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The latest news about the Virtues Project in Aotearoa New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | 9/12/2007 12:44 a.m. | | | | | 7th - 11th November 2007
Held at the Chateau Tongariro, National Park, New Zealand. Central North Island approx 130 km south from Taupo.
Hosted by the Taupo Virtues Connection. Supported by the NZ Virtues Trust.
Founders Linda Kavelin Popov, Dan Popov and John Kavelin will be presenting.
Full programme will be listed shortly | 12/06/2007 2:03 p.m. | 20/06/2008 | | | | Have you always wanted to do some Virtues Training but course were not available at a time to suit your needs? Two new online courses have been developed by Denise Hobo-Tuck.
Course 1
Bringing Out the Best in Boys Boys need to know whose Boss. They want firm boundaries and to know a teacher or parent will provide consequences for stepping over the boundaries. Within this climate of safety, boys will learn about respecting themselves and others. We need our men to take on positions of leadership with gentleness, diligence and respect. Contact deevirtues@hotmail.com for further information Course 2
Authentic Self Esteem How about coming to the realisation that you are OK just as you are ? With the 5 simple strategies of the Virtues Project you'll be stepping out with a spring in your step and warmth in | 22/05/2007 10:20 a.m. | | | | | Based on the book Pace of Grace by Virtues Project co-founder Linda Kavelin-Popov.
Explore ways to move beyond the Fear, Overwhelm and Guilt (FOG) that prevents us from living a sustainable lifestyle.
Session are by phone - distance is no barrier
Prerequisite - none. Owning a copy of the book, Pace of Grace, would be useful
Angevahn has completed the Grace Coaching and Mentoring programme with Linda Kavelin-Popov, Co-founder of The Virtues Project.
Contact: Angevahn (Master Facilitator) at virtuestaranaki@xtra.co.nz for further details | 6/05/2007 10:12 a.m. | | | | | To our dear virtues family throughout the world,
We send our love and gratitude to you all for your passion, your service and your love for the virtues. We have reflected deeply on the potential for the year 2007, and discern the promise of a new mindfulness, a new opening to the Grace that humanity is capable of receiving. May each of us open ourselves to our own measure of Grace for the coming year.
This year, we offer you a theme to bring the virtues to life in 2007. Two virtues stand out for the coming year: Purity and Truthfulness. The theme is - "Let us live our purist truth."
Attached are the two Virtues Reflection Cards of Purity and Truthfulness. As we begin this new year, let us imagine a clean slate on which to write only the pure truth of our lives, that which is real, authentic and in the deepest integrity.
Let us anchor our global Virtues Project community in a deeper truthfulness. Let us build our dreams and plans in 2007 on the bedrock of truth, purifying our lives of anything that violates our integrity. We know that a small group of people can transform the character of the world, and create a spiritual tipping point. Let us be among them.
Here are some questions for reflection:
What do we need to purify from our lives?
What habits and limitations are we called to release?
What unforgiven resentments do we need to clear up?
What virtues will allow us to cleanse our thoughts and relationships of negativity?
What steps can we take to create a space of grace, by keeping in our homes and work spaces, as William Morris says, "only what we know to be useful or believe to be beautiful"?
What will empower us to purify our health practices and our diet as we purify our purpose?
We are thankful for the gift of Purity.
It gives us a fresh start.
What will our lives be like as we live our authentic truth?
What story do we tell ourselves that we need to discard in order to know the truth?
What life design does true discernment reveal to us?
What will give us the courage to let go of self-deception and be content with the truth? What allows us to always tell the truth with tact?
We are thankful for the gift of Truthfulness.
It is our holy ground.
The Founders feel a renewed sense of purpose and clarity to share the simple, pure truths of virtues with a wider audience. We look forward to embracing the challenges and opportunities of the coming year with you. May 2007 be the year of living the dream in each of our hearts. May the dream of peace become a reality -- in our lives, our families and our communities. As Ghandi, said. "Let us be the change we wish to see in the world."
