Inside This Issue

Conversation with CEF Board President David Horth
CEF Annual Fundraising Drive – We’re at 30% of Goal!
CEF Office Update: New Staff
CPSI Update
CEF YouthWise™ Helps Guarantee the Future of Creativity!
CEF Newsletter Stay in Touch and Participate!
Job Postings
Upcoming Conferences

Conversation with CEF Board President
David Magellan Horth

In a recent conversation with CEF Board President David Horth, we discussed the present state of affairs at CEF. Horth began our conversation by stating that, "The Creative Education Foundation is now going through the most major transformation of its history. And with these changes and those pending, CEF is morphing to fully embrace its mission, reclaim its identity, and align itself more congruently with its core vision." Critical to this success has been hiring Victoria Cliche as CEF Executive Director, and initiating a Fundraising Drive for $150,000 this past November.

Our new CEF Executive, Victoria Cliche, will drive many of the initiatives going forward. In addition to her passion for the CEF mission and her abundant creativity and energy, Victoria brings an uncommon business acumen and sensibility to the management of the organization, gleaned from her many years of distinguished work in the private sector. Among the key sensibilities, of course, is an understanding of the need for profitability and the management and augmentation of resources needed to drive CEF programs and initiatives.

Traditionally, CEF has earned revenue primarily from two sources: the annual CPSI Conference and "The Journal of Creative Behavior." In recent years, these revenues have declined to the point where it has jeopardized the ongoing viability of the organization. While CPSI numbers have shown improvement in 2005 and 2006, the dependency on the success of CPSI year in and year out is disconcerting, to say the least, and has impeded CEF's ability to plan and staff for present needs, let alone long-term goals.

One immediate remedy, implemented in November this year, is a massive fund-raising drive. Most CEF members and CPSI attendees should have received letters from David Horth, requesting donations to CEF. It is hoped that this will greatly improve prospects for proactive planning, management agendas, and funding of CEF in all its facets. CEF needs your support to raise its goal of $150,000 in additional revenue.

Other positive things that are happening are the addition of other CEF board members who also bring much welcome financial management experience and business savvy; these include John Holcombe, Lou Gersten, and Richard Schenkman.

CEF is also very focused on the expansion of and emphasis on CEF YouthWise™ globally, as it is close to the fundamental educational mission of CEF. Programs such as the one already established in South Africa will be expanding to other places around the world where there is a need. During 2007, a special committee will be spending time to setup the infrastructure to ensure that we can successfully replicate the model as we expand.

Complementing this effort is CEF's partnership with "Facilitators Without Borders," announced at CPSI 2006. This will further extend the global reach and impact of applied creativity in all its facets, with Osborn-Parnes CPS and the spirit of CPSI/CEF at its center.
-By Doug Stevenson

Annual CEF Fundraising Drive – We’re at 30% of Goal!

Thank you for taking the time during the holidays to make your donations, renew CEF memberships, and order JCB descriptions. In the past 2 months, we were able to generate $44,580 toward our Fundraising Goal of $150,000, coming from only 78 contributors. In order to hit our education goals for 2007, we still need $105,420 by March 31, 2007. Without these essential operating funds, CEF will not be able to continue its mission. While this may seem an impressive goal to achieve in only a couple more months, we know that with your help, we can succeed. If you haven’t had the opportunity to send in your donation (or you lost your form!), simply go onto our web site and submit it online. We appreciate your ongoing support! Just Click Here to Donate Now

CEF Office Update: New Staff

The Creative Education Foundation is pleased to announce new staff members:

David Jeffries, Finance Manager.

David joined CEF as a contractor in July, replacing part-time bookkeeper Ann Bushee and full-time employee Lisa LaPointe. Because of his significant contributions in a very short period, David was hired full-time in October. David both manages finances and technology for CEF. He was previously co-founder and CFO of Netplane Systems, a communications systems software company, that was acquired in 2000.

Lisa Karlin, Project Manager.

Lisa was contracted last year to assist with CPSI logistics. Working under tight time frames and juggling many demands, Lisa rapidly proved herself by ensuring CPSI details were managed. Lisa joined as part-time staff after CPSI. She has expanded her focus to address a myriad of projects that focus on maintaining the CEF infrastructure including the recent moving and archiving of materials that were taken out of storage in Buffalo and coordination with student interns in the US and abroad. Lisa previously worked as in instrumental and vocal music teacher in both public and private schools in Massachusetts.

We would also like to let you know that Crystal Potter has moved to Albany and is no longer working with CEF. We wish her great success in her new role working for Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. While we miss her daily in the office, we look forward to seeing her at CPSI. Crystal can still be reached at CPotter@CreativeEducationFoundation.org.

