Beautiful Pittsburgh
Had to post this panoramic shot I took tonight from the famous incline. I wish we had a few more nights here!
Oh yeah...and FUN!
Let's not forget that conferences are no fun if there's no fun! I am thrilled that next year's CLC is in Baltimore, because once again, our entire staff can go in a car together. Here's a shot of two of our leaders, Joy Stone (left) and Debbie Flinn in the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room shower!This has been a great team experience for the 4 of us (me, Joy, Debbie, and Jean Walker) in Danville. Thanks to UWA and UW in Pittsburgh for a great conference!
Sustained Leadership
When you look at communities that have made progress, they often have had stellar leadership at the helm for a sustained period of time. We often overlook the importance of that.
Take Leslie Ann Howard --- the CEO of the United Way in Dane County -Madison,Wisconsin. Leslie came up through the organization and has held the CEO role for a decade. No other United Way can claim what Madison can. Real measurable work at a community level that has changed the way the community believes it can get things done. Eliminate the racial achievement gap. Done. Work to end homelessness. Underway.
Leadership matters and it matters over the long haul.
Seeing today the 50 plus individuals on stage who have put over 30 years into United Way reminds us not only is this a potential career, but it is through those leaders that success at a community level takes place.
Thanks to each of you for teaching us.
Take Leslie Ann Howard --- the CEO of the United Way in Dane County -Madison,Wisconsin. Leslie came up through the organization and has held the CEO role for a decade. No other United Way can claim what Madison can. Real measurable work at a community level that has changed the way the community believes it can get things done. Eliminate the racial achievement gap. Done. Work to end homelessness. Underway.
Leadership matters and it matters over the long haul.
Seeing today the 50 plus individuals on stage who have put over 30 years into United Way reminds us not only is this a potential career, but it is through those leaders that success at a community level takes place.
Thanks to each of you for teaching us.
Hope in Action = Leadership
Dr. Robert Ross of the California Endowment addressed the SLC at lunch. He defined leadership as 'hope in action.' Our work, our mission and our future is dependent on our ability to move our aspiration into action that creates results. Period.
I read the other day that vision absent of implementation is a hallucination.
As Dr. Ross spoke today I thought of that simple idea. So often we get caught up in our process or our vision that we miss the key ingredient of action. United Way ought to have a bias towards action. We ought to be known for our unique ability to get things done at a community, regional, national and global level. We can take vision ---our hope --- and put it into action.
Earlier today we saw how communities have done just that ---- recognition for outstanding leadership ----awards given through UWA's knowledge cafe. If one wants to see leadership in our system, just visit the highlighted communities in the knowledge cafe. They each demonstrate a core competency for moving 'hope into action.'
Or as Dr. Ross would say, the ability to LEAD.
I read the other day that vision absent of implementation is a hallucination.
As Dr. Ross spoke today I thought of that simple idea. So often we get caught up in our process or our vision that we miss the key ingredient of action. United Way ought to have a bias towards action. We ought to be known for our unique ability to get things done at a community, regional, national and global level. We can take vision ---our hope --- and put it into action.
Earlier today we saw how communities have done just that ---- recognition for outstanding leadership ----awards given through UWA's knowledge cafe. If one wants to see leadership in our system, just visit the highlighted communities in the knowledge cafe. They each demonstrate a core competency for moving 'hope into action.'
Or as Dr. Ross would say, the ability to LEAD.
General Session, Thursday, May 17th
Today's Webinar was a great success. To view a replay of the webcast, please visit:
Morning General Session: Keynote Speak: Milton Little, Joe Haggerty, and the Knowledge Cafe Contest Winners
Afternoon General Session, Part 1: Alternative Spring Break and 30-year awards
Afternoon General Session, Part 2: Keynote Speaker, Dr. Robert Ross, Spirit of America and Summit Award Winners.
Morning General Session: Keynote Speak: Milton Little, Joe Haggerty, and the Knowledge Cafe Contest Winners
Afternoon General Session, Part 1: Alternative Spring Break and 30-year awards
Afternoon General Session, Part 2: Keynote Speaker, Dr. Robert Ross, Spirit of America and Summit Award Winners.
Labels: general session, webcast
Is it Possible?
This SLC just keeps getting better! Dr. Robert Ross just gave a superb keynote. Again, this is a mobile blog, so I'll keep it short:
1. Changing the world is possible.
2. Leadership = Hope in Action.
3. Chairty is good. Change is better!
4. Grassroots to Treetops - getting the grassroots issues and workable solutions to the treetop policy makers.
A most entertaining and authentic leader and speaker!
1. Changing the world is possible.
2. Leadership = Hope in Action.
3. Chairty is good. Change is better!
4. Grassroots to Treetops - getting the grassroots issues and workable solutions to the treetop policy makers.
A most entertaining and authentic leader and speaker!
Fundametals of Major and Planned Giving!!
Learning made easy - Jacqui Hall! You are inspiring a lot of us with the "romancing" techniques and "closing the deal" on Major Gifts. Your colleagues at United Way International, and our members from Russia are learning, learning and absorbing all that is being taught and exchanged. Thanks all United Way colleagues for sharing your experiences and comments. There's more to go........can't wait to be back in class after this break...
Fundametals of Major and Planned Giving!!
