Open Enrollment for Healthcare - Only 12 Days Left! You can enroll in or change 2018 Marketplace health insurance right now. The 2018 Open Enrollment Period runs to December 15, 2017.
IMPORTANT: 2018 Open Enrollment Period is much shorter than in previous years
AND the Government is spending LESS on marketing & promotion!
It's important to act quickly. If you don't act by December 15, you can't get 2018 coverage unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start January 1, 2018.
December 15, 2017 DEADLINE: Last day to enroll in or change plans for 2018 coverage. After this date, you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Build-A-Skill Workshop I am planning a workshop gathering for the beginning of the year, sometime in January or February. I want to present what you need. Much like a build-a-bear experience, let me know what you need:
Information on a specific topic?
How do I _____ in a story?
How can I do better at ___________?
I need coaching on a piece.
How can I find better language to use in a story?
How can I make my story come alive?
What can I do with my hands/arms/body?
Other stuff...?
Just a few examples. There'll be something for everyone! Let me know what you would like to have in a workshop. How long? Half-day, full-day?
The Uncalled for Christmas Tour Anyone from Phoenix interested in a twelve-hour drive up to Lehi, Utah to see the fabulous Kim Weitkamp, Bil Lepp and Andy Offut Irwin? They are doing their famous Uncalled for Trio Christmas Show.
If you are anywhere close to (r even driving distance from) Lehi on Monday, December 11th - You should go!
The trio tells the best and funniest stories for the holiday season. Individually, they are all fantastic in their own right. But together, they're like a three-ring circus of clowns, acrobats and airial artists, who wow the crowd!
The show will be at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, Utah. Tickets are $9.50 & $12.50.
Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson - Tripping Thursday, December 7th - 7:00 pm The YWCA, Francis McClelland Community Center, 529 N. Bonita Ave.
Odyssey Storytelling Presents: Tripping
Curated by Penelope Starr
$8 Adults, $6 Students
Tripping. Slipping. Falling. Crashing. Feeling the fool. Throwing caution to the wind and hitting the road. Is your mind open to new realities or do you shut down? Accidents happen. Wipe out with us. We promise not to point and laugh.
Tickets at the door. $8 Adults, $6 Students. Doors at 6:30.
Storytellers: Dick’s Mix, creator; Richard Dooley, student and actor; Kuvaal Patel, writer and actor; Kim Lowry, travel writer; Pat Bean, nurse; Shannon Deady and substance abuse counselor, Jillian LaCroix.
Odyssey Storytelling announces schedule & themes for 2018:
January 4- Memory
Feb 1- You Don’t Know Me
March 1 – Sidekicks
April 5 – Mythic
May 3 – Fake
June 7- Different
July 12 – Innuendo
August 2- Red Flags
Sept 6 – Branded
Oct 4 – Big Brother
Nov 1 – Dealbreakers
Dec 6 – Mortified
East Valley Tellers of Tales Saturday, December 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 a group that provides a safe place to hear and tell stories, to learn about stories and storytelling, and enjoy fellowship with others. We support the personal and professional development of members, preserve and promote storytelling, and provide information about storytelling opportunities and events.
Each month, our goal is to tell stories, listen to stories and celebrate. Join us!
Lunch Note: After the meeting, many of us gather for lunch. We invite all attendees to join us at Randy's Restaurant, NW Corner of Hayden & Chapparal in the Safeway Center.
Winter's Light - 20th Year! Winter's Light at Community Christian Church
1701 S College Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85281 Sunday - December 17th - 7:30 pm
Stories of Light Entering Into the Darkness of our Lives
Community Christian Church keeps this tradition alive by presenting storytellers from diverse faith traditions who gather together each December to tell stories and light candles in a show of unity and hope. "Winter's Light" is a joyous, multi-cultural, inter-faith storytelling event for the holidays.
On this night, we celebrate the stories that unite our communities, faiths and families. Join azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic for a night of holiday cookies, cocoa and tales in the beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom.
Emcees:
Megan Finnerty, Director of the Storytellers Brand Studio and founder of the Storytellers Project
Garrett Mitchell, reporter, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com
Notes:
General Admission tickets ($14) & Students ($7) include hot chocolate and fabulous holiday cookies as our gift to you. Full cash bar. (No dinner.)
Supporter Seating tickets ($30) include hot chocolate and holiday cookies, plus priority seating in rows 2-4, a souvenir Arizona Storytellers Project glass from local maker Refresh Glass, and a holiday card with two free tickets to any 2017 show.
Self-park is free and is to the West of the property in the convention area. Valet is free, but tips are customary.
This night is best for children who understand the complexities of the holidays.