With love and blessings,
John Kavelin
Dan Popov
Linda Kavelin Popov
| 10/01/2007 9:34 a.m. | 1/12/2007 | | | | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In a climate of escalating violence in recent weeks, The White House responded last week by calling a Conference on School Safety. President and Mrs. Bush addressed an audience of 350 school administrators, police officers and child advocates on the need to apply “best practices” to prevent and respond to school violence across America. Among those in attendance were John Kavelin and Dara Feldman, representing The Virtues Project, a global initiative for character education honored by the United Nations as a “model program for all cultures.”
The six-hour conference included impassioned pleas for prevention programs along with heightened security in public schools. Participants spoke from auditorium microphones about their concerns, remedial programs and initiatives to help stem the tide of school shootings, bullying, and use of weapons in schools across the country.
John Kavelin, co-founder of The Virtues Project, which is headquartered in Canada, and Dara Feldman, an award-winning teacher and Virtues facilitator, received an invitation from the White House to attend the Conference just a day before it was scheduled. They addressed the assembled guests, the President and First Lady about the character building programs and materials of The Virtues Project used in more than 85 countries. Mrs. Feldman, a recipient of the Disney Teacher of the Year as an elementary school teacher in Maryland, affirmed the need for the re-authorization of the “No Child Left Behind” legislation to include character education components along with its aggressive academic focus. She said that “the rigor of academics must be balanced with the rigor of the heart.”
Mr. Kavelin mentioned that “values”-based education often has a particular cultural or faith-based agenda, whereas virtues such as courage, caring and integrity are universal to all cultures and creeds. He described The Virtues Project strategies for inspiring a culture of character in families, schools and communities, particularly its successes in violence prevention and remediation.
President Bush congratulated Mr. Kavelin on this grass-roots initiative, indicating that it is home-grown efforts such as these that have the capability of making a real difference in our schools. Hearing Kavelin speak of his decision to leave a 16-year career at Walt Disney Imagineering to commit full time to this work, the President joked, “You don’t look a day over…60.”
| 30/10/2006 10:21 a.m. | 10/07/2007 | Lynne |  | | PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP July 12 - 13, 2006 with Linda Kavelin Popov and Dr. Dan Popov
Part I: A Soul Full Life: Explore the soul tasks of Adulthood and Elderhood.
Part II: A Pace of Grace: Deepen in virtues such as Reverence, Discernment, Devotion, Hope, and Decisiveness. Discern your "yes" at this time in your life.
Part III: Be a Grace Mentor - Expand your Virtues Facilitation practice using A Pace of Grace in spiritual companioning and personal coaching.
Click on the link below for the registration brochure. | 14/02/2006 8:18 p.m. | 1/08/2006 | | | | Global Mentorship – North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 14,15,16 July 2006
Contact: Penny Sampson M: 0417734229 or 07 3288 4489. Registration details available soon.
Email: ravenswill@bigpond.com
| 30/01/2006 9:37 a.m. | 1/08/2006 | | | | 29th & 30th September, 1st October
New Plymouth
Prerequisite is to have been to a Foundation Course
DEtails to be confirmed
Contact : Angevahn 06 7539776
email: Angevahn@xtra.co.nz | 28/11/2005 9:01 a.m. | 15/10/2006 | | | | Come to beautiful New Plymouth for a 2-day Intensive course covering the Philosophy and Strategies of The Virtues Project.
The Virtues Project strategies are used throughout the world in education, in social work, in the justice system, in business - anywhere where we work alongside and with others and wish to bring them to the best that is possible.
You will learn how to:
Build authentic self esteem in yourself and others.
Use 5 empowering strategies for teaching, parenting, mentoring, guiding and coaching.
Use 10 guidelines for setting clear boundaries to create the culture you wish to work/live in.
Cultivate respect and responsibility.
Value and appreciate diversity.
Resolve conflict peacefully.
Course Dates for 2006:
11th and 12th February
22nd and 23rd April
1st and 2nd July
Venue:
New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
New Plymouth is a comfortable and very pleasant 5 hour drive from Auckland, and 4 hours from Wellington.
Local accommodation ranges from back packers to boutique hotels with a wide range of café and other eating places.
Course Times:
Day 1 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Day 2 9 a.m. - 3.30 p.m.
