The Bluestone Group

New Product: 90-Minute Strategic Planning

Kai Degner — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:55:27 +0000

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The Community Mediation Center is pleased to announce a new product to serve local business as we transition into 2010:

90-Minute Strategic Planning!

Many businesses understand the value of quality strategic planning but cannot afford the costs of time and money to hire professional facilitators. This new approach combines a staff pre-survey with ONE professionally facilitated meeting to identify and prioritize actions around core challenges and opportunities.

Special Discount!

We understand the difficult economy and so – through January 31 – we are offering a special discounted price of $495. Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce members receive an additional 15% discount!

Business owners, department managers, church leaders, and others: start 2010 with renewed direction – call us today! (540) 434-0059 or use the contact form.

HR Chamber Members Save 15%!

Kai Degner — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:43:09 +0000

The Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce has approved a new member benefit: all members receive 15% off all services provided by the Community Mediation Center. That includes the Bluestone Group!

“This is indicative of the Community Mediation Center’s commitment to strengthen our local business community with professional and affordable facilitation, training, and mediation services,” says Tim Ruebke, Executive Director of the Community Mediation Center.

In addition to staff retreats, strategic planning, and conflict resolution, Chamber members save 15% on the following trainings:

Facilitating Group Decisions and Conflicted Topics

Diversity and Sensitivity Training

Communication and Conflict Styles in the Workplace

Dealing with Intense Emotions

Communication Skills & Difficult Conversations

Sexual Harassment Prevention

Principles and Applications of Restorative Justice

Business Mediation Training

Manager as Mediator

Listening 101

If you are a Chamber member and would like more information, contact Kai Degner at kai@weworkitout.org or 540-434-0059.

Values List

Kai Degner — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:41:38 +0000

Values are an important part of an organization’s culture. Here is a list of values to use in thinking about your organization’s current and possible future values.

