Welcome to galarc.com 
This is the web site for Esther A. Heller, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, Consultant, Diversity Coach.
It is a blend of the professional and the personal, reflecting the fact that the many aspects of my life interweave into one complete person.
Feel free to chose which aspects are relevant for you.
Also hosted and maintained are:
The National Jewish Committee on Girl Scouting
The Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Girl Scout Skills Camporee
Finally, it is pronounced GAL-ark with the accent on the first syllable. If you want to know more, scroll on down.
EAH
Personal Vision:
We all live on one planet. In order to share its limited resources, we must understand and appreciate each others' differences. I believe that if we recognize diversity as the source of multiple viewpoints, we have a better chance at creative solutions to life's challenges.
Esther A. Heller, PRP
I am a mathematician turned engineer turned diversity consultant turned parliamentarian.
Therefore, I bring to all of my clients, logical thinking, problem solving skills and a knowledge of multi-cultural communications. I know how and when to listen and what questions to ask to understand my clients' needs.
They appreciate the breadth and depth of my knowledge which is tempered with a sense of humor.
As a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, I am qualified to offer the following services:
- Serve as convention or meeting parliamentarian
- Coach presiding officers
- Advise on Governing Documents
- Preside over meetings
- Give Trainings (including online)on parliamentary topics
- Provide Written Opinions
EAH and Diversity Work.
Over the years, I found myself being drawn into the diversity arena. In 1995 I attended Equity Institute's "Training for Trainers" program and then left engineering to work on social change. Research and observation have shown that two opposing philosophies affect people's interactions: scarcity and sufficiency. Believing that there really is or can be "enough" to go around, I look compassionately at other people's (or groups) needs and history. This in turn has made me realize that many of us have expended too much energy trying to fit and/or function in the dominant paradigm. Instead, we must work at shifting the paradigm to fit more of us.
This is pluralism. It informs my parliamentarian practice.
I have given talks and workshops such as:
- "Valuing Differences"
- "Communicating in a Multicultural Society"
- "Conflict Resolution Skills"
- "Making Presentations with Confidence"
- "Succeeding with a Diverse Workgroup"
- "Building Community"
Consider the following questions posed by Rabbi Hillel. They are relevant to so many issues today.
If I am not for myself, who will be?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?
I look forward to beginning a discussion with you!
More on Diversity
The internet is a wonderful place, but books don't require external power.
For those of you interested in more ideas, here's a reading list that I've put together.
Even though I'm no longer working in engineering, I am a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers . I've stepped back from giving workshops to members and being an active committee member.
For over a decade, I had a column, "Thoughts On..." in the newsletter for the Santa Clara Valley Section and in the Members-at-Large news. Contact me if you are interesting in reading some of them.
EAH and Life
- Girl Scouts.
I am a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA. I'm in Girl Scouts of Northern California.
I have served as their parliamentarian since the merger.
- Photography.
Here are some samples of my older work. My more current work is on social media.
- Essentials.
The three things that I feel are essential to my ongoing well-being are: cats, chocolate and wine. Over the years, there have been several cats. Alas, the other two requirements have calories attached to them. Need I say more?
- Estherisms
Like many others, I have phrases that I use a lot which reflect my philosophies. Why should my Girl Scouts be the only one who hear them?
- Misc.
I'm interested in a variety of crafts, love old rock and roll. I belong to Keddem Congregation. I have served a term as President. It was around when I stared being a parliamentarian.
Using parliamentary procedure for a tricky annual meeting convinced me of the value.
- Orienteering.
I'm a member of the BAOC. Mostly, I help out at meets, work on bylaws revisions and convince Girl Scouts to try it. My husband Nick Corsano is a Brown runner and has served a few terms as club President.
- I have a blog , "Thoughts on... " which includes some columns and other postings. I should use it more.
- AND
In September of '96, Nick and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary!!
In case you're wondering, yep, we made it to thirty-five as well.
We held "The Last Great Party" to celebrate forty.
We were going to celebrate our 50th in the 50th state but the pandemic got in the way. We did celebrate.
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Esther A. Heller, Professional Registered Parliamentarian <esther.heller@gmail.com>
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Last updated December 21, 2021