NSN Conference 2016 - Pre-Earlybird Special Pricing! The 2016 NSN Storytelling Conference will once again be held in Kansas City, July 21-24, 2016. The theme for the conference is "Spotlight on Storytelling". The Conference Committee is reviewing all proposals, and presenters and workshops will be announced soon.
NOW is the time to start making arrangements! Register for the 2016 National Storytelling Conference by January 12, 2016, and save $10 off the early-bird price. By registering early, you may elect to pay in 6 monthly installments January through June 2016. The best deal you will get!
Nominations for all Oracle Awards are due March 1, 2016. That's only EIGHT WEEKS AWAY! Now is the time to get going! Nominations can be done WITH or WITHOUT the nominee's knowledge.
The NSN ORACLE Award Categories are: Lifetime Achievement, Circle of Excellence, Regional Excellence, Distinguished National Service, Talking Leaves, International StoryBridge, and Regional Service & Leadership.
PHOENIX PEEPS - Here are previous Arizona winners of the NSN Oracle Award for Regional Service and Leadership.
Liz Warren, LynnAnn Wojciechowicz, Sean Buvala, Lorraine Calbow, Don Doyle, The SMCC Storytelling Institute - Who's next?
Do you know an individual who might be deserving of one of the Oracle Awards? Nominations come from NSN members like YOU! The awards for Regional Excellence and Regional Service & Leadership are of special importance as YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE in your enclave of tellers!
Is there someone YOU know that has gone above and beyond in serving their storytelling community? It's up to YOU to nominate them. All nominations require a nomination form, narrative addressing qualifications, and three letters of support.
If you have any questions, call Karin Hensley: 800-525-4514 x 303
Storytelling Tour of England - Join us! IT'S HAPPENING! - ONLY 3 SLOTS LEFT!
If you are even slightly interested - let me know ASAP!
The cost is about $2480 including airfare!
If you love to tell stories, talk about stories, craft stories, have fun and see the sights with friends, then this tour is for you. The plan is to spend eight days touring these iconic sites - but I'm about to EXTEND THE TOUR TO TEN DAYS!
Listeners, spouses, partners and friends are welcome too!
The tour and workshops will be lead by me and my friend and colleague, Colorado Storyteller Pam Faro.
Register Now for Storytelling Classes Storytelling Classes start in just TWO weeks, so make sure you register now!
South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute certainly has the most classes, and the most diverse offerings of storytelling classes. And, once again, this semester SMCC will offer the Two-Saturday classes in
Using Storytelling In Business Settings
Using Storytelling In Healing Settings
Using Storytelling In Interpretive Setting
Using Storytelling In Advocacy Setting
Did you know...
There are storytelling classes at all of these Maricopa Community colleges?
To see the list of classes and register, click on the link below.
Check on the Location, and in the search box, you may have to enter one of the following: STO292, EDU292, HUM292
Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson Thursday, January 7th
This curated Storytelling event in Tucson is in its 13th year! Six people are invited to tell ten minute, personal stories on a theme in front of an audience. The stories are not read or memorized, they are told from the life experiences and creativity of the teller
Theme: DIY
Taking matters into your own hands. Not leaving it to the experts and regretting/feeling content with that decision. Self realization. Self esteem. Self pleasure! How do you do it yourself?
Storytellers:
Odyssey Storytelling founder, Penelope Starr
President of Story Theatre International, Doug Stevenson
Artist, Frank Powers; co-director of The Land With No Name
Sanctuary for Homeless Sculptor, Kate Long Hodges
Retiree and Cheesehead, Jim Walmann
Lawyer, Troy Larkin
Pima Educator, Lisa Grenier
Have you visited The Screening Room's fabulous concession stand? There's beer, wine, and excellent snacks. They'll even place an order for you with Empire Pizza and have it delivered to your seat. Who knew?!
East Valley Tellers of Tales Saturday, January 9th ~ 10am - Noon Join us to celebrate storytelling successes.
East Valley Tellers of Tales is a Phoenix area guild of Storytellers and Storylisteners. A truly safe place to share your story! We are an affiliate of the National Storytelling Network. Come and find out what this means, and how it benefits you!
East Valley Tellers of Tales is looking at ways to create outreach, new ideas for the group, plans for the future and more. Join us and lend your talent and energy to help us grow.
West Side Story Tellers Guild Meeting Saturday, January 9th ~ 10am - Noon
This is a CHANGE from the usual first Saturday.
The West Side Story Tellers monthly guild meeting will be from 10 am to Noon - at St. John's Lutheran Church, at 7205 N. 51st Ave. in Glendale.
Who's Your Hero?
Do you know who the hero of your story is? Don't be too quick to say, you may be mistaken.
This weekend, I watched The Magnificent Seven; one of the greatest westerns of all time! Based on Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai (which he claims was based on watching many westerns) is an epic story with larger-than-life characters, portrayed by iconic actors. Most notably Yul Brenner and Steve McQueen. Brenner's character is the leader of the group of hired guns who travel to a small Mexican village to help the farmers stop the murderous outlaw Calvera from stealing their food.
Surely, one immediately thinks of Brenner as the hero of the movie. He is strong, commanding and decisive. But the hero is not just the one who saves the day (that's what most people think of). If we look at Joseph Campbell's criteria, the hero is the one who is called to adventure; faces many obstacles; gets help from a mentor; gains the magic or knowledge that is needed to overcome the obstacles; and in the end, returns to his or her village to share that knowledge.
In this sense, it is the character of Chico, played by Horst Bucholz, who is the hero. He is young, brash and full of himself. He wants to join the group and fight. He is angry at the villagers for being weak. And yet, it is revealed later in the movie that he also comes from a similar village. Brenner is not the hero, but is Chico's mentor/helper. Chico learns not only how to fight intelligently, but he learns to care for the villagers, one in particular.
In the end, Yul Brenner and Steve McQueen ride on and continue their lives as hired guns. Chico stays in the village to marry the girl he has fallen in love with. He is transformed. It is really Chico who is the hero.
The hero is not necessarily the bravest, or the strongest, or the wisest. In fact, the hero is usually the opposite.
The hero is the one who becomes brave, strong and wise.
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON http://www.fstorytellers.com/index.html
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in July & August http://westsidestorytellers.weebly.com
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE http://www.evtot.com
Storyfind Fourth Saturday of each month (usually - check calendar) - SMCC Storytelling Institute
A monthly workshop designed to help storytellers build community and deepen repertoire. See the Calendar
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
The 2016 NSN Storytelling Conference will once again be held in Kansas City, July 21-24, 2016. The theme for the conference is "Spotlight on Storytelling". The Conference Committee is reviewing all proposals, and presenters and workshops will be announced soon.
Saturday, January 9th ~ 10am - Noon
