves. They can be business retreats to cloister the management team or directors so that they can strategize, organize, energize, review, recruit and so much more. Of all the types of meetings I believe this is the one that takes the most time to plan and can usually be the most relaxed and often the most productive. All this because the attendees are not interrupted by the usual stuff and the time frame is longer so more work can be accomplished.

Stay tuned: Next week, Agendas and Note taking

James Latour is the owner and coach of JLP Solutions and writer on Life’s Roller Coaster. James has over 25 years of experience working with the profit and not-for-profit sectors with project management, human resources, fundraising and volunteerism and industry – related consulting.  He is known for his team approach and follow through.  If you are looking for an enthusiastic coach/consultant who walks the walk and talks the talk, you’ve found him. Recently James has turned his passion, writing, into a blog and is using his talent in more direct ways.

Lynne Brown is the owner and coach of Orca Coaching & Consulting. Lynne Brown has been a coach and mentor for the last 30 years. She has a passion for working with people by empowering them to achieve their dreams and set realistic and attainable goals. Lynne has high energy as well as a positive and empathetic approach. Lynne is a firm believer that one of the purposes in life is to have fun and she incorporates that into her coaching and consulting.

Meeting Management

Coincidence?

I remember meeting a new friend just over a year ago. We both felt that we didn’t meet by accident. We were sure that we were in each other’s life for a reason. Well he moved back to the USA and I’m still here. Does that mean we were mistaken. No! Remember, their are no coincidences, just serendipity.

 

Coincidence?

Friday's New Series: Practice The Presence

Last week we got of to a start with the new series. Stay tuned for the continuation. Coming next is Practice When?. Then over the next number of weeks I am going to be continuing the series with:

Practice How? Part 1

Practice How? Part 2

Practice Mindful Awareness

Practice Why?

Practice Peace

Practice Joy

Practice Forgiveness Part 1 – Others

Practice Forgiveness Part 2 – Self

Practice Letting Go

Practice Grabbing Hold

Practice, Practice, Practice!

If you happen to have something you’d like me to add to this list, please let me know. I’d be thrilled to hear from you..REALLY THRILLED!


Friday's New Series: Practice The Presence

Best Gift For A Husband To Give His Wife

Diamonds may be a girl’s friend according to Carol Channing. But I don’t know a single woman that would choose diamonds over the true love of her husband/partner. This doesn’t just apply to the ladies, ladies. This applies to the guys too.

 

Best Gift For A Husband To Give His Wife

Love What You Have

Isn’t it true? We always want more. They say the more we ‘want’, the more we will be IN ‘want’. Make a list TODAY of all the things and people in your life. Give thanks for them. Do this often. Be grateful. Be loving. Be thankful for what you have. There is always someone out there who has less than you.

 

Love What You Have

What Is Mindfulness?

 

It is so easy to walk into a room and create a story about every person in the room. Sometimes this can actually be fun…if that’s all you’re doing. But often we create stories about other people, their intentions, their actions and reactions, their thoughts about us, that we forget that they are just like us. They have the same fears, the same colds, the same 24 hours a day that we do. So why not keep it to basics? “There is Joan”….PERIOD. Then allow Joan to evolve.

What Is Mindfulness?