I typically go to ASTD Cascadia events because I am motivated to pursue professional development and to build my network. However, the upcoming Monthly Program is a chance to do more than just attend an event.

The program this month takes place February 25^th from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Marriott Downtown Waterfront. Anna Young, the Director of Strategy and Learning at Mercy Corps will present an interactive workshop, “When Disaster Strikes – Learning and Development at Mercy Corps” If you haven’t already done so, check out the Program Description to see what it’s about.

I don’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on Anna, but I’m already anticipating that this workshop will be an ASTD Cascadia highlight of the year, both for its subject matter and its timeliness.

It’s only been three weeks since the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12^th. As Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of the Portland based Mercy Corps, reminds us in this recent article,

“this disaster won’t be something that Haitians emotionally recover from in a few weeks or even a few months.”

The rebuilding and healing will take a long time and a lot of work will need to be done. Another reason why I linked to this article is because it gives some insight into the approach that Mercy Corps is taking with their relief efforts in Haiti.

And that brings us to the reason why this particular ASTD Cascadia event is special. As I’m sure you noticed when you read the Program Description, the chapter is donating 30% of total revenue, including sponsorships and registration fees, to the Mercy Corps relief effort in Haiti.

As learning and development professionals, we understand the importance of being responsive, adapting to changing situations and getting the most out of the resources we have available. I’m definitely excited to attend Anna’s workshop and learn more about how I can help the organization I work for “turn crisis into opportunity.”

Attending events such as this, where we can interact with and learn from the outstanding professionals in our area, is definitely one of the best things about being a member of the Cascadia chapter. Thank you to everyone involved for your quick response in putting such a high-quality program together, one that addresses our professional development while at the same time supporting a desperately important humanitarian need.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Portland Program events play a large role in the ASTD‐Cascadia Chapter. The chapter generally conducts 7 to 9 monthly program events covering a wide variety of topics to meet the needs of training and development professionals in Oregon and SW Washington.

The Portland Programs Committee works closely with the VP of Programs to plan, organize, and implement monthly programs. Whereas the role of the VP of Programs is to set the overall direction and strategy for events, the Portland Programs Committee qualifies and recommends speakers and manages the tactical side of event management.

We are currently looking for three to four individuals to help plan and implement 2010 Portland Programs. Time commitment varies from 2-4 hours a month.

Come join the fun and adventure of Portland Programs! Contact Suzanne Bader, VP of Programs, at 503-753-6435 or suzbader@easystreet.net for more information.

With a new, more efficient Board of Directors structure now in place, ASTD-Cascadia is now recruiting for Associate Vice President positions in a number of areas. These are leadership roles with considerable responsibility as well as with much support  from respective Vice Presidents.

Let’s take a moment to meet these four fingers on the helping hand of chapter leadership!

• Associate VP, Portland Programs will manage tactical aspects of the busy Programs schedule, which supplies 9-11 monthly events meeting training and development needs of workplace learning professionals in Oregona and SW Washington.
• Associate VP, Special Interest Groups will help with recruitment and support of SIG directors, maintain regular contacts with groups, and help SIGs meet member needs in a professional and responsible manner.
• Associate VP Member Support will use great interpersonal and communications skills, gifts in project management and a proactive attitude to support chapter members and to ensure that their needs are being met.
• Associate VP Volunteers will report to the VP of Member Services, helping to match chapter volunteers with enjoyable, productive volunteer placements which will help them grow personally and professionally. 

Click here to learn more about these volunteer leadership opportunities for 2010!

How to Understand, Develop and Retain the Four Generations in the Workplace with Alisa Blum will be of special help to learning professionals getting started in the field. Participants will learn about each generation’s early influences, work styles and values; explore strategies to increase motivation; and develop a plan of their own to increase retention in their own workplaces.

Inclusion and Exclusion Within Groups with Elizabeth Erickson will consider the basic human need for belonging, and the negative consequences when individuals feel alienated and marginalized. Intended for anyone who works with people - especially in groups - the workshop will create a safe and support place for participants to experience their own feelings and to share their insights.

Resilience and Wellness at Work with Roger and Valerie Pease will enhance participants’ resilience and emotional intelligence quotient - and by extension, provide support and modeling for all the learners they work with, too! Wellness in emotional as well as physical terms reduces stress, increases productivity and cuts medical costs all around, producing global as well as very local positive effects.