Co-hosts:
Megan Finnerty, director of the Storytellers Brand Studio
Alexus Rhone, associate producer with the Storytellers Brand Studio
Featured Storytellers:
Lorraine Longhi
Evan E. Roberts
Nate Romero
Kaden Sheffield
Rafael Carranza
Megan Finnerty
Become a subscriber: All Arizona Republic and azcentral subscribers receive a complimentary, gourmet brownie from Fairytale Brownies at check-in. Click here to learn about other great subscriber perks.
Accessibility Note: If you require ASL Interpretation Services for this event or a future Storytellers event, or if you require accommodations related to mobility or seating, contact Alexus Rhone at arhone@gannett.com.
Music & Stories with Sule Greg Wilson Friday - December 22 -8:45 pm
Fiddler's Dream Coffee House 1702 E Glendale Ave, Phoenix AZZ 85020
Musician and Storyteller Sule Greg Willson performs and does what he does best - Plays Music and Tells Stories! Join him for a short set at 8:45 pm at the iconic Fiddler's Dream Coffeehouse! He informs us that some of the stories will be seasonal.
Say YES more This is what I say at the beginning of every semester of teaching The Art of storytelling. One of my goals in class (and in life) is to say "yes" more often. There was one student that absolutely could not get up in front of the class to tell. She just froze. She asked if she could tell her story just to me. Unconventional...but I said "yes"...and she did fine.
I think it might be good advice for storytellers too.
Don't get me wrong - there are times when we should say no:
Taking on a story we've never done and have it ready to tell tomorrow
Working for less than we believe we are worth as a teller - unless there are mitigating circumstances
Taking advice from someone who says, "If I were telling this story..."
Etc...Use your best judgement...and your gut feelings
But more often than not, we are presented with situations where we automatically say "no".
We shy away from a story because we are fearful we can't do it justice. -- Say yes and commit to learning the story and getting some coaching!
We decline an offer to tell several months in the future because we don't have enough repertoire. --- Say yes and do research to find more stories, especially that fit the group you will be telling to.
We decline an invitation to a concert because we don't think we will enjoy it. --- Say yes and attend, and truly observe and listen. Ask yourself what you learned by listening.
We decline an offer from a friend or colleague to "help" us in any way. We don't want to "put them out." -- Graciously accept the offer and know that you are allowing that person to experience the joy of giving.
Note: One of my biggest regrets was while biking in the Netherlands, when a woman invited me to join her and her family for a meal. I don't know exactly why, but I said no. I missed a great opportunity!
There are many, many more times that I think we should try to say yes.
Say yes to yourself when you believe you have done a good job.
Say yes to rewarding yourself in some way.
Say yes to taking on new stories or genres and trying them out
Say yes to asking for help from a coach or trusted story-buddy.
Say yes to taking classes and workshops to better your telling
The Path to YES One of the best books I read when I was a mediator was Getting to Yes by William Ury. He is a mediator of world renown.
Here is a thought-provoking TED Talk that offers an elegant, simple (but not easy) way to create agreement in even the most difficult situations -- from family conflict to, perhaps, the Middle East.
He starts with a story (duh). It's one that I have told many times. He tells more stories as he goes along. I find it fascinating that as a mediator, I would tell both parties in conflict that,
"Yes, there are always two sides to the coin. But there is something else, and that is the edge, the place where it's possible for the two sides to come together!"
This talk also makes me want to walk the geographical path he refers to. Who wants to join me?
------------------------------------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 - *NO meetings in July & August http://www.evtot.com
Storyfind Fourth Saturday of each month (usually - check calendar) - *NO meetings in June & July
SMCC Storytelling Institute
A monthly workshop designed to help storytellers build community and deepen repertoire. See the Calendar
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
I am planning a workshop gathering for the beginning of the year, sometime in January or February. I want to present what you need. Much like a build-a-bear experience, let me know what you need:
Anyone from Phoenix interested in a twelve-hour drive up to Lehi, Utah to see the fabulous Kim Weitkamp, Bil Lepp and Andy Offut Irwin? They are doing their famous Uncalled for Trio Christmas Show. 
Monday - December 5th - 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday, December 7th - 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 9th ~ 10am - Noon
Winter's Light at Community Christian Church
Wednesday & Thursday - December 21st & 22nd - 6:30pm
Friday - December 22 -8:45 pm
This is what I say at the beginning of every semester of teaching The Art of storytelling. One of my goals in class (and in life) is to say "yes" more often. There was one student that absolutely could not get up in front of the class to tell. She just froze. She asked if she could tell her story just to me. Unconventional...but I said "yes"...and she did fine.
