PIRA
The Association of Human Resource Professionals
888 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1050
Los Angeles, CA 90017-5459
(213) 622-PIRA
(800) 743-5410
(213) 622-7450 Fax
____________________________________
October 25, 1994
Dear Jonathan:
I could not let another day go by without extending my heartfelt thanks and
congratulations to you for successfully kicking off our 1994 National PIRA Conference.
Your remarkable opening keynote address and the two Improvisational Workshops
were the highlight of the Conference.
As the 1994 PIRA Conference Chair, I searched nationwide for an opening keynote
speaker who could quickly generate a sense of community and kinship amongst
the 1200 Conference attendees. I wanted a miracle. Someone who in 40 minutes
could turn complete strangers into partners, into participants, into friends.
Bravo Jonathan! You did it. You demonstrated our Conference theme: REACHING
NEW HEIGHTS IN A DIVERSE WORLD. Watching you encourage everyone to stand, teaching
us to sing in 3-part harmony and then expertly comparing the shared singing
experience to the challenges and rewards of diversity in the workplace was pure
genius in action. You got people focused immediately on the key issues of the
Conference in a way that was engaging, educational, inspiring and fun.
The two Improv Workshops brought the Human Resource professionals together in
a rich and sometimes emotional dialogue that shared and acknowledged the participants’
own dilemmas and pain in serving the needs of a truly diverse workplace. Spontaneous
outbursts of laughter and applause as well as quiet, reflective moments with
tears were present in both workshops. Very powerful… very real.
Again, Jonathan, both your keynote address and the two workshops were a tremendous
contribution. It is an awesome responsibility being the Conference Chair. Thanks
for making me look good!
With Warm Regards,
CHERYL AERON MAY
1994 PIRA Conference Chair