| CREW Spa Weekend |
| 2008 |
|
By Judy Karlov, Alliance Cost Containment September 28, 2008 The Heartland, celebrating its 25th anniversary with inclusion in Top Ten Destination Spas in the US (gayot.com), has spiffed itself up with:
There’s nothing like taking over the whole place to hang out, eat and do leadership exercises with women in standard-issue sweats and post-oil treatment hair – women you usually see only at their professional best – to get to know each other. Either past memory has faded, or 2008 was the best CREW Spa Weekend ever. The glorious early fall weather made our 2-mile morning walks past golden corn and soybean fields beautiful, and a few members rode water bikes in the lake. Indoor options ranged from boot camp and kickboxing to a full selection of massages and facials. A highlight of the weekend was our guest speaker, Dr. Carole Leland, Principal with Leadership Enterprises, who traveled from her San Diego home to be with CREW for the weekend. She is known internationally for executive development and experiential learning, and is a Senior Fellow in Leadership Diversity. Her university affiliations include Rutgers and University of California, and she is co-author of the highly acclaimed Women of Influence, Women of Vision: A Cross-Generational Study of Leaders of Social Change. After we were lucky enough to enjoy the weekend with her, Carole traveled to Africa to teach the heads of the Nairobi government how to work with their teams. Many of us remember wonderful annual CREW Spa Weekends at The Heartland up to the end of the 20th century. After leaving The Heartland, we tried the larger American Club in Koehler, WI twice, but it didn’t include the opportunity to network on a meaningful level. About 6 years ago, CREW Spa Weekend died. Many of us missed our weekends at The Heartland, but only Jan Fiola had the bravery and initiative to do something about it. Asked why, she replied, “When I joined CREW in 1995, I had young children and was unable to attend the CREW Spa weekend. Now that my girls are older I was anxious to attend the spa weekend, but no one was coordinating it. I was told by Sharon Krohn, then CREW president, ‘If you want to attend the Spa weekend, fee free to coordinate it.’ So I did!” In 2007, with much effort, Jan convinced some CREW members and their friends to try again. Most of those members came back this year and enough additional members signed on to take over the Spa for the weekend. 2009 spots will be in high demand, so be sure to sign up when the announcement first appears. Here are excerpts from what attendees had to say: “combination of rest, physical activity, pampering and education” “wonderful, energizing, healthy, thought-provoking, affirming, fun” “Saturday night party – with contraband – has become a tradition.” “great to have a focal point (Carole Leland) and something to center us.” “my first time…..but not my last” “haven’t belly-laughed so much in years.” “beautiful location, great classes, relaxing treatments” “CREW friends old and new, thank you for energizing me.” We look forward to seeing you in September 2009! These are more complete quotes that you can read at your leisure: “It was a pleasure to spend the weekend with all of you inspirational women!” (Maria Beecroft, ConopCo Realty & Development. Inc.) “I totally enjoyed the casual atmosphere and bonding with CREW colleagues. I also felt our keynote speaker, Carole Leland, brought a higher level of intrigue to the weekend.” (Jan Fiola) “The combination of rest, physical activity, pampering and education about our own leadership styles and conflict management made for a great weekend.” (Janet Johnson, Schiff Hardin) “My thanks to Jan for organizing the event and making sure the Heartland was ours, and Carole for being a terrific facilitator and helping all of us to get to know ourselves and others better, and everyone for a wonderful, energizing, healthy, thought-provoking, affirming, fun weekend. I loved getting to know other CREW members better, having Carole Leland here to guide us in various exercises regarding conflict and relationships. I love the fact that we take over the whole Heartland Spa. There is so much more; those are some of the highlights.” (Helen Kessler, HJ Kessler Associates) “It was my first time…but not my last. Loved spending time with all of you. Thanks all!” (Deborah Krohn, Krohn Studio) “Enjoyed spending time with all – and love that our Saturday night party – complete with “contraband” – has become a tradition. And speaking of traditions – Ginny, your follow-ups to our events are becoming a wonderful and