Success Comes With Effort

IAACT held it's first annual 'faculty retreat' March 18-21 at the Caraway Conference Center (NC). Twenty-three faculty members participated in the retreat. Activities for the first day and a half were led & facilitated by Dr. Joseph Johnson of Fayetteville Satate University. Dr. Johnson challenged participants to take a look at themselves and rebuild group connections. As a result of his leadership, the group recrafted IAACT's Vision & Mission statements.

The last two days of the retreat were spent sharing what individual faculty and groups were doing with the PCT concepts we believe in. A 'Transition Team' was also created to work out details -for presentation to the full faculty- as a part of the reshaping of IAACT's operations. Watch for more information from the Transition Team.

Practicum Facilitator Training Process Changes

Barnes Boffey, Director for Professional Development, recently announced a significant change in the 'Practicum Facilitator' training process. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010 those wishing to become IAACT Practicum Facilitators will complete competencies outlined in "Competencies for the Unified ACT I & ACT II Practicum Facilitator". Information about the unified competencies can be obtained by contacting Barnes at barnes_boffey@alohafoundation.org.

Faculty Retreat Update

The call has been made by President Glenn Smith for IAACT faculty attending the March 19-21 retreat to submit their conference deposits. All payments (deposit - $125 for residential atendees; $45 for commuters or full - $250 & $90) should be directed to:
IAACT, c/o Fred Good PO Box 1046, Carrboro, NC 27510 as soon as possible.

We are excited to announce that Dr. Joseph Johnson has agreed to serve as retreat facilitator. Check out his web page at http://faculty.uncfsu.edu/jjohnson/ . Attendees are in for a treat in meeting and working with Dr. Johnson.

The conference agenda is being finalized with major emphasis on reconnecting, 'mapping IAACT's future' and 'sharing what works best'. Make plans to join us March 19-21 to strengthen bonds & grow IAACT. If you are still interested in attending the retreat and have yet to make that commitment, do so today. Your time will be well spent.

The Jigsaw Puzzle & ACT Training

I have a fascination with jigsaw puzzles and am currently engrossed in reconstructing a 1000+ piece puzzle - a very neat but busy montage of the 1960s. It occurred to me as I search for matching pieces that there is a direct connection to this task and Control Theory training & seminars.

Working off a card table, I have limited space for the puzzle and it's component scattered pieces. I am using the bottom of the box and box top to hold the unconnected pieces. Initially, I chose to put the puzzle together by taking a mental picture of the finished product and working from there. Currently there are probably 20 small pictures from the "big picture" that are being assembled inside the frame of the puzzle. Progress is slow - has anyone seen the two border pieces I am missing?

Herein lies the connection - I'm using the boxtop to hold unconnected pieces. I have been working on the puzzle off-and-on for three weeks and my mental picture is now somewhat fuzzy. I can't see the finished product unless I hold the boxtop over my head & stare. My personal challenge initially was to do the puzzle from memory - a conscious choice. It is now time to regroup and "refresh my memory"; I need to have a clear vision of my goal.

So it is with Control Theory learning & training sessions. There are several opportunities this summer and fall to participate in 'Intensive Seminars'. What a wonderful chance to reconnect and get a look at the overall picture of PCT and its applications in our life. Only when we revisit and see how seperate components (Overall Direction, Levels of Perception, the Loop, the Circle of Strength and MOL) fit into the 'big picture', can we again be refocused inspired to continue 'piecing it all together. By participating in these training sessions both we and those we work with benefit. We can refresh our memory of how everything fits together and those we live and work with are able to see and learn from our improved understanding. Sessions are being held across North Carolina in the next few months (and possibly in other areas working with IAACT or Life Connections). Plan to be a part of one of these events if you are new to 'Control Theory' or already familiar with the ACT experience. Contact New View or Life Connections for more information.