BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Catalyst Ranch - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://playground.catalystranch.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Catalyst Ranch
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20180311T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20181104T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20190310T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20191103T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20200308T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20201101T070000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190802T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190802T130000
DTSTAMP:20260502T140125
CREATED:20190626T210051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190626T210051Z
UID:17182-1564745400-1564750800@playground.catalystranch.com
SUMMARY:Lunch & Learn: Improv Techniques for Better Communication and Listening Skills
DESCRIPTION:We are the authority on everything Meetings-related. Our lunch-hour workshops focus on the ins and outs of this industry. We invite Facilitators\, Meeting Planners\, Retreat Programming Coordinators\, Administrative Assistants and everyone in between to get insider insight with a delectable meal! \nJoin us as Julie Ostrow shares the fundamental rules of improv and how to apply them to diverse business settings\, leading to improved communication and connection. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\nLunch & Learn: Improv Techniques for Better Communication and Listening Skills\n \nHave you ever walked away (or hung up) from a conversation wondering\, “What did we just agree to?” Or how about\, “Hmmm…I really don’t think that vendor truly understands our organization’s needs.”? \nAnd\, later at your meeting you find out that your instinct was right…they didn’t use the specifications you thought you agreed to? These are just a few examples of what can happen if there is a gap in communication and listening. \nIn this interactive and fun presentation\, you will learn skills that you can use in your business to make sure you say it right and get it right. Effective communication skills—especially listening—lay the groundwork for cohesive business relationships…and successful events! \nLearn how to use improvisation skills to connect\, collaborate\, and truly listen to your association’s members\, vendors\, and clients. Improv skills allow us to be in the present moment to practice reflective listening\, while encouraging others to do the same. When we’re listening to each other\, we are tuned into each other’s needs and expectations. Listening as a skill means not having our own agendas to drive conversations that will lead to deeper connections. Join the fun and learn the skills and tools that can be applied to your professional\, business\, and personal interactions. \n\nLearn the fundamental rules of improv and apply them to diverse business settings—internally and externally.\nApply reflective listening (also known as “Yes\, and”) to practice empathy and eliminate—or at least reduce—assumptions.\nAcquire the art of being in the moment through improv skills.\nLearn to have fun while collaborating in a fun and interactive way.\n\nAdmission price of $10 includes:\n\nEngaging content with Julie Ostrow.\nA mouth-watering meal from our catering partner Big Delicious Planet.\nAll ticket surcharges.\n\nPlease purchase your admission by Wednesday\, July 24!\n*Please email bryan@catalystranch.com with any dietary restrictions\nClick here for tickets!\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Our Presenter:\nAs the Humorous Speaker and Communication Coach\, The Second City-trained and First-Ever American Laughing Champion Julie Ostrow teaches organizations and corporate teams to use improv skills to improve Creativity\, Communication\, Team Building\, Problem Solving\, and Productivity with their clients and within their organizations. She teaches the benefits of using humor\, laughter\, and improv in all aspects of our lives. \nHaving more than 20 years of corporate marketing communications experience including five years with SmithBucklin\, the world’s largest association management firm\, Julie is able to identify the trigger points of miscommunication and low morale in the corporate culture and among team members. By infusing her corporate experience with her humor\, laughter\, and improv tools\, she is able to guide organizations to communication\, connection\, and creativity. Resulting in re-inspired teams and increased productivity. \nJulie conducts her interactive and transformative workshops for corporations\, conferences\, and professional organizations. Julie’s enthusiasm and passionate spirit\, combined with her comedic insight\, help to make her a warm and engaging presenter and workshop facilitator. Her personal motto\, “find the funny\,” helps her to find humor in everyday moments and in life’s seemingly most difficult situations…and she’ll help your teams do the same! \n\nWebsite: www.JulieOstrow.com\nEmail: Julie@GoFindTheFunny.com\nCall or text: (815) 893-9255\nTwitter: @JulieOstrow\nLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julieostrow/\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/gofindthefunny/\n\n\n\nLearn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!
