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Dear colleagues and friends,
We are writing to tell you of some Centre for Playback Theatre news. Following his 65 birthday last August, Jonathan announced his desire to begin a process of transforming his full-time responsibilities as Centre executive director to a part-time role. Accordingly we have begun a transition process. We are looking to hire a program director who might be qualified, after a period of learning, to manage the organization.
The Centre, as many of you know, embraces the School of Playback Theatre. While its core mission is still training, the Centre also fundraises for scholarships, stimulates playback projects, coordinates resources, and promotes the playback idea around the world. The Centre is officially incorporated as a nonprofit organization and is legally run by a board of directors (us), with Jonathan as our inspiration and guiding light. You can find out more about us below and on the website. (In addition to a new staff member, we are also looking for recommendations for committed board members who can help guide the Centre into its next chapter and ensure the fulfillment of the Centre’s mission and vision.)
We want to be open and transparent about our process with you, our playback theatre colleagues. Many small NGO's do not survive the retirement of the founder, but we believe that playback theatre transcends Jonathan. It embodies the idealistic social objective of giving everyone a chance to tell their story. It champions creativity and play of the highest order. We believe there is a need for playback theatre in our world, and we are committed to building the Centre to help fulfill its promise. Exactly what size and shape the Centre will become is still emerging.
There is a lot of detail we are not including in this letter. But please write any of us, and we will fill you in. Ask a question or make a suggestion. It is an exciting moment. Jonathan, Jo and the playback pioneers have taken us this far. Now it is time for us to carry on the legacy.
Please write. Address your message to all of us at board@playbackcentre.org or any of us individually. On our part we will of course keep you informed as we proceed with the leadership transition process.
Best wishes,
The Centre for Playback Theatre Board of Director:
Jen Kristel, director of Vermont Playback Theatre, USA (jenkristel@hotmail.com)
Claudia Rosen, staff member, Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies, USA (claudiarosen@yahoo.com)
Karen Rappleyea, development consultant, USA (karen@innovativeresourcesgroup.com)
Will Chalmus, artistic director, Brandeis U. Playback Society, USA (willc4me@gmail.com)
Chris von Baeyer, corporate trainer and artistic director, Toronto Playback Theatre, Canada (cvonbaeyer@torontoplayback.com)
Veronica Needa, former IPTN president, member London Playback Theatre and True Heart Playback Theatre, London, England vneeda@gmail.com)
Pamela Freeman, psychotherapist, trainer, activist and co-director Playback for Change, Philadelphia, USA (Pfree12334@aol.com)
Jonathan Fox, Centre director, USA (jonathanfox@hvi.net)
(You can see what we look like by clicking here: http://playbackcentre.org/about_us_bd_of_directors.htm)