On March 25, 2006, our CFG met at Marcela's house. Donna, Janet, Josephine, Lidia, Marcela, Marilyn, Mary, and Tim were present. Thank you, Marcela, for such an elegant setting for our breakfast. You made me feel important.

We had a very loose agenda and wide-ranging conversations. Mary and I gave a follow-up report about our experiences at the NSRF Research Forum and the Winter Meeting. We also spent some time debriefing the CFG Reunion that took place in February. The new pattern for the reflections grows from a comment that Josephine made that a leader is responsible for the three L's of Logistics, Learning, and Longevity. I think that the CFG community in Houston usually deserves high marks for logistics and learning, but we must improve the longevity. How do we do this?

Here are the reflections from the March K-16 CFG Meeting:

Logistics:
--great location, close to home
--great hospitality
--sorry I was late.
Learning:
--I always learn from this group
--Wonderings-questions to ponder?
·How can we have a meaningful conversation about equity in Houston?
·As more organizations do CFG work, how can we work together?
Longevity:
--On a personal level, I will take away key points that inform my work.
--Organizationally, I don't know yet.

1. Logistics--Breakfast was great!
2. Learning--Information concerning Louisiana evacuees' scores will be counted in school's rating regardless.
3. Longevity--Brainstorming next steps for next year concerning creating an Alief CFG.

Great logistics
learning-loved the equity discussion and Josephine's insight (as always)
->how powerful to do w/ my new teacher CFG--after connections--as modified connections? have a piece connecting to how we've taken what we last did and used/modified etc. it--
build in the "continuity" part to always be part of the system--
also helps "newbies" see value of the work faster----"

Logistics
Wonderful breakfast. Loved the time to connect w/ people I have not seen for some time.
Learning
Powerful discourse--I feel our conversations were truly deep and meaningful on many different levels. I wish this type of communication would occur more often during our daily interactions. I know it should and it's probably my responsibility to initiate/practice more/ nurture it.
Longevity
We need to examine this much more closely and generate real commitment to practice it.

My mind is reeling with ideas. The initial conversation was needed--it gave me a chance to hear thoughts and discoveries make by both Donna and Mary--this is always useful when I turn to my own "professional learning groups"
Other thoughts on education supported my own thinking--this also is very important to me, because at [??] the climate and environment I work in pushes me in other directions!
Most significant is the notion that came up of LONGEVITY-and the importance of implementing this as part of the approach to doing any work of significance.
I'm trying to work on another leadership group at Rice University. it is particularly useful to hear about ways to approach and implement=facilitate a group of very creative individuals and move them towards leadership!!!"

logistics-
great--
I enjoyed being able to come to Marcella's all sweaty from my walk. The food--fruit, etc. was exactly what I needed.
learning--
Josephine's comment about how companies never outsource their primary product ‡will help me make my case that CFG's foundational role in A+ needs to be strategically supported as we move forward.
longevity--
The notion that a facilitator must make connections from a meeting to other aspects of the work is intriguing. Josephine, please compile a list of resources.
That facilitation must go beyond the logistics and new learning and strategically continues requires more thought.