URL:https://playground.catalystranch.com/event/lunch-learn-improv-techniques-for-better-communication-and-listening-skills/
LOCATION:Catalyst Ranch\,  656 W Randolph St\, Chicago\, IL\, 60661\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lunch & Learn,Networking,Professional Development,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playground.catalystranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/900x450-Wordpress-Feat-Image-11.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190803T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190803T130000
DTSTAMP:20260502T140125
CREATED:20190715T180852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190715T181312Z
UID:17359-1564826400-1564837200@playground.catalystranch.com
SUMMARY:Better Angels: Depolarizing the Politics Within
DESCRIPTION:Learn from the Better Angels organization how to identify the polarizer in yourself in order to start depolarizing heated conversations about politics with like-minded peers\, fostering empathy and community. \n \nDepolarizing the Politics Within:\nBecoming a Better Angel in Your Own World\nMuch of today’s epidemic of toxic polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often we stereotype\, dismiss\, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party\, its leaders\, and its policies. Although political polarization in some form has always been around\, it was less problematic when people interacted more outside their own silos. Nowadays\, people on the other side have become not just strangers but enemies. How we talk among ourselves about them fuels fires that threaten our democracy. \nWhat if we learn the discipline of non-polarizing attitudes and words about the political “Other” with whom we do share a nation and united future? And learn to critique opposing policies without dehumanizing political opponents? \nThis workshop will: \n\nHelp you become more aware of your inner polarizer\nHelp you learn ways to depolarize yourself so that you can disagree without demonizing\, dismissing\, or stereotyping the millions of people who differ from you politically\nTeach you skills for how to intervene in social conversations with like-minded people when those conversations veer into contempt and ridicule for people who hold other political views\n\nJoin us at Catalyst Ranch for this workshop led by family therapist Bill Doherty\, co-founder of Better Angels and designer of its workshops. \nPublic Transportation and Parking near Catalyst Ranch: https://www.catalystranchmeetings.com/maps1.html \nDoors open at 9:30 a.m. for coffee and light snacks. \n\nAbout the Organization:\n \nBetter Angels is a national nonprofit with a mission to depolarize America. Its leadership is half “red” and half “blue.” It has more than 7\,000 members in all 50 states\, and its trained moderators have conducted more than 400 workshops nationally. \nAbout the Presenter:\n \nBill Doherty\, Ph.D. is a professor and family therapist at the University of Minnesota\, where he directs the Citizen Professional Center.  After the 2016 presidential election\, he co-founded Better Angels (named after an Abraham Lincoln phrase)\, which brings together “reds” and “blues” to try to depolarize America.  Bill designed several kinds of Better Angels workshops which are now happening in 35 states.  This new workshop aims at personal depolarization and being an agent of change in one’s own political community. \n  \n\n  \n\nLearn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!\n 
URL:https://playground.catalystranch.com/event/better-angels-depolarizing-politics/
LOCATION:Catalyst Ranch\,  656 W Randolph St\, Chicago\, IL\, 60661\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://playground.catalystranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/woman_at_map2-cropped.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190821T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190821T203000
DTSTAMP:20260502T140125
CREATED:20190726T221700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190726T221700Z
UID:17679-1566412200-1566419400@playground.catalystranch.com
SUMMARY:Brainstorming: Happiness at Work - real people\, real conversations
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Benjamin Ritter brings the Brainstorming series to Catalyst Ranch to foster real conversations among real people. The evening’s theme: Happiness at Work—from problem co-workers to finding greater meaning at work and everything in between. \n \n\nHave you ever had an open and honest conversation with someone you didn’t know and felt completely energized? \nHave you ever wondered how to find people to discuss meaningful topics that don’t relate to sports or the weather? \nThis isn’t an event where you are given a drink ticket and thrown to the wolves. \nWe have real conversations and meet real people. \nNone of that “what do you do?” or “wow that weather outside was something”… \nThis is a brainstorm\, where people come together to think deeply and speak openly. \nBrainstorming is an event that is focused on bringing people together to talk about a specific theme\, cultivate community\, and hopefully inspire personal and professional growth. This month we are focusing on the topic of friendships. \nThe event (doors open at 6:15 PM\, to provide time for refreshments and icebreakers) consists of breakout and group brainstorming sessions and to discuss specific questions related to the theme of the event: Happiness at Work. \nBrainstorming events are limited in size to promote authentic relationships and building community. Get your ticket ASAP if you are planning to attend. \nTicket prices increase on the Monday before the event. \n  \n— \nHosted and facilitated by:\nDr. Benjamin Ritter is a Chicago based social entrepreneur\, coach\, consultant\, mentor\, and expert in the fields of personal and professional internal leadership development. \nThroughout his career he has worked in the areas of hospitality\, the entertainment industry\, public health\, education\, childcare\, healthcare\, and personal and professional development\, constantly seeking new experiences to learn more about the world\, and himself. \nThe culmination of his previous personal\, professional\, and educational experiences led him to create Live for Yourself (LFY) Consulting\, a coaching/consulting company that is focused on helping successful professionals find more meaning at life and in work. \nLFY Consulting bases its coaching practices on the unique LIVE system\, which integrates doctoral level applied learning theory\, and curriculum and leadership development research. \nDr. Benjamin Ritter is also the host of the Live for yourself podcast and Live for Yourself events\, author of The Live for Yourself Workbook\, and The Essentials\, creator of The Breakup Supplement\, and a freelance expert and writer.
