We are pleased to bring you another issue of the Collaborative Connection, the electronic newsletter of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Past issues of the Connection are archived on the IACP website at www.collaborativepractice.com [Home > Member Resources > IACP Publications]. If you have comments, questions or any suggestions, please contact info@collaborativepractice.com.

The IACP is nothing without its members. In an effort to build an even stronger connection with our members, we're asking current, lapsed and non-members to take a few minutes to share their honest feedback with us, via our IACP Member Survey. 

The organization is preparing to undergo a major strategic planning process, and we want your input! As a thank you for participating, respondents who include their name and email in the survey will be entered to win a Starbucks or Amazon gift card. We'll draw the name of one lucky survey respondent each week the survey is available. Take the survey now!

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 By IACP President, Chris Farish

WOW!! What an incredible Forum! I just returned from Seattle, Washington, where I had an unbelievable time at the Forum. I can barely contain my excitement. For those of you who missed it, I have one question, why?  

Why would you miss an opportunity to meet over 400 Collaborative Practitioners from more than 11 countries, exchange ideas, learn from and with each other and grow your network? Why would you miss the opportunity to engage in some of the absolute best Collaborative continuing education available by attending one or two of the eight Pre-Forum Institutes, or several of the 43 workshops during the Forum itself?  

How can you miss a chance to engage with other practitioners from around the world, have an ethos replenishing bite in the Ethics Café or exchange tips with the best trainers in the world, all in our special gatherings? The Forum is a singular, transformative opportunity to learn, meet new people, see great speakers, dance the night away and above all else, rekindle the Collaborative fire that burns within you. 

This year we reengaged with our members in new and exciting ways. We hosted our first Global Partners meeting at the Forum, which we expect will be an annual event for years to come. We also watched our new President-Elect, Francesca King, step forward to take her place, bringing her intelligence, knowledge, experience and compassion. Francesca is the first President-Elect from outside of North America, and she will most certainly not be the last. 

We have to thank the Forum Local Host Committee, known as the Band of Merrymakers, for their incredible efforts in everything from helping plan the Forum to securing sponsorships. We also need to thank our Sustaining Links, Leadership Links and Count Me In donors who raised much-needed funds to help us spread Collaborative Practice, and to transform how families resolve conflict around the world. I couldn’t be happier with the hard work of our fundraisers, the Board and Fundraising Committee, and honestly cannot thank our donors enough.  

The Forum just goes by too fast and I can’t wait to do it again . . . but when, where, how? 
When: October 24 – 27, 2019 
Where: Chicago, Illinois 
How: How can you not?? 

I hope you will all make a note in your calendar and start making your plans to join us next year for the 20th Annual Networking and Education Forum in Chicago, Illinois. We have so much in store for you next year. If you are a Forum regular that has missed a year or two, come back and join us for this special Forum. If you are a new member or a longtime member who has never been to a Forum, come join us and learn why everyone (not just the President) says the Forum reignites your Collaborative fire. It will be a special Forum, a special anniversary and I promise a special time. 

See you in Chicago!! 

Sincerely, 
Chris Farish 

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IACP conducts much of its work through its Committees, and once again, we need your wisdom, creativity and insights! Interested in Joining an IACP Committee? Let us know by filling out and submitting the Committee Expression of Interest Form.

Committee appointments, which are one-year terms, will be made before the end of this year.

We're looking for volunteers for the following committees:
Online Professional Education Task Force
Access to Collaboration Task Force
Fundraising Committee
Forum Workshop Proposal Review Committee
Standards and Ethics Committee
UCLA Advisory Panel
Practice Group Development Committee
Website Content Committee
Equity and Inclusion Committee
Membership and Outreach Committee
Higher Education Task Force
Research Advisory Panel

NOTE: If you have been serving on a committee or task force and would like to continue, you must complete a new expression of interest this year. The application deadline is Thursday, November 29, at 5 pm Pacific Standard Time.

"Especially as your practice group grows, it is important to make sure that all members have the space and the opportunity to speak their voice. Sitting in a circle and using a talking stick is helpful, as is remembering to have at least one round where everybody can say a word. If this becomes a standard ground rule, it will be obvious to use it when a difficult group conversation is needed or when a very talkative member needs to be helped in giving space to those who have been silent. To help every meeting become a safe space for all members, having a small opening and closing ceremony may be helpful."

Submitted by: Francesca King
AIADC - Associazione Italiana Professionisti Collaborativi

Do you have questions about practice group management, or tips for other practice groups? Write to our committee at lgephart@nhpa.com.

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The Spring IACP Collaborative Review was dedicated to the IACP 2015 Divorce Experience Study. The study was the first extensive survey to compare the experience of those who used Collaborative Practice with those who used other divorce methods. 

We received an overwhelmingly positive response from the study, and in an effort to keep the conversation going, we are breaking down some of the most impactful data from the survey in our monthly, 100 Words of Wisdom, provided by The IACP Study Task Force. See the fifth installment of '100 Words of Wisdom' below.