New at the ACTO Conference This Year: Process Groups

By Jason Veliquette

I remember my first ACTO conference in Orlando in 2014.  I was a brand-new coach trainer and feeling a bit out of place and in over my head.  In my brief stint as a coach trainer, I had started to learn the names of some of the pioneers of coach training.  And many of them were here on this hot and humid Florida morning as I checked in.  I was nervous and excited at the same time.  I remember as I started to interact with people, I sensed a warmth and care, and sense of belonging.  Then during one of the speakers’ presentations, I was partnered with Peter Reding in an exercise. He a founding member of ACTO and I a brand-new coach trainer.  I promptly asked him to be the coach in the exercise.  And it was an awesome experience for me.  Besides being coached by a master, he made me feel included in the ACTO community.

And belonging is one thing that I believe distinguishes ACTO. As I have been on the board for the last four years that sense of belonging continues to be a differentiator and has expanded. ACTO is evolving and the sense of belonging that I felt all those years ago has expanded to encompass an even more diverse crowd of coach trainers.

While we are not going to be together in person this year at the conference, the Conference Committee is committed to fostering the same sense of belonging.  One of the ways we are doing this is to introduce the process groups. Each person who opts in will be assigned to a process group with which they will meet throughout the conference.  The Process Group provides a safe haven to process the many learnings from the conference and a chance to hear the perspective of others.  Since you would connect with the same people each day in this group, you have the opportunity to know people better.  It’s the perfect touch to foster belonging. We invite those of you with skills facilitating groups to volunteer to be a Process Group Facilitator.  If you don’t, this is still a volunteer opportunity for you as we will provide an orientation session.  Interested parties are asked to contact Shareefah Sabur at acto@actoonline.org. Additionally, if you are not yet registered for the conference, you can do so here. Register today…we want to see you there!