Mom 80th Birthday

Once in a life-time happy opportunity to celebrate mom's 80th Birthday. My husband, John, and grandson, Bill, gave mom a pleasant surprise.

Creative Problem Solving: Thousand Hand Guan Yin

Creative Problem Solving is a system of tools and techniques to make the Impossible Possible. This video fits in the umbrella of Making the Impossible Possible. Let me explain.

I like to share this because I was moved to tears by the shear beauty and possibility. Below is an excerpt sent to me from my dear friend Carolyn, who is an audiology. Few people know of my invisible hearing disability since a young child. More on this some other time.

However, there is always CPS, Creative Problem Solving technique to overcome challenges. I will do a pre-conference workshop of Painting on Water on June 20, 2009 in Boston. We may not get a thousand hands to paint on water, you can definitely have your hands in the water !!!

Learning technique is awesome. Opportunity to interact with the colleagues are priceless. Please join me either at the workshop and/or the complete conference for the total CPS experience.


= = =

Read the text below before watching the amazing video.

There is an awesome dance, called the Thousand-Hand Guan Yin, which is
making the rounds across the Internet. Considering the tight coordination
required, the accomplishment is nothing short of amazing even if the dancers were not all deaf.

Yes, you read correctly. All 21 of the dancers are complete deaf-mutes. Relying only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage, these extraordinary dancers deliver a visual spectacle that is at once intricate and stirring.

Its first major international debut was in Athens at the closing ceremonies
for the 2004 Paralympics. But it had long been in the repertoire of the
Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe and had traveled to more than 40 countries.

Its lead dancer is 29-year old Tai Lihua who has a BA from the Hubei Fine
Arts Institute. The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival
this year.

Click to watch the video.
Thousand Hand Guan Yin


= ==

Links to my colleagues who are also involved with the Creative Problem Solving techniques:
Renee Callahan Hopkins
Missy Carvin
Gregg Fraley
Jonathan Vehar
Amy Basic (also known as Amy Lee Segami)

Please send me your feedback at segami@segami.com

What the Buzz about CPSI ?

The buzz is about Innovation . . .
Are you ready to join the Revolution of Creativity for the cause of Innovation?

To be successful is to have great innovation.
Innovation is deliberate creativity.
Creativity is about change: doing something has not been done before as in a revolution.

The upcoming Creativity Conference, CPSI, from June 20 - 23, in Boston will change your outlook, perception, mission and purpose. You will not walk out as the same person when you walk in, I personally guarantee.

Why have you not heard of CPSI?
This event was created by the inventor of Brainstorming, Alex Osborn, some 50 years ago. It used to be what happened in CPSI stayed in CPSI. Yours truly attended CPSI 2006 Chicago, CPSI 2007 and 2008 Atlanta: witnessed the whole spectrum from the laugh and the joy to the puzzle and the skeptical; from the young and the old at various corners of the planet, to the left brains integrated with the right brains. After experiencing 3 years of consistent values, I have to share this.

I have to share the possibilities of Contagious Creativity with YOU.

Most creative folks are about doing something new and different. What excites them are the future, possibilities and options. They did not spend a lot of time on the past, talking about what they have done. In the light of revolution, they actually changed !!! They now have documents to show what had happened in CPSI.


Who and What are CPSI?
Click the first video for CPSI 2008. Watch it once then go back to my favorite moment at 1 minute and 33 sec when Dimis Michaelides, magician speaker, demonstrating the Amazing Eggs. Video about CPSI

Photo Album.


Keynote Speakers & Trainers
Dean Kamen, Inventor of the Segway and Founder of the FIRST Robotics Competition; Sarah Miller Caldicott, Thomas Edison’s great grandniece and author of “Innovation Like Edison”; Keith Sawyer, author of “Group Genius”
Seasoned trainers and facilitators will guide you thru the journey.