URL:https://playground.catalystranch.com/event/brainstorming-happiness-at-work/
LOCATION:Catalyst Ranch\,  656 W Randolph St\, Chicago\, IL\, 60661\, United States
CATEGORIES:Meetup,Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playground.catalystranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/900x450-Wordpress-Feat-Image-13.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190827T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190827T200000
DTSTAMP:20260502T140125
CREATED:20190801T193732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190801T193732Z
UID:17806-1566928800-1566936000@playground.catalystranch.com
SUMMARY:Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch in August
DESCRIPTION:Ignite Chicago packs the house. Come to Catalyst Ranch August 27 for a night of great ideas!\n \n\n  \nIgnite Chicago is a high-energy evening of 5-minute talks by people who have a burning idea—and the guts to get onstage and share it with their hometown crowd.\n  \n  \n \nAttending this evening’s Ignite Chicago does good for the city and for your neighbors. All proceeds from Ignite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch go toward funding the volunteer-run\, nonprofit organization We All Code (formerly CoderDojoChi)\, which teaches web\, game and app development to youth ages 7 to 17. So when you buy your ticket to expand your mind at Ignite Chicago\, you effectively contribute to expanding the minds of young people in our beloved city! \n \nSpeaking at Ignite is an unforgettable experience. You step up to the mic. Your palms sweat. You can hear the thump of your blood rushing. Your voice cracks for an instant and then you launch into a rant for 300 straight seconds\, wearing your passion on your sleeve\, barely pausing to breathe. The crowd goes wild. \nIgnite Chicago at Catalyst Ranch is open to everyone. All talks are 5 minutes (20 slides x 15 seconds/slide). \n \nThere is no theme for Ignite. You can talk about virtually anything as long as you can show us your passion for it. What’s the thing you most geek out about? What’s the topic of conversation that quickens your pulse and sets your toe a-tappin’? That is what we want to hear you speak about. \nAll speakers get equal time and equal billing. All talks are 5 minutes. You create 20 slides\, and we set them up to auto-advance every 15 seconds. \nRefreshments are generously provided by sponsors Giordano’s Pizza and Lagunitas Brewing Company.\nWant to speak?\nThe audience at Ignite is generous and patient. They know the Ignite format is difficult\, and they realize you might be an absolute beginner at public speaking. Don’t worry – they’ve got your back. You’re giving them your passion and your vulnerability\, and they love you for that. You won’t find a more appreciative audience at any other event. \nSome people think Ignite is about self-help talks. It isn’t. Nobody wants to hear a preachy pep talk. We’re already “good enough and smart enough\,” so let’s keep this about you and your passionate ideas. \nFinally\, we’re serious about the no pitching thing. We know that sometimes a speaker must mention their profession in order to give their talk context\, which is totally fine. But Ignite is not the place to tout your organization or to troll for clients. \nClick the logo for tickets.\n \n\n \nFind out more about the maestro behind both Ignite Chicago and CoderDojoChi\, Ali Karbassi\, by clicking here! \n\n\nLearn more about Chicago’s Most Creative Meeting and Event Space Catalyst Ranch!
URL:https://playground.catalystranch.com/event/ignite-chicago-at-catalyst-ranch-in-august/
LOCATION:Catalyst Ranch\,  656 W Randolph St\, Chicago\, IL\, 60661\, United States
CATEGORIES:Networking,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playground.catalystranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/900x450-Wordpress-Feat-Image-12.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR