The book recounts stories from the beginning of human history to the present day of grassroots efforts to improve life for the majority, especially the most vulnerable. In 300 pages, Compassion provides a history of humanity with all its warts that emphasizes the lives of the people rather than the kings, lords,and magnates.
WBC members get a special price and a signed copy of the book COMPASSION: A GLOBAL HISTORY of SOCIAL POLICY, by local author Alvin Finkel. The price is $40.00 and you can get it directly from him here: finkel@telusplanet.net | About: Alvin Finkel is the author|co-author, or co-editor of 13 history books including Working People in Alberta: A History, History of the Canadian Peoples, The Chamberlain-Hitler Collusion, and Social Policy and Practice in Canada: A History. He is president of the Alberta Labour History Institute, professor emeritus of History at Athabasca University, and half of the writing team of Change Alberta.
TALK SERIES | “Promotions & Networking for Small & Medium Size Enterprises” with Glen Ronald
Friday May 24, 2019 | 10:00am to 12:00 noon @ The Business Link, Suite #500, 10150-100 St.
Suggested donation: $10.00 (thanks!).
About: A visual artist and sharp business entrepreneur, Glen Ronald operates Spark: The Branding Shop, a business branding & promotional product company he pioneered 20 years ago. We are thrilled to have him sharing his expertise around brand awareness, promoting particular products|services + techniques he has successfully developed over the years. ||| PS. Parking downtown can be challenging; if you can manage park & ride, we recommend it.
Dean Heuman, Focuscom.ca – Marketing for Small Business
7:15 Official AGM Call to Order
President’s Report
Financial Report
Election of Directors
8:00: Networking & Members Exercise ~8:30 PM Close
Location: 7103 – 105 Street NW (Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues)
Our membership has more than doubled.
We are about to embark on three development projects.
Snacks provided.
(We have about 20 people confirmed to date)
Post AGM Session
Collecting Members Interests: William Fritzberg, Design Thinker
Food will be provided. Network with Members
Note: Members
are entitled to be nominated for the board or to vote for the board of
directors. If you are unsure of your membership status contact Randal
We welcome proudly our brand new WCB Member > The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues! The Role of the EFCL is to speak on behalf of and lobby for all Community Leagues. EFCL assists and supports the work of Community Leagues through promotion of the Community League movement, program development and delivery, workshops, regular communications, advice on issues and opportunities, joint purchase of supplies, and attraction of sponsorships. What is a Community League? A Community League is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization formed to meet the needs and interests of residents within a defined geographic area. Community Leagues are recognized by the City of Edmonton as the primary speaking body for the community. Leagues are part of a network of 159 (and counting!) neighbourhood-based organizations operating under the umbrella of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) since 1921.
We
are delighted to welcome Michael Palmer to
the growing Wayfinders Business Cooperative community. Michael is Speaker and Facilitator
of Seminars, Trainings and Workshops. He relies on the Holy Spirit to work
through him, for the welfare and benefit of those he serves. His workshops support
participants to face their fears, overcome their adversity and embrace the
happiness they are truly meant for! His Spirit, compassion, and delightful
sense of humor, bring levity and flow to the process, all of which combines to
extend a profound opportunity for his participants to effect healing in their
lives! In a great many cases his workshops are reported to be . . . life
changing.
Michael brings an extensive journey of training and experience in the field of personal development, spiritual awakening & healing work. Some of his influences are A Course in Miracles; Chuck and Lency Spezzano; Ken Wapnick and Sri Cinmoy. Michaels’ events are promoted by Guiltbusters Ltd. Several events are scheduled for the autumn season in Edmonton. To be notified, send an email to: info@guiltbuster.com requesting notification. Keep an eye open for the launch of his website, slated for June 2019 www.guiltbuster.com | Note: Michael’s next speaking engagement is on July 28, 2019 at Unity of Edmonton, 11715-108 Ave. See:https://unityofedmonton.ca
We have long known about the hierarchy of needs from psychology.
Once basic biological and safety needs are met, people naturally begin to seek social
relationships, trust, respect and recognition and a sense of belonging. Once
those social needs are met we spend time in search of higher meanings, such as wisdom,
mastering your skills or actualizing your personal potential.
I believe that people are designed by Nature to seek a
deeper meaning, to feel they make a difference or contribute to something
bigger than themselves. Without a supportive outlet for this meaning quest
people get anxious and even depressed. For some people who feel trapped in a
bureaucracy or assembly line, self-employment may be a viable path forward in a
meaning quest. Self-employed Joseph Lui lists his top new-found meaningful forms
of wealth: personal profile, health, relationships
and freedom[1].
If you do a web search on meaningless work you will find a large
number of articles[2].
Roughly 40 per cent of workers report that their work is meaningless. One UK anthropologist,
David Graeber[3], studied
this and found that many people in white-collar and service sector jobs for
which they are paid for 35- 40 hours per week are actually productive for less
than half that time. Much of the work being done fills non-economic agendas. In
large corporations more time is spent acquiring wealth and power[4]
not only at the board and executive levels, but among middle managers and their
subordinates
Take a moment
To some extent what may be responsible for
the felt meaninglessness are the multiple layers that stand between the workers
and the benefits received by customers or the public. The work is so highly
specialized that you can’t see what good it does. You don’t see a physical
product at the end of the day. Whether embedded in an assembly line or an
office administration process, you think of yourself as easily replaceable.
Almost anyone could take your place and no one would notice. Your education,
prior experience, even your IQ, are largely irrelevant. Maybe the job isn’t
even necessary. These are now called “bullshit
jobs”[5].
It would be doubtful if the same level of meaningless was to
be found among self-employed people or those working in small business. In
small business you need to prove your productivity every day. You can’t hide.
You need to master many practical skills and make up businesses processes as
you go. Some of the highest functioning and happiest individuals I have ever
met are self-employed or running small businesses.
Its not like these people were necessarily born that way. As
a business coach I witnessed transformations from disgruntled laid-off middle-aged
workers to highly composed effective entrepreneurs. They were sputtering out and
then firing on all cylinders! There are studies in psychology that show how our
hormones[6]
and leadership behaviours change as we experience and overcome challenges.
Along with these changes comes a new attitude and self-respect. It becomes a
virtuous circle of personal progress.
I am not trying to glamorize self-employment. It is rarely easy to become a highly successful entrepreneur. In my opinion the most important key is to build the right business model for you. It means fully appreciating and expressing your core strengths and passions. It includes surrounding yourself with positive people who share your enthusiasm and complement your skill sets. I believe this is the path toward a most meaningful life for many people. Get a little help from your friends to be all you can be!
