IEA President's Message, December, 2010
I have been in service to the IEA for the past six years and December 31st will be the last day of my official duties within the organization . Of course I will continue to be present to the organization as needs arise.
I leave feeling good about the work that I have done, good about the people that I have served with over the years, and very good about the position that the IEA is in at this moment.
The 2010 San Francisco Conference was a huge success, its content and atmosphere well-appreciated by the attendees. The financial success of the conference leaves the organization in a much more stable position than it was at the beginning of the year. Many thanks go to Sandy Hatmaker (Administrative Goddess), Gayle Scott (Conference Co-chair), Sandy Jaffe (Volunteer Coordinator), Gail Barber (Treasurer) and others who worked with us on the conference committee.
The Enneagram Journal published its 3rd Volume this year to great acclaim. We are currently reprinting the 2009 Journal, as the first printing was sold out and requests continue to pour in. Many thanks to Merri Monks and Jerry Wagner who lead the editorial staff with grace and precision.
Our global family of International Affiliates continues to grow and enrich our organization, thanks to the tireless work of María José Munita and Isabel Salama and their Affiliate Task Force. Belarus, Canada, Peru and Portugal joined us this year!
To support the continuing development of the organization, Darryl Hadfield and CJ Fitzsimons have been improving our communications and web presence. Many thanks to Darryl for volunteering his incredible life force to help us move this project down the field. CJ and Lynda Roberts are now continuing the web site reconstruction project, which is due to be launched in the new year. The Nine Points Magazine continues to go from strength to strength – many thanks to Gayle Scott for her tireless contribution, along with assistance from Mario Sikora. In addition, many thanks to Isabel Salama and IEA Spain, who have graced the Enneagram world with Sintoniza, the Spanish language magazine for the Enneagram community.
The new IEA membership model was discussed at the General Assembly of Affiliates in July, refined together with a task force from the affiliates and is being rolled out to the Presidents of the Affiliates. The transition to this new model will launch together with the new web site. This vital initiative was led by CJ Fitzsimons, Maria Jose Munita, Isabel Salama and Mario Sikora.
All in all, I leave the board with things in great shape and feel incredibly confident in the talented and dedicated board that will carry on with the business of the IEA: Mario Sikora, President; Maria Jose Munita, VP; Gail Barber, Treasurer; CJ Fitzsimons, Secretary ; Deni Tato, Conference Chair; Suzanne Povelsen, Johanna Tarpila, Isabel Salama, Lynda Roberts and Peter McNab.
I wish to thank the staff at the Cincinnati Conscious Living Center: Beth O’Hara, Ron Esposito, Shane Donohue and Jonathan Blackburn for all their support and assistance during my years on the board. Without a village, I could not have contributed to my fullest. Also, to my mentors from the beginning: Tom Flautt and Bart Wendell, whose leadership, guidance and gentle but firm reminders to “grow and let go” helped me to be the best “hot leader” in the present moment that I could be!
I want to acknowledge the Past-Presidents whom I have served with and learned from: Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Beatrice Chestnut, and Uranio Paes. I feel honored to have served with them all. Ginger taught me how to delegate and lead by encouraging participation of all. Bea taught me the importance of remaining passionate about the things you care about and standing for your truth, even in the face of disapproval. Uranio taught me how to expand organization with vision and faith. I am indeed a more rounded leader thanks to them all.
I have been blessed in my life to have a great life partner, Kathleen Hartman Blackburn. Her guidance and support on this journey with the IEA has been immense. Her life and dedicated spiritual practice have helped steady my course, always calling me back to my own essence practices.
Finally, I wish to honor Gayle Scott! Gayle came onto the board six years ago to Chair the 2005 San Francisco Conference and is retiring from the board at the end of this year as well. Gayle has been an incredible leader in service to the IEA. She has served as Secretary, Accreditation Co-Chair, Publications Coordinator and Editor of the E-News and Nine Points Magazine, and more. She and I have worked tirelessly together to make each conference better than the last, culminating in our most successful event to-date, the 2010 San Francisco Conference. Gayle has been an amazing friend, a dedicated presence, a guiding compass, and most importantly, a true servant leader.
I relinquish my presidential post knowing that the IEA has come a long way on the shoulders of past presidents, teachers, enthusiasts, innovators and leaders, and will continue to grow in cohesion, strength and vision with the leadership that is stepping into place. It has been a wonderful journey with much learning …
In service, gratitude and love
Deborah
Deborah A. Ooten, Ph.D
President IEA 2010
