VA EAGALA Networking Notes—2.6.11 1
EAGALA Networking Meeting—2.6.11
WHERE: Unbridled Change (UBC)—Michelle Holling-Brook, State Coordinator for VA EAGALA Networking group
Minutes Provided by Group Secretary (THANK YOU!!!) Todd Hedinger – Breaking Free at TSD
PRESENT— 21 members!!!
--Michelle Hollings-Brook, Suzy Bowman, Scott Simmons (UBC)
--Paul and Jenny Foltz, AJ Morey and Todd Hedinger (Timberville; Breaking Free (at TSD)/The Saddle Doctor)
--Jim and Mary Alice Walters (Opening Gates)
--Molly and Ken and Celia Gallagher (Off the Beaten Path Farm)
--Kimberly Blackman-Mullens and Paula McDainel (Barn of Hooves and Growth)
--Don and Maggie H.
--Liz Moran (Unbridled Paths)
--Alicia Burns (Harrisonburg)
--Tiffany Slusher and Paula (Flying Changes of VA)
--Lynn Brown (NC – Better Transitions)
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AGENDA:
1. Roundtable of What’s Up
2. Activity—EAGALA Mentee, Lynn co-facilitating with Scott and Susie— Communication and Planning
3. Lunch
4. Goal setting/planning session for this group/mapping out 2011
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1. ROUNDTABLE
--UBC has grant-funded additions to their barn!
--Lynn reaffirms, this field is very difficult to break into, very difficult to not make mistakes! This networking resource is very valuable.
--Jim and Mary Alice are going to the conference, as is Lynn, as well as Molly and Ken—3 days in Logan, Utah. They agreed to take notes and put ‘em up on the networking page?
--Mary Alice: Wanted feedback on the struggle with how much to jump in and prevent possible safety issue during the 1st session with new client(s), the client got nipped on finger. How does the rest of the group deal with that? To discuss at lunch. Safety is always a good theme!
--Jim: Opening Gates was recently contacted by HMS (Tri-Care contractor, nationwide—they connect veterans with providers) because they’re Medicare providers in rural area, asking them to be point-of-contact.
--When can someone expect to start making money in this business? After 3-5 years.
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2. ACTIVITY
Susie, Lynn, Scott—led EAL activity in arena.
CHALLENGE: Group to identify two obstacles to this networking group. Identified: (1) physical distance, and (2) resource sharing (information, expertise, possibly physical resources—e.g., barns, arenas, horses).
ACTIVITY: Use objects in the barn to build a structure or structures representing the obstacles we face, while monitoring the behavior of the two horses sharing the space with us.
OUTCOME: We reached outcomes on a number of literal and symbolic levels. On the literal level, we had to determine leadership, and from there, determine a plan of action, then execute the plan—create the literal structure. On the symbolic level, we had to figure out what it all meant, and we reached a number of conclusions:
· E pluribus unum (spelling?)—in our many parts, we are one. Instead of BUT dividing clauses here, we have a number of AND connections.
We each have our own practices, dreams, challenges, desires, AND
we share characteristics, AND
we share potential with each other (the stronger we can make this network, the better we benefit our own self-interests), AND
we share responsibility to each other (if we choose to build this network).
· As usual, the horses provided the shift/the thing to watch. Frank remained apart from us—literally and metaphorically (literally, turned away from us; metaphorically, butt turned to us, tuned out, ignoring—perhaps disrespectful, making it clear he was not part of the process). When we reached some sense of what it could mean to be a group—to form a cohesive, operating entity that doesn’t depend solely on Michelle to do all the organizing and energizing—well, at that shift, Frank turned and faced us.
· Lingering Questions … What does leadership mean? I heard 3 themes. 1. Sometimes it’s simply who’s willing to step up (Michelle gave example of Todd taking notes; Michelle is working on stepping back and to allow the group an opportunity to have more ownership in the process). 2. It depends on investing in the thing (i.e., is this network a loose thing, of quarterly gathering, collegiality, friendliness, or is it an organization with a life of its own?; we must choose to invest it as an entity in itself. Many of us have shirts/jackets with our practices embroidered on ‘em; do we create a Networking jacket that we all wear?). 3. It depends on who gets heard (there were several silent individuals in the group, and several times when sharing the air time—a limited resource in a 5-minute time span—was a problem, with people apologizing for interruptions).
(Side Note from Michelle – Wow! Todd you are really good at note taking – THANK YOU J )
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3. LUNCH—I’m sorry, but there was not a cohesive conversation for me to make note of! I could have eavesdropped on a number of conversations, but … J General discussion was on safety.
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4. GOAL SETTING FOR VIRGINIA NETWORK
Two leading questions: 1. How to develop our network?, and 2. How do we do our individual businesses?
NOTE: Michelle is interested about looking into develop a regional workshops/conferences/or retreat—regional meaning Mid-Atlantic, for example; this network is positioned to be an anchor on the East coast).
