CYC-Net Clan Gathering

For three days in March 2012, the 18th to
the 20th; seventy or so child and youth
care professionals were invited by the
Board of Governors of CYC-Net and
hosted by Kibble Education and Care
Centres to gather in Paisley, Scotland.
CYC-Net IS the online resource for child
and youth care with over one million
visitors a year from 196 counties. The
purpose was simple, to brainstorm about
the future of the web site through a
succession discussion. Those invited had
been contributors to the site in one way or
another over the course of its history.
They saw it grow from an initiative
sparked by a Canadian, Thom Garfat and
a South African, Brian Gannon into
something that attracts users and
contributors from around the world.

The event was a collaborative venture by all who
attended. The three primary planners were Thom
Garfat. Leon Fulcher and Graham Bell of Kibble
Education and Care Centre. Much of the organizing
and leg work was done by Carolynne Kelly and her
team. It is a remarkable compliment to CYC-Net that
so many viewed this as a must attend event finding
the funds to do so. Further, they then put in a few
days of intense discussion and brain storming
proceeding through an agenda that covered every
aspect of the web site. Finally, they presented 15
minute sessions for a separate event open to the local
youth care community. Think speed work shopping,
just enough information to trigger the wow factor
then on to the next.

You will note, beyond the organizers, no names are
being used here. This was intentional. One of the
goals of the sessions was to have folks move around
and sit with someone new for each agenda item. This
made for a feast of networking at one level and
sharpened the focus on the topic at hand. To name
them all would be a challenge and someone would be
missed. The page is meant to be a visual story of the
clan at work.

One of the requests of the planners was to have everyone bring something
representing their home to be sold in a silent auction. Many fine and unique
items went up for auction. This writer found himself in a bidding war for the
suite of paintings seen here. They were twinned with two aboriginal
dreamcatchers and while I would bid up by a few pounds, the competition
would advance by tens of pounds. Finally, that person had to be sought out
and as suspected, had no interest in the paintings and a truce was called.
CYC-Net was the real winner and perhaps could consider a similar online
auction open to everyone to raise funds. Great fun at the border explaining
this one to Canadian Customs.

They have an expression in the United Kingdom of a
day's outing. There is so much to see and do over there,
much of it a short drive away that taking a day to take it
all in is just part of the lifestyle. Even the Queen is into it
now, touring the country for the Jubilee. Everyone was
treated to a sample of this with an evening outing by tour
bus up to Loch Lomand, a famous glacial inland lake.
There is a song attached to the place and fittingly it was
sung wonderfully to open the ride on the bus this writer
was on. It was a place of great beauty but the kicker was
when two swans glided in just to put it all right over the
top. We do not all get to do swans in Canada so a bonus.
A fabulous meal of Balmoral Chicken and toffee cake
followed. There was even time to taste a little scotch and
try the local brews, not that anyone missed their bus on
the way back, now.

Finally, the clan photo. Regretfully, there were a few invited who could not attend as will happen. For those who did attend and who have their own
images and memories to share, you are invited to email your images and reflections to this webmaster for publication. There was a huge sense of child
and youth care bonding on a global level generated in Paisley. Most departed with the intention of advancing CYC-Net through contributions, financial
support and promotional support. The collective work everyone participated in will set the course for the future of the resource. The hope is this
approach will be replicated down the road a ways to do even more and include even more. The people you see here are indeed the stewards of the
child and youth care professions. Each does incredible work individually and each does that little bit more to share aspects of that work with the child
and youth care community through resources such as CYC-Net. This is unique in that its source is from within the profession itself and for
something larger than us all. It was a privilege and an affirmation to meet others who have shared in the CYC-Net saga. Best Wishes to all in your
individual stories and a note of thanks in advance for sharing this work with others. Garth Goodwin

Brian was able to join and address the gathering via
Skype. Graham Bell conversed with him and he talked
about the idea of the web site and what it has become.
He was warmly applauded by the entire clan.

The CCCYCA
is proud to
support
CYC-Net