Unique Experiences

Item Description

Looking for a new way to connect with people on different sides of an
important issue?

Craig and Patricia Neal will convene a three-hour Conversational Salon for
up to 30 people on the topic of your choice, virtually or in-person (travel
is not included).

Included are copies of their book, The Art of Convening: Authentic
Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations.

Craig was the publisher of Utne Reader during the formation of the Utne
Salons. Craig and Patricia are the co-founders of Transformational Leader
Circles in Minnesota and the San Francisco Bay Area.

All Heartland programs are dedicated to creating a world that works for all.
For an online salon, MaestroConference is used as the salon medium.  
The Neals will meet with the winning bidder by phone to organize the scope 
of the salon and determine how to frame the invitation.  Once the winning 
bidder has provided a list of people to invite, the Neals will take care of the 
rest!

Patricia Neal, Co-Founder & President

Patricia is co-author of The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in
Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations (Berrett-Koehler, 2011). With 25+
years of working with entrepreneurial start-ups, and community organizing,
Patricia has had broad experience in convening, marketing and organizational
operations. Prior to Heartland Inc., Patricia held various marketing and media
positions at Telemedia Communications, launching two national magazines, and
Garden Way Mfg. Inc.

Patricia is co-founder of the Conscious Business Alliance and serves as a
Founding Board member of Honoring Women Worldwide, The Symposium
Network, and the Positive Coaching Alliance MN Chapter, and is a member of
the National Association of Professional Women and Minnesota OD Network.
She has been instrumental in the development of three Waldorf Schools
and is an activator in the Waldorf School movement. Patricia is currently
writing Questions of Leadership. She is mother/step-mother to three wonderful
children, grandmother of two.

Craig Neal, Co-Founder, VisionHolder

Since awakening to his life's purpose in 1963, Craig Neal has celebrated life as a
passionate change leader, publishing executive and organizational executive and
guide to those called to authentically show up in life and work. 

Craig had extensive experience within the early co-op movement, as Founder,
Northeast Kingdom Food Co-op (1972); Co-Founder, Natural Organic Farmer’s
Association (1974); Co-Founder, Plainfield Co-op, Plainfield, VT (1971). From
the '70s to the '90s, Craig held executive positions with Garden Way, Inc, Rodale
Publishing, and helped launch Harrowsmith and Eating Well magazines.

In 1995 Craig concluded his publishing career as publisher of Utne
Reader and co-founded Heartland Inc. with Patricia, his wife of 25
years.

In 1998, Heartland produced the first Thought Leader Gathering for 40 change
leaders in Minnesota. Thirteen years and 191 Gatherings later, Craig has co-
convened over 2500 leaders in these ongoing membership based groups
in Minnesota and the Bay Area of Calif. In 2012, Heartland launched the
Transformational Leader Circles: A Community of Practice.

Additionally, he and Patricia created the Essential Conversations Process (ECP)
for educators (Circle of Fire) and MBA students, along with convening meetings
for businesses and communities alike.

In 2004 Craig launched The Art of Convening Trainings, including pioneering 
a unique and engaging TeleTraining format. Over 500 leaders have graduated
from The Art of Convening Trainings, virtual and in-person. Craig is co-
author, The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings,
and Conversations (Berrett-Koehler 2011). He is skilled at building relationships
within and across organizations and in developing and maintaining superior
communication skills and member relations.

He co-founded the Conscious Business Alliance and the Minnesota Magazine
Publishers Association, and served as a founding board member of Business for
Social Responsibility and of Responsible Minnesota Business. Craig is currently
a board member of the Berrett-Koehler Author Cooperative. Craig and Patricia
live in Minneapolis; he loves the land, is an avid gardener, beekeeper and
voyageur.

Find out more: heartlandcircle.com

Item Special Note

To all bidders in The Intelligent Optimist Auction:

If you have the winning bid on one or more items, an automatically generated message from Bidding for Good in your email “in” box at auction’s end will serve as proof of your win. You'll hear from the staff at The Intelligent Optimist with instructions on how to redeem the item in the days to follow. 

If you bid on a tangible item, we’ll mail your item the week after the close of the auction on November 18. We will add $4.99 to your charge for shipping and handling for small items and $9.99 for larger items. You’ll be charged the actual shipping price on items of significant weight. We will mail these the least expensive way available from the United States Post Office (i.e., media mail for books and magazines), with delivery confirmation. If you’re concerned about shipping costs, please contact auction@theoptimist.com for a quote.

Global Light Media will pack each item with care but is not responsible to donors or bidders for lost or damaged materials.

Any product proven defective will be replaced with a product of equal or better quality at no cost to the bidder. We guarantee bidders will be sent all items they won. We do not guarantee shipping delivery times.

While Global Light Media is not liable for anything beyond our control that occurs as a result of the auction, the company will reimburse any bidder who does not receive an item or experience that fulfills the description on the auction site for the amount paid to Global Light Media through the site.

Please email us at auction@theoptimist.com with any questions.

Thank you for participating in The Intelligent Optimist Auction and making a bid for a better world!