Abundance
Acceptance
Accessibility
Accomplishment

Accuracy
Achievement
Acknowledgement
Activeness
Adaptability
Adoration
Adroitness
Adventure
Affection
Affluence
Aggressiveness
Agility
Alertness
Altruism
Ambition
Amusement
Anticipation
Appreciation
Approachability
Articulacy
Assertiveness
Assurance
Attentiveness
Attractiveness
Audacity
Availability
Awareness
Awe
Balance
Beauty
Being the best
Belonging
Benevolence
Bliss
Boldness
Bravery
Brilliance
Buoyancy
Calmness
Camaraderie
Candor
Capability
Care
Carefulness
Celebrity
Certainty
Challenge
Charity
Charm
Chastity
Cheerfulness
Clarity
Cleanliness
Clear-mindedness
Cleverness
Closeness
Comfort
Commitment
Compassion
Completion
Composure
Concentration
Confidence
Conformity
Congruency
Connection
Consciousness
Consistency
Contentment
Continuity
Contribution
Control
Conviction
Conviviality
Coolness
Cooperation
Cordiality
Correctness
Courage
Courtesy
Craftiness
Creativity
Credibility
Cunning
Curiosity
Daring
Decisiveness
Decorum
Deference
Delight
Dependability
Depth
Desire
Determination
Devotion
Devoutness
Dexterity
Dignity
Diligence
Direction
Directness
Discipline
Discovery
Discretion
Diversity
Dominance
Dreaming
Drive
Duty
Dynamism
Eagerness
Economy
Ecstasy
Education
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Elation
Elegance
Empathy
Encouragement
Endurance
Energy
Enjoyment
Entertainment
Enthusiasm
Excellence
Excitement
Exhilaration
Expectancy
Expediency
Experience
Expertise
Exploration
Expressiveness
Extravagance
Extroversion
Exuberance
Fairness
Faith
Fame
Family
Fascination
Fashion
Fearlessness
Ferocity
Fidelity
Fierceness
Financial independence
Firmness
Fitness
Flexibility
Flow
Fluency
Focus
Fortitude
Frankness
Freedom
Friendliness
Frugality
Fun
Gallantry
Generosity
Gentility
Giving
Grace
Gratitude
Gregariousness
Growth
Guidance
Happiness
Harmony
Health
Heart
Helpfulness
Heroism
Holiness
Honesty
Honor
Hopefulness
Hospitality
Humility
Humor
Hygiene
Imagination
Impact
Impartiality
Independence
Industry
Ingenuity
Inquisitiveness
Insightfulness
Inspiration
Integrity
Intelligence
Intensity
Intimacy
Intrepidness
Introversion
Intuition
Intuitiveness
Inventiveness
Investing
Joy
Judiciousness
Justice
Keenness
Kindness
Knowledge
Leadership
Learning
Liberation
Liberty
Liveliness
Logic
Longevity
Love
Loyalty
Majesty
Making a difference
Mastery
Maturity
Meekness
Mellowness
Meticulousness
Mindfulness
Modesty
Motivation
Mysteriousness
Neatness
Nerve
Obedience
Open-mindedness
Openness
Optimism
Order
Organization
Originality
Outlandishness
Outrageousness
Passion
Peace
Perceptiveness
Perfection
Perkiness
Perseverance
Persistence
Persuasiveness
Philanthropy
Piety
Playfulness
Pleasantness
Pleasure
Poise
Polish
Popularity
Potency
Power
Practicality
Pragmatism
Precision
Preparedness
Presence
Privacy
Proactivity
Professionalism
Prosperity
Prudence
Punctuality
Purity
Realism
Reason
Reasonableness
Recognition
Recreation
Refinement
Reflection
Relaxation
Reliability
Religiousness
Resilience
Resolution
Resolve
Resourcefulness
Respect
Rest
Restraint
Reverence
Richness
Rigor
Sacredness
Sacrifice
Sagacity
Saintliness
Sanguinity
Satisfaction
Security
Self-control
Selflessness
Self-reliance
Sensitivity
Sensuality
Serenity
Service
Sexuality
Sharing
Shrewdness
Significance
Silence
Silliness
Simplicity
Sincerity
Skillfulness
Solidarity
Solitude
Soundness
Speed
Spirit
Spirituality
Spontaneity
Spunk
Stability
Stealth
Stillness
Strength
Structure
Success
Support
Supremacy
Surprise
Sympathy
Synergy
Teamwork
Temperance
Thankfulness
Thoroughness
Thoughtfulness
Thrift
Tidiness
Timeliness
Traditionalism
Tranquility
Transcendence
Trust
Trustworthiness
Truth
Understanding
Unflappability
Uniqueness
Unity
Usefulness
Utility
Valor
Variety
Victory
Vigor
Virtue
Vision
Vitality
Vivacity
Warmth
Watchfulness
Wealth
Willfulness
Willingness
Winning
Wisdom
Wittiness
Wonder
Youthfulness
Zeal

Listening 101 for Businesses and Organizations

Kai Degner — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:31:34 +0000

Listening is fundamental to our businesses and organizations, whether as a manager, sales person, or customer service representative. Perhaps you or your organization could benefit from an experience that will leave you with new tools to listen even more effectively. There is an exciting four-week online course available for people, businesses, and organizations: Listening 101.

Members of the Bluestone Group at the Community Mediation Center are pleased to have developed this course to be practical and to immediately have an impact at work and in life. The course is conveniently scheduled, requires no travel, and is designed to let each participant identify ways to become an more consistent and intentional listener.

Discounted group rates are available, so sales teams, managers, boards of directors, or other leadership groups can participate to increase the entire organization’s capacity to effectively listen. Visit www.Listening101.com to learn more!

Success! Harrisonburg Children’s Museum

Kai Degner — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:49:48 +0000

Tim Ruebke of the Bluestone Group facilitated the annual board retreat for the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum. Lisa Shull, the executive director, had the following to say. If your organization or business is planning a retreat, the Bluestone Group is at your service!

“We utilized the CMC’s facilitation services for our annual Board retreat. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and effective in helping us plan activities designed to meet our goals. From pre-planning and survey work to implementation and follow-up, we couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of our event.

Having an outside facilitator enabled Board members to fully engage in topics of discussion without the added responsibility of managing the session.

