Retreat

Thank you to all who took part in the SAA’s first Virtual Leadership Retreat. The total number of registrants reached 276—100 more than have attended in-person SAA leadership retreats. Participants included teachers from Canada, US, South America and a few from Europe as well.

It was a great experiment—unique in many ways—and a great first step toward experiencing what SAA can accomplish through the web. For many it was a first introduction to new ways to provide and receive information and inspiration. As many have noted, virtual presentations cannot replace the live, interactive experience of a wonderful Suzuki conference or Teacher Training workshop, but it can provide inspiration between “live” opportunities or in times when some teachers are finding travel, time, and resources limited.

Read more of Virtual Leadership Retreat a Great Success »

Due to much begging and pleading, registration has been re-opened for the Virtual Leadership Retreat. It will not remain open indefinitely, so don’t wait—register now if you want to participate!

The 2009 Virtual leadership Retreat is now open. Events start Saturday, April 4th and run through the end of the month. Registered participants can now log in to the VLR site from the big button on the home page or the VLR link in the navigation bar.

Enter the Virtual Leadership Retreat

If you haven’t registered yet, you can still register through Sunday, April 5th.

Register for the Virtual Leadership Retreat

The April Virtual Leadership Retreat is fast approaching. The kick-off event will be the LIVE Annual Meeting video webcast and chat on April 4th at 3:30pm Pacific time, which will be open to all members. Other VLR-only highlights include:

• New video lectures by Jeff Cox, Mark George, Alice Joy Lewis, Christie Felsing, Zachary Ebin, Teri Einfeldt, Diane Slone, Maria Mastropaolo, Sarah Pearce, and others.
• Videos from past conferences and retreats, including tips on how to plan a workshop, the business side of running a teaching studio, graduations, tour groups, how children learn, and many more.
• Video features on many Summer Institutes.
• Book discussion on Talent Is Overrated.
• Updates on newer Suzuki instrument areas: Organ, Recorder, and Voice.
• Live chats on many topics.
• Discussion threads on videos, your teaching stories, and for input on next year’s Conference.

A schedule will be online by the end of the month, so be sure to check the website for that. VLR registrants will receive more information by email in the coming weeks.

Register for the VLR by March 25 to receive a $10 discount off the regular $45 price when you upload your picture and bio.

Read more about the VLR >>

I am really looking forward to the Virtual Leadership Retreat, and hope that many of my colleagues will participate. Given the high costs of traveling to conferences, the possibility of using technology in this way is a real boost to our community. To be able to virtually “attend” conferences for a nominal fee, from home and at a time that is convenient for each person, must be practical as well as cost-effective for everyone. Could there be an easier way to recharge our collective batteries?!

The main drawback to a virtual conference is the lack of face-to-face interaction and sharing of ideas. Here in Southern Ontario, we are planning to get small groups of area teachers together at one person’s home to watch certain presentations, and follow the video with coffee and discussion. In this way, the Virtual Leadership Retreat can be both local, and international. It will be a wonderful opportunity to build relationships on the local level, and since many teachers have never been to a Suzuki conference, I expect that it will be an opportunity to inspire those who haven’t yet been, to think of going to the 2010 conference.

I’d like to suggest that other teachers actively promote this idea in their area, to ensure that the VLR is a success.

Thanks for this innovative idea!

Registration for the VLR is now open. The participation fee is $45, but only $35, if you…

• Sign up by March 25
• Attach your digital photo (if it’s not already on the SAA website), and
• Answer a couple of questions for our virtual get-acquainted game.

The Retreat activities will begin on April 4, with videos, live presentations, and chats. Most activities will conclude on April 30.

Topics relate to Leadership—all Suzuki teachers are leaders in their school, program, community, and beyond. The VLR will provide something for all Suzuki teachers, administrators, and others who are active in the Suzuki community.

Read more of Register for the Virtual Leadership Retreat »

In 1994 the SAA Board became increasingly aware of the importance of understanding and sharing concepts of Leadership. Believing that Leadership is essential to the growth of the Suzuki method and to the future success of the Association, the SAA held its first Leadership Retreat in 1995 in Estes Park, Colorado. With the success of that event and the growth of the Association, Leadership (and specifically “Creating the Future Together”) has been the theme of the SAA’s biennial Retreats. Past retreats have been held in Colorado, California, and Ontario.

For this year, our 8th such event, the concept of a Virtual Retreat has emerged as a way to bring leadership training to all SAA members with online capabilities—a potentially much larger audience than in past years. The fee is very affordable, the times are flexible, and the place is…wherever you have online access! We will share information from past years as well as new ideas—something for everyone. The VLR may be your opportunity not only to learn about Leadership, but also to give back to the SAA, your Suzuki organization, through sharing your leadership knowledge and skills with newer members and less experienced Suzuki teachers and families!

If you have not been able to attend a Leadership Retreat sponsored by the SAA, then you are in for a real treat. You will definitely be able to attend this year’s retreat with no travel expense, a small fee, and unlimited time for you to partake in the offerings.

The first ever Virtual Leadership Retreat is being held the entire month of April. See below how the SAA Board feels about the Retreat and perhaps they can entice you to be a part of this remarkable experience.

Read more of Chair’s Column »

An Online, Interactive Potpourri of Ideas and Opportunities

The whole month of April, 2009

Conversations, postings, moderated chats, panel discussions, audio and video presentations, live web-based discussion, special challenges, and presentation by the SAA Board—all of these can be ours in April, 2009!

There is a leadership role for everyone in the Suzuki Community. Our challenge is to provide knowledge and skills to inspire and assist individuals in their local or regional roles, whether it be in official capacities as administrators or organizational board members or in the role of ambassador or spokespersons for Suzuki in their communities. The Virtual Leadership Retreat (VLR) will provide opportunities for new and experienced teacher alike to share, to be inspired, to learn and to grow.

The VLR may be your opportunity to give back to the SAA, your Suzuki organization, through sharing your leadership knowledge and skills with newer members and less experienced Suzuki teachers and families!

Read more of SAA Virtual Leadership Retreat: Ideas Wanted »