40th Year Anniversary Conference: “Grounded In Growth”

This year’s T’ai Chi Chih conference in New Jersey was the best ever. I arrived a day early to prepare myself for the conference. Since it was held at Kean University, it was affordable. Also, I had received a tuition-donation from a generous friend and TCC teacher. (God bless her heart.)

The dorm was equipped with elevators and the long distance between buildings was diminished by the availability of shuttles. Siobhan Hutchinson and Daniel Pienciak co-hosted the event and did a wonderful job of connecting with the university staff. It is always a challenge to operate a conference within an educational structure.

Of course, the best part was the attendance. Friends from around the country and beyond were there, adding up to 102 participants.

The Thursday opening practice (as well as early morning TCC sessions) took place in front of the dorm building and was led by local teachers.

On Friday, in the comfort of a professional auditorium, Guide Sandy McAlister welcomed all. Her inspired sharing was followed by Lisa Otero’s enthusiastic plea to use Justin Stone’s materials for teaching and for our own development. She likened such materials to goodies carefully placed in a picnic basket by Justin Stone for each of us to unpack as we wish.

In a large upper room, vendors sold beautiful Chi-related items. It was also there that Sandy, through word and example, during two separate sessions, refined all of the TCC movements. KG provided information on The Vital Force journal, Good Karma Publishing, and the near miraculous expansion of TCC through various social media channels. Mary White gave a presentation on the TCC Center in Albuquerque. Colleen Flanagan talked to us about how finding and teaching TCC enables one to find and put cosmic flow into our lives.

Friday evening ended with a celebration of the 40th anniversary of TCC, as Carmen Brocklehurst shared a video clip of Justin Stone playing the piano and speaking at an earlier conference. Carmen then gave her assessment of the growth of TCC over the years. Who has a clearer vision of this than she?

Saturday morning, in the comfort of the auditorium, two presentations captured our attention. First, an open discussion was held on “Men and TCC” which called us to look closely at how we market TCC, so that our emphasis on softness does not sell short a practice which provides us with tremendous energy. The second presentation was on caretaking and how her own TCC practice empowered Diana Bahn to see her way through one personal challenge after another. We would do well to take to heart the messages of both presentations.

In the afternoon, Pam Towne presented the practice of Seijaku as Justin Stone’s intended extension or development of TCC. Within this brief presentation, participants were able to experience the power of holding fast and letting go, or of meeting resistance and then resting in calm. Hopefully, this inspired many teachers to seek out teachers of Seijaku upon returning home.

Later in the afternoon, over 60 local TCC students joined the teachers in the upper room for a group practice. It was great to see so many students arrive and do TCC so very well.

This was followed in the auditorium by a teacher rededication, led by Antonia and the leadership group. After the ceremony, local students joined conference participants in the annual scholarship fund raffle. Once again, Neal Roy’s humor and leadership helped the TCC foundation raise over $2000 for scholarships. The raffle was interspersed with a talent show, directed by Dan Pienciak. That night we retired exhausted, but impressed, by our many talented colleagues.

Sunday morning practice was divided into a TCC group and a Seijaku group, both moving in front of the dorm building. It was a first.

After breakfast, all assembled in the auditorium for a look at the future of TCC. It looks exciting. Many possible retreats and intensives could become part of our continued education. Dates are on the calendar for accreditation. Then the big announcement: the 2015 conference will be in Black Mountain, North Carolina, August 6-9. Hope to see you there.