Course fee:
$240 payable 7 days in advance
Included in the cost are course handouts
Lunch and break refreshments provided
Resources
Additional resources such as books etc additional at personal cost
For further information and to register
CONTACT Angevahn, Master Facilitator, The Virtues Project
angevahn@xtra.co.nz
(06) 753-9776 (Ph/Fax)
| 28/11/2005 8:55 a.m. | 1/08/2006 | | | | Here is some information on the presenters who will be participating at the Mentorship Retreat in Taupo on 28 to 30 October.
Sheldon and Ellen Ramer
Sheldon is a counsellor and psychotherapist in private practice in Christchurch. They have both been Virtues Facilitators since 1996 and have done extensive training programmes both in New Zealand and in the Pacific and Ellen has served on the Virtues International Leadership Team. They are deeply committed to the Virtues and the difference that they can make when applied to our lives.
Rodger Spiller
Dr Rodger Spiller is the Managing Director of Money Matters and Rodger Spiller Associates. He has been exploring ways of introducing the Virtues into business ethics and will provide examples of Virtues in action from the NZ Business Awards finalists and how Sustainable and Responsible investment can be applied to encourage ethical business.
Fay Greenslade
Fay Greenslade (RTLB) is currently investigating the effects of regular colleguial reflective practice using the Virtues Project Strategies on teachers’ thinking, beliefs and practice. She will share the findings of her research, outline the reflective practice model used in her research and give participants the opportunity to participate in this process with a view to them utilising the model within their own schools or organisations.
Gilbert Paki
Gil has many years’ experience as a virtues facilitator both in New Zealand and the Pacific. He is currently working ion the Miriam Centre in Whangarei and will speak on “A Model of Development – Virtues in Child Abuse Research and Treatment”.
Kay Miller
Kay has been involved with the Virtues Project for many years and has her own company assisting businessw3es with Strategic Planning using the Virtues. She will be helping participants to develop a Personal Action Plan for implementing the Virtues in their lives and sharing the “big picture” information from the International Virtues Project.
Other Contributors
Sam Te Tau – Virtues and Art
Claire Ashmore – Virtues in Secondary Schools
Peter Blanks – Virtues in Business
John Barnes - Principal, Mountview School, Taupo
Margaret Beck - Principal, St Patrick’s School, Taupo
Pam Kerr - Waipahihi School, Taupo – Before and After Virtues in the Classroom.
| 14/10/2005 1:37 a.m. | 3/11/2005 | | | |
Virtues Action Learning - Developing Mastery through Action and Reflection
Develop Your Potential! Become more competent in using the 5 strategies of The Virtues ProjectTM. This programme is for those wishing to facilitate Virtues workshops, but is also appropriate for those who wish to use the strategies of The Virtues ProjectTM more specifically in their professions and/or personal lives.
Many of us have been inspired by the vision of The Virtues ProjectTM and are fully aware of its transformative power in ourselves and in our families. This programme provides a structured process to help us develop a sense of mastery in applying the concepts of The Virtues ProjectTM to our lives.
Programme Goals - To strengthen ability in using the strategies of
The Virtues ProjectTM by:
•developing a practice of regular reflection
•developing 1 action-reflection project for each of the 5 strategies of The Virtues ProjectTM
•receiving mentorship from an experienced facilitator of The Virtues ProjectTM
Flexible to allow creativity, the projects may involve creating materials, presentations, doing research or working on changing personal behavior. Creating projects strengthens the participant’s learning and experience. Keeping track of the process of choosing a project, identifying goals and then reflecting on what happened when the project was implemented is an important part of reflective action.
How does it work?
Set up as a university level course, the programme will take 300 hours on average to complete. You may begin at any time. These participants will receive mentoring directly from Beth Lew for each of their projects. This mentoring will be done by telephone and supported by email or letters. Participants are encouraged to find another Virtues enthusiast to meet with to provide regular companioning about their projects but this is not required.
•First participants register, receive the Virtues Action Learning handbook and take some time to read about the programme and begin a daily practice of reflection.
•Next they choose a project and create a project proposal. This proposal is discussed with the local peer mentor if they have one and then discussed with Beth Lew.
