www.innovativeresources.org - 137 McCrae Street, Bendigo - 54432 0500

In this volume...

• Talking Up Our Strengths

- Strengths Training courses for Autumn

• I R went to the AI conference in Nepal

• New picture books at IR

To contribute to SOON email us at: soon@innovativeresources.org

St Luke’s Innovative Resources137 McCrae StBendigo 3550 Australiainfo@innovativeresources.orgwww.innovativeresources.orgphone: (03) 5442 0500fax: (03) 5442 0555international (+61 3)

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“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

I might be a relative newbie here at IR but I still feel qualified

to enthusiastically announce that ‘Finally - It’s Here’.

I’m Noel Hobley and having landed here just five months ago I happened along at a time when the IR team and partners, the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), were putting the final touches to a project that has been in the heart and minds of the IR stalwarts, on and off, for nearly 15 years.

After a couple of false starts and some heartache over missed opportunities this strength based card series, celebrating the inherent strengths within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, has been created, produced, generated, ‘brought into being’, made, fabricated, fashioned, built, constructed, designed, devised, developed, shaped, formed or forged - whichever you like but most importantly it has been accomplished and delivered.

With all the pride we could muster we

expectantly uploaded it to our website after

announcing it’s impending arrival in our last edition of SOON (Volume 33 - November 2009).

Within 48 hours our first order came from Ireland, yes I mean the third largest island in Europe, and the interest hasn’t stopped since.

All our back orders have now been processed and delivered and the feedback is reinforcing our believe that the final product was certainly worth the wait.As our sales records proudly announce, anyone, from any cultural background, can use these cards to build their own strengths, and to recognise the strengths of others. Each time they are used these cards

SOONVolume 34 - January 2010IR Home

'Finally -

It's Here'

St. Luke's

Seriously Optimistic Online NewsletterSeriously Optimistic Online Newsletter

will reveal layers of meaning about our past, our present and most of all about our hopes for the future.

As well as being a visual feast, Talking Up Our Strengths is a catalyst for inspiring conversations and storytelling in schools, communities, groups, social work settings, board rooms, family gatherings and back yards. Whether they are spread out across the kitchen bench or on the tables of policy makers and politicians, these cards can be used as tools for reconciliation, social justice and pride in cultural diversity.

The booklet explaining ‘Why, When and How’ to use the cards can be viewed by clicking on the image here or visiting our website bookshelf.

‘These Talking Up Our Strengths cards can

be used as visual aids to share our stories

together—stories that can strengthen our

pride in culture and help us nurture our

children to flourish and grow. The themes of

these cards are woven around our children,

identity, knowledge, Elders, connection,

celebrations, heroes, our land, colours,

language, stories, humour, our men, our

women, our mob, music, sport, health,

tucker, pride, struggles, and our past, present

and future.’

Steve Larkins, Chairperson, SNAICC

RRP $4250

Order now on our websitewww.innovativeresources.org

or email an enquiry toinfo@innovativeresources.org

Images of strengths and resilience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

IT’S TIME: These cards belong in every classroom in Australia!

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”- Albert Einstein

Putting Strengths Into ActionA selection of workshops for developingskills & resources in Strengths Based Practice

Two day introduction to the Strengths Approach15-16 March 2010Cost $396Facilitated by Di O’Neil

Two day Strengths based Supervision17-18 March 2010Cost $396Facilitated by Eloise Neylon

Client FeedbackPeople know what helps19 MarchCost $198Facilitated by Eloise Neylon

Two day TravellingToolshed15-16 March 2010Cost $396.00Facilitated by Russell Deal

Soulful MelancholyWhy feeling sad is no reason not to be happy17-18 March 2010Cost $275Facilitated by Karen Masman

Tools for teambuilding19 March 2010Cost $198Facilitated by Russell Deal

In the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009, many human service workers approached Innovative Resources for tools to assist them in their work with victims of the disaster. A number of our existing products found new uses as tools to promote the emotional recovery of fire victims and to help survivors make decisions about their immediate and longer-term future.

The tragedy also prompted the team at Innovative Resources to look at the usefulness of other books and resources on our shelflist, and one which stood out was Mark Ludy’s, The Flower Man. A delightful picture book about a little old man who moves into a rundown and dislocated community.

Through his love for his garden and goodwill towards those living around him, the Flower Man gradually brings the community back to life as he inspires people to reconnect with each other and the environment around them.

The illustrations in this book are what make it resonate particularly with community-building work in the aftermath of the Black Saturday fires.

Opening with scenes of dimly lit, black and white streetscapes, it fills with colour as the Flower Man’s presence brings subtle, but inexorable, change to the neighbourhood.

For many readers, this

transformation from a black and white world to one of colour and light has powerful connotations of the changes that are seen in towns and settlements after the devastation caused by fire.

Through its imagery, The Flower Man conveys powerful messages of hope, recovery and resilience. Filled with ordinary characters whose lives change as the colour seeps back into their world, The Flower Man is a book that will strike a chord with children and their families as they rebuild their own social networks and watch their neighborhoods regenerate out of the ashes of the February fires.