Mikey, Yoda, Dr. Phil and Pony Poop: The Strategic Workforce Planning Recipe for Success with Jan John will show how conducting workforce planning and integrating it with the talent management system will enhance opportunities for targeted learning initiatives. Workforce planning means operating differently, and participants will get a chance to figure out how they might do that in the course of this workshop. 

We hope you’ll want to learn more about The Evolution of Learning. If you’re ready to register for this substantive, welcoming and incredibly affordable conference, click here - and we’ll see you there!

Then I remembered the female vocal group Anonymous Four, which has done very well for itself in the Billboard rankings all these years without tenors and baritones. Here, then, is a quartet of  women who will be bringing their own distinctive voices to The Evolution of Learning. And guys, I know you’re out there. Please chime in! 

• Maureen Fallt, Supervisor Workplace Planning and Diversity, PGE: “The conference will help me bring cutting-edge ideas to my organization both on the learning and the diversity front. Having just completed a master’s degree in training and development, I want to keep up my practice and my networks!” 
• Adele K. Honeyman, Relationship Management Team Training Specialist, Office of the State Treasurer: “My HR director forwarded the information about the conference.I was very drawn first to the title of your conference “Evolution of Learning,” then as I looked further, I liked your format with many different topics and many different speakers. As a newbie, I need to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can. Being able to get in so many different topics in two days is a great deal.I also am looking forward to hearing more about ‘Water the Bamboo.’ Plus, I live and work right here in Salem, so no travel cost!”
• Shelby Gramling, Senior Instructional Design Consultant, Trinity Information Services - Trinity Health: “I am thrilled about attending the upcoming regional conference. It is an opportunity to expand my knowledge in this ever-evolving industry and to build a solid networkof workplace learning professionals. As an internal learning consultant, I need to keep taking the pulse of the learner, the classroom, the learning professional and the organization - those four tracks and the lineup of speakers are extremely relevant and vital to my work. My professional development focus in 2010 is to become a better learning strategist; the pre-conference event and the keynote will provide great insight to my growth. We are extremely fortunate to have such a high-quality and cost-effective professional development event in our backyard.”
• Jennifer Powers, Professional Coach and Speaker, Immediate Past President NSA Oregon: “I am excited to attend the ASTD-Cascadia conference for a couple of reasons: First, to be further exposed to the community of the organization and its members. Second, to learn more of what I do not know about adult learning styles and training techniques, as that will propel my speaking and training business to the next level. Any professional in this field cannot afford to miss such an opportunity to connect and develop through the efforts of the ASTD organization. On a side note, Greg Bell is the keynote speaker and there is no way I am missing him!”

Among the four tracks at The Evolution of Learning, the ASTD-Cascadia 2009 Regional Conference in Salem, Oregon, is one that Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick would relish: The Evolution of the Classroom. From tyro to techie, there’s something to learn and enjoy September 23-24. No backtalk from HAL, either!

Here’s a sampling of offerings, and you’ll want to get the scoop on others while registering for the conference and a special pre-conference event on Sept. 22. (Be sure to sign up by Friday, August 21 for an especially great rate.)

Get Virtual with Mike Abrams, a leader in the movement to use the lever of technology to bring better learning experiences and enhance retention. Mike will be a speaker at a general session (lunch is provided!) on the evolution of learning into virtual worlds. He will also present a workshop to participants experienced or expert in the use of Second Life on how to highly effective training - without needing to do massive amounts of programming!

The Limitless Classroom will be Ed Warnock’s topic in a workshop with experienced workplace learning professionals. Ed has a profound understanding of how technology has opened the classroom far beyond lectures and discussions. He will provide Web 2.0 technique-tips and sources to support all learning styles with multimedia materials found on the Internet or embedded in PowerPoint.

Ten Steps to Virtual Classroom Success with Cindy Huggett will guide workshop participants to create an action plan using the additional skills needed to add virtual-learning environments to the face-to-face classroom experience. Cindy, an established learning consultant, will make this a just-in-time solution for trainers facing the realities of changing company priorities and budgets.

But wait, there’s more! Through the generous sponsorship of Turning Technologies, participant feedback for every session at The Evolution of Learning will be taken through the use of the TurningPoint audience response system. A demonstration of this flexible, powerful tool for a range of applications will also be offered just prior to Mike Abrams’ general session speech.

