The excitement is building for the International Holistic Centers Gathering which runs from April 6-11 at The Haven on beautiful Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada.

If you have not yet registered, please do so soon. You will be joining colleagues from centers of all different types, ages and locations. Together, we will once again be co-creating an intense and rich week of learning from our differences and similarities. There are already more than 20 participants from all over Canada and the US, as well as Europe and Asia.

The agenda offers the opportunity both to discuss the topics of most interest to those of us who are responsible for running our centers as well as enjoy the experience of the best that The Haven and Gabriola Island has to offer. The agenda covers topics such as:

• Successes and challenges
• Marketing
• Social media and online cooperation
• Education and programming
• Human Resources
• Trends/zeitgeist
• Green issues and environmental sustainability
• Governance and decision making
• Fundraising

As ever, the agenda will be negotiated throughout the Gathering to ensure that all participants get maximum value. Sessions will be facilitated by participants who have experience in the topic under discussion. There will be opportunities for breakout sessions on specific topics that may be of interest to a smaller number of participants. Our intention is to remain flexible and responsive to the needs of the group.

If you are registered and have a suggestion or contribution to the agenda, please contact Rachel Davey by email (rachel@haven.ca). I’d love to hear from you!

To register for the Gathering, please contact the Haven registration office by phone (1 800 222 9211 x 1) or email (register@haven.ca). Our registration staff are available seven days a week from 9am to 6pm Pacific time (PST).

And just as a reminder, if you are not a center representative and you want to know more about how holistic centres work, join us for A Peek Behind the Scenes: discussions on starting, running and growing a holistic centre. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of learning from six representatives (with over 100 years combined experience) from five centers which have been in existence for more than 200 years!

This workshop will run from April 11-14 and you can find out more by following this link to The Haven web site (http://www.haven.ca/programs/a-peek-behind-the-scenes.html)

The 2014 International Holistic Centers’ Gathering at The Haven on Gabriola Island is now less than two months away. If you have not registered yet, please do so soon!

You can register by contacting The Haven’s registration office by phone (1 800 222 91-211 x 1) or by email (register@haven.ca). There is a member of staff (Morag, Tina, Cindy or Naomi) in our registration office from 9am to 6pm Pacific Time seven days a week.

I am now in the process of putting the agenda for the Gathering together, and I would love your input. My experience of the Gatherings has taught me that there are three great benefits to attending:

The opportunity to meet representatives from other centres and find out more about them and their centre.

1. The sharing of best practices in centre management and organization.
2. The chance to see and experience the work of the host centre and the place where it is located.

The 2014 agenda will weave all of the elements above together, and will be even better with your input.

Every year there are a number of general centre issues that get covered at the Gathering, which include the following:

• Mission/vision/values
• Future of centres
• Sustainability
• Residential students/volunteers
• Staffing
• Marketing and media
• Fundraising, capital campaigns, board development
• Successes, struggles, general ‘feel’
• Growth – who wants it, needs it and how to get it
• Best practices in guest services
• Conscious Community/Conscious Centre – definitions, delights, difficulties
• Human resources – best practices
• Education and programming
• Governance and decision making
• Holistic leadership

I would like to hear from you if you think there is something important missing from this list. Or if there are issues on this list that are more important than others. I would also love to hear from anyone with experience and passion for a particular topic who might like to facilitate a session. Please contact me by email (rachel@haven.ca) if there is anything that you would like to contribute to the agenda of the 2014 Gathering or a wish that you hope we can fulfil while you are here.

And just as a reminder, if you are not a centre representative and you want to know more about how holistic centres work, join us for A Peek Behind the Scenes: discussions on starting, running and growing a holistic centre. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of learning from six representatives (with over 100 years combined experience) from 5 centres which have been in existence for more than 200 years! This workshop will run from April 11-14 and you can find out more by following this link to The Haven web site (http://www.haven.ca/programs/a-peek-behind-the-scenes.html)

Rachel Davey
Executive Director
The Haven

We’re Hiring!

The Haven is looking to recruit an Assistant Executive Director. This person will be responsible for every aspect of a person’s experience of The Haven from when s/he steps on to the Haven property to when s/he leaves, with the exception of the educational content of the programs.

The Assistant ED also deputizes for the Executive Director in her absence. We are seeking someone who is passionate about the onsite experience of The Haven and ensures that it matches the high quality of our educational programming. This job would particularly suit someone with a proven track record in working at a managerial level in hotel, facility or resort management or other similar experience with a customer orientation.

For more details and to download the full job description go to the Haven web site (http://www.haven.ca/contact-us/jobs.html).