The Flower ManCat No: 6573 $19.95.Mark Ludy

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.”- Albert Einstein

FUNKY FISH are nextWelcome to the Fish Bowl.Peer inside and you will discover a shoal of 48 fish, brimming with personality!These are the Funky Fish, fish who have feelings, fish who look, well, …decidedly human.Once you have been introduced to the possibility that fish may have emotions you may never again look a fish in the eye in the same way.You see, emotions can be tricky things to talk about. We all flounder at times.Sometimes we all swim in circles when it comes to feelings. Some of us drown in confusion.But with the Funky Fish you too can scale new heights in your tales about your feelings. And watch out some may actually resemble people who you know!

Due out mid 2010 at RRP $49.50

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY CONFERENCE - NEPALInnovative Resources had the privilege late in 2009 to be part of the World Appreciative Inquiry Conference held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

This was the first time this conference had been held outside the U.S. and the effort to stage it in a country struggling economically and politically was a huge undertaking.

In short it was an amazing event with many local community development workers being joined by facilitators and community builders from over 40 other countries.

Keynote speakers included David Cooperrider, Bliss Browne and Justice Albie Sachs.

It was the latter who told personal stories of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and the subsequent work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission who received a standing ovation with many participants moved to tears.

Like any conference however it was often the informal conversations that provided the ‘gininderra’ or little sparks. These were greatly assisted by the expectation that all workshops had to be interactive and in accord with the principles of AI and it was delightful to observe the creative strategies that presenters used to open up discussions in their sessions.

Innovative Resources played a small part in the conference by running a bookstall throughout featuring our own conversation building tools as well as some of the Appreciative Inquiry and community building books we stock.

Russell Deal, IR Managing Director, ran a 90 minute workshop that featured ‘Ups and Downs’ and ‘Cars R Us’ as examples of how our card sets can be used with individuals, organisations and communities within the optimistic spirit of Appreciative Inquiry.

Russell also used the opportunity to invite participants to use prototype sets of the forthcoming ‘What Works?’ cards which have been developed explicitly with AI practitioners in mind.

This set of 30 cards identifies a typical key organisational strength and then suggests 4 possible indicator statements for each, this allows any organisation to look for inherent strengths and to consider how these might be developed.

Expect to see ‘What Works?: the Strengths of an Organisation’ in use with AI facilitators around the world, after their release in April 2010.

Appreciative Inquiry is one of the strength-based approaches that has shaped the practice philosophy of St Luke’s and one that Innovative Resources celebrates through its publications and the array of organisational development and community building resources we have available.

“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.” - Albert Einstein

The picture book shelves at Innovative Resources are always a magnet for our customers and the range of eye-catching books just keeps on expanding! One of the most popular new titles is Colin Thompson’s Fearless which fans of this author will be keen to snap up. After releasing several new books which he both wrote and illustrated, Thompson has collaborated this time with illustrator Sarah Davis. The result is a sweet story about a lovable bulldog called Fearless. Fearless, of course, is not an easy name for a dog to live up to, especially when poor Fearless is confronted by spooky handbags and biting brooms! But when he encounters a burglar in the house, his big moment arrives—and fearless he proves in name if not by nature. The theme of deceptive appearances is common to many popular picture books, but this one handles it beautifully. Although very different to Thompson’s The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley which many of our customers loved, Fearless is a gentle comedy which will give pleasure with many readings.

“This is the soil all dark and deep, in Isabella’s garden.” So begins the rhythmic prose of this new book by Glenda Millard. Echoing the tradition of “This is the house that Jack built”, Isabella’s Garden is a striking publication that tells of the changing of the seasons—from the shoots that seek the sun in spring to the glisten and glimmer of silent winter. Based in the Central Goldfields region of Victoria, Glenda Millard is the author of a number of well-

known children’s books, including The Naming of Tishkin Silk and The Heart of the Tiger. The sensitivity that characterizes her earlier works is equally evident in this cycle-of-life narrative which captures the exuberance, fragility and resilience of the

natural world. The vivid, folk-art style illustrations by Rebecca Cool exude a certain aloofness that nicely matches the lyricism of Millard’s text. The alliterative prose will challenge, and be enjoyed by, all who opt to read this book aloud.

Now, for something completely different, we’ve got first-time author Amanda Noll’s I Need My Monster. An Aussie who lives in Washington, Noll has written this witty and wicked monster-under-the-bed book perfect for kids (and big kids!) as they settle under the covers at night. Ethan has a monster under his bed. But one night when he goes to check his monster he finds a note instead: “Gone fishing. Back in a week,—Gabe”. What will Ethan do? He needs a monster under his bed! Substitute monsters appear but none are as perfect as Gabe. Herbert’s teeth aren’t sharp enough. Cynthia’s tail isn’t scary at all, and Ralph has nail polish on his claws! With illustrations by award-winning UK artist Howard McWilliam this is a book to induce both giggles and shivers. And don’t assume this picture book is just for boys. Plenty of girls will enjoy this monster romp—and I’ll be adding it to my collection too!

Fearless

Cat No: 6576 $24.99

Colin Thompson and Sarah Davis

Isabella’s GardenCat No: 6574 $27.95

Glenda Millard and Rebecca Cool

I Need My MonsterCat No: 6579HC $32.95

Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam

NEW PICTURE BOOKS AT IR

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death” - Albert Einstein