--- title: Embracing change important to continuing education field description: Spark your continuing education program into one of embracing change. image: https://blog.lern.com/hs-fs/file-16574756-jpg/images/valentine.jpg --- [LERN Club Sign-In](http://beta.lern.org/club/) [![lern-logo.png](https://blog.lern.com/hubfs/June-folder/lern-logo.png "lern-logo.png")](http://lern.org) ** # Articles # Embracing change important to continuing education field Wed, Aug 08,2012 @ 09:21 AM by Suzanne Kart | ![continuing education and change](https://blog.lern.com/hs-fs/file-16574756-jpg/images/valentine.jpg?width=176&height=229&name=valentine.jpg)The opening keynote at this year's big [LERN Conference in Washington, D.C](http://lern.org/conference/index.cfm). is  “The 4 Rs to Remarkable Results” with Craig Valentine - and it promises to leave you energized for 2013. If you want to spark your environment into one of embracing change, taking ownership, and committing to higher levels of excellence through continuous improvement, discover The 4 Rs to Remarkable Results through leadership, communication and change. [Craig Valentine](http://www.craigvalentine.com/) won a Congressional Achievement Award for excellence in communications and is the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking for Toastmasters International. He travels the world helping hundreds of organizations reap the profitable rewards that come from embracing change. Change is an important issue in the field of lifelong learning and continuing education because we are under pressure from a number of fronts. Here’s our list of the top external threats: **1. Lack of understanding of the value of your program**, both financial and societally, from central administrators and decision makers within your institution. **2. Lack of understanding on your finances**, with central administrators and decision makers not evaluating your financial situation properly. **3. Mis-perception that for-profits can replace you**, your services and your ability to price within reach of most of your audience. **4. No investment belief**, with business not yet willing or seeing the need for investment, including training of the workforce. **5. No federal moral support**, with your program virtually overlooked by the federal government and national leaders. Defending the field is one of the 3 themes for the big [**LERN annual conference**](http://lern.org/conference/index.cfm) in Washington DC Nov 16-18, 2012. [![Click me](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/119076/d6ef4d7d-562b-4b51-9ecb-acc0043403d4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/119076/d6ef4d7d-562b-4b51-9ecb-acc0043403d4)       ### LATEST NEWS Video: How to Get the Most From a LERN Membership LERN Video - The LERN Program Review: Position Your Unit for Success LERN Cancellation Rates and New Programs: A Lesson From Netflix Kathryn Lynch-Morin Ready for Liftoff: Drones and Drone Courses are More Popular Than Ever Kathryn Lynch-Morin Working with the University of Nebraska - Omaha LERN [Tweets by @LernUpdates](https://twitter.com/LernUpdates) [LERN Club Sign-In](http://beta.lern.org/club/)