IN THIS ISSUE (linked list):

• CPC Consulting News: 2X2 Recreate the World Award, Culture Transformation (two projects), Adoption Exchange Association (AEA), First Plymouth Congregational Church, CPC Associate to Roche
• CPC on the Podium
• Putting Training to Work
• Certificate Program
• Health Realization
• "Dear CPC"
• Current Workshops
• Books & Publications

CPC Consulting News

Congratulations to Diana Whitney, who has received The Vallarta Institute's 2X2 Recreate the World Award along with Patricia Arenas, Director of the Human Change Project of the Center for Psychological and Sociological Research (CIPS) in Havana, Cuba.  Diana and Patricia received the cooperative award when they were in Puerto Vallarta Mexico the week of January 22 to collaborate with other US and Cuban authors on the publication of "Cultures of Participation at Work in Cuba and the US" - to be released in both the US (OD Network) and Cuba (CIPS) in the fall of 2006.  The publication will highlight 10 examples (5 each from Cuba and the US) of how businesses and organizations are successfully building cultures of participation. 

"Both Patricia and Diana embody the spirit of what we created the award for" says Maurice Monette, co-founder of The Vallarta Institute.  His partner and co-founder, Jeff Jackson continues, "we want to celebrate how any two people, from any two countries, who speak any two languages, coming from any two walks of life can come together to  recreate the world in a way that they could not do by themselves."  The award comes with a $2,222 contribution that The Vallarta Institute will donate in their honor to a non-profit service organization.

Jim Ludema is facilitating a culture transformation project with a leading corporation in the hospitality industry based in Milwaukee, WI. He is using the appreciative inquiry summit methodology to engage more than 2000 employees in creating a culture of exceptional guest service throughout the organization. To date the organization has held six summits.  Results have included a new service mission statement and set of service principles (written, owned, and integrated into organizational systems by employees from every department and level), and the launching of 15 strategic action initiatives designed to boost guest service excellence. In May, Jim and Diana Whitney will begin an appreciative management program with the organization to train its 200 top leaders and managers in the principles and practices of appreciative inquiry as applied to day-to-day management and change leadership.

Similarly, Amanda Trosten-Bloom has been involved in a culture transformation initiative with an international high-tech giant.  Over a period of two months, teams of internal and external consultants facilitated regional and integration summits in Asia, Europe and North America.  Creative and complex internal systems (including pre- and post interviews, presentations, personalized technology-based postings, and smaller-scale grassroots initiatives) enabled thousands of employees to share their hopes, dreams and experiences.  While the transformation is still in process, there is a strong and growing optimism and engagement across the organization.  Employees at all levels and in all locations of the organization are demonstrating passion and commitment to their shared vision through active and enthusiastic participation in dozens of tactical and strategic initiatives. 

Having recently facilitated their strategic planning retreat, Amanda Trosten-Bloom is working with a subgroup of the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) to plan a fall Implementation Summit.  The AEA, one of four collaborative partners in the AdoptUSKids program, has committed to “building the capacity of adoption exchanges, service providers, states and other stakeholders,” and to carrying out “effective and innovative services that yield positive outcomes for waiting children.”  Together with Nila Rinhart, Amanda will facilitate the AEA’s fall Implementation Summit, whose purpose will be to engage the AEA’s entire membership in implementing the association’s new mission and strategic vision.  For more information on the AEA, its services, and its members, visit their web site:  http://www.adoptea.org. 

First Plymouth Congregational Church, one of the Denver area’s largest liberal congregations, has launched an appreciative inquiry process that will:

• Cultivate all 1150 members’ relationships with God and with one another.
• Increase the congregation’s participation, engagement, ownership, and calling in service of the First Plymouth ministry.
• Build genuine community across the First Plymouth congregation, and with those outside the congregation who share their ministry.
• Create a shared vision for the congregation’s future, both within and outside the walls of the church.

Having completed presentations to the Council and the larger congregation, consultant Amanda Trosten-Bloom will begin work with a 25-person planning team in early May, in anticipation of a congregation-wide inquiry that will begin over the summer months.

Best wishes to our colleague and Associate, Tony Awcock.  He has accepted a position of Senior Manager of Leadership Development for Roche Pharmaceuticals.  We know he’ll do great things applying appreciative inquiry in interesting and important new ways.

CPC on the Podium!

