Creighton's career evolved into group dynamics when he married a woman with four teenagers. He had one teen, so for a while there were five teenagers in the household. "I was trained in psychology, but all the theory I knew didn't work in practical application," he says wryly.

His work in parent effectiveness training and as a group dynamics facilitator led to his being a consultant in communication skills for government and industry. "We're spending our time trying to figure out how many cops we'll need for this environmental meeting," one industrialist told him. "Can you do better?"

And thus was his career born. He helped define the public participation field. Now you can get a degree in it, he adds.

"Governmental agencies need to get information out to the public. They also need to find what the public wants and needs. The Public Participation Handbook offers the most comprehensive list of accomplishing these two objectives," says Lawrence Suskind, MIT planning professor.

Other books by Creighton include Getting Well Again, co-authored with a physician and wife. The book turned out to be a bestseller and was translated into other languages, including Thai. Another in his title list is How Loving Couples Fight, reissued in paperback in '98.

Creighton is the founding president of the International Association for Public Participation and has conducted training programs all over the world--Japan, Egypt, Thailand, Brazil, Russia. The book is published by Jossey Bass and can be ordered by calling 1.800.956.7739.

He and wife Maggie, a Realtor, are active in CineCats, the festival for local filmmakers.

IN TIME: Tammy Parkinson quit her job of 14 years as escrow officer at Alliance Title to concentrate on work that was more people-centered. Her answer was to establish Body Firm: Outdoor Fitness Adventure, across from Old Town. "It's good to be where you're making a difference in someone's life," she says. "Extremely fulfilling."

Parkinson was interviewed and photographed for a TIME Magazine article appearing this month about people leaving management to concentrate on service jobs. Body Firm has 75 clients and 13 trainers, most of whom are part-time. Three chiropractors are also on board, since post rehab work is one of the programs offered.

Besides needing rehab, some of her clients have Parkinson's disease or diabetes. Some are cancer survivors, such as Kris Linder, who owns Interior Design Source in Los Gatos. All can be helped, says this fitness therapist, what with an emphasis on better nutrition and physical exercise.

Problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be erased or lessened with such discipline. "I've struggled with a weight problem all my life," Parkinson says. But she (almost incidentally) shed 20 pounds following her own regime.

INFANT FOUNDATION: Just 2 years old, the Saratoga-Monte Sereno Community Foundation is in its infancy. It's dedicated to community building through philanthropy. In March the first grant was awarded--$10,000 to EMQ-VIP for addiction prevention programs in Santa Clara Valley.

Some 50 supporters started the foundation by contributing an annual gift of $1,000. A donors' reception will be held April 21 at the home of Wanda Kownacki and John Holton.

President of the organization is Lori Fox and board members are Wanda Alexander, Susan Boyce, Tracey Enfantino, Susan Garner, Jeffrey Schwartz and Clarence Stone. The foundation has assets of $74,000 and the aim is to help out in such diverse fields as the arts, youth, seniors, health, the environment and religious projects.

To become a founding member at the $1,000 annual level or more, checks can be sent to SMSCF, 14510 Big Basin Way, No. 132, Saratoga, 95070 and include phone number and email. Contact the foundation at 408.354.4439 or visit www.smscf.org.

CHAMPAGNE TO TOAST SHIRLEY: The French Cellar celebrates its eighth anniversary April 21 by pouring champagne from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by honoring the memory of Shirley Henderson by sending proceeds to the town/Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee.

Cellar owners Sallie Robbins-Druian and Jay Druian hope that during this month dedicated to Shirley, people will skip one fancy meal of dining out and instead send a check representing the money they would have spent to the beautification committee. "Stop by, toast Shirley and think beautiful," urge the Druians.

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