To Menu of Richard's activities during my 2003-04 Health Leave of Absence (from Dorion Bible Camp & Conference Centre) and BEYOND!
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I think God knows that I need this sort of thing from time to time and so has been providing by other means, such as a couple of years ago when I attended (sponsored by a local young couple) an IVCF Bible & Life Conference in Gimli MB -- and now this road trip.

So this trip was a little like the crazy camping conferences I used to attend -- except that we didn't play camp games in the hotel lobby (pretending to be chimps etc.). But I can easily imagine theatre people doing that sort of thing anyway! It probably happens more after hours and I just went to bed too early.

As I told Gabe (the Cambrian Pres) on the way back, I enjoyed (and have been enjoying over the last 3 years with CP) being part of a functional team that meets its goals (produces plays and stays in the black). Because my role is small and in the background, I can be fairly relaxed and simply do my bit -- observe from the others and learn, but not bear a lot of responsibility for the final outcome. The current leaders of CP strike me as amazingly competent and committed and so I can just relax, trust them and fit in where I can. Perhaps (I say "perhaps"), if I knew more, I'd worry more, but for now I am content.

In March 2003 I bought my parents' house and planned to have a house-warming party. I put it off for a few months, as I was busy settling in. Then I became distracted by my one year Health Leave of Absence from Dorion Bible Camp and Conference Centre and the ensuing stress.

As I worked on fulfilling the conditions of the agreement I had with CSSM/DBCCC in order to return to work (ideally by Jan. 1/04) and was professionally declared capable of work by that point, I believed I had reason to anticipate hosting a "Housewarming/Return to Work Party" some time early in 2004.

The powers that be decided to delay my return to duties, but nevertheless on Mar. 25th (my birthday) I was introduced as Programme Director (though still on Leave) at the Dorion Bible Camp's Fundraising Dinner. I am told too that, when a volunteer staff member asked whether I'd be at Camp this summer, the answer was "yes". And so I began to think of having my party some time in April.

On Mar. 31 I met with the board to learn their proposed plan for "reintegration" to my duties and was told how important it was, because of the rapidly approaching summer, to move forward with this process (including an exciting new revamping of the "ethos" of Dorion Bible Camp and Conference Centre along lines which I was happy to agree to, having believed in them for a number of years). I agreed to do so.

So I felt even more encouraged about my party, since it appeared that the board was eager to return me to work soon and possibly to an even better version of Dorion Bible Camp, if these ideas for turning around the decline of recent years were indeed implemented. A date in late April for my party might have been suitable, if this process were to proceed as expeditiously as planned.

But OTOH it was beginning to look as if the length of my Leave might be the max. 1 year after all (May 23/04), so I began to consider hosting my party after the May long weekend. I kept my schedule as open as possible to accommodate the reintegration meetings and waited to be notified. No such meetings occurred.

On April 19 I was dismissed without explanation. Because it was a not-for-cause situation, I was offered a c. 6 month severance package. I had until May 3 to agree to the terms and so I was too distracted at that time to host a party.

In the end it turned out that the best choice for the date of the party was the day which (allowing for Victoria Day) I would have returned to work (had we indeed proceeded with the board's reintegration process) that is, May 25th.

How ironic

Or fitting.

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To Menu of Richard's activities during my 2003-04 Health Leave of Absence (from Dorion Bible Camp & Conference Centre) and BEYOND!
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Latest Update Feb. 19, 2009

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