During October 18 to 20, 2007, Neill McKee facilitated a retreat with the Healthy Russia Foundation (HRF), Moscow, an organization which was fostered by Neill and his organization, the Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore. The retreat was used to build a team spirit amongst members of the HRF, to review the 2007-2008 workplans and to bring all staff members up to speed on strategic communication concepts and methods.
The retreat was very successful and evaluated highly by the participants. They not only achieved the teambuilding, coordination and training objectives, they also came up with concrete strategies for some particular health problems in Russia, such as the safety and nutrition of young children, traffic safety and improving abulence services, as well as a communication strategy to deal with the psycho-social stress felt by professionals on the job in today’s Russian working environment.
A large variety of VIPP methods were used during the 3-day event and all staff members participated and contributed – even office management, accounting staff and the receptionist. In addition, the participants had time to enjoy some walks in the nearby forest populated with deer and (fenced in) wild boars and to enjoy a barbeque and dance night.
This short retreat demonstrated that even in the sometimes rather heavy and top-down Russian bureaucratic environment, given a chance, VIPP will empower people to work together in a more creative and productive way.
great site
thanx for your work, Neil!!!