An Early New Year's Resolution

First off, I'm committed to the ongoing work of providing really practical tools to help people make the shift to more lifegiving, renewable ways of working together. We've got some great books out there explaining the ideas behind a renewable way of doing life, work, and church. But I'm constantly hearing people say, "I get the ideas and I LOVE them...I totally agree...but tell me HOW to do it! What does a renewable way of doing things actually LOOK like?!" We're going to work even harder to answer that question in the new year. If you have a specific issue, question, etc. that you'd like help with, let me know. Odds are, other people do, too. We'll get it on the schedule for 2011.

Second, I'm going to try to figure out how to do more and more of the teaching and training I do in a way that is more sustainable...more affordable for you, less exhausting for me, and way better for the planet. What I mean is: I'm going to be working even harder to provide resources that you can access ONLINE. Just imagine this:

• Attending a one-day ONLINE retreat with your leadership team. You get together somewhere local, convenient, affordable. And the ARE team will join you via webinar. We'll do teaching, provide small group exercises, engage you in a Q & A session. Dozens of other teams will be attending at the same time. We actually have our first online retreat scheduled for Feb. 12, 2011. And we'll do another one in the fall.
• Accessing a whole year's worth of leadership training & continuing education from the convenience of your office or living room. We're scheduling six LIVE webinar events for 2011. Each one will address a practical topic in ARE's uniquely provocative way. 
  • The first webinar event is scheduled for January 27, 2011. It is for nonprofit and church leaders and addresses a hot topic for both of those groups: HOW TO CRACK THE VOLUNTEER CRISIS. Registration opened TODAY for this event.
  • We'll be posting a schedule for the rest of 2011 soon. Topics will include:
    • Doing fundraising/stewardship that matters
    • Engaging your neighbor/community in a way that matters
    • Measuring what matters
    • Long-range planning is dead. Long live planning that matters!
• A tailor-made continuing education or leadership training program for your team. I know there is value in having an ARE team member on the ground with your people. And I LOVE teaching at your conferences, workshops, etc. But imagine the possibilities of an online learning experience. 
  • Your leaders can attend wherever they are.
  • We could offer something a couple times of year - even monthly! - instead of just once.
  • And no travel expenses!

Are you thinking about what you'd like 2011 to look like for you, personally and/or professionally? Is sustainability on YOUR radar screen? Is there some creative part of you itching to get out? How are you going to do life and work in a way that is more life-giving for you, your coworkers, your family, and the planet we share? I know the Christmas jingle bells haven't rung yet but it's not too early to be thinking about it.