CEF Affiliate Program
Connecting Creative Communities
CEF has experimented the last couple of years with ways in which to connect itself to creativity communities around the globe. Our goal in connecting creative communities is to further the CEF mission as the centre for Applied Imagination -- helping individuals, organizations and communities transform themselves as they confront real-world challenges. It’s clear that the best way to connect is through an Affiliate network. The network CEF envisions is an informal association where CEF’s role is one of organizer and thought leader. CEF will provide information, ideas and a structure for a mutually beneficial relationship. Local creativity organizations can interpret ideas in their own way, and manage their own efforts.
All Creativity is Local
Creativity happens where people live. People practice creative tools in their communities.
In order for more people around the world to learn how powerful the art and science of deliberate creativity is, there needs to be a local community of people who understand the concepts that Alex Osborn and Sid Parnes have done so much to define, explain and disseminate. The good news is that many local creativity communities already exist. Some are informal — where like-minded folks interested in creativity meet for coffee to chat about creativity, or in living room salons for freewheeling conversations. Some are more formal, like the organizations that have put together deliberate creativity events and learning programs in cities like Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro and Aracaju in Brasil; Cape Town, South Africa; Istanbul, Turkey; Milan, Italy; and Paris, France. In North America there are groups in San Diego, Chicago, Toronto, Detroit-Windsor, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York and Sarasota - and of course, Buffalo, where it all started! CEF wants to encourage these - and all - creativity leaders and facilitators around the world to organize their own local groups. New organizations will help CEF grow its affiliate network.
“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
Norman Vincent Peale
How to Become a CEF Affiliate
Letter of Understanding: CEF has created a simple agreement — a letter of understanding (LOU) — that defines the requirements for being an Affiliate. Every effort has been made to make this agreement one of cooperation — without putting an administrative burden on either the affiliate or CEF. The emphasis of the agreement is sharing of information. The essence of the agreement is that the affiliate has similar goals around the idea of promoting creativity. Once an affiliate has “signed up,” they will have access to Affiliate information and will receive Affiliate updates via CEF's e-newsletter, which can also be distributed to the Affiliate's own membership, if desired.
Yearly Cooperative Fund Raiser: The LOU indicates a yearly fund raising effort where all Affiliates work with CEF to conduct a fund raising event. The Affiliate and CEF share the proceeds equally after expenses. This can be a modest effort, or a grand one, depending on the resources of the Affiliate.
To request a Letter of Understanding or To Find Out More About the CEF Affiliate Program ... Contact Gregg Fraly