We also enjoyed use of the CMC’s meeting room and found the atmosphere and arrangement to be very conducive for both large and small group work. ”

Lisa Shull
Executive Director
Harrisonburg Children’s Museum

Listen to an Introduction

Kai Degner — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:47:22 +0000

We begun posting better meeting ideas, success stories, and profiles of our roster. Now hear a 90-second introduction to The Bluestone Group:

Please let us know if we can be of service!

If you prefer to read the script, it is here:

Business and community leaders don’t have time to waste. Long, inefficient meetings aren’t only a waste of time – they cost money and motivation. It can be difficult for a leader to plan and organize a meeting, create a thoughtful agenda, moderate the meeting, participate freely, make sure everyone else can participate, stay on track, and then record what happened.

The Bluestone Group is here to help leaders have great meetings. Perhaps your organization needs to brainstorm new directions, decide on next steps, review the strategic plan, or discuss a conflict or miscommunication. Maybe you would like to host a retreat, or a networking event.

The Bluestone Group is a network of professional facilitators who help businesses and groups meet their goals efficiently and creatively.

We are practical, professional, and affordable.

The Bluestone Group is at your service for planning meetings, retreats, conferences and strategic planning processes for businesses, organizations, teams, and communities. Because The Bluestone Group is a service of the Community Mediation Center in Harrisonburg, VA, we have expertise in developing grievance procedures, resolving costly conflict and miscommunication, and offering a range of professional development training.

Bluestone facilitators have extensive experience working with groups of varying sizes, in different contexts, with diverse objectives.

The Bluestone Group is headquartered in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. The service area covers the central Valley, the rest of Virginia, and Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Washington DC, and North Carolina. Other locations are also possible, as Bluestone facilitators have offered training in the midwestern states and in Europe.

Visit our website at www.BluestoneGroup.org or contact us for more information – make your next meeting effective, efficient, and creative.

Success! Massanutten Property Owners Association

Kai Degner — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:01:52 +0000

In February 2009, The Bluestone Group facilitated a planning retreat for the Massanutten Property Owners Association. This is the third MPOA retreat we facilitated, a sign they appreciate our services. But don’t take our word for it – here’s Betty Newell, the President of the MPOA Board of Directors!

February 22, 2009

Dear Paula and Kai,

Just wanted to say “thanks” for helping us have such a productive (and pleasant) board retreat. I think everyone’s expectations were met or exceeded and we definitely will be able to provide some direction to the Long Range Planning Committee.

It is nice to work with the Community Mediation Center again and I know, first hand, what a resource you are to our community! Thanks again for your help in planning our agenda so that we really accomplished what we wanted to do.

Betty Newell

Success! Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District

Kai Degner — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:35:10 +0000

Mr. Jay Gilliam, Chair of the Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District, wrote this to share with prospective customers of the Bluestone Group:

To: prospective customers of the Bluestone Group

From: Jay Gilliam - Chair, Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District

Date: March 3, 2009

In September 2008 the NBSWCD engaged the services of the Community Mediation Center to facilitate the development of a five year strategic plan. We asked multiple organizations to give us proposals. The Community Mediation Center gave us the best price and the broadest range of assistance. We were very happy with the services provided. They were very prepared, having met with several directors in advance of the planning session. The daylong session was well attended and they were the only group that was willing to help us turn the raw data into a digestible document. We’d be glad to work with them again in the future.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Jay Gilliam

See the Bluestone Group Flyer

Kai Degner — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:38:14 +0000

Take a look at the Bluestone Group flyer! PDF: Bluestone Group Flyer

Better Meeting Idea: World Cafe

Kai Degner — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:39:02 +0000

The World Cafe is another process The Bluestone Group can bring to your business, conference, or networking event. This process is a wonderful way to have a large group have rich, small group conversation about issues that matter. It is an effective way to create relationships in a big group, explore ideas as a large group, and keep participation and energy at a high level.

The Café process is almost infinitely malleable and will work with any group of 12 or more. We have successfully conducted Cafés with 1200 people, so size is not a problem. To date most of the Cafés we have designed, hosted and convened have been to enable large groups of people to think together about some aspect of their common future. It is a powerful community development tool. The World Café process has been used successfully at large conferences, at town meetings, among educators, for designing and implementing organizational strategy, and in numerous other settings. - NCDD