Author Archives: Sue

About Sue

I work as a facilatator and consultant and am passionate about Appreciative Inquiry, education and working with other like-minded folk to help make this a better world for our children and young people.

April 15 2008 – A Foundation

In this meeting, we made critical structural decisions and set a path for the future.

I. Updates on Current Activities

Structural Definition

  • PCC will pursue a single social business entity. The social business will be an LLC-B. The structure will be broad enough to include international personnel and activities. Currently, there is a core of active people, primarily in the US, but the span of interest and collaboration is global. For example, the business should accommodate products and services performed in Australia. The implications of an international business are under review.
  • From the international perspective, a quick web-glance indicates that social businesses may exist, but not prominently.
  • The nature of the business is a ‘relationship broker’. PCC will connect positive change activities to funding, services, and tools. It will promote and support collaborations. The business design enables measurement of impact and reach of positive approaches in schools and youth organizations.
  • Income from the business will support the activities of PCC in schools, communities, and youth organizations.

Incorporation

  • PCC is exploring incorporation as an LLC in Florida, Illinois, and Washington. The business will pursue a B designation, institutionalizing commitment to act in the best interests of current/past employees, the environment, stakeholders, and the locations in which we operate.
  • We know that the B designation is OK in Washington.
  • At the end of the fiscal year, the LLC will not have a profit, however a reasonable contingency account is appropriate.
  • A key factor in determining the state for incorporation is cost.

Board of Directors

  • We have a list of potential members of the board of directors. We will determine the number and composition based on a structure of roles and responsibilities (board, management, employees, and contractors).
  • PCC members on the call are candidates for the board.

Not-for-Profit

  • PCC will not pursue a new not-for-profit (NFP) incorporation. However, research into the description and status of the current Delaware incorporation will enable a decision to drop or maintain the Positive Change Corps name.
  • We determined that the primary reason for keeping a NFP is to apply for grants. However, our role is to connect schools and youth organizations with funders. We are not their competitors.
  • We will choose to amend the existing DE incorporated name to DBA Positive Change Core  if the cost is reasonable. If the cost is high, we will not maintain the DE incorporation.

II. Funding

  • PCC has about $100 in its account. We need to identify startup costs, such as incorporation, virtual meeting services, and website.
  • A recommendation to establish an a $200 fee was made. We will review this suggestion when startup cost research has been completed.

III. Deferred Topics:

  • 2009 Canton Gathering (Joyce)
    • Status
    • What are the support needs from PCC?
  • What else should we be focusing on to redefine PCC?
  • There is a lot more to do.
  • International Education Conference and Current status of Core Team

IV. Next Steps for Next Meeting: May 20, 2008 at 6:00pm EDT

  • Incorporation (Gina and Shelia). Research and make final recommendations for incorporation. Recommendation should include: state, type of tax structure (LLC-B), and determination of existing DE corporation.
  • Board of Directors (Shelia and Gina). Shelia will develop draft roles and responsibilities. Gina will consolidate lists of potential candidates for further review.
  • Startup Costs (All). Shelia will present three options for virtual meeting services. Key factors include services, participant load, and cost. Gina and Shelia will identify cost of incorporation as part of their recommendation. Shelia will identify costs associated with the PCC website. Everyone is invited to recommend items that will be necessary to begin our business. Please email Shelia and Gina (symcats@msn.com and Hinrichs@geneseo.net)

Moving Forward Innovatively

Positive Change Core is moving forward in a striking new direction. We are reviewing business structures to optimize our opportunities to link schools and youth organizations to funders, tools, and resources to support introduction and utilization of positive approaches.

Our excitement is building with every decision! We aren’t ready to announce our new look but we want you to know that PCC recognizes increasing global and national awareness of positive approaches and related activities in schools and youth organizations. We are ready to support and encourage and and, soon, we will have the structure to make things happen…in BIG ways.

Join us as we make our journey. Follow our progress on our website.

Charting The Future

March 19, 2008 Meeting Notes

This meeting represents the fundamental and foundational discussions towards a restructure.

I.  Identify next steps: PCC Structure

What is the appropriate tax structure to support a social business?

  • Two organizations (Not-for-Profit and For-Profit) with separate tax structures included under an umbrella. This will enable the Not-for-Profit to pursue grants (local emphasis per project and national for more universal activities) and gifts. Each entity is dynamic: multiple satellites using a common official address and contact. Question: How do we structure the umbrella entity?
  • Not-for-Profit will focus on projects such as summits
  • For-Profit will develop products (publications, manuals, workbooks, etc.) with authors,  and deliver meeting and training support services
  • Gina will investigate business structure as LLC. What are the costs?
  • Shelia shared information about corporations, LLC-B, that are designed to meet rigorous standards for human services, the environment, and financial support for local communities.

To create a social business, what is the problem that we are trying to solve?

