Ketchup time!

It's official, we're having a reunion.

Yup, that's right - a chance to come on back to the hallowed yellow halls of Compass, meet a whole host of interesting new folks who've also taken the program and who might be able to help you get along on your journey, and catch up with any of your former group-mates and Compass staff who you haven't seen in a while. The event is open to anyone who has taken the program, regardless of how recently or otherwise you did your time at the infamous Compass Penitentiary. We're currently scheming on a few activities to help you mix and mingle with the assembled cast (if you have any bright ideas, please let me know) but it'll mostly be a casual affair with lots of time for chatting. Really, we're just very excited to get all that positive energy in one room together and see what happens (we're considering having the ceiling reinforced in case all those good vibes threaten to blow the roof off). The event itself is booked for Thursday, February 28th from 6:30-8:30 at the good ol' Compass Centre. I'll send word closer to the date regarding how to RSVP but, until then, we hope you'll make some space on your busy schedules to c'mon back and help us make it an event to remember.

Looking forward to a high-quality ketchup with whoever we can mustard up for the occasion (oh, that was bad...even for me).

~B

Wally World, here I come!

Hey, gang.

Just wanted to mention that I'll be taking some holidays starting this Thursday (January 24th) and will be back at work on February 11th so you won't likely be getting any annoying emails from me for a spell (consider it an early Valentine's Day present). However, the rest of the very capable Compass clan will be keeping everything running like a top and I'm ever hopeful that I'll return to find our networking website having reached the one hundred member milestone (it's looking promising - just last week we had a whopping thirteen new members join!).

Keep your money-belts cinched and your Family Trucksters looking their wood-panel best, all - I look forward swapping travel stories with you upon my return.

~B

Feeling a bit blue?

Hi, gang

Hope you're survived the big blow and are soaking up the real sunshine (as opposed to the liquid stuff) today.

I'm proud to report we're nearing 70 fine folks aboard the Compass Alumni networking site and things are beginning to heat up. Just last week saw the arrival of nine captivating new job postings (including Fitness Show Host for Channel M, Office Coordinator for the West Coast Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, and Sustainability Consultant for Junxion Strategies), a discussion about New Year's resolutions, and a number of flashy and thought-provoking new photos from various contributors. Hopefully, as more of you continue to sign up, things will just get better and better.

Speaking of better, here's a thought on how else we can use the site to be even more useful at connecting like-minded folks. Using the "Groups" tab, feel free to create a group based on interest category or area of concern (ie. The High-tech Troopers, David Suzuki's Unauthorized Eco-warriors, The Artsy-but-not-so-fartsy Alliance, etc.). Right now, it's mostly Compass cycle groups but you're welcome (and encouraged) to create any group you think will attract some common interest.

Hope all's well out in Alumniland, all.

~B

Quintessentially yours

Hey, gang

Just wanted to pass along an interesting website (provided courtesy of keen-eyed current Compassita, Jackie) called Quintessential Careers (http://quintcareers.com/) that features a multitude of useful applications including mounds of practice interview questions, a broad assortment of career quizzes (such as "What KIND of team player are you?"), and tons of other job search tips and tricks to help refine your techniques. It's exactly the kind of resource I'm hoping more people will post on our new Compass Alumni Networking website to help circulate any and all forms of wisdom to help each other along the road.

Hope at least one of your 32 new years resolutions remains unbroken, all.
(I find "Don't try to be perfect" to be an annual winner)

~B

Unions and Reunions

Hey, gang - hope you had a terrific holiday season and are back in prime (if not necessarily...ahem...trim) fighting form to help forge a splendid new year.

Two quick notes to pass along:
1. We've already got nearly 60 fine folks who've joined our Compass Alumni networking site and we're hoping that number keeps increasing as more of you decide to check it out. From our perspective, the more folks we have on board, the greater likelihood you'll bump into others headed in similar career directions (hellooooooo, information interviews!), the richer the forum discussions will be, and the more support you'll feel towards staying on course with your wild and precious life. And just one more reminder that we'll soon be discontinuing this (Feedblitz/Blogger) mail service and doing all our communication through the new site so, if you're interested in staying in touch, I hope you'll sign up and experience what the new site has to offer (nb: if you've lost your original invite, just ring for a refresher).

2. Mark your shiny, new 2008 Fruitcakes of the World calendars with notice of an impending full-scale Compass Alumni Reunion, whereby all of our past program participants are invited to make a pilgrimage back to the good ol' Compass Centre for nostalgic banter with old chums, sparkly introductions to potential new chums, and generally a whole lot of good, positive energy packed into one space. The occasion is tentatively scheduled for the evening of Thursday, February 28th but we'll double-check and send final word once everything is firmed up. Hope you'll make a point to join us.

Keep your ears open and fingers at the ready, all.

~B