Plenary Sessions from 2009 - 2010
Work and Play: Improving Your Leadership
Over 80 managers were treated to an excellent plenary session, led by Joan Butterworth, on how play and the basic rules of improvisation can be part of their every day lives.
In more detail:
THE POWER OF PLAY
Play and its ability to engage one’s experiential mind and allow one to apply multiple intelligences to situations will be introduced. Its function to explore emotional literacy and interpersonal skills will be also highlighted.
BASICS OF IMPROV
Managers will then be introduced to the fundamental rules of improvisation rules to reach beyond their comfort zone and discover more about themselves, human dynamics and communications.
WHY IMPROV?
Improv empowers people to practice their skills of embracing the unexpected and taking risks. It encourages people to break out of patterns of behaviour that may hold them back professionally, socially or personally. It enhances one's ability to communicate and collaborate and develop one's capacity to listen, respond and build with others. This session on improv is designed to facilitate collaboration, transformation and discovery.
To view Joan's presentation, click on workandplay [.pdf]
Presenter's Bio
Joan Butterworth has worked at McGill in administration for many years in a variety of areas, all the while pursuing her interest in theatre and improvisation! Her background includes studying improvisation with Albert Nerenberg, acting and directing with Theatre Shmeatre, acting in plays by Steve Galluccio (author of Mambo Italiano), performing improv with Caught In the Act and taking workshops, such as Ann Scofield’s Transformative Theatre. She began giving improv workshops over 10 years to actors and non-actors as she believes improvisation to be an indispensible part of life!
"Have you checked your Key Controls lately?"
Facilitator:
Prof. Derek Drummond Laughter was guaranteed!
On January 27, 2010, 170 managers gathered in Moyse Hall to watch a theatrical presentation of the The Key Controls Checklist (KCC). Actors included McGill Managers: Rosemary Cooke, Eyal Baruch, Debbie McAllister, and Wayne Wood. The skit was created by Lydia Martone and Gracy Pardillo of the VP (Administration & Finance) office.
Created by Internal Audit as an auditing tool, the KCC was redesigned as a comprehensive checklist to help identify the controls - or “must-do’s” - that are key to ensuring accountability and effective management within your units/departments.
Interesting links related to plenary:
Accountability and Control Modules
"Sustainability at McGill"
Professor Jim Nicell challenged YOU
On Thursday, December 3rd 2009, Professor Jim Nicell gave an excellent presentation called Sustainability at McGill [.pdf]. Throughout the presentation, he outlined McGill’s commitment to sustainability and the new policy, talked about initiatives such as new projects that are using technology to enhance conservation, and how campus wide deferred maintenance work and other major building developments are integrating sustainable projects.
He challenged YOU and all McGill Managers to let him know about one or more choices you or your colleagues in your unit made for Sustainability.
Email him by December 10th WhatIdidfor.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca (Here:) or copy this address into your email: WhatIdidfor.sustainability [at] mcgill.ca.
Speaker
Jim Nicell, Associate Vice-Principal, is a full professor in McGill’s Department of Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics. Professor Nicell has a proven track record in teaching, research and administration. His academic interests are primarily focused on the discipline of environmental engineering. Since joining McGill in 1992, he has received multiple teaching awards from the Faculty of Engineering and, based on his research accomplishments, was named a William Dawson Scholar in 2002 and a James McGill Professor in 2007. His contributions to McGill have been through a variety of roles including a position as a Residence Director between 1998 and 2003, an appointment in the Faculty of Engineering as Associate Dean (Student Affairs) between 2001 and 2006, and most recently his appointment in 2007 as Associate Vice-Principal (University Services).
Interesting links and documents related to plenary:
What I did for sustainability [.docx]
Office of Sustainability
Sustainability Policy
Please send your comments, suggestions and ideas to sustainability.policy [at] mcgill.ca.
"The Flu and You"
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
With over 95 spectators, this plenary session was a great success. It included an explanation of both the seasonal and H1N1 influenza. It also provided a review of what preventative measures can be taken by managers and what course of action the univeristy has planned for in case of a pandemic crisis.
In case you missed this event, or would like to review what was presented, here are the presentations by Dr.Pierre-Paul Tellier: H1N1 [.pdf] and Wayne Wood: PandemicPreparedness [.pdf]
Additional links related to plenary:
Interview with Dr.Tellier
Interview with Wayne Wood
McGill Health
McGill Reporter
Speakers
Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier, Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Director of McGill's Student Health Services, has been working at McGill since 1982. He is currently busy developing a website on fitness 'Fit at McGill' and one on STIs which has yet to be named. He has co-authored a book which is soon to be released called “99 things parents should know before Having the Talk”.
Wayne Wood is Chair of the Pandemic Contingency Planning Committee and is also in charge of the Environmental Health and Safety Office. In fact Wayne WAS the Environmental Safety Office when it began as a 1-person operation back in 1985. Now Wayne heads up a team of 15 employees providing expertise on a wide range of health and safety topics as well as specialized services related to the management and disposal of hazardous materials. He also holds an appointment in the Faculty of Medicine where he lectures in the Occupational Health graduate program. Wayne holds a bachelors degree in Chemistry and a MSc(A) in Occupational Health as well as accreditation as an occupational hygienist in both Canada and the US.
Wayne’s proudest achievement as of late is something he does when he is not a work – bicycle. This summer Wayne finished his 30 year project to bicycle across Canada by completing the last stage – a 3000 km. ride from Regina to Ottawa. So if you want to have an interesting conversation with Wayne, just ask him what he did on his vacation this year.
Now that he is fit and rested up for more challenges, he has been appointed as head of the university’s Pandemic Contingency Planning Group, who have the task of helping the University plan for, and navigate through, the H1N1 influenza pandemic .