NextNow Member Blog

The front page of the Sunday Chron, “Tech gurus drum up ideas for a better world” http://tinyurl.com/n5whj prompted me to consider, “Is NextNow’s amalgamation of brilliant characters akin to being “TED” light? We may not have every technocrat from Gore to Google execs who attended The Technology Entertainment Design Conference http://www.ted.com but we sure didn’t have to pay $4400 at Yvonne’s place on Sat. either! From Sky’s mobile wireless boost to Jay’s e-learning know-how “Breezing” us through blogging, (& live podcast of Yvonne from behind my chair) the synapses were firing and ideas were flowing as to how I can best harness these aspects for “Shaping Youth.” (Christine, let’s chat further about mirroring the npr “StoryCorps” model for audio recordings of kids on my site, as Dennis’ background is perfect for running a regional mobile unit prototype!)

The continuation headline was “Influential thinkers consider how to create the future” and I thought, “yep, sounds about right. We have Doug Engelbart; I can’t think of a more influential thinker!” Even the verbiage in the article reflected the energy of NextNow, mentioning extraordinary opportunities to try to change the world and the notion that “people still like to meet face to face, for that’s how you glue together a community.” Bill, (“human glue” personified) this reinforces all of those cross-pollinations you’ve managed to mesh into the mix.

NextNow’s ‘brand positioning’ is fuzzier than the TEDsters, and certainly more informal, but we’ve sure got thinkers, & scientists & dreamers & do-ers. Plenty of ‘em. Just wanted to say I’m proud to be aligned with this crew, it’s brought me intellectual inspiration far beyond the data-swapping & mind-bending thinktank topics. Oh! Which reminds me, here’s a cool demo: http://openrico.org/rico/demos.page involving Ajax/Rico/open source JavaScript libraries for creating rich internet applications. (Cool demo is much easier for me to say.) Enjoy! Thanks again for Saturday, —Amy Jussel

From: Rossella Derickson

DATE: Monday, March 6th at 5:30

TOPIC: Thinking Today as if Tomorrow Mattered: An OD Role in Building a Sustainable Consciousness

As Einstein made us aware, we cannot expect to resolve the complex challenges that are emerging in the 21st Century using the same manner of thinking that created these challenges in the first place. This program reviews the prevailing manner of thinking in most of our organizations today, and compares these prevailing mental models with the manner of thinking that will be called for if we are to be successful. Practical ideas for OD involvement as coaches, guides, and leaders, in fostering essential new perspectives successfully, will be shared and explored.

BIO: John Adams, Professor and Chair of Organizational Systems, Saybrook Graduate School

John Adams has been at the forefront of the Organization Development profession for more than 35 years. He is co-founder of Eartheart Enterprises, an international publishing, consulting and speaking business and Professor and Chair of the Organizational Systems Ph.D. Program at Saybrook Graduate School. John has published in the areas of health and stress management, personal effectiveness at work, and leading change. Johnís earlier books, Transforming Work and Transforming Leadership, are widely held as defining a new role for the Organization Development profession in a rapidly changing world. He is also co-author of Life Changes and author of Thinking Today as if Tomorrow Mattered: The Rise of a Sustainable Consciousness.

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From Lisa Dale Miller and Bonnie DeVarco:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Below is information about an exciting fundraising event I am involved with to support Tara Home Hospice which provides compassionate care for the end of life at the Land of the Medicine Buddha. I hope you can support our efforts with your presence and/or a donation. Detailed information about the event can be found at www.stonewaterspirit.com

Lisa (more…)