Sometimes it comes down to.......

Communication.

Have you ever been at a meeting with a group of people and a few days later someone asks about something that was discussed and you remember it so differently from what your colleague just repeated you wonder if you were at the same meeting? You wonder if you were daydreaming or not paying attention or if you're just plain loosing it.

I'm sure you have other examples of situations where communication with your peers, staff and even your family just falls apart and you wonder what in the heck just happened. Communication can be so surprisingly hard.

So, what can we do? Yes, being aware of it helps. Is there more we can do? You betcha.

I've found some interesting insights with a group that call themselves Crucial Skills (www.vitalsmarts.com). They've given a lot of thought to the conversations that we have and particularly when they go wrong.

Have a look. Let me know what you think.

CAl Conference

The 2007 CAL Conference is bound to be a RadiCAL success.

17 days and counting…In addition to an excellent pre- and full-conference line up, attendees can bid on themed baskets created and donated by CAL committees. Raffle proceeds will support future conference workshops.

The 2007 Colorado Association of Libraries annual conference will be held Nov. 8-10 at the Holiday Inn DIA, John Q. Hammons Convention Center.
For more information about the conference, or to register go to http://www.cal-webs.org/conference.html.

British Library Annual Report

The British Library has prepared an online version of their annual report that is really worth a look.
http://www.bl.uk/about/annual/2006to2007/index.html

See You at CAL

The 2007 Colorado Association of Libraries annual conference will be held Nov. 8-10 at the Holiday Inn DIA, John Q. Hammons Convention Center. Reservations for lodging at the Holiday Inn can be made anytime before October 9 by calling 303-371-9494; ask for reservations and reserve using group code: LIB

MADCAL will meet on Friday at 11am, room TBA. Please bring your ideas for activities for the coming year.
See you there!

Looking for a Chair-Elect

Have you thought about getting involved in CAL? How about MADCAL? Penny Shiel from Garfield County Libraries is our Chair-elect for 2008 and she's looking for someone to step up and be her co-chair. How about you? Send me an email at bbrattin@telluridelibrary.org. We'd love to work with you!

MADCAL UPDATE

So, our preconference proposal was turned down by the CAL programs committee. They liked it, but they were concerned about costs. So, we're sponsoring a CAL Southwest workshop at Fort Lewis College in Durango on August 24th 9am-noon on Best Hiring Practices. Valerie Horton from CLiC has graciously offered to present this successful program. Hope you can join us!

Posting and Commenting to the Blog

Anyone may post to this blog! Just email me your name, library affiliation, and email address and I will set you up to post. And if you want to comment, go for it! No permission needed. Your comments come to my email and unless you are some spamming nasty person with an evil message, I will publish your comment ASAP.
Thanks for your participation!

MADCAL Preconference Proposal

Here's the program I've just submitted as a CAL preconference proposal. Sounds interesting. Keep your fingers crossed.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Leaders who tap their Emotional Intelligence, are more successful in gaining buy in, building trust, motivating employees, sustaining resiliency, making clear decisions, articulating vision and raising their 'Believability Index'.

In this engaging, information-rich and highly-interactive workshop we will:

Ø Create a working definition of Emotional Intelligence
Ø Tie EQ benefits to the three factors for maintaining competitive advantage
Ø Examine a business case scenario to the benefits of EQ on
leadership and workplace success
Ø Rate your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient) through inventory relating to
building trusting relationships, increasing energy and effectiveness under pressure and creating the future
Ø Learn to apply strategies to enhance your leadership
Ø Create an EQ Advancement Plan which employs a method to accelerate learning, shape behavior,
build on strengths and manage vulnerabilities
Ø Interact with peer groups to discuss the application of EQ to leadership effectiveness

· Fee includes a 3 part EQ-Learning Pack: Scoring Grid, Assessment Questionnaire and a 26 page Interpretative Guide designed for your continual learning --yours to keep.

Join Lauren for an engaging and enlightening adventure in learning.
Lauren Burnett has over 30 years experience as a trainer and speaker to diverse audiences throughout the United States with a focus on libraries. She holds a certification as facilitator for EQ Assessment and Change Model for eight years and is a certified Business Coach and certified Pre-Cognitive Re-Educator.

A sampling of satisfied customers include: Ohio Library Council, PaLa Conference, State of Michigan, Toledo Library System, Lorain Public Library, SERLS, NERLS, MOLO Regional Library Systems and Cincinnati Library Consortium as well as National League of Cities, Cleveland Clinic, National Association of Principles, National Vocational Education Directors and National Association of Health Care Executives.
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CAL Programs Committee needs volunteers

Interested in selecting the programs to be presented at the 2007 CAL conference?
Are you a CAL member interested in serving on the subcommittee to select the workshop programs to be presented at the 2007 CAL conference? To be eligible, meet these requirements:
*be a current CAL member
*be able to access program proposals online May 22 *read and rate proposals between May 22 and June 1 *attend all-day meeting on Saturday, June 2 (in the Denver area) with the other subcommittee members to make the final selections
The Conference Co-Chairs will make committee selections based on the information provided in your application and will staff the committee to provide fair representation to CAL constituencies
Apply now at http://www.cal-webs.org/conference.html
Thank you!
Kathleen Noland
Colorado Association of Libraries

CAL Conference Presentations

CAL Conference 2007: Get RadiCAL - Presenters Wanted!
It's time to start thinking about presenting at CAL this year! You have a vision, a passion, an area of expertise, or an area of interest in which you want to become an expert. We want YOU to share that with the rest of the library community.
Preparing for and presenting workshops are great ways to improve your own understanding of a subject so you can teach it to others. Workshops also provide opportunities to practice your public speaking skills, expand your professional network, and fine tune your use of PowerPoint animation!
We are currently accepting proposals for workshops and pre-conference workshops about any and all topics. For information and guidelines, visit the CAL Web site: http://www.cal-webs.org/conference.html
The conference dates are November 8-10, 2007, at the Holiday Inn DIA/Hammons Convention Center. The Conference Committee has a new, improved floorplan in place, which will improve workshop conditions this year.
Please submit your proposal on the conference Web site by May 20. (Only proposals submitted through the Web page can be considered.) Preconference presentations are half-or full-day workshops on Thursday, November 8. Conference programs/workshops are 50-minute sessions on Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10.
Don't keep your enthusiasm and know-how to yourself -- submit a CAL presentation proposal today!
Erica MacCreaigh, Coordinator of Outreach Services Arapahoe Library District, Koelbel Library
5955 South Holly Street
Centennial, Colorado 80121
303-220-7704, ext. 288
emaccreaigh@ald.lib.co.us