•Beth provides mentoring at least twice for each project, with discussion about the project proposal and then providing feedback about the written submission. Careful records of participant’s projects are kept and suggestions made about further publication where appropriate.
•Written projects are sent in as they are completed. The programme should take one year to complete.
•A certificate from The Virtues ProjectTM is awarded upon completion of 5 projects
Who is the Coordinator of the Virtues Action Learning Program?
Beth Lew, B.Ed. Applied (Adult Education)
Beth has actively promoted The Virtues ProjectTM and offered parenting workshops in New Zealand from 1994-2003. She has a background in facilitation of communication skills and working with youth. Focusing on specific audiences such as educators, youth workers or community development, she has provided Virtues workshops throughout New Zealand as well as Fiji, Kiribati and Korea. In 1997, Beth created the Virtues Action Learning program as a way to foster the continuing growth and development of Virtues Project facilitators and is proud to offer this approach to Virtues enthusiasts throughout the world. The Virtues ProjectTM recognises her as a Master Facilitator.
Programme Cost: $300NZ
Programme will be limited to 4 participants a year. Please apply by contacting Beth Lew, details below.
An example of a typical project:
Strategy: Speaking the Language of the Virtues
Title of Project: “How many Virtues Acknowledgements in a day?”
Description of Project:
Keep track of how many times I am using Virtues Acknowledgements during a day. I will develop a way of monitoring myself and then use this method four times over the course of three weeks.
Purpose of the project:
To increase my use of virtues acknowledgments so that I feel more comfortable using the Language of the Virtues and become more spontaneous
Contact Beth: aib@bahai.org.nz
| 10/09/2005 3:26 p.m. | | | | | Virtues Training- Deepening the Virtues Within. Facilitator Training 23,24,25 September, New Plymouth
Spaces strictly limited
Registration of interest by 12th August 2005
Full registration due by 9th September 2005
email: Angevahn@xtra.co.nz | 10/07/2005 5:35 p.m. | 1/10/2005 | | | | If you want to see some photos of the wonderful time that everyone had at Vaughan Park, Long Bay, Auckland, New Zealand in February 2005 then click this link.
| 2/06/2005 11:45 p.m. | 1/11/2005 | | | |
‘My Language, My Awakening’ is an opportunity for Virtues practitioners to reflect on the Strategies at a deeper level internally & externally. We do this to give our seedlings the optimum conditions to flourish & grow! | 12/12/2004 12:51 p.m. | 1/02/2005 | | | | We are pleased to inform you that Linda's new book 'A Pace of Grace' is now in stock and available for $34.95 [plus delivery] from UCA.
Please also remember that the music CD of the same title, composed, arranged and produced by Radha Sahar, is also available for $29.95...
We have a new supply of Educator's Guides in stock, so please contact UCA if you require any copies. Also, don't forget the newly printed 'Sacred Moments' book is also available.
All at UCA wish you health and happiness and that you all enjoy this upcoming Festive Season...
Cheers and best wishes,
Rick Sahar
General Manager
UCA Ltd
PO Box 57233, Mana
Porirua, NEW ZEALAND
ph 0800 500 885
fx +64 4 2399976
| 12/12/2004 12:44 p.m. | 1/02/2008 | | | | Sacred Moments - New Printing
At last Linda's lovely book Sacred Moments is back in print, and with a new-look cover. Order it now from UCA www.ucamusic.com as we have supply in stock. The price is $32.95 (plus freight). Sacred Moments also makes a lovely gift, as well as being another great 'tool' for our personal spiritual growth.
A4 Colour Promotional Brochures
We have a very limited supply of these classy, American, folded, full colour brochures, and at this stage we are only making them available to Virtues Project Registered Facilitators. Not listed on our public website they are a set price of $20.00 for 10.
| 21/08/2004 12:33 a.m. | 11/12/2004 | | | | Everyone's asking about Linda's great new book. Yes it is out – in America. The good news is that its first printing sold out in about 2 weeks, and at that time Linda was only 300 copies away from reaching Best Seller status! So it looks sure that she will be up there soon! Congratulations Linda!!! - And best wishes for the promotional tour - our love is with you in the whirlwind of work you will be doing.
