For the second year in a row, I participated in Conversation Among Masters [CAM], which is essentially a conference for coaches that has “conversation starters” instead of speakers and keeps its attendance under 200 for the sake of intimacy.

As the week progressed, I took few notes and instead made a point of being present and “with” each conversation and experience. Here’s what I learned from my arrival in Branson, Mo., on May 2 until my departure on May 7.

1. There are (at least) two Americas. Branson is a world unto itself. It has more than 50 live-performance theatres and a theme park and, according to our airport shuttle bus driver, “the biggest Denny’s in the country.” Our driver was, in fact, filled with information like how Branson is about three things – “God, country and patriotism.” While I resisted asking for a definition of patriotism and how that differs from country, I had to speak up when he said Wayne Newton had been run out of town by its “fathers.”

“Exactly what did Wayne Newton do to get thrown out of town?” I asked, admittedly incredulous.

“We don’t tolerate profanity in Branson,” the driver said.

The guy who sings “Danke Schoen” and “Hello Dolly” apparently pushed the family values limits, although all I could find in my Internet research was that Newton declared bankruptcy in Branson in 1992 and had prior to that been in a legal scuffle with Tony Orlando. Not sure I want to know more.

2. When participants at this conference say they are full, they don’t mean with food. Truly, after talking about leadership and the five stages of adult development with Stephen Josephs, love and laughter with Yakov Smirnoff, a whole lot of self-investigating with Genpo Roshi, and future trending based on generational studies with Jody Turner, “full” was just the right word.

Genpo Roshi, a Zen master whose method is called the Big Mind Big Heart Process, gave us a full day of delving into our various voices and roles and it was simultaneously powerful and mentally exhausting. By taking ownership of our voices – i.e., the student, the fake, the bitch -- we can identify parts of ourselves that might be too dominant and or those which we have submerged for too long.

What he had us do was use first person to get in touch with a particular voice. For example, “I am the student.” What might your inner student have to say? Is she feeling neglected? Stifled? This allows “her” to speak to your whole self and, well, the darnedest things come out once you really dig in. I will respect the boundaries of my fellow coaches and not reveal specifics, but trust me, this can be a mind-blowing exercise.

3. Coaches are excited about the possibilities of using their skills to effect change. A group discussion about coaching non-profits made clear the different options of helping for the greater good. One is to coach the leaders of non-profits to make their businesses run more smoothly. Another is to get in on the ground level and coach people in need.

For the last two years I have chosen the latter approach and it is immensely satisfying. My journey with Mirna – formerly homeless – has been chronicled here and in the local press because of her involvement in singing talent competitions.

It is joyful to be part of a group that is determined to have a global impact, especially at a time in our nation when it is sorely needed.

4. More people should have dreams like Jody Turner’s. Our final conversation starter at the conference, Turner – founder and lead consultant of CultureofFuture.com took us through a lot of information at warp speed and shared this wow of a video called Lost Generation .

But what really stuck with me was how she began her talk. Prior to coming to the conference, she had awakened from a dream about starting a church. And then she found herself in Branson, in the Bible Belt, where churches dot the highways, where the sign on the side of a brick building says “truthchurch.net” and where billboards say things like “nothingistoohardforgod.org.”

Turner allowed herself to wonder, “If you were going to write your own Bible, what would it be?”

Another topic for another conference, perhaps, but thinking about it for a moment was a lovely experience.

That’s what I learned at CAM in Branson, Mo.

Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com.