hysterical tradition. Jan, you are terrific – thank you for a year of relentless hard work and follow up. Indeed, you are all wonderful – I am proud to be part of our group.” (Sharon Krohn, Sharon Krohn Real Estate Executive Search) “How can you pick your favorite thing from a spa weekend with lovely women and fun activities? I think it was wonderful that we can evaluate all management styles and learn how to utilize our strengths and adapt, to be successful in all roles of management – all done in a relaxing environment. Carole, thank you for the insight and helping us to look at things in a different light – it surely helps us all! And I so enjoyed all the dynamic women!” (Sandy Manden, Super Marketing Group, Inc.) “I’d like to share a couple of things I learned over the course of the weekend, outside of the outstanding learning opportunities, self-evaluation and reflection led by Carole. What I learned (in no particular order):
Thank you everyone for a wonderful weekend.” “So many thanks to go around: Jan thanks for reviving this CREW tradition. Your advance planning, attention to detail and commitment to the weekend’s success really showed. I ha a fantastic time! Carole, you were amazing! You continue to inspire me and make me re-think who I am and how I can be an even better me. CREW friends old and new, thank you for energizing me. I truly enjoyed getting to know all of you better – catching up with those of you thathaven’t seen recently and meeting so many wonderful women I hadn’t run into before. What a great group of dynamic, energetic doers you all are!” (Lori Neiman, ORIX Real Estate Capital, Inc.) “It was a standout and so inspiring to be with so many outstanding women. I loved being together with, and being able, in an informal way, to get to know them better over a nice long period of time in an unhurried manner. Having Carole Leland here was wonderful – it was great to have a focal point and something to center us. She was delightful; her topics were on point, thoughtful and well presented. Being in a comfortable, restful setting and having lots of wonderful treatments was wonderful! Jan – thanks for all your hard work organizing and planning such a terrific weekend.” (Cathy Stephenson, Grubb & Ellis Management Services Inc.) “What a great weekend! Fun, relaxing…..do what you want, when you want, with a great group! At your pace weekend. Great time to laugh and get to know each other. As this was my first time I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the event and getting to know everyone. Carole was dynamite and certainly made me think. I wish all of CREW could have had a chance to be a part of her presentation.” (Gloria Valerugo, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler) “Jan and Carole, you’re the greatest! What a great event and great group of women! Thanks to everyone for being open, fun-loving and intriguing!” (Cindy Wozny-Carl) “I haven’t belly-laughed so much in years. I love this weekend! Our guest speaker was awesome, having lunch in our bathrobes, cutie Nick, morning walks, my heavenly facial and massages – it was all fabulous!” “Spa Weekend is terrific fun. It is good to see friends and be pampered. Dr. Carole Leland was amazing, too.” “This is a very comfortable environment to get to know people, know them better and explore matters that might be considered too time- or issue- intense in other venues.” “What did I like best? The C’s: Camaraderie, Classes, Carole (and Nick).” “Aside from the wonderful amenities associated with being pampered, I enjoyed Dr. Leland. She is a remarkable woman! Having her at our weekend retreat brought insight to myself as well as re-evaluating my approach to conflicts professionally.” “The CREW women – the connections, conversations, reflections and new discoveries – were my favorite parts of the weekend. Carole was outstanding. Our opening night exercise was the perfect way to create a cohesiveness and common focus for conversation and connection Wonderful!” “The spa was a great time. It was even better to share the weekend with so many smart, funny, active women. So much fun!” “Boys don’t “bond” on the golf course but girls BOND at the spa! You meet new people, make new connections.” “What did I like best? Getting better acquainted with CREW members in a relaxed environment in which to share diet, exercise, pampering and a leadership style workshop. The staff is very helpful and friendly.” “I’m so glad I attended this event. Beautiful location, great classes, relaxing treatments and a wonderful opportunity to get to know outstanding and interesting women. I’m hooked now!” |