connectingpoint
April
2007 The Monthly E-Newsnote for
Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal
…inspiring people to
discover creativity, passion, and renewed commitment in life and at work
“I cannot
say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must
change if they are to get better.” – Georg C. Lichtenberg
In order to spring forward, sometimes
we have to let go of what we’ve been holding onto. Read on for the things and people Centerpoint
has to say goodbye to in order to make room for our new growth. What in your
life do you need to release so there can be more space for new things to take
root?
In
this issue
Click
on the following links in order to jump ahead
From our new Managing Director
The one thing we can always count on in life… change!
In last month’s e-newsnote I mentioned that we were
waiting to hear about whether Centerpoint was going to win a BreakThrough Award
through Civic Ventures. While we
were a finalist, I’m sorry to say, we didn’t get it. L The feedback they gave
us was that our program was more holistic and gave people opportunities to
choose their own unique path in whatever best fit them. They decided to go with
a more conventional, employer program that funnels people over 50 into paying
jobs in the non-profit world. Oh well. We’re still ahead of our time! And,
we’ll continue to be linked with Civic Ventures through the Next Chapter of Puget Sound work that
Centerpoint’s involved in.
As you read on, you’ll learn about some really big
changes that are occurring at Centerpoint. We are so pleased to welcome Steve
Bullock to our staff as our new Managing Director. Steve brings a wealth of
experience to us and he’s jumped right in to help Centerpoint take its next
growth step. Steve’s in the office every
day except Thursday; please stop by or call him to introduce yourself and say
hi!
Another big change is that Megan is leaving us. In her time here she’s been able to connect
with her heart-felt passion. As you read her note below, you can easily hear the
commitment to her new vision. We’re so thrilled for her and so sad at the same
time. We’ll miss her greatly but wish her well in her new direction. You’ll
still see her around Centerpoint this summer; she’s going to be organizing our
June Career Forum Working with Animals! A perfect fit!
Megan’s replacement is just about hired; we’re in
the final stages of firming that up. You will also love our new front office
manager… we’re very excited about the prospect of having this person on board.
You’ll be introduced to and hear from our new front office manager in the next
e-newsnote.
An additional small change… due to the increasing
costs of doing business, we had to increase tuition by a slight amount (10%)
beginning this May. You won’t notice much difference overall but it makes a
huge impact for Centerpoint. We last upped fees three years ago. As always we
offer payment plans and a sliding scale for individual career counseling to
make our extremely affordable fees even more accessible to whoever needs our
services.
Last month I promised you an update on the bigger
impact that Centerpoint’s poised to make.
Here’s the first installment and the framework for what we’re trying to
accomplish:
No one ever teaches us
how to navigate change. As a matter of fact, we’re not even aware that our
lives will inevitably change in major ways until we find ourselves face-to-face
with a career, relationship, family, or personal crisis; we’re often
disorientated when confronted by the shifts that inevitably occur in our
communities, places of business, as well as on the national and international
political scenes. Eventually, if we are hit hard enough and often enough along
the way, we will understand that there is only one thing in life that we can
count on… change!
Centerpoint’s vision is
to inspire people to discover creativity, passion, and renewed commitment in
life and at work. While having its roots
in the career counseling field, Centerpoint has developed an approach that is
applicable to every part of life. While
it currently serves the
See, I told you it was big! Next month I’ll give
you a sense of the details and the “how”… how we think we can get there. Until
then, enjoy spring. I hope you can stop by the campus soon. The cherry trees
are dropping their pink petals everywhere… it’s magical!
Warmest
regards,
Carol Vecchio
co-Founder and Executive Director
Hello
to all. Little did I know that my introduction to Centerpoint late last year
would blossom into such a wonderful opportunity to serve as its new Managing
Director. I am so proud and excited to be a member of Centerpoint’s team of
professionals that I can hardly wait for Mondays again!
