Janet Cohen Consulting, LLC

Archive for the ‘Galveston Island’ Category

I’ve been thinking about becoming unplugged since last Friday night, while we were at a Family Retreat at Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, Texas.

The camp director challenged us to turn off our cell phones and electronic devices as part of a 24-hour event called the National Day of Unplugging, sponsored by the Foundation for Jewish Camp and One Happy Camper. At first, an expression of shock appeared on the sea of adult faces throughout the dining hall. As Loui held his phone high in the air and turned it off, I joined most of the adults who followed his lead. “It’s only 24 hours,” I convinced myself in order to participate.

The gifts that came from that simple act were amazing. I thought of many friends who observe their Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday and refuse to work that day.

I thought of how dependent we become on our electronics, and I vowed not to turn on my phone.

Joy Climbing Alpine Tower

During that retreat, I treated myself to the freedom of spending quality time with my family and with myself. I engaged in lively conversations with people from Texas and Oklahoma, and participated in workshops that challenged both my mind and my spirit. I didn’t miss my phone, my apps, or my email. On Sunday, I continued the tradition.

I watched my daughter with pride as she played daredevil on the zip line and climbed to the top of the Alpine Tower. She has enough courage for both of us, and I’m amazed at her enjoyment of those activities. Mostly, I was proud that she invited me to join her. I might not have noticed that if I was distracted by my business. And I’m proud of myself for prioritizing my family without interruption last weekend.

So what are your priorities? And what do you need to unplug? I want to hear from you. Please post a comment.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Hurricane Ike recovery these days. On the two year anniversary since the storm, I wonder how people are doing, really.

There are some responses like, “We’re glad to be back, but we’re still innundated with stuff to do.” And others say they’re still reeling from some of the bureaucracy. Still, others talk about how difficult times are, how they’ve accrued what seems like endless debt, and how business has not been the same since the storm (unless they own a series of large hotels or restaurant chains along the Seawall).

I wonder how the average person is doing, two years later. Are you still having flashbacks of stuff on your lawn? 

How has Ike enriched (yes, enriched) your life?  For example, I now know that I can live with a lot less stuff than I had before Ike. I call that an enriching experience.

How are you still dealing with the after-effects? Are you working as much? Are you still unpacking? Do you still have nightmares? Are you closer with your neighbors if you’ve moved back to the island? Are you living on the mainland now, or farther?  How has your professional life changed?  How have your children changed?

And if you weren’t personally affected, how was your life touched by Ike?  Do you even remember it, or does Hurricane Katrina still stand out for you as the worst one?

If you had one piece of advice for people who need to evacuate before a storm, what would it be?

Share your story. I, for one, want to know.

We are pleased to announce our continued partnership with the Wellness Program at Family Service Center of Galveston County to present the Power of Self Esteem Course to employees of Galveston County nonprofit and government-funded institutions.  Our offering this summer was a huge success!  Want more inforrmation? Click to see a detailed course brochure.

Details

Registration Deadline & Contact

Friday, September 3, 2010

Contact Caitlin Kurz @ (409) 370-3652 or ckurz@fscgalv.org

Course Dates & Times

September 10, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,

September 11, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. &

September 25, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location

2200 Market Street, Room 608, Galveston, TX  77550 – map 

Just returned from a writing and meditation retreat/workshop with Natalie Goldberg and Wendy Johnson at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY.

It’s been a dream of mine to finally meet and study with Natalie, after reading everything she’s published and listening to all of her audio recordings. This workshop was a delightful combination of studying different authors (Patricia Hampl and Chang Rae Lee, to name two), writing (solo and in groups), reading our writing aloud (with guidelines for listeners), meditation (indoors and out), and learning techniques that aren’t usually taught in traditional classrooms.

Goldberg, best-selling author of  Writing Down the Bones and several other books, has a way of teaching people how to follow the author’s minds, be natural about when to follow and when to crack structure, and when to be still enough to let the writing settle.

Goldberg’s  work is pure pleasure. My favorite of her pieces is Long, Quiet Highway;  at this point, I’m re-reading Thunder and Lightning. I highly recommend her work for writers of any level.

Johnson, a Zen teacher, master gardener, and author of Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate, led some meditations (both indoor and outdoor) to help ground us in our writing. Her book is a deliciously rich combination of memoir and gardening, but it is oh-so-much-more than that.

Join me for a regular writing practice group in Galveston.  This may be for you if  are at any level of writing, from beginning journal writer to published author. Only a desire to write freely and unleash “Wild Mind” is necessary.

The small group will meet for a series of eight Wednesdays, September 29 through November 17, from noon – 2:00 p.m. in Galveston. Please pre-register and read Writing Down the Bones  prior to participating. Cost for the eight weeks is only $120.00.  Are you in? 

Janet Cohen, certified Life and Executive Coach, has been helping nonprofits increase their success since 1983.  She has helped international, national and local organizations raise millions of dollars and increase awareness about their programs in her career.  Janet is dedicated to using her experience and knowledge to help your organization achieve success and increase the quality and impact of your services.

She is knowledgeable about cultivating long-term relationships with supporters and collaborating across organizational boundaries to achieve exponentially increased success.  Her deep-rooted background in relationship development is an added asset to her approach.  Janet uses coaching with her clients to teach them “to fish,” so to speak, which benefits her clients long after projects are completed. 

Janet is a member of the International Association of Fundraising Professionals.  She attends conferences, seminars and continuing education opportunities as a learner as well as a presenter.  Janet regularly speaks at luncheons, offering insight on topics such as Diversity and Inclusion, Web 2.0 and Social Media, Donor Cultivating, Motivating Boards, Major Gifts Fundraising for Small Nonprofits, and many more.  Janet also presents at annually at events like AFP’s International Conference and Ask the Experts.  She authored and teaches “Writing Winning Proposals” annually as part of the partnership between AFP and Rice University’s Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.

What really sets Janet apart from other consultants is her strict adherence to a code of ethics based on integrity and quality. As a certified Life and Executive Coach and a member of AFP, Janet subscribes to more than her own set of ethical standards.  Click to view: AFP Code of Ethics, ICF Code of Ethics