TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

February 20, 2004

In this week’s issue:

Connections

(1) The Secret is to Persevere, Eleanor-May Brenneker

(2) 8th Annual TOCFE Conference

(3) Important Information Regarding the Conference, Zana Borisavljevic

Quote

(4) John Quincy Adams

Editors’ Notes

(5) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

CONNECTIONS

(1) The Secret Is to Persevere

Eleanor-May Brenneker, Netherlands

Last week I gave a very successful “study day” in Holland. AT in the

morning, Analytical/Creative Writing in the afternoon, and time for

delegates to work on a TOC issue of their own choice as well. The evaluation

afterwards revealed that it was a roaring success.

We certified two more facilitators. They want to devote half their working

week on introducing and promoting TOC into the schools and even into

University. Negotiations, therefore, are taking place and the TOC future in

NL looks brighter than ever before.

The secret is to persevere, not give up and to provide plenty of back-up

service or what I call “after-sale-service.” You need to keep in touch

individually with your trained colleagues, let them know you’re always there

and organise open study days on a regular basis, like a mini conference. I am

very pleased with the way things seem to be working out.

My right hand, Petra Pouw, is now our course director and she brilliantly

organises these study days, contacting every trainee and eliciting what I

need to supply to satisfy the TOC demand in training. All the training is

multi-sensory, creative, lively, fun and based on real experience. It's

relevant to the lives and environments of the trainees. It works very well!

(2) 8th Annual TOCFE Conference

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Dates: Thursday, May 20 - Sunday, May 23, 2004

Conference: Intercontinental Hotel in New Belgrade

Accommodations: Jugoslavija Hotel

If you would like to book rooms at the Jugoslavija Hotel, you can do that

through the Miross Travel Agency. The person to contact is:

Ms. Dobrila Puzic

dobrila@miross.co.yu

Miross Travel Agency

Svetogorska 4, Beograd 11000

Serbia

Tel/Fax: +381 11 33 44 945

+381 11 33 44 510

+381 11 33 44 529

(3) Important Information Regarding the Conference

From Zana Borisavljevic, Union of Serbia and Montenegro

Dear Cheryl and Kay,

A couple of years ago the Serbian government decided to try to encourage

people to travel to Serbia. Now, people from most European countries do

not need a visa. Our suggestion is that you check with the Serbian Embassy

in your own country (the official name of the country is “Union of Serbia and

Montenegro”) to get information about travel permits.

There is only one airport in Belgrade, it is called Surcin and it is about half

an hour drive from the city. It is a small airport, so it is very easy to find

your way around. When you get off the plane you basically follow the crowd

through the passport control and into the hall, where you collect your

luggage and then go through the customs.

The only public transport from the airport is a coach that would take you to

the city centre from where there are busses, trolleys, and tramcars to all

parts of the city. You will need local currency (dinars) to pay the fare.

The Miross Travel Agency, who is helping us organize the conference,

can arrange for you to be met at the airport by one of their drivers and then

taken to the hotel. That would cost 10 EU per person. If more people are

traveling together they will lower the price. For more details please

contact:

Ms Dobrila Puzic

dobrila@miross.co.yu

Miross Travel Agency

Tel/Fax: +381 11 33 44 945

+381 11 33 44 510

+381 11 33 44 529

There are also taxis available at the airport, but the taxi drivers will very

likely try to cheat you if they see you are a foreigner. The fare from the

airport to the Hotel Jugoslavija is about 9-10 EU and if you are taking a

taxi you should get the driver to agree on the price before he gives you a

ride.

Belgrade is a multicultural city and apart from the taxi drivers :-) most

other people will genuinely want to help foreigners. If you have worries

about coming to this part of the world because of the troubles we have had

in Serbia in the past, rest assured that Belgrade is absolutely safe in that

respect. However, you might want to watch your purse or a handbag in a

crowded space!

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at jana.b@eunet.yu

Pozdrav (Greetings),

Zana

QUOTE

(4) “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which

difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” —John Quincy Adams

EDITORS’ NOTES

(5) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

Zana, Belgrade sounds very much like some of our cities in the USA…shady

taxi drivers, guarded handbags, and large crowds. :-) Eleanor and Zana,

thanks for sharing!

We look forward to hearing from you. Send your responses, applications of

the thinking processes, lessons, announcements, and etc. by mail to: Cheryl

A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd., Cedarville, Michigan 49719, USA. Or

send hyperlink to cedwards@cedarville.net or kayseal@comcast.net.

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