Final word(s)

As the Good Ship Compass draws into port for final mooring (seriously, our tech support folks are here to wipe our computer hard drives today), here are a few final words from the intrepid Compass Crew:

"Final note before the hard drive in my computer is pulled out for shredding, I just want to express how much I have loved being part of the Compass program and walking part of your journey with you. I wish each one of you all the best on your continuing path and look forward to staying in touch through the alumni site."

With warmest regards,

~Elaine


"I would like to say a big thank you to all the Compass clients for making Compass the success that it has been and for making my job so very enjoyable."

Best wishes to all of you,

~Veronica


"The past year and a half at Compass has been an amazing journey. I am so grateful for the amazing team of people I have had the privilege of working with and the equally amazing array of clients that have participated in our program. I learned a lot, a cried a lot, and I laughed a lot. Thanks to each and every one of you for enriching my life.

May we all feel significant, competent and likeable and experience the degree of inclusion, control and openness that allows us to feel truly alive!"

~Karen


"I’m not much of a one for goodbyes. Paths cross and intertwine as they will and when it is time, we’ll meet again at the crossroads. But the journey has been splendid has it not? At no other time in my working life have I felt so honoured and so blessed to be sharing a journey with such wonderful souls. All of you who charted your course upon the Compass seas and my shipmates who helmed our craft in stormy weather and fair, I salute you and thank you and leave you with this gift from the small space in my heart that carries my most precious memories. May it light your way upon the road ahead."


Blessings,

~Zina


"It has been such a privilege to get to walk alongside you as we all strive to infuse our lives with more purpose, passion, and aliveness. Thank you for that honour as well as all the laughter, tears, and thought-provoking conversation over the past six years - without a doubt, the most fulfilling and replenishing chapter in my life thus far. All the best with your respective paddles and I look forward to seeing you on the water."

Much love,

~Bill

Keeping in touch

Hi, all

A number of folks have asked how to keep in touch with us once Compass closes at the end of this week and the answer is "through the Compass Alumni website" (http://nscompassalumni.ning.com/). Yes, we're maintaining the website through June 2013, at which time we'll reevaluate and see if there's appetite to continue. All of the Compass staff have profiles there and welcome your connection through that medium.

On that note, three quick points:

1. If you haven't joined the website, yet, please send me a quick email (bill@northshorecompass.com) asap and I'll send you an invitation forthwith.
2. If you haven't updated your profile in a while, this might be a good time for a Spring cleaning. By having current info on your page, you'll make it more likely that the right folks will be able to find you for conversation requests or employment offers.
3. Please help us keep the site fresh and useful by visiting regularly and posting things that you think others would be interested in viewing. This includes updates of your post-Compass journey that help inspire the rest of us to continue working towards essenceful, purposeful, and aliveness-filled lives.

As a teaser, Angelique surreptitiously videorecorded the Compass staff's send-off song from the wrap-up bash last week and the incriminating evidence is now posted on the Alumni site for viewing. I hope you'll swing by for a quick gander and hear our customized version of "Thanks for the memory".

Otherwise, I hope you're singing your own unique brand of celebration out there today.

~Bill

P.S. I'm also contactable via my LinkedIn profile, for those of you who use this medium. Feel free to link up and help me cause some trouble in that pond, as well.

Thanks for the memory!

A huge Compass thanks to the 100+ folks (and 2 canine attendees) who filled the yellow hive last night for smiles and hugs and celebratory festivities.

We're so honoured that you chose to spend your evening helping us commemorate our incredible journey and hope you know that you've each contributed your unique flavour to the rich and nourishing Compass stew that's been simmering over the past 13 years (and that certainly includes all those who were unable to attend last night).

A few special shout-outs:
1. Extra thanks to those who brought treats to help make the evening extra-delicious gastronomically, and not just inter-personally.
2. Extra-extra-special (and sadly belated!) thanks to David B. for providing all the amazing decorations and festive ambiance to set the perfect tone for the event.
3. Thanks to those who helped us disperse our resources and contributed to raising a whopping $237 to be donated to The Harvest Project as part of Compass' legacy.

For those who missed the main event, we decided to go with a song in lieu of speeches and here were the lyrics:
("sung" to the tune of "Thanks for the Memory")

Thanks for the memories
Of rainy afternoons, and Marshall’s dreadful tunes
And Colours True, defenses too, and egg-bearing balloons
How lovely it was

Many’s the time that we fasted
And many’s the time that we feasted
It sure was swell while it lasted
We did have fun
With no harm done (unless it was…)


Thanks for the memories
Of check-ins in the morn, that maddening train horn
Of friendships made, and options weighed, and purposes fresh borne
Thank you so much.

