ATFT Foundation Planning to Tap For Better Health Around the World

Dr. Roger Callahan joined the ATFT Foundation at their first strategic planning retreat last weekend in Sedona, AZ.

All but one of the foundation’s dedicated board members came together for this meeting. They paid their own expenses to travel to Sedona for a weekend of brainstorming and planning, led by board member Bruce Paton, a retired PepsiCo executive, who has led many similar strategic planning sessions in the past.

Mary Cowley, Suzanne Connolly, Jenny Edwards, Joanne Callahan and Darla Terry-Ausmann were all present as Bruce led us thru our planning sessions. Sunday morning we had the pleasure of Roger Callahan, Jim Cowley and Dariah Morgan joining us as we shared our goals and plans for the future. We appreciated their various perspectives as we fine tuned our vision for ATFT Foundation’s future.

It was an exciting experience, sharing ideas, energy and a common goal of spreading TFT throughout the world with research, education and humanitarian work. I was amazed at the synergistic effect of all of us getting together in the same place.

Suzanne and Bruce Connolly graciously hosted the event in Suzanne’s office – and just two days after arriving home from a month in Rwanda. That, in itself was unbelievable. It was a delight to hear the stories from Suzanne’s trip

Bruce Paton was a skilled facilitator and leader throughout the entire weekend. He even provided all of us with a summary by Sunday evening, while still traveling, from a restaurant in Flagstaff. I will share some of his notes and summary.

“Our objectives were twofold…get to know one another better (teambuilding) and to create a strategic plan (increase foundation effectiveness).”

We defined strategy as “a series of integrated initiatives designed to produce desired results“. We defined plan as “a predetermined path from which to knowingly deviate“.

The process led us to a consensus among the board.

Our top priority item is to create a powerful PR and Marketing campaign. This plan is to include a documentary, involve various well known TFT advocates and increase public awareness. This plan will enable us to better accomplish our foundation goals of education, research and humanitarian service.

The next priority is to create accepted treatment and research models for a number of problems including trauma. This will include coordinating work with our ATFT Foundation UK and our affiliate Rwandan IZERE Center.

The third initiative is to work toward having TFT accepted for PTSD treatment in the US military.

The fourth initiative, close behind the third, was to increase our funding.

Our key next steps are for our leaders to draft a three year supporting plan to present at the next foundation board meeting in September with a view toward a final plan for presentation and acceptance at the October board meeting.

Some additional initiatives, with a secondary focus are:

• Establish TFT centers globally (could be a follow-on to Rwanda center)
• Establish TFT as accepted treatment for disaster relief
• Facilitate locals helping themselves, similar to work in Uganda
• An initiative to reach out to organizations who are doing similar work and already in place
• Expanding to include more resources/leaders to support our work received
• Creating visuals for fund-raising events received.

There were many other suggestions and initiatives with lesser priority, including hiring a full-time administrator.

The weekend ended with all of us feeling energized and excited by what we envision and what we know we can accomplish.

Roger was excited and proud to see what we have accomplished and our plans for the future.