ICF in Long Beach, 2007

WOW!  
I have to say that once again, the ICF conference was amazing!  It was my 2nd ICF conference, and like the first, was an inspirational experience.  The keynote speakers (Julio Olalla, Zainab Salbi and Kjell Nordstrom), all had individual messages that were insightful, entertaining and powerful.  It was also delightful to meet up with so many teen and young adult coaches face-to-face and make some new connections.  Coaching teens and young adults is a much needed area that is lacking in coaches.  If you are a coach working with teens, please consider checking into the ICF’s adolescent/teen SIG (special interest group) calls that generally take place the first Monday of the month.  Randy Nathan is the SIG leader, and can be reached at: coachrandy@ypcoach.com.  Randy is also providing facilitator training for his LEAP curriculum, which is a coaching curriculum for teens and young adults.   Check it out!    

 Also, since I’m talking about teen coaches, and hoping that some of you reading this are also coaches I’d like to talk about Life’s Headwaters.  Life’s Headwaters is a non-profit coaching organization in Minneapolis whose mission includes providing coaching for teens and adults who couldn’t otherwise afford coaching.  I’m writing this for two reasons.  The first is that they are looking for more coaches.  All of the coaches are volunteers who have graduated from an ICF accredited coaching organization and have experience in coaching.  The second reason I am mentioning it here is so that if YOU are looking to experience coaching, yet don’t believe you can afford it; Life’s Headwaters is for you!  Check them out at: www.lifesheadwaters.org.       

While in Long Beach I was DELIGHTED to receive the news that my article on coaching girls will be published in choice magazine in the December’s edition of Coaching Youth.  This magazine is a great resource for coaches at a very affordable price.  I keep back issues nearby, as I often find myself going back to re-read some of the articles or information. If you’re interested, check it out at: www.choice-online.org.     

Prior to leaving Long Beach area, I went online and immediately signed up to participate and sponsor a woman in Zainab Salbi’s organization: Women For Women International.  I challenge each and every one of you to go online and look into the website: www.womenforwomen.org  and sign up.  If you actually take the time to listen to or watch some of the videos, and read the information; you’ll be motivated to respond quickly.  Men can donate yet they want women to do more than give money.  They are asking women for a 1 year commitment to not just donate $27.00 a month for the woman (“sister”) you are matched with; they want you to write and exchange letters with her.  The belief is that a part of the healing comes from sharing their stories.  You will be impacted by hearing a woman’s story and she will also get to know you through your stories.  Healing through letter writing! There is much more to this organization and the impact they have for women around the world from war torn countries, please look at the website for more details.  I will write more about the woman/sister I’ve been matched with as I receive the information. For more information about the speakers and the ICF conference, go to the ICF website at: www.coachfederation.org        

Happy November!    :-)    
 Sandi
ps. Please bear with me as I attempt to figure out the formatting in this blog; it’s changed since downloading a new operating system.