We still have some CALSCA memberships that could be grabbed by someone, somewhere. If I receive your cheque ($10 for an individual and $20 for an organization) before Dec. 1995, you could receive four issues of this newsy letter with a freshly canceled Ont. stamp thereon. Don't wait. Mail it today.
The following subscribers have answered the call:
Shirley Allen, Toronto, ON
Karen Auchstaeter, North Battleford, SK
Audrey Adilman, Edmonton, AB
Penelope Thasher, Victoria BC
Shirley is my primary mentor in the accreditation process and coach/trainer with the YWCA Life Skills group. Audrey is at Grant MacEwan College and Penelope is our first Vancouver Islander. She is at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. Welcome one and all.
Rod Paynter and David Bain have renewed and I'm glad because now I have David's correct address. He may get every issue this year.
Dori Britski's back relocated to Prince Albert, SK
Maureen Robbins from Winnipeg is our first Manitoba member.
John duChalard at Grant MacEwan College has renewed--welcome
ALSCO has joined our ranks and we appreciate their membership.
A complete membership list will be forthcoming perhaps in the next issue, just before the national meeting.
Some bad news, some good. The bad news is that I will be leaving Ontario for up to 10 months as of July 1995 and will not have a permanent hook to hang my junk on. This means that we (meaning CALSCA) and I (meaning me) need to find a replacement editor to take over the task of publishing the newsletter and receipting memberships etc. The good news is that a new approach to the newsletter, by somebody much more computer literate than myself, would surely be welcomed by the membership. You know, dress it up, add a few hearts and flowers, give it some pizzazz. I can guarantee that the job is lots of fun and self-motivating, if poor paying. As our provincial organizations grow and as more coaches become involved in CALSCA, the importance of maintaining communication is a priority. My fantasy--that so many of you apply for the editor's job that we have a vote at the national meeting in May 1995. Enter your name in the contest by dropping me a line.
Dori Britski, bless her little Sask. heart, has sent me a terrific news clipping dated August 1988. I am reprinting this in its totality (minus the photo of Jack Mitchell and Paul Curtis) because I find it exciting to think that we are still continuing a movement that started many years ago in a room over a bowling alley. That same movement has changed our lives forever. Amen.
Twenty years ago, in a room over the old Minto Bowling Alley on Eighth street east, a new method of teaching was introduced to Saskatchewan.
The idea - to teach people how to relate to others as well as help them deal with a host of problems including chronic unemployment, and drug and alcohol abuse.
The method - to set up group sessions and have the people in groups help each other cope with and solve the problems. The sessions were overseen by an instructor known as a lifeskills coach.
The method worked.
Today as many as 200 certified lifeskills coaches dot the Prairies helping people overcome their problems. This group took another step in the evolution of their profession this year as they formed their own association.
In an interview recently, two founding executive members of Saskatchewan Lifeskills Association say that it was formed so the profession can start regulating itself.
"It is the best way for us to stay ahead and keep improving," said Paul Curtiss of Prince Albert who was named the first president of the association.
Curtiss, who coordinates the drug and alcohol counsellor programs at the Woodland Campus of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, said the association has established a number of objectives:
Jack Mitchell of Regina, who was named secretary of the association, said the evolution process of the lifeskills profession varies from province to province in Canada.
He said, for example, that the lifeskills association in Ontario has been in existence for about ten years while the profession is in its infancy stages in Quebec. "Saskatchewan is sort of in the middle in terms of development," he said.
Mitchell added it is important for the profession to have a regulating body to ensure that guidelines are established to weed out unqualified instructors, counsellors or coaches.
"It establishes an element of credibility," he said.
Last month the association had one of its first membership meetings as 40 lifeskills instructors gathered in Prince Albert to discuss the new association.
Curtiss said it was gratifying to see that so many lifeskills professionals were interested in joining the association. "It proves to me that the need is there."
I heard from Maureen in Manitoba that there are 5 billets available for the national gathering, May 5 & 6, 1995 in Winnipeg. Could we offer these to folks from the farthest away who might want to join, but can't afford the hotel along with the flight? Anybody interested? Let me know. Hotel info. will be available later for those going.
The BC Society cannot stop growing, 25 of 32 of last year's members renewed and another 32 new memberships came their way. They now have two new chapters, one in the Okanagan and one on Vancouver Island. (Qu: Why do you need Life Skills in Lotus Land?)
Accreditation: The association has 12 well-experienced coaches (we call them veterans in Ontario) who have volunteered to be first interns. They will guide one another through the accreditation process. "No one is finished until everyone is finished" says Rod. Those that are finished will get to work helping others work on the competencies. Go for it! Other associations take note: BC is starting to compile a history of accreditation for them. How about some of you veterans of the process in Ontario getting on the band wagon while it is still relatively fresh in your minds?
DON'T FORGET: LSCABC AGM and Conference is set for April 28 - 30, 1995 in the north Okanagan. Drop a line to their new address at Box 40059, Royal City Post Outlet, New Westminster, BC V3M 6J7. Roy Oster is the pres. for this year.
From your editor: I'll be out your way for awhile starting July, 1995 and hope to at least get an honorary membership from you people. Well????
I was pleased to hear from Beverly Walters, the President of ASLSC, that Francine Wilson from Fort McMurray has stepped into the above position. Congrats. are in order. More good news, she'll join us at the national meeting in Winnipeg. Welcome Francine.
REQUESTING: Francine has recently sent me this important notice. Read! Reflect! Discuss! Learn!
The Alberta Society of Life Skills coaches has been working towards having Life Skills Coaching recognized as an identified profession in the province of Alberta.
