Weaving patterns and creating connections are part of the ongoing role of every staff, program and organizational developer. You are invited to be a part of this year’s NCSPOD Annual International Conference, the third joint conference we’ve shared with colleagues from the POD Network for Higher Education. Together, we will explore the theme of Weaving Patterns of Practice as we gather in Reno/ Sparks/ Tahoe, Nevada, October 22-25, 2008.
Northern Nevada's diverse landscape, from the Great Basin Desert to the Sierra Nevada peaks, has inspired the area's native artisans for centuries. This inspiration has been transformed into arts and crafts in which individual strands are woven together to create greater strength, utility and beauty. Yet the colors and textures of individual strands remain visible. The materials and designs are infinite, and the creative possibilities are endless.
This year’s conference represents the weaving together of two organizations, NCSPOD and POD. On a practical level, our separate practices will be united into one event, where we join in achieving common goals, and yet maintain our unique identities by hosting receptions and sessions from each of our traditions. Working together gives us the opportunity to rethink and explain our practices. A practical example of this rethinking is the way in which we organize our concurrent session topics. Another is the schedule of conference activities that incorporates new elements for each organization.
This coming together also represents something larger: an exploration of the ways in which various kinds of institutions can collaborate to offer high quality post-secondary education. The following questions are provided to help you begin to reflect on our conference theme.
The North American Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development is an affiliate council of the American Association of Community.
