Last week saw me in the Big Smoke for a family event. It was great to reconnect with relatives and friends, but as always with travel, it’s nice to come back home. This week’s Seeds (loosely) follows that theme of home, whether it falls under developments in my geographic neighbourhood or what constitutes a professional identity “home”.
From Last Week
I had hoped to get last week’s Seeds written and posted before I left, but that didn’t happen. However, I did submit a conference proposal with my friend and colleague Chi Yan Lam. If accepted, we’ll be co-hosting a “Birds of a Feather” gathering at this fall’s American Evaluation Association conference to bring together people interested in developmental evaluation. We’re not calling it a Community of Practice ( … yet) but hopefully we can help connect practitioners who may be otherwise isolated in promoting this approach.
Around the Web
- I have considered the non-profit sector to be my home for some time, even though I’m technically on the for-profit side now (with a social purpose, but still a business). Gordon Brown provides his take on What You Need To Know About Working For A Non-Profit – I don’t agree with everything he wrote, but it’s a good overview.
- During last week’s trip I had a conversation with my sister-in-law about experimental designs, and the next day came across this Chris Lysy cartoon set on the closely-related Randomized Controlled Trial. Given that I “grew up”, academically speaking, in traditional research psychology, I have seen how experimental designs can be elevated as the best (if not only) way to conduct research: however, my understanding of what constitutes knowledge and ways to understand the world has expanded since then. That being said, feel free to call me out if I ever call someone a “randomista”.
- Helping people understand research and evaluation is often about finding metaphors that resonate. Charles Gasper at the Evaluation Evangelist uses the analogy of picking your March Madness bracket: I’m not a basketball fan, but hey, if it helps you understand evaluation, I’m all for it!
Around Toon Town
- Leadership Saskatoon is holding a Lunch and Learn session tomorrow (Wednesday) on the topic of innovation in organizations. The session takes place at the Saskatchewan Abilities Council site on Kilburn starting at 12:05 and participants are asked to RSVP.
- Leadership Saskatoon is also accepting nominations for their Community Leadership award (due April 1) and applications for next year’s leadership development program (due June 10, but as there’s usually a wait list so best to submit ASAP!) – more information on their website.
- Next Wednesday (April 2), catch the Fuze Conference on marketing and communication, which includes some great speakers on community engagement.
- Shameless plug: the Saskatoon Community Band (I play trombone in their wind ensemble) is welcoming the arrival of spring with a concert next Wednesday at 7:30 at the Broadway Theatre. Tickets are $10 ($5 for students) – contact me if you’re in Saskatoon and interested!
Feeling at home with this format, or ready to pack up and move on? Either way, let me know through comments below, on Twitter, or the standard contact means.