CPSI Update

We are pleased to announce that this year's Creative Problem Solving Institute will be held at a unique and beautiful site, Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, an hour from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Our theme this year is 'The Nature of Innovation,' reflecting the natural setting we have been fortunate to secure. The spectacular setting of Callaway Gardens is comprised of 13,000 acres of woods and gardens which are home to three golf courses, tennis courts, a Butterfly Conservancy, the Discovery Center (a nature museum), numerous lakes with on-site fishing opportunities, miles of biking and walking trails and several conference centers. Callaway Gardens offers the comforts of a hotel (in a variety of housing arrangements including single and double rooms, cottages and villas) at prices comparable to those paid at universities.

More details of the design of the conference, keynote speakers etc. will be announced soon.

The link to Callaway Gardens is www.callawayonline.com

For more information visit cpsiconference.com

While we had planned to return to Loyola University in Chicago, circumstances after the conference, including the resignation of our Loyola contact and pricing demands, caused us to reconsider and ultimately decline the venue.

YouthWise™ Helps Guarantee the Future of Creativity!

This has been an exciting year for CEF YouthWise™, as it has grown into a highly sophisticated learning curriculum with impact from here to South Africa. CEF is making CEF YouthWise™ a major focus this year, organizing a standing committee to work on the globalization of the program.

CEF YouthWise™ originally began as CEF’s outreach to children, from the demand of parents attending CPSI. Beyond the colorful banners and umbrellas, students have been learning how to integrate CPS into their everyday lives. This program has evolved into a formal curriculum with five levels.

This past year, CPSI added its newest leadership development offering -- Facilitating Creative Youth. Approximately 10 participants completed the beta course, which included working with the CPSI youth and creating an action plan to further the outreach of CEF YouthWise™. For 2007, the intent is to more closely integrate these initial learnings within the actual day-to-day operation of CEF YouthWise™ at CPSI.

This past year, CEF board created a new standing committee to oversee CEF YouthWise™, naming John Holcombe as its chair. Other members include Ginger Bernd, John Frederick, Kitty Heusner, Lou Loomis, Tom Potter, Judy Reid, and Victoria Cliche. The committee has outlined 3 platforms for CEF YouthWise™: CPSI, U.S., and International. During 2007, the committee is tasked with setting up the infrastructure to ensure that we can successfully replicate the model as we expand globally, including everything from funding sources to program implementation.

Internationally, YouthWise completed its 4th year in South Africa at the Paul Roos Academie with over 75 youngsters taking part. For the first time, the South African partners ran Level I totally independently. The international team did assist with the programs for Levels III and IV. This year’s U.S.-based team was lead by John Fredericke and included Tom Potter, Judy Reid, and Crystal Potter.The South Africa-based team was lead by Hessie de Waall and included Nicky Shongwe, Chris Coetzee, Dani du Toit, Amanda du Toit, Hannalie Quass and Eva Biebuyck.

CEF YouthWise™ is raising funds for the 5th year of the South African program. This last year includes training the participants who have come up through the levels to be the leaders for the program in the future. It is also a critical year for an overall assessment of the impact of CEF YouthWise™ on South Africa and to complete the transfer of leadership to the South African team. If you would like to contribute to this wonderful CPSI outreach, please contact Victoria Cliche or David Jeffries at contact@creativeeducationfoundation.org.
- By Jane Goldwasser

CEF Newsletter – Your Chance to Stay in Touch and Participate!

Welcome to the new CEF Newsletter. It’s our hope to bring the spirit of CPSI to everyone all year long … helping to extend our community, share best practices and creative techniques, and be a clearing house for new ideas and updates. We hope that you will find this a useful and fun forum.

The Integrating Creative Leadership Class of 2006 took on the challenge of how to help extend the CEF community. While our brainstorming ran the gamut of online web casts, Creativity MYSPACE and more, we are going to start simply, with a newsletter. Our goals are to:

• Create, build and maintain a sense of community
• Facilitate networking with other resources, organizations, and happenings, which could help spread the positive impact of CPS and applied creative thinking.
• Promote and support community outreach locally and globally.
• Publicize our successes and share best practices.
• Be a clearing house for the exchange of ideas and to keep people up-to-date on CEF and upcoming conferences.
• Cultivate the means to deliver on CEF’s educational mission through connections, resources, publications, partnerships, volunteers, referrals, etc.
• Encourage diversity – and invite divergent, innovative thinking from an ever more broadly-based and connected resource group.
• Be an advanced educational resource for the latest developments and thinking for practitioners wishing to push the envelope or learn new techniques AND also to supply fundamentals to those seeking an understanding of applied creativity for the first time.
• And to foster FUN!