Jim Ludema will deliver keynote addresses in May for Benedictine Health System's (BHS) and Columbus State Community College’s (CSCC) annual leadership gatherings.  The BHS is a Catholic, Benedictine health care organization that manages nine acute-care hospitals and over 50 long-term care facilities around the US (see www.bhshealth.org for more information). CSCC is an institution dedicated to providing quality programs that meet the lifelong learning needs of the Columbus community (see www.cscc.edu for more information).     

Amanda Trosten-Bloom is the keynote speaker for the upcoming regional conference of the United Church of Christ, the theme of which is Celebrate What’s Right in God’s World.  In her keynote and in a 2-hour afternoon workshop, Amanda will introduce appreciative inquiry as a positive approach to congregational growth and development.  For more information about this conference and Amanda’s presentation, visit the UCC website: http://www.rmcucc.org/annualmeeting/annualmeeting.htm. 

If you are attending the 66th annual meeting of the Academy of Management, August 11-16, Atlanta, GA, plan to also attend Jim Ludema’s two presentations!  The first is a symposium with colleagues from Case Western Reserve University, Pepperdine University, and the Naval Postgraduate School on applying appreciative inquiry to management education. The second is a paper co-authored with colleague Marie DiVirgilio entitled "A Little More Talk and A Lot More Action: Shaping Conversations that Energize Organizational Change." For more information, visit the conference web site as http://meetings.aomonline.org/2006.

Putting Training to Work

What does it take to put what we learn in training into practice?   Two CPC Certificate Program members found that bringing a project or idea to work on really helped them put what they learned into action. 

CPC Certificate Program graduate, Kathy Turner, and her colleague Katherine Holt had a vision – a vision for an appreciative inquiry process to bring the people of La Plata County together to create a common future.  As interested and committed community members, Kathy and Katherine followed through on their vision by launching a groundbreaking grassroots initiative.  Between December 2005 and February 2006, they designed and sponsored a volunteer-led process that engaged 440 people in appreciative inquiry interviews and online surveys.  In January through March, they organized three summits, one each for discover, dream and design.  In May, their work will be presented and integrated into a community summit sponsored by Operations Healthy Community.  Quarterly destiny summits will follow. To learn more about La Plata 2030:  A Colorado Community for All Ages, contact Kathy at kjturner@frontier.net. 

Alex Jaccaci, an internal consultant for Alice Peck Day Health Systems in New Hampshire, launched a three-day leadership summit within six months of taking CPC's Appreciative Inquiry Summit workshop. The leadership summit exceeded their expectations and led to the formation of eight innovation teams that are now hard at work.  Alex found that taking the CPC training with his organization’s president helped provide a strong foundation for moving forward.  Alex referred to the training as a springboard and explained that “the training provided the space, time and process to advance our project and encouraged learning from other practitioners and projects as well as quality time with Diana Whitney and Jim Ludema.”  Alex can be reached at jaccacia@alicepeckday.org. 

How can you make the most of your experience in the Certificate Program? Suggestions from Kathy and Alex include:

• Bring your own projects or ideas for projects to work on in training.
• Take the training with your key sponsors.
• Use appreciative inquiry wherever you can to build your experience. 
• Don’t be afraid to experiment. 
• Reach out for help – from CPC colleagues, the Certificate calls, the AI list serve and other colleagues, and the AI Commons website. 
• Research and build upon similar work.
• Team with another facilitator to make the experience even richer and more fun.

CPC Certificate Program: Appreciative Inquiry and the Practice of Positive Change

Join the learning community formed by members of the Corporation for Positive Change Certificate Program!  In addition to the training they receive through CPC workshops, certificate program participants and graduates have access to ongoing peer consultation and coaching by CPC consultants through quarterly conference calls. 

In our most recent call, moderated by Amanda Trosten-Bloom, participants shared current projects, designed upcoming Advisory and Planning Team meetings, and shared ideas regarding multiple / integration summits. 

For more information about the CPC Certificate Program, contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org – or download the Application Form and return it by mail, e-mail, or fax. 

"I'm thrilled with where the CPC Certificate Program has taken me.  It's left me feeling really solid and grounded in AI: both competent and confident. Several other practitioners recently commented about how experienced I seemed to be.  What a nice affirmation - both of me and the program! "

Nancy Ogilvie
Core Essence Consulting

Health Realization – a Positive Approach to Addiction Treatment

An open letter to our friends
from CPC consultant Susan Wood ...