Though Penguin/Plume are not yet selling the book in New Zealand, UCA is in the process of sorting out the best way to import it. Contact UCA www.ucamusic.com if you want to be included on a list of people who will want to order the book when available. At the moment it is not known how much the book will cost...but UCA will let you know. Thanks for your patience.
Pace of Grace CD
This fantastic CD has just been launched and is an Official Companion to the book. It is available for $29.95 + freight. The music, as the book, is for adults. There are a wide variety of musical styles and voices on this album, by Radha's studio band Circle of Friends. Songs range from Latin, through rock, to acoustic.
Linda loves, and endorses the CD, and is using it in her workshops. Several of the songs are excellent to play to introduce the Five Strategies - some of those titles: Speak in Diamonds, Teach Me in This Moment, Boundaries of the Heart, Spiritual Companions, Practice the Presence. Another lovely track, Invitation, is designed to play during a Virtues Pick.
All instrumentation is live and the production and musicianship is superb. Response so far from listeners is that they feel a presence in this music, that it is accessible just like an 'ordinary' album, but uplifting to a different level...
All song lyrics are printed in the CD booklet and soon there will be a free PDF download on the Sacred Site ( www.thesacredsite.com) about using the music with the book. Kay Miller is writing the CD into the training program.
The CD is an excellent gift for friends as a way to introduce them to the Virtues and of course Linda's new book, because the songs are not at all 'preachy'.
| 21/08/2004 12:20 a.m. | 11/12/2004 | | | | Previous discounts ranged from 5% - 20%, depending on whether items were imported or locally produced. From 15 September, all REGISTERED and PAID UP New Zealand Registered Facilitators (RFs for short) will receive a 20% discount off all Virtues materials purchased from UCA.
To give you some examples of this better discount, RFs will be able to buy:
- The Virtues Project Educators Guide [normally $77.95] RF price $62.36
- The Family Virtues Guide [normally $24.95] RF price $19.96
- Virtues Cards [normally $22.50] RF price $18.00
- The USA poster [normally $18.50] RF price $14.80
- Sacred Moments Book [normally $32.95] RF price $26.36
- A Pace of Grace CD [normally $29.95] RF price $23.96
*RFs also get a 33% discount on freight, paying only $4 instead of $6 – poster tubes remain at the cost price of $2.50.
The time to put this boundary into action will be from 15 September. That means, to qualify for the discount, you must be a paid up RF with the NZ Virtues Trust. It also means that any Facilitators currently receiving a discount, who are NOT paid up, will be returned on 15 September to the normal UCA advertised prices.
At UCA we have decided to show more support in the NZ Virtues Trust, in honouring Linda & Dan's work, the new V P International, and the good, dedicated work that RF do. As further support, UCA will also be paying a voluntary royalty to Linda & Dan from the Pace of Grace CD, though this is not usual practice in our fields.
| 21/08/2004 12:10 a.m. | 11/12/2004 | | | | Angevahn from New Plymouth has just been appointed a Licensed Virtues Project Trainer by Linda, which means that she is qualified to train the trainers and run the 3-day intensive facilitator programmes. Previously Beth Lew was the only New Zealand Licensed Trainer. Angevahn stands tall in integrity and brings a new level of excellence, confidence and enthusiasm to the project. The Trust welcomes others who are interested in being involved at this level to look at the necessary steps of training to move down this track. http://virtuesproject.preview.intergen.net.nz/Licensed%20Trainers/Angevahn.aspx | 23/05/2004 9:27 a.m. | 20/08/2004 | | | | With Beth Lew pulling back we realised it left a big gap in the management and communication channels for the Virtues Project. The Trust thought hard and long about our purpose and ‘’ where to from here’’? It was unanimous that we wanted the project to continue in New Zealand, but the regions needed to strengthen their connections and the project could no longer depend on one person holding it all together.
After much regional consultation we decided the Web site would be the main communication tool, with each region having its own page that could be updated with any information at any time. We put the word out and people offered their services to be the regional contact. New regions can be listed as they develop.
Our vision is to also see special interest groups like Educators, Indigenous group, Virtues in Business, having their own page as well. | 23/05/2004 9:26 a.m. | 20/08/2004 | |
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