Initially, we are hoping to publish quarterly, but we will add editions as we build momentum and get more writers on board. The more you use this tool as a resource and make your own contributions, the more it will grow and give back. Please, we invite you to contribute. Give back. Push Back. Play back.

To become involved, please contact the Newsletter Committee at CEFNewsletter@creativeeducationfoundation.org.
- By Doug Stevenson

Job Postings

Creative Studies Assistant Professor, Buffalo State University
Submissions Due. (Sept Start)

Buffalo State College, tenure-track assistant professor, Creative Studies Department, to begin September 1, 2007. Competitive salary.

Responsibilities: Teach undergraduate students with opportunities for graduate work; pursue an active research agenda in creativity or leadership; provide service to department, campus, and community.

Required Qualifications: Earned doctorate by time of appointment. A.B.D. accepted if degree is conferred by time of employment. Formal coursework or training in creativity and leadership. Demonstrated knowledge of creativity and leadership in theory and practice. Evidence of scholarly productivity in creativity and/or leadership. Ability to work cooperatively as member of a small interdisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience teaching and/or training in the creative problem solving process or a comparable creativity process and in teaching or training in leadership. Can articulate a research agenda. Demonstrates ability and interest in working with undergraduate students. Demonstrates an understanding of commitment to educational service.

Review of applications will continue until position is filled. Send letter of application (containing your philosophy of teaching, articulation of research interests and agenda, qualities you bring to cooperative work on a small team), CV, 3 letters of recommendation, contact information for 3 professional references to: Dr. Mary Murdock, Search Chair, Creative Studies Department, Buffalo State College, Chase Hall 244, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222-1095. For more information about the college, visit www.buffalostate.edu.

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP© POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

The Center for Creative Leadership© www.ccl.org , a world-renowned leadership development and research organization, has openings for one-year (with an additional one year renewable) post-doctoral research fellows to work on several different research and evaluation projects related to the development of leadership. These fellowships will be located in either North America or Europe. As part of this fellowship, the fellows will be exposed to the Center's expertise in leadership development and the research that underpins the development of leaders and leadership; and will be supported in publishing and presenting his or her own research. CCL© will benefit from the infusion of new thinking and skills that fellows bring from their educational experience. CCL© and the fellows will create and fulfill opportunities to do ground-breaking research around the world, extending the knowledge expertise for both.

Candidates should have completed their Ph.D. within the last 3 years in a field related to leadership and leadership development (behavioral sciences, evaluation, organization development). A strong methodological background and presentations at major academic and practitioner conferences are required. International experience, organizational work experience, and publications are preferred.

Specific duties and responsibilities will vary according to assignment, but could include: interviews and surveys; literature searches; data analysis; writing research papers and other publications; managing and maintaining large databases (quantitative and qualitative); participating in team discussions and decisions regarding project design, implementation, results, and communication; and other project duties as assigned.

Fellows will be assigned to an expert in leadership development who will serve as mentor and supervisor; will be supported in attending and co- presenting at a conference with a CCL© faculty member; and will be able to attend colloquia offered at CCL© by internal and external speakers. Salary will be disclosed upon application. Any interested party should submit a cover letter, salary requirement and resume/vita to HR@leaders.ccl.org by March 15, 2007.

The Center for Creative Leadership© is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Upcoming Conferences

Florida Creativity Weekend
March 2-4
Sarasota, Florida
www.FLCreativity.com

American Creativity Association
March 21-24
Austin, Texas
www.amcreativityassoc.org

Ideas 2007
April 7-9
UAE
www.cbb2007.com

Encounter on Applied Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
April 18-21
Santiago, Chile

CREA
April 18-21
Sestri Levante, Italy
www.creaconference.com

Create & Innovate Conference
April 24-25
Dublin City College
Dublin, Ireland

Expert to Expert (E2E)
May 14-16
ICSC - Buffalo State College
Buffalo, New York

Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI)
June 24 - 29
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia
www.callawayonline.com

CEF Newsletter Committee

Jane Goldwasser, Doug Stevenson, Suzie Nussel, Cheryl Nee-Gieringer, Suzanne Chamberlain, Victoria Cliche.

Interested in helping us make the CEF Newsletter great? We need writers, photographers and artists for book reviews, creativity tips, and more. Contact us at CEFNewsletter@creativeeducationfoundation.org.