[Oe List ...] A ToP Trainer Responds

[Milan Hamilton]

I continue to be mystified and totally puzzled at the arrogance and
insensitivity, and might I say, ignorance (in the technical sense of the
word) of ICA US Board and staff in terms of awareness (or unawareness) of
what is going on out in the real world of facilitation and training.  As one
who goes back to circa 1967 in terms of starting the journey of becoming a
change agent and spreader of methods of participation, I am speaking only
for myself as a ToP Trainer and a member of the ToP Trainers Network and one
who was actually in attendance at the Denver meeting in July 07.

 

The latest communications which I have read from the ICA USA board president
and the interim executive director just amaze me:  Not even an
acknowledgement of the issues contained in the resulting August 31 response
to the "white paper" written by the interim ICA USA executive director.  All
I could see was a sort of reactionary hard line response, without much
thoughtfulness to the issues raised by the group meeting in Denver.  Did I
miss something?  Has there been dialogue of which I have not been brought up
to speed on any of the issues raised?

 

Branding?  Is ICA-USA not aware that the brand awareness of ToP methods is
somewhere is the low .00000001 percentile in the nation at the present time?
And as to those who are authorized to hold public courses and advertise
etc., are they not aware that those who were present in Denver represent the
big percentage of the delivery system for these methods.  I am wondering who
exactly the ICA-USA staff and board thinks is this ToP Trainers Network?
Also, in view of the recent support that has been given to this network, and
in view of the intent of the "TTN" (so named by ICA-USA staff and board) to
organize itself to be more able to ensure the delivery of ToP methods, what
makes ICA-USA staff and board so arrogant as to believe that they were being
asked to devote time, money, etc. to TTN, rather than the other way around.

 

There seemed to me to be the intent of those present in Denver to give
ICA-USA the opportunity to step up and match the rhetoric with action in
terms of support.  "Participation" and "partnership" seemed to be the
watchwords.  I am not sure how the knee-jerk response of ICA-USA staff and
board fit into that picture.

 

As I mentioned, I am only one ToP Trainer providing input.  But I am still
mystified at what I perceive to be the continuation of a "non-participatory"
and "hard-line" and "acting without thinking" modus operandi on the part of
ICA-USA board and staff, from the summarily dismissing of all those who gave
30 to 40 years of their vocational lives to the (stated) mission of ICA, to
the total ignoring of those who actually are delivering these methods in the
world.

 

I for one have already shifted my financial support to ICA International and
do not intend to provide any further support to an organization (so-called)
that seems to me to have ceased to exist.  I for one do not intend to pay
any further dues to an organization I no longer consider to be in existence
(although I am totally paid up for this year and intend to exercise my full
rights to speak as a ToP Trainer).

 

My last comment is addressed head-on to ICA-USA staff and board members:  Do
you believe that you are fulfilling the mission of ICA?  Look around you in
the world and see what the ICA is really and what it is accomplishing.  From
my vantage point, all I see is a dying or dead institution.  ICA-USA is
dead.  Long live ICA

 

Milan Hamilton

Co-owner, Participation Works

80 North Center Street

Redlands, CA  92373

909-793-4482

participationworks at dslextreme.com

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