How to Start a Virtues
Connection
Published by
Virtues Project NZ, serving
The Virtues Project in Aotearoa New Zealand
What
is a Virtues Connection?
A Virtues
Connection is a group of people who are eager to help promote The Virtues
Project in their area. They may meet regularly to provide practice and
encouragement in using the strategies of The Virtues Project. The
Connection can remain informal, meeting periodically to practice the
strategies of the Virtues Project or they can create a more formal structure
often focusing on promoting workshops and applying for funding for
workshops, advertising, or materials.
What is the relationship
between a Virtues Connection and Virtues Project New Zealand?
Virtues
Project NZ does NOT act as a regulatory body for those who wish to form
Virtues Connections or to run workshops. Virtues Project NZ encourages
local initiative AND regional collaboration. While Virtues Project NZ
upholds the boundaries set by The Virtues Project Inc regarding copyright
and professional practice, it limits itself to the roles of promotion,
support and networking. Facilitators can become registered through VPNZ as
a way to gain further support and to maintain professional standards within
The Virtues Project.
What do Virtues Connections
do?
Support
The main
activity of many Virtues Connections is to provide support and encouragement
to its members. In this capacity, groups meet regularly, often monthly,
however some meet weekly. The groups often begin with an activity that
honours the spirit or helps people get in touch with the spiritual side of
their natures. This can be a Virtues Pick with each person choosing a
Virtues Card and speaking about it or one person choosing one Virtues Card
and everyone speaking to that Virtue. Boundaries about sharing
respectfully, and practicing confidentiality are agreed upon and upheld. As
each person shares, the others give each speaker a Virtues Acknowledgement.
In this
manner the group practices all the strategies of the Virtues Project -
Speaking the Language of the Virtues, Recognising Teachable Moments, Set
Clear Boundaries, Honour the Spirit, and they practise the art of Spiritual
Companioning (in the sense of being deeply present to the others in the
group).
Promotion
Some
Virtues Connections also focus on how to promote The Virtues Project in
their communities. They begin with a practice such as a Virtues Pick that
honours the spirit, then spend some time consulting about how to promote The
Virtues Project. These groups may make presentations in their communities,
provide parenting or personal development workshops for the community, and
/ or bring trainers for further development into their area. They may
provide time for each member to share what efforts they are making in using
The Virtues Project in their home or workplace, ending with Virtues
Acknowledgements for those efforts.
The local
Virtues Connection may become even more structured and form a non-profit
based trust in which they pool together money brought in from workshops to
help fund advertising, brochures, or training allowance schemes for people
in their areas. Such a group would likely have officers such as a
treasurer and secretary to help distribute the workload.
What are the boundaries set by Virtues Project Inc. for
Virtues Connections?
*
Observance of copyright
Please
do not use the phrase “Virtues Project” in your name. You can be the
Canterbury Virtues Connection or Virtues Connection Kapiti. Local
groups or individuals can advertise that they are offering Virtues
Project workshops or that they are Virtues Project facilitators, but
please do not use the copyrighted words “Virtues Project” in the name of
your business or support group.
If you
wish to publish new materials to support your efforts in promoting the
Virtues Project, such as books, videos, games, music or teachers’ aids,
please get copyright permission first from VPI if you are using any
material directly from The Family Virtues Guide or Sacred Moments. (See
Leader’s Manual for more specific details.)
*
Honouring the Spirit
Please
begin your meetings with some sort of practice which will support the
sacred or honour the spirit. A Virtues Pick, sharing uplifting quotes,
sharing what Virtues each person is bringing, a short guided meditation
are some examples of this.
*
Promote harmony
This
project is truly based on the sacred texts of the world’s religions.
Virtues Connections that represent diversity of faiths, culture and
understandings show the integrity of this foundation.
Want to get a Virtues Connection started?
Virtues Project NZ can offer further advice and encouragement about starting a Virtues Connection in your area. We maintain a database of all people who have taken Virtues workshops or bought materials through the us. We can put you in touch with others in your area and with other Virtues Connections in New Zealand. A quarterly newsletter is also available to assist individuals and groups with ideas for promotion, support and networking. Contact Ellen Ramer on 03-329-4380 or eramer@xtra.co.nz
.