A professional networking session encourages a similar rich sampling of many minds and traditions. At The Evolution of Learning, the 2009 ASTD-Cascadia Regional Conference in Salem, Oregon Sept. 23-24, eight formal networking sessions on a smorgasbord of timely topics will enliven the proceedings. 

Even better, the one-hour sessions will be facilitated by representatives of two ASTD-Cascadia partner organizations, ODN Oregon and the Northwest Coaches Association. This first-ever collaboration is a sign that members of the diverse workplace learning community are learning more about how to share the special “flavors” of their disciplines. 

Encouraging dialogues in which all participants can ask questions and contribute best practices, the topics for the sessions will be:

• In Transition Exploring ways to tap into professional resources if you’ve lost your job or the market has changed for your services.
• Web 2.0 in the Classroom Discovering how new ways of delivering information are affecting learners, and what their effect is on organizations
• Selling OD/Training in Tough Times Making use of marketing tools for external consulting, and facing up to challenge for internal service
• Independent Consultants Succeeding in today’s economy, through great networking tools and resources
• E-Learning Best Practices Designing and implementing solutions that work the best amid rapidly changing technology
• Transitioning from Internal Trainer to External Consultant Considering or implementing the change, it’s a whole new world – and getting help and support from one’s peers is key
• Effective Coaching Examining models of a professional service that is rising in popularity and scope
• Cultural Competency/Inclusion Building this important component into organizational life as a trainer, facilitator, coach and leader

Click here to survey the full banquet of conference events, and to take advantage of the great early-bird registration rate running through Aug. 21!

The first question that people may ask is, why? I think people join non-profit boards for a variety of reasons. They identify with valuable experiences one can gain from serving on a board. Here are just a few other reasons:

• Team collaboration
• Channel creative energy- keep skills alive!
• Learn Group Dynamics
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous learning
• Grow as a leader
• Gain personal experience with board governance
• Build valuable networks and friendships

As an active volunteer with ASTD-Cascadia, I think it’s also about giving back. Serving, as a board member is an opportunity to give back to the community and the profession you love. You are lending a hand to the organization that supports the professional development of yourself and many others. What better way is there to connect with the profession and give something back.

To learn more about contributing your talents, check out the board leadership competencies and requirements. As with any commitment, it’s important to understand the role and expectations of the chapter. Find out if it’s a good match for you and Cascadia. The service can be truly rewarding when you can see the benefits of your efforts to yourself and the chapter.

Click here for all the details on board recruitment.

Every Monday, millions of people go back to their jobs, whether in a large office or a small, work-from-home consultancy. Motivational speaker and trainer Greg Bell suggests we view the work environment as a place worthy of similar patient nurturing. 

In his book “Water the Bamboo: Unleashing the Potential of Teams and Individuals” (Three Star Publishing, 2009) Greg outlines four must-dos for hardy professional relationships:

• Build Trust through actions, not words alone. Open-ended questions and alert, receptive listening are also effective tools, but don’t apply “why?” too soon.
• Cultivate by demonstrating empathy while avoiding heavy authority trips. This is an especially labor-intensive stage, like tending to the soil, but it’s essential for success.
• Take risk through vulnerability, accepting that embarrassment and rejection are possible. Reach out to the new. In other words, push the limits of your personal climate zone.
• Enjoy the empowerment. Well-rooted professional connections, like friendship and plants, can be maintained with relative ease. Renew and relish them regularly.

Now, those with close personal experience of the growth habits of a certain woody plant with hollow stalks might suggest that “Eradicate the Bamboo” would be a better motto. Yet, Greg’s metaphor has a good point: Giant timber bamboo takes three years to break the surface of the ground. Lasting and productive professional relationships need time to develop as well, and can come rocketing into apparent overnight success that is no happenstance at all.

You can find out lots more about Greg Bell and his mission to enhance healthy organizational growth at www.waterthebamboo.com. You may also learn from the man himself, up close and engagingly personal, on September 24 in Salem, Oregon, during the second day of The Evolution of Learning, the 2009 ASTD-Cascadia Regional Conference. Greg will present the conference keynote speech that morning, and will follow that with a 90-minute interactive workshop, “The New 3 Rs for the Learning Professional.”

No surprise, perhaps: One of the Rs is Relationship!