Archive for 'Community' Category

The ultimate negotiation strategy

Posted by Sharon 26 November 2011

Many years ago I read about tit for tat as the ultimate negotiation strategy.  This updated version  is an enhancement that really covers all bases – tit for tat with gratuitous friendliness. The traditional tit for tat strategy says to start cooperatively then match the other party’s response (but don’t escalate).  However it may still [...]

Citizen Sector

Posted by Sharon 21 July 2010

Our Big Conversation group has been talking about better names for the “not-for-profit” sector, so it was good to read that the American organisation Ashoka (who support social entrepreneurs and the social sector) have been discussing the same topic.  They have floated “citizen sector” as a possibility, because the sector is powered by citizens “who [...]

Teaching our kids life literacy – we owe it to them

Posted by Sharon 23 April 2010

I spent yesterday out at James Meehan High School at Macquarie Fields and then the Claymore Neighbourhood & Youth Centre talking to some amazingly passionate women and men, courtesy of United Way Sydney.  Their measure of success is that the kids from these very disadvantaged suburbs have positive role models and opportunities to gain literacy [...]

Australian Giving Week – give and you get the benefit

Posted by Sharon 29 November 2009

Thanks to Rainforest Rescue for reminding me that this week is Australian Giving Week.  A perfect way to start the silly season by doing a big cleanout of “stuff”.  As well as the groups listed on the Give Now website, here are two groups that I give stuff to.  Please add your favourites to this [...]

Vote 1 Earth

Posted by Sharon 26 March 2009

I must be one of the many people who haven’t yet met Todd Sampson via the Gruen Transfer, but as of next week I will be an avid viewer.  Tonight I listened and watched teary eyed, to his story about the growth of the Earth Hour movement and now I’m all inspired to find other [...]

I see you – you are no island

Posted by Sharon 9 December 2008

Thanks to Pauline Gates for this fabulous link to the NY Tropfest winning entry: Mankind is no island. Two years ago I was privileged to be a Learning Partner in a program that aimed to connect homeless people with the community through Humanities courses.  Until that time, I had been scared of interacting with homeless [...]

We’re in this together

Posted by Sharon 29 October 2008

A retailer in our local area went into administration recently after three decades in business.  The comments in the local paper indicated that if people had known the retailer was in trouble, they would have made more of an effort to go there instead of heading to a “big name” retailer for the latest bargain. [...]