One of my favourite events is the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, located at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington, and not all that far from my home in Victoria. Fiddle Tunes is a celebration of music, dance, tradition and community. I’ve attended a number of times, and previously posted the many reasons […]
Good-bye to Warren Argo and Bob Boardman: May your spirits live on!
November 14, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
The Department of Mad Scientists: Lesson in innovation from DARPA
November 8, 2010 by · 3 Comments
Are you involved with a science-based organization looking to innovate? Does that organization have a science fiction writer on staff? If it doesn’t, maybe it should! This is one of the innovation insights I drew from reading Michael Belfiore’s The Department of Mad Scientists: How DARPA is Remaking Our World, from the Internet to Artificial […]
Mediation Business Summit takeaways
October 24, 2010 by · 2 Comments
Although its been a month since I attended the Mediation Business Summit, I thought I’d share a few of my takeaways from the event. About the Summit The Summit was a multi-day event via telephone and web, designed for dispute resolution professionals by dispute resolution professionals, Tammy Lenski and Amanda Bucklow. Sessions featured business management, […]
Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict into Collaboration – Video book review
October 19, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
I’m always on the lookout for ideas and frames that give context to my work. Recently I came across Getting to Resolution: Turning conflict into collaboration by Stewart Levine. It does just that. It touches my buttons; collaboration, conflict, resolution, mediation, community, systems thinking, to name a few. In this short video (can’t see it? […]
Triangulate conflict to find the sweet spot of resolution
October 15, 2010 by · 5 Comments
One of my earliest professional gigs was as a land surveyor. One technique surveyors use is triangulation, finding a position or location based on two other, known fixed points. Triangulation, i.e., cross-checking, is also a technique used by resolutionaries, such as mediators. We use multiple sources of information, signals, to locate that sweet spot of […]
Make it safe to fail
October 9, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
A collaborative leader makes it safe to fail and learn, and innovate. And that’s also what most facilitator and dispute resolution professionals try do too. As a mediator, I know there is no way people are going to open up, share information, and genuinely explore and resolve the issues unless they feel safe, free from […]
Caring to live with others: A new cohousing community is forming in Victoria
October 4, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Building community is hard work. So imagine you are living in a housing complex with 32 neighbours, people whom you care about, socially network, share resources, collaborate on decisions and tasks, practice sustainability, and just plain be in good relationship with. That’s what lies ahead for you if you become a member of the Fernwood […]
Religion, Spirituality and Social Media: An evening at Social Media Club Victoria
September 29, 2010 by · 4 Comments
What are the hardest (or most important?) subjects to talk about? Many would say religion, politics and sex. Well, last night at the Victoria’s Social Media Club, religion was talked about; openly, and with enthusiasm. The topic: Religion, Spirituality and Social Media. Leading the discussion were a three-person panel; Venerable Eshu Martin (Abbot) is the […]
