A Word From FCE's Director of Programs

Dear Friends:
I am very excited, encouraged and hopeful to once again serve as Director of Programs for the Foundation for Community Encourgement (FCE). The work has touched my life, and I am excited by the opportunity to pass it on. The Spirit present at the Council (Board) meeting in September encouraged me to take this position, and I am hopeful that others feel a similar need to spread the message of Community Building (CB). However, in order to spread the message of CB, we need your help.

We need more workshops so people can experience and practice Community Building. Please consider sponsoring a workshop in your area. We are in the process of putting the Community Building Workshop Planner on the FCE website, which gives specific instructions on how to be a Sponsor. We have waived all fees other than expenses (travel, room and board) for the services of FCE trained facilitators. What a deal in a down economy! Gather 10 or 20 people together and experience the gift of community.

I would also like to invite you to attend a workshop in Buffalo, which is our new home. We are hoping to attract as many people as possible to our spring renewal workshop, April 16-18, 2010. Other events will be listed on the website under Upcoming Events, including the Community Facilitation Program (CFP) planned for October 2010. Attending at least one workshop is a prerequisite for the CFP. We encourage attending as many workshops as you can, which will help you to learn firsthand about our approach.

We also have facilitator/consultants with many years of experience helping organizations become communities. Please contact me if you would like more information on forming community in your organization.

The “Monks” at the “Abbey” of FCE have again been blessed by the gift of community. We are energized by the opportunity to pass the gift on, but we are are getting older and looking for younger people who feel called to join us on this journey.

Help FCE by sponsoring or attending a workshop. Please let me know in what ways we can help you.

Yours,
Robert Reusing
Director of Programs
FCE

A Fresh Start

Dear CB Community:

As we wrote to you a year ago, the FCE Council* is in the process of resurrecting FCE and we were called together again in September, 2009.  We spent much of the time building community which brought us back to life with truly joined purposes.  While in the circle together we committed to actively practice the principles of community building in our lives and as a group.  The experience was a precious gift and the impetus for the plan we wish to share. 

In reflecting why we want to start up activities again, we identified a number of heart-felt reasons motivating us:

• We felt that to be vital and growing the community building process needed a home -- a hub – where the process is nurtured and supported.
• We all felt that we have experienced CB as a proven process that needs a steward for it to thrive into the future.
• We felt passionately that community building supports ideals we care about:  peace, authenticity, civility, collaboration, leadership, humanity, accountability, health (personal and organizational) and connection.
• We have seen that people out in the CB network want someone or some organization to play this supportive and organizing role.
• We feel the need to pass on the years of collective experience and wisdom to the next generation through the oral and experiential traditions.  
• Community building needs multi-level support:  resource development, workshops, facilitator training, application and more.

 We would like to reiterate the FCE mission, which we expanded.  We feel that community building fosters:

• Communicating with authenticity
• Relating with love and respect
• Dealing with difficult issues 
• Seeking, honoring and affirming diversity
• Bridging differences with integrity
• Acknowledging our human frailties, taking responsibility for our actions and making amends when possible.
• Practicing forgiveness for ourselves and others.

With all this in mind, we intend in the coming year to raise some funds, host a few community building events and build a modest organizational infrastructure to support our activities.  We do not have the resources at this time, for much more.  We hope you will understand some of the limitations, celebrate with us this new beginning and be our partners as we build more capacity over time.

Eve Berry has provided FCE with office space in her home in Buffalo. Robert Reusing, who served as FCE’s Director of Programs for many years, is moving to Buffalo beginning November 15, 2009 and will become our new Director of Programs. Karen Myers, who organized the Summer Gathering this year, has agreed to serve as the Director of Operation/Administration and will be coming to Buffalo periodically. We are taking advantage of technologies that help us set up a virtual office as well.

The new address is: 

  414 Virginia Street

  Buffalo, NY 14201

  T: 716-218-8125

  F: 716-408-8839

  E: info@fce-community.org

If you are excited about the rebirth of FCE and our attempt to spread our technology for teaching our stated values, please consider becoming a Friend of FCE by sending a donation at the highest level you are able. Your gift lets us know you care and are wishing us well as we attempt to restart the teaching of a model which has, for many of us, changed our lives. 

To donate, click on Donate Now! on our FCE website. Payments can be made online using credit card or Paypal. If you prefer to send a check, please mail it to the above address, made out to The Foundation for Community Encouragement. Thank you for your support. Information about 2010 workshops and how to register will be forthcoming soon. 

In community,

Rusty Myers, Chair, Eve Berry, Secretary, Bonnie Poindexter, Treasurer, Michael Schmidt, Retired Chair, Fernando Morales, John Schuller, Karen Myers, Keith Byler, Mona Reaume, Pat Callair, Richard Kleiner, Robert Reusing, Susan Brown, Sydney Duncan

* To clarify for legal purposes we are the board of directors; however, in spirit we are a Council.