So we’ll say farewell with a grin
And look forward to connecting once again
In tribute to the thrilling ride it’s been
No tears, no fuss (unless there was…)
Just “Hooray for all of us!”


THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!


Thanks again, all, and we'll send one final note with a few closing thoughts before we wrap things up next week.

~B

Wind-up warblings

Howdy, all - hope you're looking forward to saving some daylight this weekend (you really can't have too much daylight, can you?).

We're thirteen days and counting to our big March 21st wind-up bash and it looks like we'll have a super-full house of sweet peeps on hand to help celebrate our exciting and adventurous thirteen year voyage.

A couple of quick notes on the evening:

1. Doors will open at 6:30PM and we'll wrap up the festivities at 8:30PM.
2. The get-together is limited to Compass Alumni only. While we'd love to get a chance to meet some of your loved ones, we're already stretching the bounds of our fire codes with the number of folks who will be attending.
3. Light (very light) refreshments will be served. For those who indicated a desire to bring food items, please feel free but do not feel obliged to do so. The main focus of the evening will be on seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
4. Format is highly informal and the dress code is "wear whatever makes your socks roll up and down". While the Compass staff might say a few words towards the end of the evening, the majority of time will be open for conversation and general milling about.

For those who have asked about what will happen to the various resources (books, dvds, etc) used in the program when we close, the answer is that the staff will be taking anything that we think will allow us to deliver our respective work purposes going forward and the rest will be offered on a "first-come, first-served" and "by a donation of your choice" basis as follows. The Compass Centre will be open on Monday, March 19th and Tuesday, March 20th from 9AM-3PM and you are welcome to drop by and take whatever books or dvds catch your fancy during that span. We are requesting a donation of whatever value you think reasonable in return, the sum of which will be donated to a local charity in Compass' name. Any resources left by the morning of March 21st will also be donated to charity.

All of the furniture, artwork, and other accoutrements have already been assigned (ie. the YWCA, which is taking over the delivery of employment services on the North Shore, will be taking all of our office furniture, electronics, and program supplies).

Please let me know if you have any other questions and, otherwise, we look forward to seeing you on the 21st.

~Bill (on behalf of Team Compass)

Top Ten "Compass Wrap-up Bash" Survey Comments

10. Wouldn't miss it! Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail...
9. Is my friend, Food, welcome to come too?
8. 1.772453851 is the square root of Pi (tee hee)
7. Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of ha-ha
6. Dag nab it.. I am away until the 23rd. Will miss you all! Party on!
5. Can I bring my giraffe?
4. With bells on!
3. I will wear my Fire Marshall uniform
2. Will there be an open bar? I might need one......
1. Dragon's Den or Compass party? No contest.

Thanks to the nearly 100 folks who've already rung in on our survey.
If you haven't had a chance yet, please click here to take a quick moment to indicate whether we can look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, March 21st (from 6:30-8:30PM) or not.

One thing we're working on for the event is a slideshow of Compass pictures taken throughout the years so, if you have a couple of faves, please feel free to email them to me (bill@northshorecompass.com) in the coming weeks and I'll add them to the playlist.

Otherwise, planning is still ongoing but it's shaping up to be a great night.

Looking forward to raising a glass to heartfelt connections and life-long memories forged among them there yellow walls.

~B

Free TAT Healing Sessions

Compass Alumni Annette is looking for 25 interested folks to help her complete her practicum as a TAT Practitioner - an energy healing modality that helps release emotional blockages and limiting or negative beliefs.

This is a unique opportunity to experience a TAT session free of charge and help Annette complete the practicum portion of her training.

If you are interested in participating, you can contact Annette by phone at (604)904-5706 or via email: readyone88@yahoo.ca

Save the Date!

Howdy, all - hope your respective cupeths are overflowing with aliveness this week.


We've been fielding quite a few questions recently asking whether we're planning to have some kind of wind-up bash before we officially close our doors at the end of March and the answer is a resounding YOU BETCHA!

The event will take place Wednesday, March 21st from 6:30-8:30PM and we're hoping to obliterate all of our fire codes by packing the Compass Centre with as many past program participants as possible (nb: no charge for the alliteration). Please note that the theme of this gathering is celebration for the thirteen years the Compass program has been running and the nearly 2000 folks we've been uberly-privileged to meet over that span. We'd love a chance to reconnect with you and hear about how your journey's unfolding so we hope you'll mark your calendars to make sure you can attend.

In order to help us plan the event, including how many folks we can expect, could you please click here to take this super-simple, one question survey.

Thanks, in advance, for you assistance and stay tuned for more details to follow.

Until then, keep your allergy meds AND snow-tires at the ready, all.

~B