My brother recently completed a residential treatment program for addiction to drugs and alcohol. What I found interesting is the approach. Called Health Realization, the treatment program is a cousin of Appreciative Inquiry. This is a quotation from the brochure from his treatment center:

Our goal is to return people to their natural, underlying state of security, emotional well-being and creativity. We call this state "innate mental health."

As people begin to see how reality is created, moment by moment, through the Principles, they simultaneously realize their deeper potential beyond their illusionary, unproductive, or distressing habits of thought. By recognizing their own role in creating their emotional states, people naturally gain control over their thoughts and states of mind. They begin to realize the resilience, wisdom and beauty, and genuine potential for a gratifying life that lie within them—beyond their limited, personal thoughts.

Health Realization is now used by local and state governments, schools and social service agencies, with tremendous results. Documented outcomes for people include:

• An increase in calm and hopefulness.
• Increased creativity at work.
• Increased efficiency with less stress and burnout.
• More positive interpersonal relations, including with family members, co-workers and clients.
• Increased sense of perspective and compassion.
• Relief from stress and depression.

Go to www.healthrealization.com to learn more. I am eager to see what effect this positive approach has on my brother’s condition.

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Dear CPC: a source for ongoing capacity-building, questions and answers

Dear CPC:

We are administrators with the Milton Hershey School: a K-12 residential school for orphans and low-income children.  As such, we have been using Appreciative Inquiry to help prepare high school seniors for life beyond high school – for increased self-sufficiency and independence. 

Many of our students are wary and skeptical about sharing their experiences, especially when adults are present.  This wariness makes sense to us, as teenagers in our culture are especially sensitive to intrusion and being "studied." Still, we believe that our students have much to contribute and learn through the AI process.  So we’ve asked ourselves how we can we set things up in a way that is sensitive to their need for safety and privacy. 

Here is what we are learning, in response to our question:

• Invite them to participate, and make it attractive and optional.
• Set up the interview environment so that they can talk without being overheard.
• Let them choose the stories to share, and give them a way to capture them.
• Have them invite friends to subsequent sessions.  They will be trusted invitors.
• Let it build momentum by their own invitational and story submission process.
• Refresh the questions to make them captivating.

We find that the students enjoy the conversations and generate good ideas to share with each other.  It works best when we give them control over how this is done.

Susan Lunin and Heidi Ramsbottom
Milton Hershey School
Hershey, PA

Do YOU have a question for CPC? If so, contact us at office@positivechange.org. We will answer it in a future Appreciative Inquiries.

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Upcoming Educational Opportunities

CURRENT WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

(Click to jump to descriptions below)

* * * WORKSHOP DEADLINE PENDING * * *

Being Appreciative Inquiry:  A Spiritual Retreat for Change Agents, Taos NM, June 13-16, 2006. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL MAY 16.  Late summer is a great time for personal reflection, reassessment of values, and the reinvention of one's self in service to a better world. If you are hearing a new call, being drawn to live and work in greater harmony with spirit, or just want time to honor the transitions of your life, Being AI: A Spiritual Retreat for Change Agents may be for you. With Diana Whitney as your guide you will have four days in community with others on the journey of spiritual development. You will have an opportunity to engage in self-discovery, envision your future and explore ways of being your best in the service of bringing out the best in others. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about Being Appreciative Inquiry:

Being AI was life-altering for me: a precious five-day period of focusing and interacting on a spiritual level of consciousness. Diana shared wisdom that has emerged out of her life of conscious learning, brought together with the pure intention of creating transformational positive change. It’s now my responsibility to put it all to use and remember what’s truly possible, through the expanded perspectives that I now live in.

Dan Peterson
Director
Edges Learning Community

Appreciative Leadership Development Program, Chicago, IL, September 18-21, 2006 . EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL AUGUST 18.  At last – an AI workshop for executives and managers!  Facilitated by Diana Whitney and Jim Ludema this is a strength based leadership development program. It is a must for leaders who wish to identify and enhance their strengths and appreciative capacities for collaboration, affirmation, and inspiration. This is a perfect program for leaders of large scale change.   For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about the Appreciative Leadership Development Program:

The Appreciative Leadership Development Program is the most powerful leadership development I have experienced. Unique in its strengths based positive approach the work is individualized, affirming, and humbling.  This was not another workshop that loses its meaning upon returning to work; but rather an amazingly powerful transformational learning process that impacts each and every participant. I recommend it highly to any leader who wants or needs to connect with the best of themselves and their potential for contribution.

