Seasons greetings from the OSR Alumni Assocation

Greetings OSR Alumni, Students and Faculty,

We hope this holiday season finds the OSR community well and warm!  It is 21 degrees right now.  As we head into 2009, the OSR AA board plans to use the Grapevine to provide periodic news to highlight the work of Alumni volunteers on behalf of the OSR AA mission:

We are a community of OSR graduates committed to life-long learning, service, leadership, and the legacy of OSR. In this mission, the Alumni Association seeks to serve the community of OSR graduates, current and future students and friends of the programs.

Alumni, students and faculty are invited to contact any OSR AA board member to learn how they can become actively involved by clicking here.

OSR 12 classmates meet in Kiev, Ukraine

Julie Baker and Linda Knudsen McAusland both happened to be in Kiev, Ukraine last month for different reasons. Linda, a current volunteer with the Peace Corp in L'viv, Ukraine, will share news of her experience in Ukraine in an upcoming newsletter. Julie was visiting as part of her role at PATH, a nonprofit global public health organization. PATH has an office in Kiev where the staff work with the government and local partners to improve health of people throughout Ukraine and in neighboring countries, focusing on health issues and risks such as tuberculosis and avian influenza preparedness.

Steve Byers (OSR 13) reflects on 2008 Pegasus Conference held in Boston

Each year I approach the Pegasus Systems Thinking in Action conference with huge anticipation and enthusiasm – I have very high expectations, every year.  I go to this conference to learn at multiple levels.  I go… for the tangible feeling of community and belonging…to make new relationships…looking for a stretch and the unexpected…to hone skills…to watch others do the work they love…to make a contribution to a community. 

Dick Wilkinson (OSR 8) reviews a remarkable book on collaborative design

Stefen Sagmeister's, Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far has edged out Gordon MacKenzie's, Orbiting the Giant Hairball as my favorite book in whole systems design.  Both books are remarkable celebrations of the imagination.  Both are bold; both are inspirations.  Yet as a visual, intellectual and aesthetic demonstration at the intersection of collaboration, storytelling, design and art, Stefan wins by a nose.

Join faculty member Kellee Franklin for reflective practices

The December reflective practices session will provide an opportunity for participants to map the key activities/events that transpired in their lives over the past year, identify the learning that occurred, and visualize the desired characteristics of the coming year. The discussion will center around how reflecting on activities/events can help us move forward to a new beginning with improved focus, enhanced insight, and increased compassion -- and, how these skills can be easily transferred to organizational life.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 6-8 pm in Chardin Hall, Room 143, Seattle University
Learn more

Out in Front launches pilot training program for LGBT leaders

Out in Front, an organization committed to the development of effective, engaged and passionate leaders in order to build a thriving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Tansgender community will launch a pilot training program in late February 2009. They are looking for 12–15 participants to engage in this training for both emerging leaders and existing organizations.

To participate email Lonnie Lusardo at The Diversity Collaborative.  |  Learn more  |  email Out in Front