A Fresh Start
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 03:51PM 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
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.
Reader Comments (3)
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FCE has a mission that to give every student in America the opportunity of a first class education
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