A meeting was held with Dennis Gartner, Executive Director, Professions and Occupations, Department of Labor. The response to the society's request was favourable, largely as a result of the accreditation process presently being established in Alberta. Upon the completion and success of the application process, legislation will be enacted on the society's behalf giving exclusivity to the name Life Skills in Alberta.
Registration with the Licensing Department of Occupations and Professions will allow Life Skills to be recognized as a profession distinct and separate from all others. At this time accredited Life Skills Coaches may register individually with the office of Occupations and Professions and receive provincially recognized designation.
As well, the document, "New Directions", announced recently by Jack Day, Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development, recognized Life Skills training as the right of adult learners and is identified as a "Basic Education" program by the government of Alberta. As a result, greater funding for Life Skills training will be available hence the creation of a greater number of jobs in the field. This, along with the designation of Life Skills Coaches, will greatly ensure future employment.
I am very excited in bringing this news to you across the provinces. A job well done by the Executive of the Alberta Society of Life Skills Coaches!
The Alberta Society's address is 140 - 9426 - 111 Ave., Edmonton, Alta. T5G 0A4.
Some of our folks in Southeastern Ontario are working with ALSCO to set up a learning circle consisting of interns and mentors. Their intent is to work together so that interns and mentors share both the process of interning and the process of mentoring. It seems to me that there is a lot to be gained from this approach although it does not cancel out the one on one approach. Further information on this could be obtained from Sharon Cameron, 18 Revol Road, Nepean, Ont. K2G 0B9.
Sally Palmateer, Manager of Life Skills Training and Well-Being has informed us that they are in the process of writing Volume 7 in the Discovering Life Skills series for Life Skills Coaches. The new manual will be Life Skills for Employment and will contain lesson plans for job-related Life Skills. Scheduled to be ready for the summer of 1995.
For more info. on this, training courses and specialized workshops, call 416-487-7151 (Ext. 233) or write to Sally at the Y, 276 Merton St., Toronto, M4S 1A9.
I believe that all college teachers in Ont. have access to the Internet. When you send in your subscription for this year, do not forget to include your E-mail number. Great stuff!!! Editor's E-mail number: GEDDIS@EDU.UWO.CA
Shirley Allen has an opportunity to talk about Life Skills with a group of educators in the Philippines. They talked about the definition of the Dynamics of Life Skills Coaching Manual and discovered that "although our terms are different, we had much in common". And lastly, but most importantly, Shirley closes her report saying "As a National Conference on Life Skills comes closer to reality, dare we begin to dream of an International Conference?" Yes, we do Shirley, starting now!!!
The Conference of the Assoc. of Life Skills Coaches of Ont. will be held June 2 - 4, 1995 in North Bay, Ont. Three hour workshops will be offered and proposals are now being accepted. Submit to ALSCO, 1111 Davis Dr., Suite 12-138, Newmarket, Ont., L3Y 7V1. Transportation by bus from the airport may be offered. Keep in touch.
Jay Moore of the Ont. Assoc. has been involved with the Maritimes Assoc. as they wade through the meaning of accreditation and all its quirks and quarks. I reprint Jay's account of his experience because so many of you are at the beginning phases of putting accreditation in place. Enjoy!
It was a fine weekend for a workshop in Charlottetown, PEI. People in the Maritimes Assoc. of Life Skills Coaches (MALSC) invited me to come and tell them more about the accreditation process that Ont. has developed over the past eight years or so. I was happy for the adventure and the chance to talk about something that excites and please me like this work has done.
Fourteen people were there and among them was my old friend John Valentin. He and I go way back to the beginning of the accreditation process in Ont. when it was still just a twinkle in our eyes! I got everyone involved in some small group work, there were lots of questions and dialogue throughout the day, Larson cartoons on the overhead, lots of handouts and six or seven excerpts from a two hour video. It was a tape of my intern and me working together to show the folks the nature of the relationship between the intern and the mentor and the use of the portfolio. I am very glad Diane Murphy, my intern, was willing to let our working session be shared with others who could benefit from an up close view of the inner workings of this professional development and evaluative process. Taking those kinds of risks is part of what makes her and me grow. Thanks, Diane. You get to keep the video tape.
I am glad I was able to communicate the beliefs and values that many of us hold about this process. I wanted the people to get a grasp of some principles like "intern-driven process", "professional development of the mentor too", "room for differences in styles and needs", "inclusive, not exclusive", "evaluation based on observation of skills" (or "the proof of the pudding is in the eating"), and the "internal motivation of individuals" that keeps this process and the structure within the association moving forward.
Later that day, they held their annual general meeting and ratified the acceptance of an accreditation process for MALSC. The people are ready to commit themselves to this new avenue that will require a lot of work and will provide many rewards. I am excited for them and grateful for the opportunity to share a growth experience with some wonderful people. I hope we all hear of lots more good things happening in the Maritimes.
I did it!!! However, at a cost. During the process of learning this on WP 5.1, I actually frittered away $.54 of CALSCA funds. Nevertheless, your label has been made by yours truly. My thanks to Donna Hall of the Ont. Assoc. who stepped in to fill the gap while learning was in process. Give me a task, any task.
As we start to grow and bring coaches and associations into the Alliance, I am sure there will be moments of dissent and disagreement balanced by moments of well-being. We have started a long process of development. The people who are foremost in the Alliance today may not be around tomorrow, in two years or in five. The endurance and tolerance required of us has barely been felt or experienced. The Alliance is too young. As a coach, my commitment is to see the process through as long as I can, through thick and thin, even though that may mean some painful interchanges between members. It hasn't yet, but I'm prepared to stick with our vision. Our future looks exciting!
REMINDER: Our subscription year runs Jan. - Dec. as decided at our last meeting. Back issues will be sent!! !
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