Learning made easy - Jacqui Hall! You are inspiring a lot of us with the "romancing" techniques and "closing the deal" on Major Gifts. Your colleagues at United Way International, and our members from Russia are learning, learning and absorbing all that is being taught and exchanged. Thanks all United Way colleagues for sharing your experiences and comments. There's more to go........can't wait to be back in class after this break...
Wow! Excellent Metrics Session
I attended one of the best breakout sessions in a long time. Changing the focus of our metrics was the topic with Bill Kitson in Toledo, Lauren Segal in Minneapolis, and John Ross in Boston.
The discussion was around changing the conversation about overhead. Bottom line, we have to get away from staking our value proposition on low overhead. It's not about how much money we spend. It's about the value we create. Since this is a mobile posting from my Treo, my thumbs don't feel like going into any more detail! But this was an excellent session on analyzing how UWs are spending, investing, creating, leveraging, and reporting.
The discussion was around changing the conversation about overhead. Bottom line, we have to get away from staking our value proposition on low overhead. It's not about how much money we spend. It's about the value we create. Since this is a mobile posting from my Treo, my thumbs don't feel like going into any more detail! But this was an excellent session on analyzing how UWs are spending, investing, creating, leveraging, and reporting.
Knowledge Cafe Awards
I hope UWA continues this contest! This is the best "best practices" session ever. Congrats to United Ways in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Palm Beach, and Dane County. The video presentations followed by café conversations with the winners was very inspirational. One thing I noticed in dismay: No small UW's won. Danville, VA intends to change that, so look out!
Business Challenges
Joe Haggerty and Milton Little's conversation around business challenges brought several things out:
1. We are still challenged by operating in the new model when the old model is a die hard!
2. We are differentiated by the fact that we don't just do one thing, or focus on just one issue. The space is open in our communities for such an organization, but we have to lead with excellence.
3. We cannot continue to be obsessed with operating as cheaply as possible. We must effectively leverage investments in our capacity. Talent is a must. We have to be very intentional about the talent we recruit and develop. We must be stewards, but not just by focusing on low "overhead."
1. We are still challenged by operating in the new model when the old model is a die hard!
2. We are differentiated by the fact that we don't just do one thing, or focus on just one issue. The space is open in our communities for such an organization, but we have to lead with excellence.
3. We cannot continue to be obsessed with operating as cheaply as possible. We must effectively leverage investments in our capacity. Talent is a must. We have to be very intentional about the talent we recruit and develop. We must be stewards, but not just by focusing on low "overhead."
Early Morning?
Usually it's tough for me to get up early at conferences. This one's different. Thursday's line-up actually has much more in it for me...too much to choose from in fact! We're walking over to the center now, and I'm looking forward to another productive day. If there was one main taleaway from yesterday for me, it was the reminder that this impact work is iterative.
Those wild and crazy United Way of America staff people...
I'd like to share a little personal insight about my colleagues at United Way of America. Many of you know them as miracle workers who can move mountains with a single bound or elves who work through the middle of the night to make things absolutely perfect. But there is a human side to United Way of America staff as well:
- Many of us took a bus to Pittsburgh for the conference (yep, that's Jim Yu and Joe Haggerty with me at the back of said bus);
- There were a number of us who joined you for the official walk/run this morning; and
- We got chills going through the Steelers' locker room last night, too.
So while we don't often call attention to ourselves, know that we share your hopes, thoughts, and dreams for a better nation and better world.
- Many of us took a bus to Pittsburgh for the conference (yep, that's Jim Yu and Joe Haggerty with me at the back of said bus);
- There were a number of us who joined you for the official walk/run this morning; and
- We got chills going through the Steelers' locker room last night, too.
So while we don't often call attention to ourselves, know that we share your hopes, thoughts, and dreams for a better nation and better world.
Be The Revolution....(Jars of Clay)
The morning sessions were very inspirational and empowering...to the point that it reminded of a song I love..."Be the Revolution" - the message is very simple _ don't wait for someone else to lead the change.
The opening ceremony was very impactful...listening to Brain talk about his first days of work brought me back to memories of my first days (as an intern) my whole staff was off to Birmingham, Al for the SLC while I sat leafing thru the Internet and reading HR manuals. I believe that Brian's point was that one person can create a chain of events by a simple point of contact where someone of authority took the time to make a difference. I have to share this...I had a an experience as a young staff where someone took a little time with me and it created a chain of events, that i would like to believe made a huge difference. This person doesn't know it..but now they will...it was Meg Plantz with UWA.
I am more conscious now than ever...take the time to make a difference in a young professionals' life and it will pay you back 10 fold.
Ok - I gotta go..I think Burger King is still open. Charles (B Log)
The opening ceremony was very impactful...listening to Brain talk about his first days of work brought me back to memories of my first days (as an intern) my whole staff was off to Birmingham, Al for the SLC while I sat leafing thru the Internet and reading HR manuals. I believe that Brian's point was that one person can create a chain of events by a simple point of contact where someone of authority took the time to make a difference. I have to share this...I had a an experience as a young staff where someone took a little time with me and it created a chain of events, that i would like to believe made a huge difference. This person doesn't know it..but now they will...it was Meg Plantz with UWA.
I am more conscious now than ever...take the time to make a difference in a young professionals' life and it will pay you back 10 fold.
Ok - I gotta go..I think Burger King is still open. Charles (B Log)
