[Ailist] AI Workshop in Southern California
CTSLarry@aol.com
CTSLarry@aol.com
Tue, 1 Aug 2000 18:51:57 EDT
Some additional information about the upcoming introductory workshop that
will take place in Los Angeles in September.
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APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
LEARNING SERIES
Workshop I
September 26th - 28th, 2000
La Casita del Arroyo
Pasadena, California
Led by: Steve Cato, Diane Robbins, and Larry Dressler
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WHAT IS APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY?
"We often feed the critic gourmet meals and starve the rest."
Angeles Arien
Appreciative Inquiry is an innovative and effective way of creating positive
change in organizations. It has been used successfully in diverse efforts
such as:
· Strategic planning
· Post-merger integration
· Creating high performance cultures
· Process improvement
· Developing cross-organization cooperation
· Executive coaching
· Performance management
The inquiry process encourages people to discover and understand the
life-giving elements and most inspired and effective moments of performance
in their organizations, and then amplifies and replicates these instances by
creating "a blueprint of the ideal"-- a compelling vision rooted in examples
of what is already true about the organization and its inhabitants when it is
operating at its best.
Appreciative Inquiry is both a theory of change and a methodology for
creating desired futures. The basic process consists of valuing the best of
what is, envisioning what might be, and then mobilizing to make that vision
happen.
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THE WORKSHOP APPROACH
This workshop is the first step in an in-depth approach to learning both the
theories and methods involved in using Appreciative Inquiry in organizations.
The workshop will:
· Emphasize both theories and methods
· Be interactive and experiential
· Make explicit links between ideas, case examples, and practice
· Maximize collegial interchange of ideas
· Be small, informal, and fun
Participants will:
· Learn the fundamental theories and principles that underlie Appreciative
Inquiry
· Experience an Appreciative Inquiry process
· Learn key steps involved in guiding an Appreciative Inquiry process
· Practice applying an appreciative approach to specific cases
· Experience how working this way can enhance their professional effectiveness
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WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAID ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
I am coming away from this workshop with a refreshingly useful set of ideas
and tools that will help me to immediately become a more effective change
agent, leader, and contributor in my work and beyond."
President
Consulting Firm
This approach has rekindled and reconnected me with a part of myself that I
didn't realize had begun to evaporate away. I am grateful… I thank you, my
children thank you, my partner thanks you. I thank myself, humbly.
Remembering "positive image, positive action" shifts my perspective
profoundly and subtly.
President, mother and spouse
Consulting Firm
I appreciate the spirit in which Steve and Diane conduct the workshop. They
are thorough, good humored and incredibly knowledgeable about Appreciative
Inquiry. Great materials, too!
Executive
Health Care Organization
What excites me most about Appreciative Inquiry is the paradigm shift it
entails, the new view of life of focusing on the positive and moving away
from deficit thinking. This has the potential of enhancing the quality of
life for individuals and organizations.
Manager
Aerospace Company
I loved it all-the theory, the group work, the stories, the "instructors",
the practice…
Senior OD Consultant
Federal Agency
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ABOUT THE FOUNDERS OF THE AI LEARNING SERIES
Steve Cato and Diane Robbins are the co-founders and designers of the
Appreciative Inquiry Learning Series. They each have extensive experience in
large and small-scale organization change. Both are charter members of the
Appreciative Inquiry Consulting, a global partnership of Appreciative Inquiry
thought and practice leaders. They have been actively helping people learn
Appreciative Inquiry as well as using it extensively in their consulting
practices for the last eight years.
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ABOUT THE FACILITATORS OF THE WORKSHOP
Steven M. Cato, Ph.D., President Moss Bay Consulting Partnership, has worked
in organizational change for the past 30 years. He has worked for a vast
range of corporate, governmental and non-profit clients in technology, health
care, manufacturing, and service areas helping executives and their
organizations discover and effectively pursue inspiring and realistic visions
of their future. Dr. Cato founded a highly successful masters degree program
in Organization Development. He has been central to bringing Appreciative
Inquiry to the Northwest through collaboration with David Cooperrider and
others. He received his masters in business administration from the
University of New Hampshire and his Ph.D. in organization behavior and
research from Case Western University in Cleveland
Diane Robbins, M.A., founder and principal of DB Robbins Consulting, is an
organizational development consultant with over 20 years of experience
working in corporate healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations.
Ms. Robbins specializes in helping leaders, teams and organizations achieve
high quality performance by inspiring system-wide clarity, commitment,
partnership, and learning. A nationally recognized consultant, coach,
educator, and facilitator, Ms. Robbins works with clients in the areas of
strategic planning, large-scale organizational change, team effectiveness,
and executive coaching. She holds a Masters Degree from the University of
Louisville (1978) and has advanced training in both psychology and
organization development.
Larry Dressler, MBA, Co-founder of Creative Team Solutions, LLC, a consulting
firm that helps organizations, teams, and individual leaders tap into the
best parts of themselves. With 15 years of experience in organizational
development and training, Mr. Dressler has served as the designer and
facilitator of many high-stakes change processes aimed at mobilizing the
collective insight, energy, and commitment of people in organizations. Mr.
Dressler has consulted with Fortune 500 companies, federal and state
government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations throughout the country.
He holds an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.
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WORKSHOP DETAILS
START AND STOP TIMES: Registration begins at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, September
26th. The workshop sessions will begin at 8:30 AM and end at 5:00 PM each
day.
MEALS AND DRESS: A continental breakfast, and two snack breaks will be
provided each day. Participants will be on their own for lunch. There is a
good selection of restaurants close to La Casita del Arroyo. Dress is casual.
LOCATION: La Casita del Arroyo is a community meeting room operated by the
City of Pasadena that was designated as a Pasadena Cultural Heritage Landmark
in 1976. The "Little House" is located beside a beautiful, natural riverbed.
There is plenty of on-site parking. For those who come from out of town,
there are nearby accommodations that we can recommend.
TRAVEL: The closest airport is Burbank (about a twenty-five minute drive from
the meeting site). Upon receiving your registration we will provide more
detailed directions to the workshop site.
HOTEL: Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.
We can provide suggestions for nearby accommodations.
QUESTIONS ABOUT DESIGN OF THE WORKSHOP?
If you have questions about the content and design of the workshop, feel free
to contact Diane or Steve.
Steve Cato 425/827-9067 scato@worldnet.att.net
Diane Robbins 206/890-0465 dbrobbins@mindspring.com
QUESTIONS ABOUT REGISTRATION?
If you have questions about registration, please contact Deborah Silver.
Deborah Silver 626/794-7978 dlsilver@pacbell.net
"It is easier to create tragedy in organizations than ecstasy. And it's more
OK, too."
Geoff Bellman
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REGISTRATION FORM
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY WORKSHOP
September 26-28, 2000
Name (please print) ____________________________________________________
What do you do? ______________________________________________________
Organization/Company Name ___________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip
______________________________
Work Phone
______________________________
Home Phone
______________________________
E-mail address
Workshop Cost: Includes all materials, break refreshments, and continental
breakfast.
Workshop Fee. ………………………………………………$950.00
Make checks payable to: A. I. Learning Series
Refunds Policy: A full refund will be granted if cancellation occurs before
10 business days prior to workshop start date. A full refund will be granted
at any time if you find a person to fill the vacancy caused by your
cancellation.
Mail Registration Form and Check to:
Deborah Silver
486 Wapello Street
Altadena, CA 91001
Creative Team Solutions, LLC
Telephone: (360) 438-6237
Toll-free: (888) 590-1760