Leslie Smith
Organization Development Consultant/Executive Coach

CPC’s Appreciative Leadership Development Program was the most meaningful self development week of my life.  The ability to identify and understanding my personal strengths has inspired me. The feedback I received in the coaching sessions, coupled with the appreciative 360 degree appraisals, has give me a whole new way of looking at performance feedback.  I’m already applying what I’ve learned to my direct reports.

John S. Cwiklik
ABD Director of Human Resources
Forest County Potawatomi

The Foundations of Appreciative Inquiry, Taos, NM, October 16-20, 2006. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 18. Whether you’re a consultant or leader of change, Foundations of AI will guide you through an exploration of the theories, principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry. This workshop provides hands-on experience of Appreciative Inquiry, preparing you to guide clients and groups in creating interview protocols, conducting interviews, working with appreciative data and stories, and crafting provocative propositions and organization design principles. Understand the difference between Appreciative Inquiry and deficit-based approaches to change, and experience the power of positive change methodologies. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about Foundations of Appreciative Inquiry:

The Foundations of AI workshop expanded my consulting "toolkit", opened new avenues for productive client dialogue, and increased my network of AI colleagues - a fabulous development opportunity! 

Theresa Garcia
CEO/President
Trust, Leadership & Growth, LLC

The Foundations of AI broadened my horizons personally and professionally by teaching me a methodology to use success stories as the foundation for exploring future visions.  It challenged me to be bold enough to ask the necessary questions to discover a new world without limitation.

Kendra Sardelis
Science Applications International Corporation
BPM Specialist

AI in Action, Boulder, CO, November 15-17, 2006. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL OCTOBER 15.  Want to build on your experience as a leader of positive change? Go deeper, faster and farther with Appreciative Inquiry? In this workshop, Amanda Trosten-Bloom and Mike Mantel will help you identify and build upon your strengths as an AI practitioner. Explore a variety of approaches for applying AI at different levels in an organization, community and across our world. Discover new ideas, approaches and frameworks for building your capacity and your own projects by studying the projects of other participants as case examples. Previous attendance at a Foundations-level Appreciative Inquiry workshop, as well as experience applying the AI approach to at least one project, is recommended. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about AI in Action:

AI in Action is a dynamic course that absolutely exceeded my expectations!  From pre-work to rich discussions to case studies, it stretched my capacities as an AI practitioner.  Within a day, I had applied what I learned to my job.

Barbara Bitondo
The World Bank

AI in Action has built on what I learned in the Foundations course. It gave me case studies and alternative methods of design, so now I am ready to “fly with AI.”

Diana Sadighi
Director, Human Resources
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions

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Books & Publications

Check out the full listing of leading books on Appreciative Inquiry and positive change by CPC consultants:

• The Power of Appreciative Inquiry (Whitney & Trosten-Bloom)

• The Appreciative Inquiry Summit (Ludema, Whitney, Mohr, & Griffin)

• Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change (Cooperrider & Whitney)

• The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (Cooperrider, Whitney, & Stavros)

• Encyclopedia of Positive Questions – Volume One (Whitney, Cooperrider, Kaplin, & Trosten-Bloom)

• The Non-Profits’ Guide to the Power of Appreciative Inquiry (Miller, Aguilar, Maslowski, McDaniel, and Mantel)

• Appreciative Inquiry: Collaborating for Change (booklet: Cooperrider & Whitney)

• Positive Approaches to Peacebuilding (Sampson, Abu-Nimer, Liebler, & Whitney)

• Appreciative Inquiry:  An Emerging Direction for OD (Cooperrider, Sorensen, Yaeger, & Whitney)

Also, check out the book Dynamic Relationships: Unleashing the Power of Appreciative Inquiry in Daily Living, by CPC friends Stavros and Torres.  Part of the Taos Institute Focus Book series, the book explores how to create positive dynamics and sustained success through continuous awareness and informed appreciative action.

Finally, visit the AI Practitioner, the only newsletter on the practice of Appreciative Inquiry.  Published quarterly by Anne Radford in London, the AIP features articles on such diverse topics as AI and strategic planning, AI in Health Care, and AI in the K-12 school system.  The $28 subscription fee is modest and well worth it.

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About Corporation for Positive Change

Corporation for Positive Change (CPC) is the premier consulting firm using Appreciative Inquiry for transformation and innovation in business, government, and non-profit organizations around the world. For more information about CPC, or to contact any of our consultants, please visit our Web site at www.positivechange.org.

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