DonGray

You can reach me via email: don at donaldegray.com

I've added tiki-wiki to my web-site. I'm still kayaking.

This year I'm presenting 3 sessions.

- NaomiKarten and I will be demonstrating that Extroverts and Introverts can work together, understand each other, and have fun all at the same time.
- SteveSmith and I explore the experiences of Diagrams of Effects. Being able to create a DOE helps illumiate and understand forces that drive non-linear, tightly coupled systems, like where you work.
- MartineDevos and I will demonstrate how communcication is so much more than language.

This section last updated 2006.09.05

2004 Update

I'm starting to post articles and presentations on my web site I'm almost done with the basic site.

I've started with categories, but the more I blog, the more I'm convinced that "everything is contented to everything". I appreciate Laurent and Huw for providing feedback and more thoughts to blog about.

Send me email, .

This year I'm involved with four sessions:

SessionFour011 Creating and Sharing a Diagram of Effects
SessionFour012 Increasing Your Effectiveness as a Change Agent
SessionFour013 Making Conscious Choices For Change
SessionFour022 It's Deja Vu All Over Again
(last updated 2004.08.24)

AYE2003 Update During the session on Quality vs Speed the topic of Gaming Theory was metnioned. Then during Systems Interventions, JerryWeinberg mentioned the Prisoner's Dilemma. I've added part of an article to my web-site that discusses these. http://www.donaldegray.com/Articles/gameTheory.pdf

OK. A little about why I'm gone so much right now. In addition to everything else I do (n-th Order Systems, EMT-I with Stokes EMS and volunteer with Pilot Mountain Rescue and EMS), Karol and I are involved in whitewater kayaking. In addition to kayaking, I'm an ACA Cerftified Basic White Water Kayak Instructor AND Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. This is the "busy" time of year here in the south. Last weekend was swift water instruction, this weekend is teaching intermediate kayakers. Both of these take me way out of touch. Then next week our local kayaking club starts its beginner clinic. Just as soon as I have time, I'm going to get worried about too much to do! Fortunately JimBullock seems to do OK at subbing for me on the wiki. ;{)> 2003.05.01

My major learning from AYE for the last two years is that I don't need to have all the answers. This is a tremendous relief! What I do focus on, is getting the right people, in the right environment, at the right time, and working on the right problem. It's a joy to see how things turn out when everything is right!.

Last year I was involved with three sessions. In Increasing Your Effectiveness as a Change Agent we looked at the dynamics around change, and how we can better affect change. Steering the System: Effective Interventions explored why bad things happen to good projects. Sharpening Communication About Project Status and Dynamics looked at ways to determine WHAT is important in project statue reports, and HOW to get that information to the correct people.

don ;{)> 2002.06.18 / 2003.03.04

References to lightening fast chicken pluckers and officer designators brings back old memories. Worse, it ignites my curiosity. What language(s)? (I was Polish then Russian). When did you serve? (For me, 68-74 as enlisted, then NESEP , and officer 78-84.) If I remember, 1600 was NSG. (I was surface line.) Did you fly VQ or live in SOD huts? MikeMelendez 020208

Lightening fast chicken pluckers.<g> Now that's a phrase I haven't heard in a long time. And just so the curiosity doesn't get to you, Russian, but I did my active duty time in the Army. MOS 98G. When I got out in 78, I finally ended up living in Pensacola, where I found I could be a member of the canoe club, play in russian, and have a beard. Beard's been with me pretty much ever since, except for the few times I had to shave it so I could get a seal on a respirator (certain plants have this requirement). My 7 days at sea during the 8 years I was in the canoe club was on the SS Southward (I believe) a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel. And yes, 1600 was NSG. After I graduated with a degree in Systems Science (Scientific) I put in the paperwork for a commision. Went to drill one day as a CTI1 (almost Chief Exam eligble) and walked out an O1E. I refer to it as my lick-it and stick-it commision. Along the way, I ended up divorced and re-married, and the re-marriage got in the way of drilling (I was having too much fun) so I left the military at the lofty rank of LtJg. Of course having never been to sea or met an admiral's daughter, I was a shoe-in for this promotion.<g>

Updated: Tuesday, September 5, 2006