I’ll
be involved in all aspects of Centerpoint with special focus on sales,
marketing and daily operations. You see, my 33 years with Westin Hotels and
Resorts as a Managing Director/General Manger prepared me well to be of service
to Centerpoint and the community it serves. As I begin my second career, it’s
with the knowledge that Centerpoint is a mirror of my personal goals and
values. The opportunity to do really, really meaningful work for people intent
on renewing their lives and careers promises to be a very gratifying
experience.
There’s
an old Japanese proverb that we’ve got hanging on our walls in the office:
“None of us is as smart as all of us.” So I hope you will accept my invitation
from time to time to participate in focus groups, committees and project work.
Your generosity and support in the past has been pivotal to Centerpoint’s
success; it is vital to ensuring our future growth. And a special appeal
please: if you know someone and/or a company that would benefit from
Centerpoint’s services, please call or email me. It’s as easy as that. We’ll do
the rest.
On
a personal note, my wife Beth and I have lived in locations from
All
the best,
Steve
Bullock
Managing Director
It’s
spring, so that’s the time to spring on forward right? Well, now that I’m
“springing forward” I feel a little down as I release. Typically that’s how it
works I guess, as you move forward you have to let things go. The month of
March almost ate me alive, but I refused to let it spit me out. I started a veterinary technician program, I
got a new dog (Lita), I began working less at Centerpoint and loads of other
personal stuff seemed to be happening as well – they always seem to have
perfect timing! The further the month carried on the more I began to realize
that I would have to be moving forward
with my life - not hanging on for
dear life in hopes that it would all just fit. I racked my brain, tried a
couple different things but they didn’t seem to work, it all felt so forced. At
least we tried though huh? I like to think so, I like to think I stayed with it
as long as my sanity would allow J
Unfortunately
my position at Centerpoint and my new life vision don’t quite coincide. That is
why I am leaving the role of front office manager in order to focus on my long
term life goal – working with animals. Well, not just working with them but caring for them, giving
them love and comfort, fixing them when possible, being there for them when
they pass, I guess you could say I’ll be working for them. I will be leaving mid May, I’m sad to go but also excited
that I can focus on my studies. You see I need just a job to pay my bills and get me by, at Centerpoint you won’t
find just a job. All of the jobs here
are so important; they take time, energy, heart and a lot of focus. I realized
that I wasn’t able to provide that for Centerpoint and the community and you
all deserve much better than that! So – in order to be fair to myself,
Centerpoint and everyone else I am leaving the position. Thank you all so much
for the experience and the memories! I have learned so much here – especially
about myself.
Megan Murphy
Front Office Manager
Uncover what gives your life meaning and
purpose. Create a clear, compelling
vision for your next chapter. Upcoming classes: Tuesdays beginning April 24th
with Cody Strauss or Thursdays beginning May 3rd with Catherine
Follett or Tuesdays, starting May 15th with Trudy McKnight, all from
6:30pm-9pm. Please call 206.686.5433 or email
us to register.
LifeWork
Renewal
If you or someone you know is in need of gaining a fresh new perspective
on the changes you have been experiencing in your life and work then this just
might be the right fit! Upcoming
classes: the condensed session on Monday April 30th from 6:15-9:15pm
with Vickie Chaffin or all-day session Saturday May 12th from 9:30am to 4:30pm with Trudy McKnight (condensed
session includes Associate Membership). Please call 206.686.5433 or email
us to register.
Thinking
of Becoming Your Own Boss
Professional
Sabbatical: You Can Take One!
Are you feeling the need to step back from the
hectic pace of work and take a little time to renew and regenerate your life?
Maybe what you need is a sabbatical. The dictionary defines “sabbatical” as
“any extended period of leave from one’s customary work, especially for rest or
to acquire new skills or training.” Join Kari Knudson at
Brand New! Carpe Diem, Carpe…Passion!
In this
intensive weekend format, seize this opportunity to define and better
understand your passions and talents. This workshop is designed to immerse you
in what you love, what you want more of, and what you need to live your
passion. Please call
206.686.5433 or email
us to register.
