Last fall, in my first week as Executive Director of IACP, my family was forced to evacuate our home in Sonoma County, California, due to raging wildfires. It was also the week of IACP’s 18th Annual Forum in Philadelphia. I knew I had taken on a challenge, kicking off my tenure as ED with the biggest event of our organization’s year, but that challenge loomed even larger as I was introduced to a room full of hundreds of strangers, not knowing if my home would be there when I returned. What was I doing here? What I quickly learned was that I couldn’t have been in a better place. The world of Collaborative Professionals is one of caring, dedicated, and empathetic people, the kind who make a practice of acting on their beliefs to make the world a better place. I found a community that works hard at both personal and professional development and plays joyfully at the Saturday night party. I began friendships that week with people from around the world, relationships that promise to enrich my life for years to come. That Forum remains one of the highlights of my first year at IACP, even if the edges of that memory are tinged with smoke. (And when I returned home, I was grateful to find my house was still standing.) As we open registration for the 19th Annual IACP Forum, I find myself wondering about others' experiences as a first-timer at the Forum. What brings people out from around the globe to this special event, and what keeps them coming back? I began asking some curious questions, and soon had a tidal wave of stories! One member, who attended her first Forum just last year, reported: "What an energizing experience attending my first IACP Forum! As a newly trained Collaborative Professional working on developing a practice group in our jurisdiction, the Forum was the perfect opportunity to learn from those who have blazed the trail. The Forum speakers were inspirational and the workshops provided phenomenal opportunities to gain invaluable knowledge from experienced professionals in an engaging environment. Bravo IACP, see you in Seattle!" -- Rachel Hernandez, St. Charles, Illinois, USA Others were just as excited about the learning opportunities as they were about the sense of community: "It's impossible to come away from an event like this without feeling one's batteries fully charged." – Roy N. Martin, Bellingham, Washington, USA "If you’re looking to jump-start your collaborative practice but aren’t sure where to start, look no further." -- Toni C. Nieuwhof, Ontario, Canada "Washington 2010. I finally made it to my first Forum, and saw the vastness, wonder and generosity of the worldwide collaborative community. It knocked my socks off." -- Zanita A. Zacks-Gabriel, IACP Board of Directors, Erie, PA, USA That sense of connection seemed to resonate even more among those who have been coming for many years. As Ron Ousky, who has attended every Forum since the beginning, put it: "I have witnessed numerous events in the Collaborative World that go beyond my wildest dreams; but the one place where the “movement” seems to get its momentum is the IACP Forum… Each Forum has created memorable experiences for me… [It] has come to feel like a great reunion of deep friendships forged in brief annual events." For those who have been before, you already know the reasons to return, but I want to extend a special invitation to those who have never attended a Forum. For many of us, it is a long way to come. And for most of us, it is a bit intimidating to stand in the doorway of a room full of strangers, not knowing what it will be like inside. I promise, you will be welcomed with open arms, and you will leave with head and heart full! See you in Seattle, Anne Tamar-Mattis Back to Content |
