Peacemaking Lessons from the War Room is the theme for this year’s 8th Annual Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals Conference. It will be held May 21 – 23 at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes.

If you have never been to an FACP Conference, you have missed the experience of your professional career. As I heard a speaker at the IACP Forum say, “at these conferences no one shakes hands, they hug!”

And this year’s conference looks to be extra special. The opening plenary will feature U.S. Army strategist LTC Katie Crombe and a “Conversation with a United States War Planner: Winning Strategies for Collaboration.” LTC Crombe will provide insight into how planning to avoid conflict, win wars, and conduct diplomacy and peacemaking holds lessons for the Collaborative Process.  

There will be a change in this year’s conference. On Saturday there will be a closing plenary luncheon titled “Better Brainstorming: Tools to Generate Ideas and Challenge Assumptions” led by Dr. Kim Macuare. In this interactive keynote address, Dr. Macuare and the audience will explore how are thinking, with a special focus on Dali’s works, processes and ideas, can help us ignite our own creative powers, especially our idea generating powers.

Sandwiched in between these two powerful keynote addresses will be one and a half days of workshops presented by extraordinary Collaborative professionals. Maybe attend Brian Galbraith’s session on making your peacemaking practice profitable or watch him “drop his pants” in another workshop. 

Most importantly, there will be workshops that will help fulfill your Credentialing requirements including a workshop on domestic violence and two workshops on ethics.

Don’t miss this great event! Register now at www.collaborativepracticeflorida.com.

I must begin by informing you that you have just become a victim of the old “bait and switch!”  Yes, the FACP Conference is coming in May. But my preview of conference will come next Monday. Today I want to talk about your commitment to the Collaborative Process.  It is time for everyone to step up to the plate and go all in. The Collaborative Process is life-changing and transformative to so many lives, including your own.

The Florida Academy of Collaborative Professional’s mission is to educate and inform the public and the professions about the Collaborative Process.  The annual conference provides unmatched educational opportunities to learn about the Process, how to sell the Process and how to be a successful Collaborative professional from some of the top Collaborative professionals from around the world.

The FACP and the Practice Groups in Florida provide low bono and pro bono services giving pro se litigants an opportunity to utilize the Collaborative Process.

And the FACP, through social media and public presentations and involvement, works to spread the word of the Collaborative Process to the public.

It is time for you to please step forward and help promote this great process. 

If you have been fortunate enough to have had success in the Collaborative Process (I define success as having had at least two or more cases!!) then it is time to consider a level of sponsorship of the 2020 FACP Annual Conference.   Consider being an FACP Patron for $1,000. And if you are totally in love with Collaborative (you have had more than 5 cases!!) it is time to consider being a Bronze ($1,500) or Silver ($2,500) sponsor.

If you are just falling in love with Collaborative (either on your first case or haven’t quite landed your first one) please consider being a “Friend of FACP” by donating the equivalent of one billable hour.

And to all our Allied friends and those of you just inclined to support the Collaborative movement or have an opportunity to share your goods or services please consider one of our many sponsorship levels or be an exhibitor.

To find out more go to www.collaborativepracticeflorida.com and click on the Conference button.

Many of us are asked to serve on Boards of Directors during our careers. Hopefully if you haven’t been asked to serve in the Collaborative Movement, you will volunteer to do so.

But what does it mean to serve on a Board? What are your responsibilities?

The Association of Fundraising Professionals offers the Six A’s to Board tenure. As a Board member I will:

1. Be an Ambassador – to help tell the story of our organization to my colleagues
2. Be an Advisor – and make effective decisions on policy and programs
3. Be an Advocate – to be a roaring enthusiast for the cause of the organization
4. Provide Access – help bring and influence others on behalf of the organization’s mission
5. Provide Affluence – give as much as I possibly can
6. Provide Assistance – volunteer for as many committees and activities as possible

Many Boards have attendance requirements. Many have financial requirements.

It is my honor to serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee for the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals.  Our committee will begin meeting soon to consider candidates for our Board of Directors. The Board meets monthly via Zoom on the second Tuesday at noon.  Board members must give or get $1,000 per year in donations.  

I have had the pleasure of serving on the FACP Board since its inception. The people you will work with around the state are the most friendly, mindful and genuine colleagues you could ever want. I encourage you to consider seeking one of the open Board positions. If interested, contact me ed@development.kitmedia.us.