A MESSAGE for the MEMBERSHIP

Colleagues:

I am happy to confirm that our Fall Pacific Community of Practice meeting will be held during the week of October 15, 2018 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The exact dates will be confirmed as the program and educational events are developed.  So mark your calendars as we plan forward for our first Pacific Community of Practice gathering. 

As plans for this meeting have been negotiated it is clear that this is a transition year.  How we live into a Community of Practice model is evolving.  Funding issues are a major challenge as we move forward and CoPs will need to be flexible and creative in finding their way.  The Pacific Community of Practice is no different.  We will be pulling together some small “think tank” groups to think out of the box to navigate our road forward.  We will be more dependent than ever on volunteers and participation within our CoP to keep the programming and working of the CoP of the high quality we are accustomed to. 

It is an exciting time to be in the process.  It will stretch us to get clear about the purpose of our times together and how to facilitate that purpose.  We will need to work closely with the National ACPE office to navigate shared goals, complicated needs and expectations.  All of this as we continue to educate ourselves in best practices and provide the best learning opportunities for students.  

I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment to this process as we saw demonstrated in our time together in Tacoma as we let go of an old model so that we could move into a new modern model.  I am convinced that we have much to bring forward so we are not starting from scratch.  But we also are entering a new day full of new technological opportunities, changes in healthcare settings and theological training.  Hang on to your hats…here we go!

KEVIN PARK

PCoP Chairperson