This Week’s Circle Club Winner: Ian McCallum, Dialogue Partners

Please join us in congratulating Ian McCallum as this week’s winner of a $20 USD gift card to Berrett-Koehler Publishers, as part of our PublicDecisions Circle Club Member Appreciation Month. His name was drawn at random from among our current Circle Club members. 

Ian possesses an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph in Canadian History with a minor in Rural Extension Studies and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Carleton University with concentrations in Public Management and Innovation Science and Environment. His unique skill is being able to work and network with diverse stakeholder groups, keeping them happy and task focused. He has 15 years in the political arena coordinating election campaigns and working in various political offices at different levels; Federal Ministers, a Senator, and a Municipal Mayor’s office. 

He brings a vast knowledge of issues and skill base when operating in the public arena. One of his lasting and more interesting projects was as secretary for Interfaith Ottawa, an open participant collaboration between the City of Ottawa and religious and ethnic leaders, resulting in the creation of a book of Peace and religious-cultural acceptance which was signed by the Dalai Lama and Prime Minister Martin. Ian’s other experiences centre on community development and issue resolution between and within communities of interest. Ian holds certificates in Public Participation from IAP2, and a certificate in Strategic Environmental Assessment from IAIA. Ian recognizes the importance of dialogue and community process to inform the decision making table. Ian’s personal belief is if you listen to someone long enough they will really open up and tell you what is important to them. 

When he’s not working with stakeholders, Ian can be found puttering the bike trails and ski hills in Gatineau Park with his wife and four kids. Congratulations, Ian! 

This concludes our free drawings in honor of Circle Club Members’ Appreciation Month. Many thanks to all our members for their ongoing interest in our programs and activities! If you know of someone who might benefit from membership, please direct them to our website to join today.

This Week’s Circle Club Winner: Beth Carlson, Collaborative Planning & Governance at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Please join us in congratulating Elizabeth (Beth) Carlson as this week’s (week of February 15, 2010) winner of a $20 USD gift card to Berrett-Koehler Publishers, as part of our PublicDecisions Circle Club Members' Appreciation Month. Her name was drawn at random from among our current Circle Club members.

Beth is a strategic planner, facilitator, and participatory design practitioner. She has more than 15 years experience working with groups and projects that span varied interests and objectives.

In her work at Confluence Consulting, she works with project teams or organizational leaders to create participatory processes to fit the needs of the client and situation. Her private clients are in all sectors, including nonprofit, university, and government. Impartiality is her hallmark after more than 15 years experience with a variety of clients in both her private practice and her employment. She also is a strategic planner at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, where she facilitates participatory and collaborative processes and serves as the agency’s administrative rules coordinator. Beth earned her Master’s Degree in Planning from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

The next drawing will be held on Monday, 22 February at 5pm EST / 12am GMT. You must be a Circle Club member to qualify. Click here to join; membership is free and there’s no obligation