http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/10208
I am going to be a participant in a 10-week series of contemporary dance workshops called "Swivel". I haven't done any kind of "proper" dancing before, although I have always wanted to, so this is going to be an interesting challenge (albeit nerve-wracking!).

Remember the philosophical song "Wear Sunscreen" from the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's film "Romeo and Juliet"? One of the lines (of the many) says: "Do one thing everyday that scares you." I think going to this dance workshop tonight qualifies for me!

I know that my nervousness will be all unjustified once I'm there and enjoying myself, but in the meantime, I'm still wondering where that confidence went that I had when I signed up for the workshop series...

Wish me luck!]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2003 03:31:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/10208 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/10138
Just letting you know that I am back from my galavanting around the country. It has taken a few days to recover and it is so hard to get back into the routine of things (work, studies, chores, etc).

Anyway, I had a wild time at the Eco-Innovate 03 Conference. I will fill you in about it in more detail later. It was a great chance to meet like-minded people FACE-TO-FACE and share experiences, stories of success, and generally talk about the thrill of being active and involved - something that many of the participants did not get the opportunity to do with their own families and groups of friends. It was a great re-energising week for me, and I was reminded about why I do the things that I do, and that it is possible to make a difference.

All-in-all, a fantastic (albeit tiring) conference!]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2003 08:32:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/10138 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9671
I know you are probably all thinking that all I ever do is work, work, work. Not so! I'm heading to Melbourne with a few friends after the EcoInnovate 03 Conference for a couple of days' holiday. I'm really looking forward to it, especially the chance to meet some of the Melbourne-based TIGers. So, if you'd like to get together one day between the 18th and 20th of July, please let me know and I'll see if I can organise a bit of a networking 'do'.

Hope to hear from you Melbourners soon!]]> Sat, 28 Jun 2003 10:37:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9671 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9597
I'll keep you all updated as to the goings-on at my upcoming conferences. Stay tuned!]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2003 06:43:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9597 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9546
This once in a lifetime opportunity is for those who want to play a greater part in shaping our future - as a family, as a community, as a business, or even as a nation. The key to a sustainable future to ensure that the very processes and systems that comprise a society are sustainable. Eco-Innovate 03 is about sustainable ideas and an opportunity to learn about the ways we can develop them. It is a new and exciting forum that will switch young people to the ultimate sustainability challenge – turning ‘eco-innovations’ into viable applications. Answering the call from Government and the business community to inspire tomorrow’s leaders to think differently, the forum will be held at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, from July 14 – 18, 2003.

THE PROGRAM

Eco-Innovate 03 will draw on key figures within the community to provide opportunities for learning and exchange. The program of the forum is based on the Eco-Innovate 03 key components: sustainability; eco-innovation, design, mentoring, eco-preneurship, leadership, worldviews and action.

ECO-INNOVATION

An innovation is the introduction of a new idea, that proposes a different approach. With effective design, we can develop this new idea so that it creates flexibility and opportunity in our current approach. In that sense, good design helps us to think outside the square when finding solutions. When we integrate sustainability principles into our ideas, our innovations become sustainable and produce positive outcomes for the environment. This kind of innovation is an ‘eco-innovation’. The challenge facing our leaders of tomorrow, is to look to eco-innovation as the way to address problems of resource inefficiency and convert them into opportunities for sustainable living.]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2003 11:41:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9546 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9545
I have just been selected to participate in the Eco-Innovate conference in New South Wales, Australia, in July. If you'd like to find out about the conference, visit www.eco-innovate.net

More details to follow soon!

:) Michelle]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2003 11:33:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9545 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9318
Just a quick note to let you know that I was elected last night as the Adelaide City Council's "Young Voices" project convenor for the next term! Here's to getting the youth voice heard, loud and clear!]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2003 21:15:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9318 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9317
YOUNG VOICES enables young people to have input and involvement in Council decision making and activities. YOUNG VOICES is a joint project between the Adelaide City Council and the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA).

The project involves young people from YACSA’s Youth Participation and Action Group (YPAG),who provide advice and feedback on Council related issues. There are nearly 100 young people involved in the YOUNG VOICES project.

Young people have input through attending a monthly meeting or through the electronic network.

AIM

To involve young people in Council activities that are relevant to them and ensure young people have a VOICE in Council decision making processes.

OBJECTIVES

Develop and implement a youth reference group to provide Council with a mechanism for consulting with young people

Develop and maintain an extensive data base of young people who can provide feedback on Council activities

Enable young people to formally provide input into Council activities relevant to them.

Provide a channel of communication between young people and Council in relation to matters which concern young people

Provide the Council with access to specific young people who can participate on reference groups and speak publicly to Council and the community

Evaluate the overall operations of the project every 12 months for the life of the project

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all young people aged 12-25 years living in South Australia

MEETING TIMES

The Youth Policy and Action Group ‘YPAG’ meets once a month to get active on issues that concern them. YOUNG VOICES forms a key component of these meetings.

BENEFITS OF BEING INVOLVED

Influence Council decisions which have an effect on young people

Assist in ensuring Council activities and decisions are responsive to the needs of young people.

Raise awareness of youth issues.

Work with people who share your interests and passions.

Learn more about Council and how decisions are made.

Get training and skill development.

Work as a team.

Meet new people.

Have fun.
]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2003 21:15:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9317 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9260
I am anxiously waiting for Wednesday to roll around, when the elections are going to be held for the "Young Voices" and the "Youth Participation and Action Group" convenors for the next year. These groups are run as part of the Youth Affairs Council of South Australia (YACSA), the non-government peak body for youth affairs in SA. YPAG provides a youth perspective on issues that YACSA is working on, and also organises youth events and works to support youth participation in the community. Young Voices is the outlet through which YPAG is able to advise the Adelaide City Council (the capital city of South Australia's local government) on issues they are dealing with and make recommendations about how the Council can improve their services to young people.

I can't wait for the elections at Wednesday night's meeting to find out whether I am going to be convenor for either of these exciting groups!]]> Sun, 01 Jun 2003 21:54:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9260 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9228
The conference was impressive and I got to meet a lot of inspiring young people working hard to make a change in their local communities. I got to take part in the "Marketing and Promotions" and "Creating Networks" workshops, which were quite informative and another great opportunity to hear about what young people are doing in their local areas.

The debate about lowering the voting age from 18 years to the age of 16 became quite heated and took up most of the day. It is an issue that is becoming quite prominent at the moment in South Australia, as well as in other Australian states and certain overseas countries, and one of the key issues was whether to make voting from age 16 voluntary or compulsory. A mock referendum was held to determine if the young people attending the conference were for or against the idea of lowering the voting age, with votes indicating a resounding "yes", as announced at a reception with politicians and local government representatives at the end of the day.

All in all, it was a great conference and a wonderful opportunity to get across a youth point of view on a most important current issue - lowering the voting age. I hope I get to catch up with the fantastic people I met there soon!]]> Fri, 30 May 2003 08:34:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9228 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6 http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9226
Hope you enjoy reading my messages and keeping up to date with what's going on in the life of Michelle...]]> Fri, 30 May 2003 07:55:00 EDT http://wiggmichelle.tigblog.org/post/9226 -34.9333333 138.6-34.9333333138.6