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TESTIMONIALS
“The ability to communicate effectively is especially
important in my role as an elected official, and I have Lil Blume to thank.
Her communications course has taught me important lessons on how to listen
with empathy and communicate non-defensively – skills that are essential
whether I am in a boardroom debate, being interviewed by the media, or on
the phone with a constituent. Lil is a dynamic and energetic teacher
who delivers with passion."
"I was the nursing educator in an LTC
residence. The most senior nurse was always pleasant to me, but when I
asked her to do something, she often did not respond. Sometimes she
followed through, sometimes not. If I sent her an email, it was not
acknowledged. One day there was a problem which required some immediate
investigation. She did nothing, so I investigated the problem, and then
ordered her to do a physical
assessment of the resident. She did the assessment, but not until hours
later. The manager wanted to discipline her. I asked the manager to hold
off and to let me tackle the situation. I decided that this woman would
not want to talk with me face to face – that would be too
confrontational. I emailed her. I reviewed what had happened from my
perspective and then I applied a technique I had learned in Lil’s
Communicating Nondefensively workshop
-- I put myself in her shoes and tried to imagine how she saw the
situation: “I wonder if you felt that I did not acknowledge your
experience and knowledge. Here I come in, a new person, and I am telling
you what to do. It must have felt as if I had no respect for your many
years here. Is that it? I would like to apologize right now for that. I
think you are a good nurse." (I supplied some examples of good work I had
witnessed.) "I also think you care about our residents." (More
examples.) "I need to learn from you if I am to do a good job.” It
seemed to work – she thawed and became more responsive.
 I have had the privilege to
attend two different memoir writing workshops given by Lil Blume, the
first was a workshop at Har El Synagogue in North Vancouver which was open
to all members of the congregation and the second was for the
Vancouver Second Generation group (adult children of Holocaust survivors)
who have been meeting regularly over many years and doing workshops with
Lil Blume. In each case Lil was enthusiastic, interesting, and motivating.
In each of these workshops, participants ranged widely in age, writing
ability, and experience as writers. Lil demonstrated an inspiring ability
to make the workshop relevant for all participants while supporting each
of us in such a way that we not only moved forward individually, but
learned to honour and appreciate the contributions of others. I cannot
recommend Lil highly enough as a teacher and mentor.
-- Helen Mintz, storyteller, performer, translator www.helenmintz.com
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"I wish you’d
come back to Victoria to give the faculty another session. The few hours I
got to spend with you were some of the most useful I’ve ever spent on
professional development." Lorna Crozier, award-winning poet, professor
University of Victoria