  • Individuals and organizations are looking for options for positive approaches with youth (Seekers)
  • Individuals and organizations engaged in efforts to use positive approaches want information about successful experiences to assess potential use in their organizations (Engagers)
  • Seekers and Engagers desire training and support services to increase knowledge and guide their activities
  • Communication across whole systems and communities of Seekers and Engagers is essential. This communication can be virtual or terrestrial (in a room). Organizers and coordinators of change activity often lack the skill, resources, and time to manage the myriad types and forms of communication available to them.
  • Cost of forming business and acquiring tools will be built into the financial plan. Investors will be repaid from profit. Costs include: Virtual meeting support tools: Microsoft LiveMeeting (preferred) @ $600 /year; website development and maintenance; publication channel ($7 each @ 200 copies)

What are the products/services that will solve the problem?

  • Products: publishing – books, manuals
  • Services: training, virtual/terrestrial meeting support

Board reconstitution: Who do we need? What resources are necessary?

  • Shelia will gather names of current board members

II.  What is our business plan?

  • Timeline
  • Finances
  • Marketing

III. What is the status of our current product list?

Lead Learner Manual

  • Gina and Nancy are currently working on Section 3.
  • Prepare hardcopy book and a download
  • Working on $15 strategy

Lead Learner Training

  • Gina and Nancy will conduct a pre-conference training session in June 2009 at the Canton gathering

Marge/Joyce book

  • Joyce ahs reviewed completed work and is pleased with product.
  • Book is 2/3 completed

IV.  What else should we be focusing on to redefine PCC?

  • There is lots more to do.

V.  International Education Conference

  • Current status of Core Team – Deferred

International Education Conference Planning Meeting, February 2008

The International Education Conference Planning Meeting was a virtual and terrestrial success. Attendees used innovative technology to identify characteristics for key portfolios (teams). We determined that organizing for a successful multi-dimensional international experience in 2009 is too ambitious. The emphasis is on “success”. We will host a trial gathering in June 2009 in Canton, Ohio.

Congratulations to all who participated in this momentus meeting.

Articles and Publications

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We are always looking for articles and publications that relate to Positive Change Core and our work.

Please contact us if you feel you have a resource that belongs here. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy reading the resources below.

  • Word document) Flourishing Canton– Canton Ohio – read what happens when a group of intergenerational citizens in June 2006 together with the Positive Change Core go back to the future, and rediscover (and begin to realize) the flourishing city Canton once was – reprinted with permission from AI Practitioner
  • (PDF) Life Long Learning and Education ‘On the Road to Finding Out’ – explores possibilities for individual and educational transformative positive change through lifelong learning and lifelong education. reprinted with permission from AI Practitioner – please note this is a very large file so may take time to download

Flourishing Canton

Below please find the story of Canton Ohio’s Leap of Learning “Flourishing Canton” in partnership with the Positive Change Core. You can see more of the results at their ACT3 website here. The workbook and other information is available here.

Flourishing Canton Bears Fruit

Can a rust belt community flourish in the early 21st century?

A committed group of intergenerational citizens of Canton, Ohio are convinced that it can! Using the Positive Change Core Leap of Learning approach, a community came together in June 2006 to create bold strategies that will contribute to the flourishing of Canton. The conversation was a success, with 3 Bold Strategies Designed and energized youth and adult leaders are reaching out to the broader community to develop:

  • A youth center ‘for teens by teens’
  • A Hometown Canton scholarship program to reduce ‘brain drain’, and
  • A Youth City Council to advise the Canton City Council on matters impacting all Canton citizens.

Join Us

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As a collaborative community we are always looking to connect with those who also wish to, or already do, serve youth and education communities.

There are many ways to join us. These include:

  • Partnering with the Positive Change Core: A leading provider of innovative services for the transformation of educational communities and systems, our mission is to partner with schools and youth to build on the best of what already exists and create the brightest, most imaginative future possible. We are dedicated to producing rapid, sustainable, contagious transformation.
    • If you wish to explore an opportunity to bring our services and skills to elevate your education or youth community please contact PCC for a conversation by email PCC Founder, Marge Schiller, P.h.D: margeschiller”AT”yahoo.com [please replace “AT” with @]
  • This Website: contributing in the form of comments, and stories and sharing of resources. Keeping us updated on relevant events, stories and so forth.
  • PCC Daily Listserve – A daily digest with emails from and to our community sharing knowledge, questions and resources. By placing your name on our moderated list serve, you will receive announcements, reminders, follow up notes, and requests from other PCC members to your email account. 
  • Monthly Phone Calls
    • PCC members are invited to call into an audio-conference phone number to share what’s exciting, successes, tools, and requests for help. Our phone call is scheduled for the SECOND Monday of each month at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. The phone number is 508-995-6619 pin 102. If you are on the PCC list serve, you will receive a reminder each month. We hope you will be able to join us in our ongoing conversation.

We also host monthly topic calls with experts – find out more in our events section.