Third Saturday Seminar 2005-2006
Humanity at a Crossroads
Sixth Meeting
18 February 2006
9:30am to 12:00 noon
Room B-102, Montgomery College
3200 College Park Drive – Conroe, TX – 77384 – 936.273.7000
in The Countries of the Former Yugoslavia (The Balkans)
Introduced by Nate Price
(Due to a death in my family, I must be out of town. Nate has graciously agreed to lead this session of the Seminar. Thanks Nate. Curt Gibby)
For our Second Meeting of the 2006, we are fortunate to hear about a part of the world that dominated the news during the Clinton Years, the Balkans. We are aware of the frustratingly slow progress being made today in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq, well; ten years after the end of the last Balkan wars in 1995 and six years after the NATO air attacks of Serbia in 1999, reconciliation and healing processes across the countries of former Yugoslavia are slow and complex, as well.
Tihomir Kukolja, director of Renewing Our Minds (ROM) Initiative in Croatia, will share some of the reasons why the ROM initiative is one of the most impacting reconciliation and peacemaking initiatives that has since 1999 helped the formation of at least 200 emerging leaders across the entire region whose first priority is reconciliation, friendship among leaders across the state, ethnic and religious boundaries, as well as transparent leadership. Tihomir Kukolja has a degree in Theology and Communications, and is trained radio producer and journalist who has over the last twenty years lived and worked in Great Britain, Australia and Croatia.
His wife Christine Kukolja is from Houston TX. They married in 2003 and since then both of them have been living in Croatia and involved in the leadership of ROM Initiative.
Renewing Our Minds (ROM) is a Southeast European Initiative for change that focuses on investing in a new generation of leaders the virtues of ethical leadership, forgiveness, reconciliation and peacemaking, based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and inspired by his character of service. Through gatherings, conferences, seminars, schools, teaching and mentoring emerging leaders are taught the principles of sacrificial leadership and encouraged to develop lasting and resourceful friendships across religious, racial and ethnic divides. The primary goal of ROM is to see the emergence of reconciled leaders in the Balkan region and beyond, who – having first become transformed in their characters, attitudes and actions – are steadily transforming their constituencies, communities and countries.
Tihomir says their Renewing Our Minds(ROM) website is down for reconstruction, however he sends links to these blogspots showing photos of some of their activities.
http://romfriends.blogspot.com/
http://romates.blogspot.com/, http://romfriends.blogspot.com/
http://sevengenerations.blogspot.com/
Bring yourself and your thoughts to share.
For back ground, You might also want to check out:(From the United Nations website.)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA READY TO ENTER ‘POST-DAYTON’ ERA JUST 10 YEARS
AFTER BRUTAL WAR, HIGH REPRESENTATIVE TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL 15/11/2005
In Final Briefing, Paddy Ashdown Says European Union Could
Approve Negotiations for Association Agreement Next Week in Brussels
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sc8558.doc.htm
Opinion: Trails of Peace in the Balkans
By Evgenii Vassilev
http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2003/issue3/0303p16.asp
NOTICE:
Future Dates for the Third Saturday Seminar Spring 2006 Semester –
95917 CCALL 3980032 M3076 Sa 1/21, 2/18, 3/11, 4/8, 5/20, 6/17 9:30AM-12PM B102
Note the March and April Dates are NOT the Third Saturday due to Spring Break and other MC schedule constraints.
Other events of interest:
Saturday Evening, 18 February, Paul Rogat Loeb, the author of Soul of a Citizen, which I have quoted several times in the Seminar, will be speaking about challenging our culture’s pervasive cynicism at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 West 11th St., Houston, 77008 at 7:00 pm updates at: http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org. He gives practical advice on making your voice heard.
Sunday Evening – 19 February a PEACE RALLY at the Montgomery College Theater (Building D) at 7:00 PM Featuring Cindy Sheehan and Gold Star Families for Peace, sponsored by North Houston Peace Group, Gold Star Families for Peace, Potlucks for Peace, and Concerned Citizens of Montgomery County.
About The Third Saturday Seminar
Started in January 2000, We are about personal empowerment through demystification. Our subject matter is broad but it always tries to be about understanding ourselves and others better; and, having fun.
The Third Saturday Seminar is sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) Program at Montgomery College. There is no fee for ALL members. More on the ALL program at: http://wwwstagemc.nhmccd.edu/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=11811
For information about Montgomery College: http://wwwmc.nhmccd.edu
Parking: May I suggest that you park in the “West Parking Area” , as that parking area is closer to Building B. Ignore the “Instructors Only” signs on the parking, That only applies on week days.
Map of MC Campus: http://www.montgomery-college.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=14970 and directions http://www.montgomery-college.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=14972
Looking forward to seeing you there. (And please let me know if anything in this announcement doesn’t make sense.)
Next Session: March 11, 2006 (Note this is actually the 2nd Saturday, due to Spring Break at MC)
As usual, if anything doesn’t work or make sense (It is midnight), please let me know so I can warn the others.
Best regards,
Curt Gibby
Spring, TX
281-353-4350
Fax: 281-288-8230
gcgconsult (at) n-star.com