Transition Training: Are you a Servant Leader Type?

Servant leadership is a philosophy and practice of leadership, coined and defined by Robert K. Greenleaf and supported by many leadership and management writers such as Stephen Covey. It can be defined as a management philosophy which implies a comprehensive view of the quality of people, work and community spirit. It requires a spiritual understanding of identity, mission, vision and environment. A servant leader is someone who is servant first, who has a responsibility to be in the world, and so contributes to the well-being of people and community.

Does this sound like the type of people who you would like to have as your friends? Does it sound like the type of person who would be an active participant in the Transition movement? Does it sound like you?

Transition leaders freely admit that they do not know if the transition approach will work or not. However, they do know that:

·         If we wait for the governments, it'll be too little, too late;

·         If we act as individuals, it'll be too little;

·         But if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time.

This takes people who are actively engaged in transition within a community. People who are learning by doing - and learning all the time. People who understand that we can't sit back and wait for someone else to do the work. It also takes a certain amount of leadership simply so that we don’t create a morass of chaotic activity that does not take us to our intended goals.

Now you have the opportunity to become one of these people – a servant leader – who can make a significant contribution to the Transition movement in your community. Transition Training is taking place in Charlottesville, Virginia from Feb 10 (7 PM, Friday) to Feb 12 (5 PM, Sunday). For  more about this training, go to the Transition Training web site:

http://transitionus.org/event/training-transition-charlottesville-va

For overnight accommodations, the Alexander House, just a mile away from the training, is offering a discount to training attendees (434-327-6447). When you decide to attend, contact Robyn Cornwell (828-758-0880) to coordinate ride-sharing.

Transition Hickory Steering Committee News

Transition Hickory welcomes Sonja Edwards to the steering Committee. She’ll be helping to develop and implement a publicity strategy. If any of you have skills along those lines and would like to contribute to that effort please let us know and we’ll put you in touch with her.

We also welcome Robyn Cornwell, Robyn’s background is in fostering a sustainable built environment. Her area of focus for the steering committee is yet to be determined.

Energy Film and an Open Space Meeting

On Saturday 28th January Foothills Transition will host an innovative Open Space event designed to facilitate creative local action to address the challenges of energy supply, cost, and use in the future.

This event will follow the Footcandle screening of the movie ‘Gasland’ at the Carolina Theater on Thursday which examines the negative effects of natural gas drilling.  We have entered a period of ever-declining oil and gas supplies over the long term along with increasing prices.  How does this impact us?  Can we transform how we heat and cool our homes, how we transport ourselves, and the products we use every day?  Can we relocalize our food supply to make it less dependent upon fossil fuels?  All this takes planning.  How will we plan for a future beyond the age of cheap energy?

Open Space is an extraordinary and powerful tool that is used successfully around the world to build solutions to seemingly intractable problems.  The evening will be divided into two sessions, starting at 7pm with a brief introduction to Transition and 7.20pm to begin the discussion rotation.  Everyone is welcome to participate in this unique event, so come along and be part of the solution.

The Open Space Event on Energy will take place on Saturday, January 28th from 7-9.30pm, at the Riverbend Clubhouse

Transition Training Sautee GA

There is an article posted on the Transition US website about the Transition training Jacqui and I attended in Sautee GA. No pictures of us but Annie made the cut! Check it out:

http://www.transitionus.org/stories/training-transition-sautee-georgia

Something new- Transition Congregations

Transforming Our Communities to Meet the Future First National Training and Workshop

January 21, 2012, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

United Church of Chapel Hill

In the coming years, peak oil and climate change will challenge our communities to adapt to new energy choices, new ways of making decisions, and new relationships of support. The popular and mostly secular Transition Town movement promotes building resilience with local food, transportation, and systems of communication. In the midst of planning for a just and abundant future, can our local congregations also prepare for change and provide leadership and inspiration? What are the gifts we have to offer to our communities, and do we invite all our neighbors to become members of The Beloved Community?

Tina Clarke, an experienced Transition Town trainer from New England, and Rev. Jim Deming, UCC Minister for Environmental Justice, will combine their experience and skills to bring an all-day workshop to faith leaders, lay and clergy, in North Carolina to help form Transition Congregations. They will present the ideas, processes, and opportunities to transform the internal and external ministries of congregations to become ready to embrace an uncertain future.

Space is limited so register early.  Go to the events section on our homepage for more details and directions.

Transition in Lenoir

Transition in Lenoir by Laurie Elian

After hearing Robb and Jacqui’s presentation on Transition, three Lenoir residents are forming a steering committee for their community.  “I’m so excited about Transition!” says Laurie.  “John and I have been talking a lot about the future.  We agreed that things couldn’t continue the way they are; now we have a common vision for where to go from here in a practical, everyday way.  Transition gives us hope.”

John, who has always preferred gardens over lawns, is interested in connecting with other people who want to be involved in Transition. 

“Our success will require people with a variety of skills to work together,” he says.  John is a chef, a carpenter, and a fisherman, among other talents.   

Laurie is a Nutritionist and enjoys cooking, hiking, hula hooping, and drumming.  Both John and Laurie regularly spend time in nature to experience it’s beauty as well as its healing power. 

Sonja trained at Earthaven near Black Mountain and has a Certificate in Permaculture.  She has had a long-standing interest in the environment and is looking forward to working with like-minded people toward a brighter future. 

 

Interested Lenoir-area residents may contact John at 828.726.7926, Laurie at 828.726.7925, or Sonja at sonjaed@bellsouth.net