Save the Date! Marc Freedman Speaking in
Marc
is the author of Prime Time: How Baby
Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America and is coming
out with a new book: Encore Careers:
Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life. He tells the stories
of encore career pioneers who are not content, or affluent enough, to spend
their next thirty years on a golf course. Each is focusing on what
matters most, crafting a new phase of work that offers not only continued
income but the promise of more meaning—and the chance to do work that means
something beyond themselves. In conjunction with CityClub, Next Chapter of Puget Sound (of which
Centerpoint is a founding member) is hosting a lunch meeting with Marc on
Tuesday, June 26 from noon to 1:30 pm at the Women’s University Club. Stay
tuned for more info and how to register!
If you are interested in a class but have
scheduling conflicts, Centerpoint keeps track of requests for date and time
changes or additions. Individual
sessions are also available. Please contact
us for more information.
Centerpoint’s 15th Birthday Bash
For those of you who
couldn’t make it you sure missed out! This event was a lot of fun, the
entertainment was fabulous and so was the food. We had a cake from Costco -
mmm, yummy! All in all it went really well, it was great to see everyone who
was able to come and celebrate! Thanks to all of those who were involved; the
volunteers, those who donated supplies and money for food and also those who
helped set up – it couldn’t have been possible without you. An especially big
thanks to all of the wonderful entertainers, Clave de Sol,
Passion for Writing Career Forum
What
a success! We had not only a great panel but also a great audience. Also, a big
thank you to the volunteers involved the night of the event and especially in
putting together all of the pieces beforehand in order for the night to work
out as well as it did. There will be a
DVD coming soon, available for watching in or checking out from our LifeWork
Library. Also, just a reminder that all of our forums in the past are available
for check out and viewing as well!
·
There
are so many fabulous changes going on in our LifeWork Library! Our wireless is now
up and running (so cool), high-speed internet on our computers, tons of great
books available for check out, all of our career forums on either DVD or VHS
which can also be viewed right here.
·
If
you know someone in transition please invite them to our free orientation which
is located in the LifeWork Library. It is held every 1st and 3rd
Wednesday of the month at 12pm and every 2nd and 4th
Wednesday of the month at 5pm, no need to register, just come on by! For more
information on orientations click here.
·
Our
new catalogs are here! If you want to help distribute to
·
How
are you doing with life and career transitions?
Are you looking for support, accountability, inspiration, structure,
momentum….all of the above? Ongoing support can be a link to refining and
achieving our goals.
Centerpoint Support Circles are small groups of
people meeting regularly to support each other with career and life changes,
share resources and create a mutual structure for giving continued attention to
their individual growth processes. One
of the keys to success is to surround oneself with people who offer help,
support and encouragement – call it creative co-operation.
We have a couple of volunteers working on our
As a non-profit organization, Centerpoint strives
to serve the community in every way possible. We need your help to do that.
Following is a list of items that Centerpoint will need to help us move forward
technologically and in our services. We would love it if you could donate an
actual item, but of course we’d also accept a cash donation to cover the costs!
Besides the tax deduction, you or your organization can be publicly recognized on
the Centerpoint website for your contribution.
Digital Audio Recorder (1)
Digital Camcorder with Internal Hard Disk Drive (1)
Adobe Creative
Upgrade to FileMaker Pro 8.5 (1)
FileMaker Pro 8.5 (2 @ $299)
Centerpoint Institute for Life and
Career Renewal
4000 NE 41st Street
Building D, Suite 2
Seattle, Washington 98105-5428
tel/fax: 206.686.LIFE (5433)
www.centerpointonline.org
...inspiring
people to discover creativity, passion, and renewed commitment in life and at
work
Office Hours: Monday –
Thursday 12:30 to 7:30pm, Friday 12:30 to 5pm; Check the website for the Saturdays
we’re open!
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Copyright ©2007 Centerpoint Institute. All Rights Reserved.