David Wetherow and Cheryl Fryfield presenting on "Cheryl's Star Raft Salons" - a Spectrum Consulting project with Shelley Nessman, Barb Goode and Aaron Johannes. To learn more about David's work check out communityworks.info For Spectrum Consulting projects, www.101friends.ca

2. HOW WE GOT STARTED
u I had my PATH done last year, and
it made a big difference in my life.
u I achieved many of my goals, and
it was time to refresh my PATH.
u I wanted to share my story with
other self-advocates, so I did a
presentation at the Spectrum
Society’s Managers Meeting.
u David Wetherow was presenting
at the same meeting and we got
to meet there.

3. u David, Aaron, Shelley, Barb Goode and I came up with the idea of a
series of meetings. Aaron call them ‘salons’.
u A ‘salon’ is when people gather to talk and learn and explore ideas
together.
u We decided to invite a group of self-advocates and friends to learn
about hospitality, PATH and the Star Raft pattern for building circles

4. WHAT WE DID
u At our first big meeting, we
invited Karla Verschoor, her
daughter Lily and Barb Goode
to help us make a plan for a
year’s work.
u We brainstormed lots of ideas
and then Barb and I quickly
identified the most important
ones.

5. WHAT WE DID
u We decided that we would meet
once a month, and that each
month would focus on a special
theme or idea.
u We decided to invite guests from
the community to each meeting.
We wanted to see of people
would come and talk with us as
an experiment. Did people want
to get to know us? We wanted
new people and new ideas.

6. u We met once a month in a place where we could do creative work
together
u We made sure that everyone felt welcome and that nobody went
away hungry
u Aaron and Shelley facilitated PATHs for each member (two are
scheduled soon)
u We blended PATH and the Star Raft (a new way of building circles)

7. u Dave attended each meeting and most of the PATHs on live video.
He gave us pointers, trained is in building Star Raft circles and
Solution Circles, and led several of our conversations.
u Aaron and Shelley took photos of the graphics, meetings and
guests and posted many of them on Facebook.
u Each of us supported the others with ideas, connections,
appreciation and encouragement.
u We now have our own page on Facebook. You can also see our
progress on the www.101friends.ca website if you click on
‘Cheryl’s Star Raft Salons”.

8. HOW WE WORKED TOGETHER
u Each meeting had a pattern. Every
time we met ….
u Each person talked about what
they had been doing in the past
month, especially after getting
their PATHs done
u We practiced new skills
u We helped each other solve
problems
u We suggested new places that
people might explore

9. u Each meeting had a theme. We
talked and learned about ….
u Hospitality and making people
feel welcome
u Moving from ‘activity’ to
connection
u Building our personal circles
u Getting through tough times
u Starting a small business

10. u And we learned about ….
u Building strong personal
support networks
u Toastmasters Clubs and
becoming stronger
presenters
u How supported
employment works in
California at Jay Nolan
u The art of hosting

11. u Each meeting had a guest.
We met with …
u John Anderson and Jon
from Toastmasters
u Ellen Walker, a researcher
from Australia
u Sasha Stone, a
consultant in business
and marketing
u Norman Kunc and Emma
Van der Klift, on advocacy
u Jewel Hopkins

12. WHAT WE DISCOVERED
u People became more open with their feelings and more confident
u The group became closer, and we missed people when they
couldn’t be there
u People were amazed when they got their PATHs done
u Friends, family and community partners are willing to pitch in and
help out when they see what is on our PATHs

13. WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT …
u There are many places in the
community where our gifts and
contributions will be welcomed
u How important it is to connect
with people in the larger
community, and when we do
this, people will say “Yes!”
u We need to be ‘on purpose’
about expanding our personal
circles.

14. A BIG DISCOVERY WAS THAT …
u Not one single person or group
that we’ve invited to visit us
has said “no”.
u In fact, people have changed
their schedules around so they
could meet with us even when
they didn’t quite understand
what they were coming for.
u People want to know us!

15. WE ARE GETTING RESULTS!
u Everyone who has gotten their PATH done has started to
accomplish their goals. Individual members are …
u Traveling and presenting
u Engaging friends and family members in finding business
opportunities and job leads
u Becoming more active and getting healthier
u Saving money
u Setting boundaries and realizing that we can’t do it all – so we
are focusing on what we really want.

16. WHAT WE WANT TO DO NEXT
u We want to pay it forward!

17. WHAT WE WANT TO DO NEXT
u We want to:
u Become more effective speakers
u Connect with more community
groups like Toastmasters
u Make real contributions to our
own communities

18. WHAT WE WANT TO DO NEXT
u We want to:
u Help facilitate PATHs
u Help facilitate Solution Circles
u Strengthen our own circles
u Help people invite friends, family
and community partners into their
personal circles

19. HONOURING OUR SPONSORS
u We especially want to thank
the people who sponsored
our work:
u The Community Living BC
Safeguards Initiative,
u The BC Gaming Fund, and
u Spectrum Society for
Community Living