Programs
Too many choices to list them all here. There is something for everyone. From a full day, pre-fonference or post-conference special workshop to a bit-ize sampler. It's a buffet for the creativity brains.
On June 20, I will conduct Painting On Water: Think Like an Artist Act Like an Entrepreneur, from previous blog.


Sign up now
On May 11, 2009, at 1:30 pm EST, there will be a webinar to give a tour of the CPSI conference. Sign up for the newsletter. You can always unsubscripted it later.

Last but not least, Deadline for EARLY Registration is April 30.

You will be saying "Share Share" in no time.
(Share Share means Thank You in Madarine Chinese)

= = =
Here are some additional resources
Rosemary Rein on her Wild WOW Spirit of Customer Service
Rosemary Rein also has a video on Creativity Revolution
Jonathan Vehar on New and Improved
Missy Carvin's creative spelling MissyLaneous (more on this later. Reminds me of the now famous CreatIITvity campaign of IIT, Illinois Institute of Technology, my Alma Mater.)

Miracle in March

Had the good fortune to see Ms. Maya Angelou in person at Saint Sabina Church on the South Side of Chicago tonight.

It was an amazing experience to watch her dressed in gold, at her golden age. She was funny, witty and sprinkling wisdom on the audience at will. She sang, recited poems and told personal stories. What an inspiration to see what a person can become. Despite that I have read her books through the years, I looked her up on Wikipedia before the event just to refresh my memories.

I was in awe of what this woman embodied. What an interesting life. There must be a screenplay written somewhere about her life. Who would play her? Hmmm, perhaps no better choice than one of her proud daughters, Oprah Winfrey.

Unfortunately, Ms. Angelou did not wish to have her photo taken close up or give any autographs. Out of respect, no one pressed the request. It was an honor to shake her hand. Speaking to her directly, eyeball-to-eyeball, was priceless.

This is a Miracle in March. When I got the ticket, I was told that it would be very crowded. It was expected to have standing room only in a church that seats 1,200. I was prepared to bring along my binoculars. Then a surprising email from my good friend Harry informed me that he had arranged for a VIP ticket. I was able to sit up front and meet Ms. Angelou in person afterwards. What an memorable evening for me. Miracles do happen.

Thank you, Harry, thank you !!!

About T. Grace

Been enjoying the articles by Talayah Stovall, (also known as T. Grace). She is a speaker and an author in Chicago, specialized in relationship. She will have a book signing on Saturday, 3/28, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at AfriWare Bookstore, 266 W. Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois. If you are in the area or have friends close by, please pass the information and give her the support.


She is also on the board of Chicago Youth Centers, Rebecca Crown Center in South Shore. The ETA fund raiser event will take place on Friday, May 8 at 8:00pm. The play is "Levee James." A reception will follow the performance. Great opportunity to support the youth program. Please contact Talaya if you are interested.

Call for Artists

Viridian Artists Inc. in New York City Call for Artists
(per artist Kathleen King)

20th Annual International Juried Competition

Open to all US and international artists working in 2D and 3D media. Entries juried by Elisabeth Sussman, Curator, The Whitney Museum of American Art , NYC.

Cash prizes, Power-Point presentation, Group exhibition June 30-July 17, 2009.

Deadline for entries April 10, 2009. $40/3 pieces, $5 each additional.

Send SASE for prospectus: Viridian Artists Inc, 530 West 25th Street, NY, NY 10001, or download at www.viridianartists.com/

Phone: 212-414-4040, email questions: info@viridianartists.com

Click to Give

My friend Melissa told me about this Click to Give. Have you heard of this?

When you get to the site, click each of the six tabs, and the sponsors will donate to help feeding the hungry, animal rescue, rainforest, literacy, child health, and breast cancer. Seems too easy to pass. theanimalrescuesite.com/

This site provides medical care for children in remote area of Mexico. The mission founded by a Catholic priest

also has started a clinic, a boarding school, etc. http://www.giveaminute.org

Another one for the dogs and cats - the rates of abandonment have skyrocketed in this troubled economy. http://www.freekibble.com/