Goals Apply to?— G = Group I = Individual practices T = Topics
Share ideas regarding how we can support each other / G and IGenerate more clients, corporate or school groups / G
How to make use of EAGALA network web page. It is open only for EAGALA members. It provides HIIPA protection for users on the community-site. Different parts of the site can be automated to send email / G
What’s next seminar for new professionals? Michelle had stuff to say about continuing ed, but Todd was fussing with technology and didn’t capture it. / I
Develop new activities / I
Continue network meetings / G
Keep strong attendance at network meetings / I
How to stage open houses, get new sponsors / I
Marketing program for state EAGALA providers / G
Guest speakers / G
Eating Disorders, Drug/Alcohol Issues—topics / T
Administrative portion to quarterly meetings (sharing paperwork/forms, etc.)—topic / T
Bring more of us to viable business threshold / I
Establish “learning exchange” as part of mutual support / G
Ideas for deepening the impact of this networking group / G
Contribute to profession / G and I
Michelle suggested we set a norm for setting goals, and she made a parameter observation:
NORM: “Personal Safety.” We need to understand and respect boundaries of what we can/cannot give (e.g., when does a group topic need to switch to consulting). So, in setting our goals, we need to be careful of that boundary.”
PARAMETER: EAGALA has set the follow guidelines for groups:
I) Setting Up and Structure
a) A networking Group may be established at the request of an EAGALA Certified member.
b) For the Networking Group to be established and continue to exist there must be a minimum of 5 members, or a lesser number at the discretion of the EAGALA Director responsible for Networking Groups.
c) The Networking Group will meet at least bi-annually, and more frequently at its discretion.
d) The Network Group will select a name which will include ‘EAGALA’ and seek approval of the name.
e) The Networking Group may use the EAGALA logo as per the EAGALA Logo Use Policy.
f) The Networking Group will not charge any fees or dues to be a member.
g) The Networking Group may only arrange financial contributions from members on an ‘expenses only’ arrangement to cover costs of activities on an event by event basis as agreed in advance by all the members attending the particular event. This includes covering expenses for outside speakers or presenters (Section1: e).
h) The Networking Group can be closed down by termination of this Agreement as stated in VII)e).
Outside of these general guidelines what do we as a group want the mission and vision of the group to be? How to we meet the above needs and goals with our group?
ELEMENTS OF MEETINGS—Tiffany facilitated
--Topics—can include guest speakers
--Resource sharing—check-in, communication, directory on EAGALA page (pictorial?)
--Activity
--Administrative parts
--Honoring Time (honor start and finish times; be efficient): 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Assure someone is timekeeper (as Tiffany is doing today)
--EAGALA updates
--Honoring distances—rotate sites, shared responsibility for hosting
--Three hours
--When? Quarterly, three on Sundays, one on Saturday.
SCHEDULE, TOPICS, COORDINATOR
Sun., Feb. 6—UBC, Roanoke (here, now!)
Sun., May 1—Sarah Tilley & Jackie O’Connell-Bagnati, Horse Spa Farms Suffolk, VA—School/university, Molly and Michelle
Sun., Aug.7—Paul McDainel and Jenny, The Saddle Doctor, Timberville (Harrisonburg)—Abandonment/Foster Care, Paula
Sat., Nov. 5—Tiffany Christiansburg, Flying Changes—Horse Behavior, Jim
TOPICS for 2011
--In 2010, we dicussed Marketing, Billing, and Military task force
For 2011
--Horse behavior—yes, in Nov., Jim to coordinate
--Eating disorder—possible reg. conference topic
--PTSD—possible reg. conference topic
--Abandonment issues/foster care—Yes, in Aug., Paula to coordinate
--Substance abuse/drugs—possible reg. conference topic
--School/university connections—Yes, in May; Michelle and Molly will coordinate
--Families of special needs people—possible reg. conference topic
Rules of Thumb:
--When there’s a speaker, they get 1 hour of the 3 hours.
--With other topics, mix of “talk” and “do”
--Michelle’s going to send out another questionnaire, focusing on what we would/could offer for conference (we have the ability to grow the networking group beyond “meetings” and into a more co-operative feel – members of the group helping contribute to resource sharing and support)
--Administrative—do we want to include a 30 minute conversation to deal with business? Yes. Make that part of working lunch.
PROPOSED FORMAT:
Start at 11:00 (check in occurs before then)
1. Roundtable—30 minutes 11:00-to-11:25’ish
2. EAL Activity—20 11:30’ish-to-12:00’ish
3. Working lunch, with “business” meeting—60 minutes 12:00’ish-to-1:00
4. Topic—60 minutes 1:00-to-2:00
Homework:
--Michelle will be distributing revised 2011 survey what is the mission, vision of the group, what are people willing to commit, what are your strengths to be listed in our directory…
--Come prepared with saying what each of us has to offer to the group. Emphasis here is on building this networking group. Praise given to Michelle for what she’s created and fostered so far, but she can’t do it alone … do the rest of us agree this is a worthwhile thing to develop?
Next Meeting:
Sunday, May 1st — Hosts Sarah Tilley & Jackie O’Connell-Bagnati, Horse Spa Farms Suffolk, VA— topics: School programs /university updates, Michelle/Molly
Notes submitted by Todd Hedinger